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THE 



HISTORY 



OF 



Will County. 

I L L I isr O I S <S^S'2- 

3 ^^ 



CONTAINING 



A History of the County — its Cities, Towns, &e. ; a Directory of its 
Real Estate O'wners; Portraits of Early Settlers and Promi- 
nent Men; General and Local Statistics; Map of "Will 
County; History of Illinois, Illustrated; His- 
tory of the Northwest, Illustrated; 
Constitution of the United States, 
Miscellaneous Matters, 
&e., &e. 



XIJLTJSTI^.A.TEID 




CHICAGO: 
WM. LE BARON, Jr., & CO., 186 DEARBORJ^ STREET. 

' 1878. 



PREFACE 



TN presenting our History of Will County, we deem a few prefatory words 
necessary. We have spared neither pains nor expense to fulfill our engagement with 
our patrons and make the work as complete as possible. We have acted upon the 
principle that justice to those who have subscribed, be they few or many, requires that 
the work should be as well done as if it was patronized by every citizen in the county. 
We do not claim that our work is entirely free from errors ; such a result could not be 
attained by the utmost care and foresight of ordinary mortals. The General History of 
the County was compiled by Hon. Geo. H. Woodruff', of Joliet, and the Township 
Histories by our historians, W. H. Perriu and H. H. Hill. Some of the Town- 
ship Histories are indeed longer than others, as the townships are older, containing 
larger cities and towns, and have been the scenes of more important and interesting 
events. While fully recognizing this important difference, the historians have sought to 
write up each township with equal fidelity to the facts and information within their 
reach. We take this occasion to present our thanks to all our numerous subscribers 
for their patronage and encouragement in the publication of the work. In this confident 
belief, we submit it to the enlightened judgment of those for whose benefit it has been 
prepared, believing that it will be received as a most valuable and complete work. 

THE PUBLISHERS. 






cniCAoo: 

CULTKE, PAGE, UOTXE * CO., PKIKTERS, 

118 uDd 120 Monroe Street. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

History Xorthwest Territory I'J 

GcoKraphical l-' 

Kiirly Kxplonitioii 20 

Discovery of the Ohio 33 

Eiislisli Explorations and Settle- 

nifnt.s 3.5 

Aniprii'iin Settlements 60 

Division of the Northwest Terri- 
tory 66 

Tecnmseli anil tlio war of ISI'2 70 

Black Hawk anil the Black Hawk 
War 74 



HIKTOKK'AI.. 

Page. 

Other Iniiian Tronbles 79 

Present ConilitiuM of the Northwest 87 

Illinois 99 

Indiana lul 

Iowa 102 

Michigan 103 

Wiicousin 104 

Minnesota -lOG 

Nebraska 107 

History of Illinois 109 

Coal 125 

Compact of 1787 117 



Page. 

History of Chicago 132 

Early Discoveries 109 

Early Settlements 115 

Education 129 

First French Occupation 112 

Genius of La Salle 113 

Material Resources 124 

Massacre ot Fort Dearborn 141 

Physical Features 121 

Progress of Development 123 

KeliKioti and Morals 128 

War llcconl ol Illinois 130 



Page. 

Source of the Mississippi 21 

Mouth of the Mississippi 21 

Wild Prairie 23 

La Salle Landing on the Shore of 

Gieeii liav 2.5 

Buffiilo Hunt.... 27 

Trapping 29 

Hunting 32 

In quois Chief. 34 

Pontiac, the Ottawa Chieftain 43 

Indians Attacking Frontiersmen... 56 

A Prairie Storm 59 

.\ Pioneer Dwelling 61 

Breakiug Prairie 63 



IL,L.lJSTRATIOXS. 

Page. 
j Tecumseh, the Shawnee Chieftain... 69 

Indians Attacking a Stockade 72 

Black Hawk, the Sac Chieftain 75 

Big Eagle 80 

Captain .lack, the Modoc Chieftain.. 83 

Kinzie House 85 

Village Residence 86 

A Kepresentati\e Pioneer 87 

Lincoln Monument, Springfield, 111. 88 

A Pioneer School House 89 

Farm View in the Winter 90 

High Bridge and Lake Bluft 94 

Great Iron Bridge of Chicago, Rock 
Island & Pacific Railroad, Cross- 



Page. 

ing the River at Davenport, Iowa 96 

A Western Dwelling 109 

Hunting Prairie Wolves at an 

Early Day 108 

Starved Koc"k,on the Illinois River, 

La Salle County, 111 110 

An Early Settlement 116 

Chicago in 1833 133 

Old Foit Dearhr.'U in 1830 136 

Present site uf Lake Street Bridge, 

Chicago, in 183:', 136 

Pioneers' First Winter li'-i. 

View ot the City of Chicago 144 

Shabbona ." 149 



Page. 

General History of W'ill County... .223 
Channahon Township 591 



Crete 

Custer 

Du.Page 

Frankfort 

Florence 

Greengarden 

Homer 



WILL. t'OlTXTY HISTORY. 

Page. 

Joliet Township 367 

Jackson Township 540 



.553 Lockport 



.414 



..6(16 
.525 
..506 
...575 
..583 
..516 



Manhattan Township 634 

Jlonce " 

New Lenox " 

Plainfield " 

Peotone " 



.567 
.494 
.477 
.616 



Page. 

Reed Township 464 

Troy " 610 

Wilmington Township 443 

Wheatland " 536 

Weslny ■' 598 

Washington " 641 

Wilton " 625 

Will " 650 



MTHOGRAPHIO PORTR.\lTS. 



Page. 

Allen, B. F 509 

Braidwood, J 869 

Beggs, S. R 797 

Boyer, Charles E 689 

Cagwin, Abijah 491 

Cook, M. H 82 

Casseday, G. W 455 

Cutter, N. H 491 

Demmond, M. H 275 

Doolittle, R 491 

Daggett, John F 725 

Erhard, George 725 

Elwood, N. D. 347 

Francis, Abraham 761 

Foster, Lvman 1.50 

Flack, J. J 473 

Gougar, John 797 

Gooding, William 653 

Holden, P. H 527 



Page. 

Holden, Betsv P 545 

Holden, C. C. P 563 

Holden, Sarah J 581 

Holmes, A 725 

Hagar, Jonathan 743 

Harwood, E 419 

Hender.son, Hugh 329 

Higinbothani, H. D 383 

Knapp, Ira 815 

Leacli, Alonzo 311 

Little, W. E 365 

Miller, T. L 635 

Maltby, William 887 

McGovney, 0..... 797 

Mack, Firman 437 

Norton, Jesse 311 

Osgood, Uri 293 

Paige, J. D X.311 

Patterson, Anson 491 



Page. 

Pre.ston, J. B 707 

Preston, Isaac 725 

Reynolds, I. N 599 

Reynolds, J. S 617 

Rowley, Hiram 311 

Run von, A 671 

SmiJh, C. C 851 

Sutphen, C. H 401 

Sanger, L. P 168 

Steel, W. A 186 

Stevens, Robert 257 

Thornton, Cary 797 

Tryon, George 833 

Thomas, WiUiam 13'2 

Wooi, Willard 66 

Woodruff, George H 221 

Young. .John 2t)4 

Zarley, Reason 239 



IV 



CONTENTS. 



BIOGRAPHIC AI. SKETCHES. 



Paoe. 
Chaunahon Township 832 



Orete 

Custer 

Du Page 

Frankfort 

Florence 

Greengarden 

Homer 



.889 
.872 
.895 
.838 
.791 
..8G5 
.765 



Page. 

Joliet Township 659 

Jackson " 823 

Lockport " 730 

Manhattan Township 799 

Monee " 900 

New Lenox " 778 

Plainfield " 855 

Peotone " 877 



Page. 

Reed Township 751 

Troy " 884 

Wilmington Township 801 

Wheatland " 814 

Wesley " 786 

Wilton " 902 

AVashington " 905 

Will " 906 



DIRECTORY OF REAIi ESTATE OWNERS, 



Page. 

Obannahon Township 971 

Crete " 968 

Custer " 965 

'DuPage " 950 

Frankfort " 947 

Florence " 963 

Greengarden " 957 



Page. 

I Joliet Township 909 

Jackson " 945 

Lockport " 934 

Manhattan Township 972 

Monee " 941 

New Lenox " 955 

Plainfield " 938 



Homer 



.952 J Peotone 



.958 



Page. 

Reed Township 929 

Troy " 966 

Wilmington Township 924 

Wheatland " 954 

Wesley " 964 

Wilton " 900 

Washington " 973 

Will " 975 



ARSTRACT OF IL.I.ISfOI»^ STATE liAWl 



Page. 

Adoption of Children 160 

Bills of Exchange and Promissory 

Notes 151 

County Courts 155 

Conveyances 164 

Church Organizations 189 

Descent 151 

Deeds and Mortgages 157 

Drainage 163 

Damages from Trespass.. 169 

Definition of Commercial Terms 173 

Kxenii)tions from Forced Sale 156 

Kstrays 157 

Fences 168 

Forms : 

Articles of Agreement 175 

Bills of Purchase 174 

Bills of Sale 176 

Bonds 176 



Page. 

Map of Will County Front 

Constitution of the U. S 192 

Electors of President and Vice Pres- 
ident 206 

Practical Rules for Every Day U8e.207 
D. S. Government Land Measure. ..210 
Agricultural Productions of Illi- 
nois by CoTinties, 1870 210 

Surveyors" Measure 211 

How to Keep Accounts 211 



Page. 

Chattel Mortgages 177 

Codicil 1S9 

Lease of Farm and Build- 
ings 179 

Lease of House 180 

Landlord's Agreement 180 

Notes 174 

Notice Tenant to Quit 181 

Orders 174 

Quit Claim Deed 185 

Receipt 174 

Real Estate Mortgaged to Secure 

Payment of Money 181 

Release 186 

Tenant's Agreement 180 

Tenant's Notice to Quit 181 

Warranty Deed 182 

Will 187 



jMfiE. 



M 1 Sl'EL.1..^ EO US 



Page. 



Page. 

Game 158 

Interest 1.55 

Jurisdiction of Courts 15i 

Limitation of Action 154 

Landlord and Tenant 165 

Liens 179 

Married Women 152 

Millers 159 

Marks and Brands 1.59 

Paupers 164 

Roads and Bridges 161 

Surveyors and Surveys 100 

Suggestions to Persons Purchasing 

Books by Subscription 190 

Taxes 154 

Wills and Estates 152 

Weights and Measures 158 

Wolf Scalps 164 



Interest Table 212 

Miscellaneous Tables ...^^. ^,12 

Names of the States of the^Siipn 

and their Signification 7^.213 

Population of the United States. ....2141 Pro 
Population of Fifty Principal Cities ^X n 

of the United States 214 " 

Population and Area of the United 

States 215 

Population of the Principal Coun- 
tries in the World 215 



Page. 

Population of Illinois 216-217 

State Laws Relating to Interest 218 

State Laws Relating to Limitations 

of Actions 219 

Productions of Agriculture of Jlli- 

ois 220 

Po^niiiition of Will Co 996 

Assessors* 5ep"'t 999 

Business Directory 977 

Errata j^». 1003 




R 9.E. 



K..10.E 






W^I. 




Roa.E 



I1.14?.E 



RISE 



The Northwest Territory. 



GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION. 

When the Northwestern Territory was ceded to the United States 
by Virginia in 1784, it embraced only the territory lying between the 
Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers, and north to the northern limits of the 
United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the States 
of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and that portion of 
Minnesota lying on the east side of the Mississippi River. The United 
States itself at that period extended no farther west than the Mississippi 
River ; but by the purchase of Louisiana in 1803, the western boundary 
of the United States was extended to the Rocky Mountains and the 
Northern Pacific Ocean. The new territory thus added to the National 
domain, and subsequently opened to settlement, has been called the 
"• New Northwest," in contradistinction from the old " Northwestern 
Territory." 

In comparison with the old Northwest this is a territory of vast 
magnitude. It includes an area of 1,887,850 square miles ; being greater 
in extent than the united areas of all the Middle and Southern States, 
including Texas. Out of this magnificent territory have been erected 
eleven sovereign States and eight Territories, with an aggregate popula- 
tion, at the present time, of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearly one third of 
the entire population of the United States. 

Its lakes are fresh-water seas, and the larger rivers of the continent 
flow for a thousand miles through its rich alluvial valleys and far- 
stretching prairies, more acres of which are arable and productive of the 
highest percentage of the cereals than of any other area of like extent 
on the globe. 

For the last twenty years the increase of population in the North- 
>yest has been about as three to one in any other portion of the United 
States. 

(19) 



20 THE NOKTHWEST TERRITORY. 



EARLY EXPLORATIONS. 



In the year 1541, DeSoto first saw the Great West in the New 
World. He, however, penetrated no farther north than the 35th parallel 
of latitude. The expedition resulted in his death and that of more than 
half his army, the remainder of whom found their way to Cuba, thence 
to Spain, in a famished and demoralized condition. DeSoto founded no 
settlements, produced no results, and left no traces, unless it were that 
he awakened the hostility of the red man against the white man, and 
disheartened such as might desire to follow up the career of discovery 
for better purposes. The French nation were eager and ready to seize 
upon any news from this extensive domain, and were the first to profit by 
DeSoto's defeat. Yet it was more than a century before any adventurer 
took advantage of these discoveries. 

In 1616, four j'-ears before the pilgrims " moored their bark on the 
wild New England shore," Le Caron, a French Franciscan, had pene- 
trated through the Iroquois and Wyandots (Hurons) to the streams which 
run into Lake Huron ; and in 1634, two Jesuit missionaries founded the 
first mission among the lake tribes. It was just one hundred years from 
the discovery of the Mississippi by DeSoto (1541) until the Canadian 
envoys met the savage nations of the Northwest at the Falls of St. Mary, 
below the outlet of Lake Superior. This visit led to no permanent 
result; yet it was not until 1659 that any of the adventurous fur traders 
attempted to spend a Winter in the frozen wilds about the great lakes, 
nor was it until 1660 that a station was established upon their borders by 
Mesnard, who perished in the woods a few months after. In 1665, Claude 
Allouez built the earliest lasting habitation of the white man among the 
Indians of the Northwest. In 1668, Claude Dablon and James Marquette 
founded the mission of Sault Ste. IMarie at the Falls of St. Mar^-, and two 
years afterward, Nicholas Perrot, as agent for M. Talon, Governor Gen- 
eral of Canada, explored Lake Illinois (Michigan) as far south as the 
present City of Chicago, and invited the Indian nations to meet him at a 
grand council at Sault Ste. Marie the following Spring, where they were 
taken under the protection of the king, and formal possession was taken 
of the Northwest. This same year Marquette established a mission at 
Point St. Ignatius, where was founded the old town of Michillimackinac. 

During M. Talon's explorations and Marquette's residence at St. 
Ignatius, they learned of a great river away to the west, and fancied 
— as all others did then — that upon its fertile banks whole tribes of God's 
children resided, to whom the sound of the Gospel had never come. 
Filled with a wish to go and preach to them, and in compliance with a 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



21 




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22 THE NORTHWEST TERRITOisy. 

request of M. Talon, who earnestly desired to extend the domain of his 
king, and to ascertain whether the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico 
or the Pacific Ocean, Marquette with Joliet, as commander of the expe- 
dition, prepared for the undertaking. 

On the 13th of May, 1673, the explorers, accompanied by five assist- 
ant French Canadians, set out from Mackinaw on their daring voyage of 
discovery. The Indians, who gathered to witness their departure, were 
astonished at the boldness of the undertaking, and endeavored to dissuade 
them from their purpose by representing the tribes on the Mississippi as 
exceedingly savage and cruel, and the river itself as full of all sorts of 
frightful monsters ready to swallow them and their canoes together. But, 
nothing daunted by these terrific descriptions, Marquette told them he 
was willing not only to encounter all the perils of the unknown region 
they were about to explore, but to lay down his life in a cause in which 
the salvation of souls was involved ; and having prayed together they 
separated. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, the 
adventurers entered Green Bay, and passed thence up the Fox River and 
Lake Winnebago to a village of the Miamis and Kickapoos. Here Mar- 
quette was delighted to find a beautiful cross planted in the middle of the 
town ornamented with white skins, red girdles and bows and arrows, 
which these good people had offered to the Great Manitou, or God, to 
thank him for the, pity he had bestowed on them during the Winter in 
giving them an abundant " chase." This was the farthest outpost to 
which Dablon and Allouez had extended their missionary labors the 
3'-ear previous. Here Marquette drank mineral waters and was instructed 
in the secret of a root which cures the bite of the venomous rattlesnake. 
He assembled the chiefs and old men of the village, and, pointing to 
Joliet, said : " My friend is an envoy of France, to discover new coun- 
tries, and I am an ambassador from God to enlighten them with the truths 
of the Gospel." Two Miami guides were here furnished to conduct 
them to the Wisconsin River, and they set out from the Lidian village on 
the 10th of June, amidst a great crowd of natives who had assembled to 
witness their departure into a region where no white man had. ever yet 
ventured. The guides, having conducted them across the portage, 
returned. The explorers launched their canoes upon the Wisconsin, 
which they descended to the Mississippi and proceeded down its unknown 
waters. What emotions must have swelled their breasts as they struck 
out into the broadening current and became conscious that they were 
now upon the bosom of th3 Father of Waters. The mystery was about 
to be lifted from the long-sought river. The scenery in tha^ locality is 
beautiful, and on that delightful seventeenth of June must have been 
clad in all its primeval loveliness as it had been adorned by the hand of 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



23 



Nature. Drifting rapidly, it is said that the bold bluffs on either hand 
"reminded them of the castled shores of their own beautiful rivers of 
France." By-and-by, as they drifted along, great herds of buffalo appeared 
on the banks. On going to the heads of the valley they could see a 
country of the greatest beauty and fertility, apparently destitute of inhab- 
itants yet presenting the appearance of extensive manors, under the fas- 
tidious cultivation of lordly proprietors. 




— f^~^ 



THE WILD PRAIRIE. 

On June 25, they went ashore and found some fresh traces of men upon 
the sand, and a path which led to the prairie. The men remained in the 
boat, and Marquette and Joliet followed the path till they discovered a 
village on the banks of a river, and two other villages on a hill, within a 
half league of the first, inhabited by Indians. They were received most 
hospitably by these natives, who had never before seen a white person. 
After remaining a few days they re-embarked and descended the river to 
about latitude 33°, where they found a village of the Arkansas, and being 
satisfied that the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, turned their course 



24 THE NORTHWEST TERTITTORY. 

up the liver, and ascending the stream to the mouth of the Illinois, 
rowed up that stream to its source, and procured guides from that point 
to the lakes. " Nowhere on this journey," says Marquette, ''did we see 
such grounds, meadows, woods, stags, buffaloes, deer, wildcats, bustards, 
swans, ducks, parroquets, and even beavers, as on the Illinois River." 
The party, without loss or injury, reached Green Bay in September, and 
reported their discovery — one of the most important of the age, but of 
which no record was preserved save Marquette's, Joliet losing his by 
the upsetting of his canoe on his way to Quebec. Afterward Marquette 
returned to the Illinois Indians by their request, and ministered to them 
until 1675. On the 18th of May, in that year, as he was passing the 
mouth of a stream — going with his boatmen up Lake Michigan — he asked 
to land at its mouth and celebrate Mass. Leaving his men with the canoe, 
he retired a short distance and began his devotions. As much time 
passed and he did not return, his men went in search of him, and found 
him upon his knees, dead. He had peacefullj^ passed away while at 
prayer. He was buried at this spot. Charlevoix, who visited the place 
fifty years after, found the waters had retreated from the grave, leaving 
the beloved missionary to repose in peace. The river has since been 
called Marquette. 

While Marquette and his companions were pursuing their labors in 
the West, two men, differing widely from him and each other, were pre- 
paring to follow in his footsteps and perfect the discoveries so well begun 
by him. These were Robert de La Salle and Louis Hennepin.' 

After La Salle's return from the discovery of the Ohio River (see 
the narrative elsewhere), he established himself again among the French 
trading posts in Canada. Here he mused long upon the pet project of 
those ages — a short way to China and the East, and was busily planning an 
expedition up the^reat lakes, and so across the continent to the Pacific, 
when Marquette returned from the Mississippi. At once the vigorous mind 
of LaSalle received from his and his companions' stories the idea that by fol- 
lowing the Great River northward, or by turning up some of the numerous 
western tributaries, the object could easily be gained. He applied to 
Frontenac, Governor General cf Canada, and laid before him the plan, 
dim but gigantic. Frontenac entered warmly into his plans, and saw that 
LaSalle's idea to connect the great lakes by a chain of forts with the Gulf 
of Mexico would bind the country so wonderfully together, give un- 
measured power to France, and glory to himself, under whose adminis- 
tration he earnestly hoped all would be realized. 

LaSalle now repaired to France, laid his plans before the King, who 
warmly approved of them, and made him a Chevalier. He also received 
from all the noblemen the warmest wishes for his success. The Ohev- 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



25 



alier returned to Canada, and busily entered upon his work. He at 
once rebuilt Fort Frontenac and constructed the first ship to sail on 
these fresh-water seas. On the 7th of August, 1679, having been joined 
by Hennepin, he began his voyage in the Griffin up Lake Erie. He 
passed over this lake, through the straits beyond, up Lake St. .Clair and 
into Huron. Li this lake they encountered heavy storms. Tlie}^ were 
some time at Michillimackinac, where LaSalle founded a fort, and passed 
on to Green Bay, the " Bale des Puans" of the French, where he found 
a large quantity of furs collected for him. He loaded the Griffin with 
these, and placing her under the care of a, pilot and fourteen sailors. 




LA SALLE LANDING ON THE SHORE OF GREEN BAY. 

started her on her return voyage. The vessel was never afterward heard 
of. He remained about these parts until early in the Winter, when, hear- 
ing nothing from the Griffin, he collected all the men — thirty working 
men and three monks — and started again upon his great undertaking. 

By a short portage they passed to the Illinois or Kankakee, called by 
the Indians, "Theakeke," wolf, because of the tribes of Indians called 
by that name, commonly known as the Mahingans, dwelling there. The 
French pronounced it Kiakiki, which became corrupted to Kankakee. 
"Falling down the said river by easy journeys, the better to observe the 
country," about the last of December they reached a village of the Illi- 
nois Indians, containing some five hundred cabins, but at tliat moment 



26 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

no inhabitants. The Seur de LaSalle being in want of some breadstuffs, 
took advantage of the absence of the Indians to help himself to a suffi- 
ciency of maize, large quantities of which he found concealed in holes 
under the wigwams. This village was situated near the present village 
of Utica in LaSalle County, Illinois. The corn being securely stored, 
the voyagers again betook themselves to the stream, and toward evening, 
on the 4th day of January, 1680, they came into a lake which must have 
been the lake of Peoria. This was called by the Indians Pim-i-te-wi, that 
is, a place ivJiere there are many fat beasts. Here the natives were met 
with in large numbers, but they were gentle and kind, and having spent 
some time with them, LaSalle determined to erect another fort in that 
place, for he had heard rumors that some of the adjoining tribes were 
trying to disturb the good feeling which existed, and some of his men 
were disposed to complain, owing to the hardships and perils of the travel. 
He called this fort " Crevecoeur''' (broken-heart), a name expressive of the 
very natural sorrow and anxiety which the pretty certain loss of his ship. 
Griffin, and his consequent impoverishment, the danger of hostility on the 
part of the Indians, and of mutiny among his own men, might well cause 
him. His fears were not entirely groundless. At one time poison was 
placed in his food, but fortunately was discovered. 

While building this fort, the Winter wore away, the prairies began to 
look green, and LaSalle, despairing of any reinforcements, concluded to 
return to Canada, raise new means and new men, and embark anew in 
the enterprise. For this purpose he made Hennepin the leader of a party 
to explore the head waters of the Mississippi, and he set out on his jour- 
ney. This journey was accomplished with the aid of a few persons, and 
was successfully made, though over an almost u )known route, and in a 
bad season of the year. He safely reached Cana ^a, and set out again for 
the object of his'search. 

Hennepin and his party left Fort Crevecoeur on the last of February, 
1680. When LaSalle reached this place on his return expedition, he 
folmd the fort entirely deserted, and he was obliged to return again to 
Canada. He embarked the third time, and succeeded. Seven days after 
leaving the fort, Hennepin reached the Mississippi, and paddling up the 
icy stream as best he could, reached no higher than the Wisconsin River 
by the 11th of April. Here he and his followers were taken prisoners by a 
band of Northern Indians, who treated them with great kindness. Hen- 
nepin's comrades were Anthony Auguel and Michael Ako. On this voy- 
age they found several beautiful lakes, and " saw some charming prairies." 
Their captors were the Isaute or Sauteurs, Chippewas, a tribe of the Sioux 
nation, who took them up the river until about the first of May, when 
they reached some falls, which Hennepin christened Falls of St. Anthony 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



•27 



in honor of his patron t^aint. Here they took the land, and traveling 
nearly two hundred miles to the northwest, brought them to their villages. 
Here they were kept about three months, were treated kindly by their 
captors, and at the end of that time, were met by a band of Frenchmen, 




BUFFALO HUNT. 

headed by one Seur de Luth, who, in pursuit of trade and game, had pene- 
trated thus far by the route of Lake Superior ; and with these fellow- 
countrymen Hennepin and his companions were allowed to return t6 the 
borders of civilized life in November, 1680, just after LaSalle had 
returned to the wilderness on his second trip. Hennepin soon after went 
to France, where he published an account of his adventures. 



28 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

The Mississippi was first discovered by De Soto in April, 1541, in his 
vain endeavor to find gold and precious gems. In the following Spring, 
De Soto, weary with hope long deferred, and worn out with his wander- 
ings, he fell a victim to disease, and on the '21st of May died. His followers, 
reduced by fatigue and disease to less than three hundred men, wandered 
about the country nearly a year, in the vain endeavor to rescue them- 
selves by. land, and finally constructed seven small vessels, called brigan- 
tines, in which they embarked, and descending the river, supposing it 
would lead them to the sea, in July they came to the sea (Gulf of 
Mexico), and by September reached the Island of Cuba. 

They were the first to see the great outlet of the Mississij)pi ; but, 
being so weary and discouraged, made no attempt to claim the country, 
and hardly had an intelligent idea of wliat they had passed through. 

To La Salle, the intrepid explorer, belongs the honor of giving the 
first account of the mouths of the river. His great desire was to possess 
this entire country for his king, and in January, 1682, he and his band of 
explorers left the shores of Lake Michigan on their third attempt, crossed 
the portage, passed down the Illinois River, and on the 6th of February, 
reached the banks of the Mississippi. 

On the 13th they commenced their downward course, which they 
pursued with but one interruption, until upon the 6th of March they dis- 
covered the three great passages by which the river discharges its waters 
into the gulf. La Salle thus narrates the event : 

" We landed on the bank of the most western channel, about three 
leagues (nine miles) from its mouth. On the seventh, M. de LaSalle 
went to reconnoiter the shores of the neighboring sea, and M. de Tonti 
meanwhile examined the great middle channel. They found the main 
outlets beautiful, large and deep. On the 8th we reascended the river, a 
little above its confluence with the sea, to find a dry place beyond the 
reach of inundations. The elevation of the North Pole was here about 
twenty-seven degrees. Here we prepared a column and a cross, and to 
the column were affixed the arms of France with this inscription : 

Louis Le Grand, Roi De France et de Navarre, regne ; Le neuvieme Avril, 16S2. 

The Avhole party, under arms, chanted the Te Deum, and then, after 
a salute and cries of " Vive le Roi,' the column was erected by M. de 
La Salle, who, standing near it, pi-oclaimed in a loud voice the authority of 
the King of France. LaSalle returned and laid the foundations of the Mis- 
sissippi settlements in Illinois, thence he proceeded to France, where 
another expedition was fitted out, of which he was commander, and in two 
succeeding voyages failed to find the outlet of the river by sailing along 
the shore of the gulf. On his third voyage he was killed, through the 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



29 



treacheiy of his followers, and tlie object of liis expeditions was not 
accomplished until 1G09, when D'Iberville, under the authority of the 
crown, discovered, on the second of March, by way of the sea, the mouth 
of the " Hidden River.'' This majestic stream was called by the natives 
^"^ Malbouchia,'" and by the Spaniards, " Za Palissade," from the great 



-^ <^2:'%"- /^sjl ,|;i'y'' r ,•' 







TRAPPING. 

number of trees about its mouth. After traversing the several outlets, 
and satisfying himself as to its certainty, he erected a fort near its western 
outlet, and returned to France. 

An avenue of trade was now openeil out which was fnlly improved. 
In 1718, New Orleans was laid out tmd settled by some European colo- 
nists. In 1762, the colony was made over to Spain, to be regained by 
France under the consulate of Napoleon. In 1803, it was purchased by 



30 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

the United States for the sum of fifteen million dollars, and the territory 
of Louisiana and commerce of the Mississippi River came under the 
charge of the United States. Although LaSalle's labors ended in defeat 
and death, he had not worked and suffered in vain. He had thrown 
open to France and the world an immense and most valuable country ; 
had established several ports, and laid the foundations of more than one 
settlement there. " Peoria, Kaskaskia and Cahokia, are to this dav monu- 
ments of LaSalle's labors ; for, though he had founded neither of them 
(unless Peoria, which was built nearly upon the site of Fort Crevecceur,) 
it was by those whom he led into the West that these places were 
peopled and civilized. He was, if not the discoverer, the first settler of 
the Mississippi Valley, and as such deserves to be known and honored." 

The French early improved the opening made for them. Before the 
year 1698, the Rev. Father Gravier began a mission among the Illinois, 
and founded Kaskaskia. For some time this was merely a missionary 
station, where none but natives resided, it being one of three such vil- 
lages, the other two being Cahokia and Peoria. What is known of 
these missions is learned from a letter written by Father Gabriel Marest, 
dated " Aux Cascaskias, autrement dit de Tlmmaculate Conception de 
la Sainte Vierge, le 9 Novembre, 1712." Soon after the founding of 
Kaskaskia, the missionary, Pinet, gathered a flock at Cahokia, while 
Peoria arose near the ruins of Fort Crevecceur. This must have been 
about the j^ear 1700. The post at Vincennes on the Oubache river, 
(pronounced Wa-ba, meaning summer cloud moving swiftly') was estab- 
lished in 1702, according to the best authorities.* It is altogether prob- 
able that on LaSalle's last trip he established the stations at Kaskaskia 
and Cahokia. In July, 1701, the foundations of Fort Ponchartrain 
were laid by De la Motte Cadilldc on the Detroit River. These sta- 
tions, with those established further north, were the earliest attempts to 
occupy the Northwest Territory. At the same time efforts were being 
made to occupy the Southwest, which finally culminated in the settle- 
ment and founding of the City of New Orleans by a colony from England 
in 1718. This was mainly accomplished through the efforts of the 
famous Mississippi Company, established by the notorious John Law, 
who so quickly arose into prominence in France, and who witli his 
scheme so quickly and so ignominiously passed away. 

From the time of the founding of these stations for fifty years the 
French nation Avere engrossed with the settlement of the lower Missis- 
sippi, and the war with the Chicasaws, who had, in revenge for repeated 

• There is considerable dispute about tliis date, some asserting it was founded as late as 1742. V/Iieii 
the new court house at Vincennes was erected, all authorities on the sul)ject were carefully examined, and 
iV03 fixed upon as the correct date. It was accordingly engraved on the corner-stone of the court liouse. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 31 

injuries, cut off the entire colony at Natchez. Although the company 
did little for Louisiana, as the entire West was then called, yet it opened 
the trade through the Mississippi River, and started the raising of grains 
indigenous to that climate. Until the year 1750, but little is known of 
the settlements in the Northwest, as it was not until this time that the 
attention of the English was called to the occupation of this portion of the 
New World, which they then supposed they owned. Vivier, a missionary 
among the Illinois, writing from " Aux Illinois," six leagues from Fort 
Chartres, June 8, 1750, says: "We have here whites, negroes and 
Indians, to say nothing of cross-breeds. There are five French villages, 
and three villages of the natives, within a space of twenty-one leagues 
situated between the Mississippi and another river called the Karkadaid 
(Kaskaskias). In the five French villages are, perha])s, eleven hundred 
whites, three hundred blacks and some sixty red slaves or savages. The 
three Illinois towns do not contain more than eioht hundred souls all 
told. Most of the French till the soil; they raise wheat, cattle, pigs and 
horses, and live like princes. Three times as much is produced as can 
be consumed ; and great quantities of grain and flour are sent to New 
Orleans." This city was now the seaport town of the Northwest, and 
save in the extreme northern part, where only furs and copper ore were 
found, almost all the products of the country found their way to France 
by the mouth of the Father of Waters. In another letter, dated Novem- 
ber 7, 1750, this same priest says : " For fifteen leagues above the 
mouth of the Mississippi one sees no dwellings, the ground being too low 
to be habitable. Thence to New Orleans, the lands are only partially 
occupied. New Orleans contains black, white and red, not more, I 
think, than twelve hundred persons. To this point come all lumber, 
bricks, salt-beef, tallow, tar, skins and bear's grease ; and above all, pork 
and flour from the Illinois. These things create some commerce, as forty 
vessels and more have come hither this year. Above New Orleans, 
plantations are again met with ; the most considerable is a colony of 
Germans, some ten leagues up the river. At Point Coupee, thirty-five 
leagues above the German settlement, is a fort. Along here, within five 
or six leagues, are not less than sixty habi'tations. Fifty leagues farther 
up is the Natchez post, where we have a garrison, who are kept prisoners 
through fear of the Chickasaws. Here and at Point Coupee, they raise 
excellent tobacco. Another hundred leagues brings us to the Arkansas, 
where we have also a fort and a garrison for the benefit of the river 
traders. * * * From the Arkansas to the Illinois, nearly five hundred 
leagues, there is not a settlement. Tliere should be, however, a fort at 
the Oubache (Ohio), the only path by which the English can reach the 
Mississippi. In the Illinois country are numberless mines, but no one to 



82 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



work them as they deserve." Father Marest, writing from tlie post at 
Vincennes in 181 2, makes the same observation. Vivier also sa3-s : '' Some 
individuals dig lead near the surface and supply the Indians and Canada. 
Two Spaniards now here, avIio claim to be adepts, say that our mines are 
like those of. Mexico, and that if we would dig deeper, we should find 
silver under the lead ; and at any rate the lead is excellent. There is also 
in this country, beyond doubt, copper ore, as from time to time large 
pieces are found in the streams." 







HUNTING. 



At the close of the year 1750, the French occupied, in addition to the 
lower Mississippi posts and those in Illinois, one at Du Quesne, one at 
the Maumee in the country of the Miamis, and one at Sandusky in what 
may be termed the Ohio Valle3^ In the northern part of the Northwest 
they had stations at St. Joseph's on the St. Joseph's of Lake Michigan, 
at Fort Ponchartrain (Detroit), at Michillimackanac or Massillimacanac, 
Fox River of Green Bay, and at Sault Ste. Marie. The fondest dreams of 
LaSalle were now fully realized. The French alone were possessors of 
this vast realm, basing their claim on discovery and settlement. Another 
nation, however, was now turning its attention to this extensive country, 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 3.^ 

and hearing of its wealth, began to lay plans for occupying it and for 
securing the great profits arising therefrom. 

The French, however, had another claim to this country, namely, the 



DISCOVERY OF THE OHIO. 

This '' Beautifur' river was discovered by Robert Cavalier de La- 
Salle in 16G9, four years before the discovery of the Mississippi by Joliet 
and Marquette. 

While LaSalle was at his trading post on the St. Lawrence, he found 
leisure to study nine Indian dialects, the chief of which was the Iroquois. 
He not only desired to facilitate his intercourse in trade, but he longed 
to travel and explore the unknown regions of the West. An incident 
soon occurred which decided hira to fit out an exploring expedition. 

While conversing with some Senecas, he learned of a river called the 
Ohio, .which rose in their countr}^ and flowed to the sea, but at such a 
distance that it required eight months to reach its mouth. In this state- 
ment the Mississippi and its tributaries were considered as one stream. 
LaSalle believing, as most of the French at that period did, that the great 
rivers flowing west emptied into the Sea of California, was anxious to 
embark in the enterprise of discovering a route across the continent to 
the commerce of China and Japan. 

He repaired at once to Quebec to obtain the approval of the Gov- 
ernor. His eloquent appeal prevailed. The Governor and the Intendant» 
Talon, issued letters patent authorizing the enterprise, but made no pro- 
vision to defray the expenses. At this juncture the seminary of St. Sul- 
pice decided to send out missionaries in connection Avith the expedition, 
and LaSalle offering to sell his improvements at LaChine to raise money, 
the offer was accepted by the Superior, and two thousand eight hundred 
dollars were raised, with which LaSalle purchased four canoes and the 
necessary supplies for the outfit. 

On the 6th of July, 1669, the party, numbering twenty-four persons, 
embarked in seven canoes on the St. Lawrence ; two additional canoes 
carried the Indian guides. In three days they were gliding over the 
bosom of Lake Ontario. Their guides conducted them directly to the 
Seneca village on the bank of the Genesee, in the vicinity of the present 
City of Rochester, New York. Here they expected to pi*ocure guides to 
conduct them to the Ohio, l)ut in this they were disappointed. 

The Indians seemed unfriendly to the enterprise. LaSalle suspected 
that the Jesuits had prejudiced their minds against his plans. After 
waiting a month in tlie hope of gaining their object, they met an Indian 



84 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



from the Iroquois colony at the head of Lake Ontario, who assured them 
that they could there find guides, and offered to conduct them thence. 

On their way they passed the mouth of the Niagara River, when they 
heard for the first time the distant thunder of the cataract. Arriving 




IKOtiUOlS CUIKF. 

among the Iroquois, they met with a friendly reception, and learned 
from a Shawanee prisoner that they could reach the Ohio in six weeks. 
Delighted with the unexpected good fortune, they made ready to resume 
their journey ; but just as they were about to start they heard of the 
arrival of two Frenchmen in a neighboring village. One of them proved 
to be Louis Joliet, afterwards famous as an explorer in the West. He 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 35 

had been sent by the Canadian Government to explore the copper mines 
on Lake Superior, but had failed, and was on his way back to Quebec. 
He gave the missionaries a map of the country he had explored in the 
lake region, together with an account of the condition of the Indians in 
that quarter. This induced the priests to determine on leaving the 
expedition and going to Lake Superior. LaSalle warned them that the 
Jesuits were probably occupying that field, and that they would meet 
with a cold reception. Nevertheless they persisted in their purpose, and 
after worship on the lake shore, parted from LaSalle. On arriving at 
Lake Superior, they found, as LaSalle had predicted, the Jesuit Fathers, 
Marquette and Dablon, occupying the field. 

These zealous disciples of Loyola informed them that they wanted 
no assistance from St. Sulpice, nor from those who made him their patron 
saint ; and thus repulsed, they returned to Montreal the following June 
without having made a single discovery or converted a single Indian. 

After parting with the priests, LaSalle went to the chief Iroquois 
village at Onondaga, where he obtained guides, and passing thence to a 
tributary of the Ohio south of Lake Erie, he descended the latter as far 
as the falls at Louisville. Thus was the Ohio discovered by LaSalle, the 
persevering and successful French explorer of the West, in 1669. 

The account of the latter part of his journey is found in an anony- 
mous paper, which purports to have been taken from the lips of LaSalle 
himself during a subsequent visit to Paris. In a letter written to Count 
Frontenac in 1667, shortly after the discovery, he himself says that he 
discovered the Ohio and descended it to the falls. This was regarded as 
an indisputable fact by the French authorities, who claimed the Ohio 
Valle>' upon another ground. When Washington was sent by the colony 
of Virginia in 1753, to demand of Gordeur de St. Pierre why the French 
had built a fort on the Monongahela, the haughty commandant at Quebec 
replied : " We claim the country on the Ohio by virtue of the discoveries 
of LaSalle, and will not give it up to the English. Our orders are to 
make prisoners of every Englishman found trading in the Ohio Valley." 



ENGLISH EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS. 

When the new year of 1750 broke in upon the Father of Waters 
and the Great Northwest, all was still wild save at the French posts 
already described. In 1749, when the English first began to think seri- 
ously about sending men into the West, the greater portion of the States 
of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were yet 
under the dominion of the red men. The English knew, however, pretty 



36 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

conclusively of the nature of the wealth of these wilds. As early as 
1710, Governor Spotswood, of Virginia, had commenced movements to 
secure the country west of the AUeghenies to the English crown. In 
Pennsylvania, Governor Keith and James Logan, secretary of the prov- 
ince, from 1719 to 1731, represented to the powers of England the neces- 
sity of securing the Western lands. Nothing was done, however, b}'- that 
power save to take some diplomatic steps to secure the claims of Britain 
to this unexplored wilderness. 

England had from the outset claimed from the Atlantic to the Pacific, 
on the ground that the discovery of the seacoast and its possession was a 
discovery and possession of the country, and, as is well known, her grants 
to the colonies extended " from sea to sea." This was not all her claim. 
She had purchased from the Indian tribes large tracts of land. This lat- 
ter was also a strong argument. As early as 1684, Lord H oward. Gov- 
ernor of Virginia, held a treaty with the six nations. These were the 
great Northern Confederacy, and comprised at first the Mohawks, Onei- 
das, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. Afterward the Tuscaroras were 
taken into the confederacy, and it became known as the Six Nations. 
They came under the protection of the mother country, and again in 
1701, they repeated the agreement, and in September, 1726, a formal deed 
was drawn up and signed by the chiefs. The validity of this claim has 
often been disputed, but never successfully. In 1744, a purchase was 
made at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, of certain lands within the " Colony of 
Virginia," for which the Indians received £200 in gold and a like sum in 
goods, with a promise that, as settlements increased, more should be paid. 
The Commissioners from Virginia were Colonel Thomas Lee and Colonel 
William Beverly. As settlements extended, the promise of more pay was 
called to mind, and Mr. Conrad Weiser was sent across the mountains with 
presents to appease the savages. Col. Lee, and some Virginians accompa- 
nied him with the intention of sounding the Indians upon their feelings 
regarding the English. They were not satisfied with their treatment, 
and plainly told the Commissioners why. The English did not desire the 
cultivation of the country, but the monopoly of the Indian trade. In 
1748, the Ohio Company was formed, and petitioned the king for a grant 
of land beyond the AUeghenies. This was granted, and the government 
of Virginia was ordered to grant to them a half million acres, two hun- 
dred thousand of which were to be located at once. Upon the 12th of 
June, 1749, 800,000 acres from the line of Canada north and west was 
made to the Loyal Company, and on the 29th of October, 1751, 100,000 
acres were given to the Greenbriar Company. All this time the French 
were not idle. They saw that, should the British gain a foothold in the 
West, especially upon the Ohio, they might not only prevent the French 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 37 

settling upon it, but in time would come to the lower posts and so gain 
possession of the whole country. Upon the 10th of May, 1774, Vaud- 
reuil, Governor of Canada and the French possessions, well knowing the 
consequences that must arise from allowing the English to build trading 
posts in the Northwest, seized some of their frontier posts, and to further 
secure the claim of the French to the West, he, in 1749, sent Louis Cel- 
eron with a party of soldiers to plant along the Ohio River, in the mounds 
and at the mouths of its principal tributaries, plates of lead, on which 
were inscribed the claims of France. These were heard of in 1752, and 
within the memory of residents now living along the " Oyo," as the 
beautiful river was called by the French. One of these plates was found 
with the inscription partly defaced. It bears date August 16, 1749, and 
a copy of the inscription with particular account of the discovery of the 
plate, was sent by DeWitt Clinton to the American Antiquarian Society, 
among whose journals it may now be found.* These measures did not, 
however, deter the English from going on with their explorations, and 
though neither party resorted to arms, yet the conflict was gathering, and 
it was only a question of time when the storm would burst upon the 
frontier settlements. In 1750, Christopher Gist was sent by the Ohio 
Company to examine its lands. He went to a village of the Twigtwees, 
on the Miami, about one hundred and fifty miles above its mouth. He 
afterward spoke of it as very populous. From there he went down 
the Ohio River nearly to the falls at the present City of Louisville, 
and in November he commenced a survey of the Company's lands. Dur- 
ing the Winter, General Andrew Lewis performed a similar work for the 
Greenbriar Company. Meanwhile the French were bus}^ in preparing 
their forts for defense, and in opening roads, and also sent a small party 
of soldiers to keep the Ohio clear. This party, having heard of the Eng- 
lish post on the Miami River, early in 1652, assisted by the Ottawas and 
Chippewas, attacked it, and, after a severe battle, in which fourteen of 
the natives were killed and others wounded, captured the garrison. 
(They were probably garrisoned in a block house). The traders were 
carried away to Canada, and one account says several were burned. This 
fort or post was called by the English Pickawillany. A memorial of the 
king's ministers refers to it as " Pickawillanes, in the center cf the terri- 
tory between the Ohio and the Wabash. The name is probably some 
variation of Pickaway or Picqua in 1773, written by Rev. David Jones 
Pickaweke." 

■* The following is a translation of the inscription on tlie plate: "In tlie year 1749. reigii of Lonis XV., 
King of Franco, we, Celeron, conunandant of a detachment by JMonsieur the Marquis of Gallisoniere, com- 
mander-in-chief of New France, to establish tranquility in certain Indian villages of these cantons, have 
Varied this plate at the confluence of the ToradaUoin. Hi is twenty- ninth of July, near the river Ohio, otherwise 
Beautiful River, as a monument of renewal of possession which we have taken of the said river, and all its 
tributaries; inasmuch as the preceding Kings of France have enjoyed it, and maintained it by their arms and 
treaties; especially by those of Ryswick, Utrecht, and Aix La Chapelle." 



88 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

This was the first blood shed between the French and English, and 
occurred near the present City of Piqua, Ohio, or at least at a point about 
forty-seven miles north of Dayton. Each nation became now more inter- 
ested in the progress of events in the Northwest. The English deter- 
mined to purchase from the Indians a title to the lands they wished to 
occupy, and Messrs. Fry (afterward Commander-in-chief over Washing- 
ton at the commencement of the French War of 1775-1763), Lomax and 
Patton were sent in the Spring of 1752 to hold a conference with the 
natives at Logstown to learn what they objected to in the treaty of Lan- 
caster alread}^ noticed, and to settle all difficulties. On the 9th of June, 
these Commissioners met the red men at Logstown, a little village on the 
north bank of the Ohio, about seventeen miles below the site of Pitts- 
burgh. Here had been a trading point for many years, but it was aban- 
doned by the Indians in 1750. At first the Indians declined to recognize 
the treaty of Lancaster, but, the Commissioners taking aside Montour, 
the interpreter, who was a son of the famous Catharine Montour, and a 
chief among the six nations, induced him to use his influence in their 
favor. This he did, and upon the loth of June they all united in signing 
a deed, confirming the Lancaster treaty in its full extent, consenting to a 
settlement of the southeast of the Ohio, and guaranteeing that it should 
not be disturbed by them. These were the means used to obtain the first 
treaty with the Indians in the Ohio Valle3^ 

Meanwhile the powers beyond the sea were trying to out-manoeuvre 
each other, and were professing to be at peace. The English generally 
outwitted the Indians, and failed in many instances to fulfill their con- 
tracts. They thereby gained the ill-will of the red men, and further 
increased the feeling by failing to provide them Avith arms and ammuni- 
tion. Said an old chief, at Easton, in 1758 : " The Indians on the Ohio 
left 3^ou because of your own fault. When we heard the French were 
coming, we asked you for help and arms, but we did not get them. The 
French came, they treated, us kindly, and gained our affections. The 
Governor of Virginia settled on our lands for his own benefit, and, when 
we wanted help, forsook us." 

At the beginning of 1653, the English thought they had secured by 
title the lands in the West, but the French had quietly gathered cannon 
and military stores to be in readiness for the expected blow. The Eng- 
lish made other attempts to ratify these existing treaties, but not until 
the Summer could the Indians be gathered together to discuss the plans 
of the French. They had sent messages to the French, warning them 
away ; but they replied that they intended to complete the chain of forts 
alread}' ])egua. and would not abandon the field. 

Soon after this, no satisfaction being obtained from the Ohio regard- 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 39 

ing the positions and pnrposes of the French, Governor Dinwiddie of 
Virginia determined to send to them another messenger and learn from 
them, if possible, their intentions. For this purpose he selected a young 
man, a surveyor, who, at the early age of nineteen, had received the rank 
of major, and who was thoroughly posted regarding frontier life. This 
personage was no other than the illustrious George Washington, who then 
held considerable interest in Western lands. He was at this time just 
twenty-two years of age. Taking Gist as his guide, the two, accompanied 
by four servitors, set out on their perilous march. They left Will's 
Creek on the 10th of November, 1753, and on the 2'2d reached the Monon- 
gahela, about ten miles above the fork. From there they went to 
Logstown, where Washington had a long conference with the chiefs of 
the Six Nations. From them he learned the condition of the French, and 
also heard of their determination not to come down the riVer till the fol- 
lowing Spring. The Indians were non-committal, as they were afraid to 
turn either way, and, as far as they could, desired to remain neutral. 
Washington, finding nothing could be done with them, went on to 
Venango, an old Indian town at the mouth of French Creek. Here the 
French had a fort, called Fort Machault. Through the rum and flattery 
of the French, he nearly lost all his Indian followers. Finding nothing 
of importance here, he pursued his way amid great privations, and on the 
11th of December reached the fort at the head of French Creek. Here 
he delivered Governor Dinwiddle's letter, received his answer, took his 
observations, and on the 16th set out upon his return journey with no one 
but Gist, his guide, and a few Indians who still remained true to him, 
notwithstanding the endeavors of the French to retain them. Their 
homeward journey was one of great peril and suffering from the cold, yet 
they reached home in safety on the 6th of January, 1754. 

From the letter of St. Pierre, commander of the French fort, sent by 
Washington to Governor Dinwiddie, it was learned that the French would 
not give up without a struggle. Active preparations were at once made 
in all the English colonies for the coming conflict, while the French 
finished the fort at Venango and strengthened their lines of fortifications, 
and ofathered their forces to be in readiness. 

The Old Dominion was all alive. Virginia was the center of great 
activities ; volunteers were called for, and from all the neighboring 
colonies men rallied to the conflict, and everywhere along the Potomac 
men were enlisting under the Governor's proclamation — which promised 
two hundred thousand acres on the Ohio. Along this river they were 
gathering as far as Will's Creek, and far beyond this point, whither Trent 
had come for assistance for his little band of forty-one men, who were 



40 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

working away in hunger and want, to fortify that point at the fork of 
the Ohio, to which both parties were looking with deep interest. 

" The first birds of Spring filled the air with their song ; the swift 
river rolled by the Allegheny hillsides, swollen by the melting snows of 
Spring and the April showers. The leaves were appearing ; a few Indian 
scouts were seen, but no enemy seemed near at hand ; and all was so quiet, 
that Frazier, an old Indian scout and trader, who had been left by Trent 
in command, ventured to his home at the mouth of Turtle Creek, ten 
miles up the Monongahela. But, though all was so quiet in that wilder- 
ness, keen eyes had seen the low intrenchment rising at the fork, and 
swift feet had borne the news of it up the river ; and upon the morning 
of the 17th of April, Ensign Ward, who then had charge of it, saw 
upon the Allegheny a sight that made his heart sink — sixty batteaux and 
three hundred canoes filled with men, and laden deep with cannon and 
stores. * * * That evening he supped with his captor, ContreccEur, 
and the next day he was bowed off by the Frenchman, and. with his men 
and tools, marched up the Monongahela." 

The French and Indian war had begun. The treaty of Aix la 
Chapelle, in 1748, had left the boundaries between the French and 
English possessions unsettled, and the events already narrated show the 
French were determined to hold the country watered by the Mississippi 
and its tributaries ; while the English laid claims to the country by virtue 
of the discoveries of the Cabots, and claimed all the country from New- 
foundland to Florida, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The 
first decisive blow had now been struck, and the first attempt of the 
English, through the Ohio Company, to occupy these lands, had resulted 
disastrously to them. The French and Indians immediately completed 
the fortifications begun at the Fork, which they had so easily captured, 
and when completed gave to the fort the name of DuQuesne. Washing- 
ton was at Will's Creek when the news of the capture of the fort arrived. 
He at once departed to recapture it. On his way he entrenched him- 
self at a place called the " Meadows," where he erected a fort called 
by him Fort Necessity. From there he surprised and captured a force of 
French and Indians marchino- ao-ainst him, but was soon after attacked 
in his fort by a much superior force, and was obliged to yield on the 
morning of July 4th. He was allowed to return to Virginia. 

The English Government immediately planned four campaigns ; one 
against Fort DuQuesne ; one against Nova Scotia ; one against Fort 
Niagara, and one against Crown Point. These occurred during 1755-6, 
and were not successful in driving the French from their possessions. 
The expedition against Fort DuQuesne was led by the famous General 
Braddock, who, refusing to listen to the advice of Washington and those 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY, 41 

acquainted with Indian warfare, suffered such an inglorious defeat. This 
occurred on the morning of July 9th, and is generally known as the battle 
of Monongahela, or " Braddock's Defeat." The war continued with 
various vicissitudes through the years 1756-7 ; when, at the commence- 
ment of 1758, in accordance with the plans of William Pitt, then Secre- 
tary of State, afterwards Lord Chatham, active preparations were made to 
carry on the war. Three expeditions were planned for this year : one, 
under General Amherst, against Louisburg ; another, under Abercrombie, 
against Fort Ticonderoga ; and a third, under General Forbes, against 
Fort DuQuesne. On the 26th of July, Louisburg surrendered after a 
desperate resistance of more than forty days, and the eastern part of the 
Canadian possessions fell into the hands of the British. Abercrombie 
captured Fort Frontenac, and when the expedition against Fort DuQuesne, 
of which Washington had the active command, arrived there, it was 
found in flames and deserted. The English at once took possession, 
rebuilt the fort, and in honor of their illustrious statesman, changed the 
name to Fort Pitt. 

Tl\e great object of thq campaign of 1759, was the reduction of 
Canada. General Wolfe was to lay siege to Quebec ; Amherst was to 
reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and General Prideaux was to 
capture Niagara. This latter place was taken in July, but the gallant 
Prideaux lost his life in the attempt. Amherst captured Ticonderoga 
and Crown Point without a blow ; and Wolfe, after making the memor- 
able ascent to the Plains of Abraham, on September 13th, defeated 
Montcalm, and on the 18th, the city capitulated. In this engagement 
Montcolm and Wolfe l)oth lost their lives. De Levi, Montcalm's successor, 
marched to Sillery, three miles above the city, with the purpose of 
defeating the English, and there, on the 28th of the following April, was 
fought one of the bloodiest battles of the French and Indian War. It 
resulted in the defeat of the French, and the fall of the City of Montreal. 
The Governor signed a capitulation by which the whole of Canada was 
surrendered to the English. This practically concluded the war, but it 
was not until 1763 that the treaties of peace between France and England 
were signed. This was done on the 10th of February of that year, and 
under its provisions all the country east of the Mississippi and north of 
the Iberville River, in Louisiana, were ceded to England. At the same 
time Spain ceded Florida to Great Britain. 

On the 13th of September, 1760, Major Robert Rogers was sent 
from Montreal to take charge of Detroit, the only remaining French post 
in the territory. He arrived there on the 19th of November, and sum- 
moned the place to surrender. At first the commander of the post, 
Beletre refused, but on the 29th, hearing of the continued defeat of the 



42 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

French arms, surrendered. Rogers remained there until December 23d 
under the personal protection of the celebrated chief, Pontiac, to whom, 
no doubt, he owed his safety. Pontiac had come here to inquire the 
purposes of the English in taking possession of the country. He was 
assured that they came simply to trade with the natives, and did not 
desire their country. This answer conciliated the savages, and did much 
to insure the safety of Rogers and his party during their stay, and while 
on their journey home. 

Rogers set out for Fort Pitt on December 23, and was just one 
month on the way. His route was from Detroit to Maumee, thence 
across the present State of Ohio directly to the fort. This was the com- 
mon trail of the Indians in their journeys from Sandusky to the fork of 
the Ohio. It went from Fort Sandusky, where Sandusky City now is, 
crossed the Huron river, then called Bald Eagle Creek, to " Mohickon 
John's Town" on Mohickon Creek, the northern branch of White 
Woman's River, and thence crossed to Beaver's Town, a Delaware town 
on what is now Sandy Creek. At Beaver's Town were probably one 
hundred and fifty warriors, and not less than three thousand acres of 
cleared land. From there the track went up Sandy Creek to and across 
Big Beaver, and up the Ohio to Logstown, thence on to the fork. 

The Northwest Territory was now entirely under the English rule. 
New settlements began to be rapidly made, and the promise of a large 
trade was speedily manifested. Had the British carried out their promises 
with the natives none of those savage butcheries would have been perpe- 
trated, and the country would have been spared their recital. 

The renowned chief, Pontiac, was one of the leading spirits in these 
atrocities. We will now pause in our narrative, and notice the leading 
events in his life. The earliest authentic information regarding this 
noted Indian chief is learned from an account of an Indian trader named 
Alexander Henry, who, in the Spring of 1761, penetrated his domains as 
far as Missillimacnac. Pontiac was then a great friend of the French, 
but a bitter foe of the English, whom he considered as encroaching on his 
hunting grounds. Henry was obliged to disguise himself as a Canadian 
to insure safety, but was discovered by Pontiac, who bitterly reproached 
him and the English for their attempted subjugation of the West. He 
declared that no treaty had been made with them; no presents sent 
them, and that he would resent any possession of the West by that nation. 
He was at the time about fifty years of age, tall and dignified, and was 
civil and military ruler of the Ottawas, Ojibwas and Pottawatamies. 

The Indians, from Lake Michigan to the borders of North Carolina, 
were united in this feeling, and at the time of the treaty of Paris, ratified 
February 10, 1763, a general conspiracy was formed to fall suddenly 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



13 




PONTIAC, THE OTTAWA CHIEFTAIN. 



44 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

upon the frontier British posts, and with one blow strike every man dead. 
Pontiac was the marked leader in all this, and was the commander 
of the Chippewas, Ottawas, Wyandots, Miamis, Shawanese, Delawares 
and Mingoes, whohad, for the time, laid aside their local quarrels to unite 
in this enterprise. 

The blow came, as near as can now be ascertained, on May 7, 1768. 
Nine British posts fell, and the Indians drank, "• scooped up in the hollow 
of joined hands," the blood of many a Briton. 

Pontiac's immediate field of action was the garrison at Detroit. 
Here, however, the plans were frustrated by an Indian woman disclosing 
the plot the evening previous to his arrival. Everything was carried out, 
however, according to Pontiac's plans until the moment of action, when 
Major Gladwyn, the commander of the post, stepping to one of the Indian 
chiefs, suddenly drew aside his blanket and disclosed the concealed 
musket. Pontiac, though a brave man, turned pale and trembled. He 
saw his plan was known, and that the garrison were prepared. He 
endeavored to exculpate himself from any such intentions ; but the guilt 
was evident, and he and his followers were dismissed with a severe 
reprimand, and warned never to again enter the walls of the post. 

Pontiac at once laid siege to tlie fort, and until the treaty of peace 
between the British and the Western Indians, concluded in August, 1764, 
continued to harass and besiege the fortress. He organized a regular 
commissariat department, issued bills of credit written out on bark, 
which, to his credit, it may be stated, were punctually redeemed. At 
the conclusion of the treaty, in which it seems he took no part, he went 
further south, living many years among the Illinois. 

He had given up all hope of saving his country and race. After a 
time he endeavored to unite the Illinois tribe and those about St. Louis 
in a war with the whites. His efforts were fruitless, and only ended in a 
quarrel between himself and some Kaskaskia Indians, one of whom soon 
afterwards killed him. His death was, however, avenged by the northern 
Indians, who nearly exterminated the Illinois in the wars which followed. 

Had it not been for the treachery of a few of his followers, his plan 
for the extermination of the whites, a masterly one, would undoubtedly 
have been carried out: 

It was in the Spring of the year following Rogers' visit that Alex- 
ander Henry went to Missillimacnac, and everywhere found the strongest 
feelings against the English, who had not carried out their promises, and 
were doing nothing to conciliate the natives. Here he met the chief, 
Pontiac, who, after conveying to him in a speech the idea that their 
French father would awake soon and utterly destroy his enemies, said : 
*' Englishman, although you have conquered the French, you have not 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 45 

yet conquered us ! We are not your slaves! These lakes, these woods, 
these mountains, were left us by our ancestors. They are our inheritance, 
and we will part with them to none. Your nation supposes that we, like 
the white people, can not live without bread and pork and beef. But you 
ought to know that He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, has provided 
food for us upon these broad lakes and in these mountains." 

He then spoke of the fact that no treaty had been made with them, 
no presents sent them, and that he and his people were yet for war. 
Such were the feelings of the Northwestern Indians immediately after 
the English took possession of their countr3\ These feelings were no 
doubt encouraged by the Canadians and French, who hoped that yet the 
French arms might prevail. The treaty of Paris, however, gave to the 
English the right to this vast domain, and active preparations were going 
on to occupy it and enjoy its trade and emoluments. 

In 1762, France, by a secret treaty, ceded Louisiana to Spain, to pre- 
vent it falling into the hands of the English, who were becoming masters 
of the entire West. The next year the treaty of Paris, signed at Fon- 
tainbleau, gave to the English the domain of the country in question. 
Twenty years after, by the treaty of peace between the United States 
and England, that part of Canada lying south and west of the Great 
Lakes, comprehending a large territory which is the subject of these 
sketches, was acknowledged to be a portion of the United States ; and 
twenty years still later, in 1803, Louisiana was ceded by Spain back to 
France, and by France sold to the United States. 

In the half century, from the building of the Fort of Crevecceur by 
LaSalle, in 1680, up to the erection of Fort Chartres, many French set- 
tlements had been made in that quarter. These have already been 
noticed, being those at St. Vincent (Vincennes), Kohokia or Cahokia, 
Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher, on the American Bottom, a large tract 
of rich alluvial soil in Illinois, on the Mississippi, opposite the site of St. 
Louis. 

By the treaty of Paris, the regions east of the Mississippi, including 
all these and other towns of the Northwest, were given over to England; 
but they do not appear to have btsn taken possession of until 1765, when 
Captain Stirling, in the name of the Majesty of England, established him- 
self at Fort Chartres bearing with him the proclamation of General Gage, 
dated December 30, 1764, which promised religious freedom to all Cath- 
olics who worshiped here, and a right to leave the country with their 
effects if they wished, or to remain with the privileges of Englishmen. 
It was shortly after the occupancy of the West by the British that the 
war with Pontiac opened. It is already noticed in the sketch of that 
chieftain B}"- it many a Briton lost his life, and many a frontier settle- 



46 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

ment in its infancy ceased to exist. This was not ended until the year 
1764, when, failing to capture Detroit, Niagara and Fort Pitt, his confed- 
eracy became disheartened, and, receiving no aid from the French, Pon- 
tiac abandoned the enterprise and departed to the Illinois, among Avhom 
he afterward lost his life. 

As soon as these difficulties were definitely settled, settlers began 
rapidly to survey the country and prepare for occupation. During the 
year 1770, a number of persons from Virginia and other British provinces 
explored and marked out nearly all the valuable lands on the Mononga- 
hela and along the banks of the Ohio as far as the Little Kanawha. This 
was followed by another exploring expedition, in which George Washing- 
ton was a party. The latter, accompanied by Dr. Craik, Capt. Crawford 
and others, on the 20th of October, 1770, descended the Ohio from Pitts- 
burgh to the mouth of the Kanawha ; ascended that stream about fourteen 
miles, marked out several large tracts of land, shot several buffalo, which 
were then abundant in the Ohio Valley, and returned to the fort. 

Pittsburgh was at this time a trading post, about which was clus- 
tered a village of some twenty houses, inhabited by Indian traders. This 
same year, Capt. Pittman visited Kaskaskia and its neighboring villages. 
He found there about sixtj^-five resident families, and at Cahokia only 
forty-five dwellings. At Fort Chartres was another small settlement, and 
at Detroit the garrison were quite prosperous and strong. For a year 
or two settlers continued to locate near some of these posts, generally 
Fort Pitt or Detroit, owing to the fears of the Indians, who still main- 
tained some feelings of hatred to the English. The trade from the posts 
was quite good, and from those in Illinois large quantities of pork and 
flour found their way to the New Orleans market. At this time the 
policy of the British Government was strongly opposed to the extension 
of the colonies west. In 1763, the King of England forbade, by royal 
proclamation, his colonial subjects from making a settlement beyond the 
sources of the rivers which fall into the Atlantic Ocean. At the instance 
of the Board of Trade, measures were taken to prevent the settlement 
without the limits prescribed, and to retain the commerce within easy 
reach of Great Britain. 

The commander-in-chief of the king's forces wrote in 1769 : " In the 
course of a few years necessity will compel the colonists, should they 
extend their settlements west, to provide manufactures of some kind for 
themselves, and when all connection upheld by commerce with the mother 
country ceases, an independency in their government will soon follow."' 

In accordance with this policy. Gov. Gage issued a proclamation 
in 1772, commanding the inhabitants of Vincennes to abandon their set- 
Uements and join some of the Eastern English colonies. To this they 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 47 

strenuously objected, giving good reasons therefor, and were allowed to 
remain. The strong opposition to this policy of Great Britain led to its 
change, and to such a course as to gain the attachment of the French 
population. In December, 1773, influential citizens of Quebec petitioned 
the king for an extension of the boundary lines of that province, which 
was granted, and Parliament passed an act on June 2, 1774, extend- 
ing the boundary so as to include the territory lying within the present 
States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. 

In consequence of the liberal policy pursued by the British Govern- 
ment toward the French settlers in the West, they were disposed to favor 
that nation in the war which soon followed with the colonies ; but the 
early alliance between France and America soon brought them to the side 
of the war for independence. 

In 1774, Gov. Dunmore, of Virginia, began to encourage emigration 
to the Western lands. He appointed magistrates at Fort Pitt under the 
pretense that the fort was under the government of that commonwealth. 
One of these justices, John Connelly, who possessed a tract of land in the 
Ohio Valley, gathered a force of men and garrisoned the fort, calling it 
Fort Dunmore. This and other parties were formed to select sites for 
settlements, and often came in conflict with the Indians, who yet claimed 
portions of the valley, and several battles followed. These ended in the 
famous battle of Kanawha in July, where the Indians were defeated and 
driven across the Ohio. 

During the years 1775 and 1776, by the operations of land companies 
and the perseveranceof individuals, several settlements were firmly estab- 
lished between the Alleghanies and the Ohio River, and western land 
speculators were busy in Illinois and on the Wabash. At a council held 
in Kaskaskia on July 5, 1773, an association of English traders, calling 
themselves the "Illinois Land Company," obtained from ten chiefs of the 
Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Peoria tribes two large tracts of land lying on 
the east side of the Mississippi River south of the Illinois. In 1775, a mer- 
chant from the Illinois Country, named Viviat, came to Post Vincennes 
as the agent of the association called the " Wabash Land Company." On 
the 8th of October he obtained from eleven Piankeshaw chiefs, a deed for 
37,497,600 acres of land. This deed was signed by the grantors, attested 
by a number of the inhabitants of Vincennes, and afterward recorded in 
the office of a notary public at Kaskaskia. This and other land com- 
panies had extensive schemes for the colonization of the West ; but all 
were frustrated by the breaking out of the Revolution. On the 20th of 
April, 1780, the two companies named consolidated under the name of the 
" United Illinois and Wabash Land Company." They afterward made 



48 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

strenuous efforts to have these grants sanctioned by Congress, but all 
signally failed. 

When the AVar of the Revolution commenced, Kentucky was an unor- 
ganized country, though there were several settlements within her borders. 

In Hutchins' Topography of Virginia, it is stated that at that time 
" Kaskaskia contained 80 houses, and nearly 1,000 white and black in- 
habitants — the whites being a little the more numerous. Cahokia con- 
tains 50 houses and 300 white inhabitants, and 80 negroes. There were 
east of the Mississippi River, about the year 1771 " — when these observa- 
tions were made — " 300 white men capable of bearing arms, and 230 
negroes." 

From 1775 until the expedition of Clark, nothing is recorded and' 
nothing known of these settlements, save what is contained in a leport 
made by a committee to Congress in June, 1778. From it the following 
extract is made : 

"Near the mouth of the River Kaskaskia, there is a village which 
appears to have contained nearly eighty families from the beginning of 
the late revolution. There are twelve families in a small village at la 
Prairie du Rochers, and near fifty families at the Kahokia Village. There 
are also four or five families at Fort Chartres and St. Philips, which is five 
miles further up the river." 

St. Louis had been settled in February, 1764, and at this time con- 
tained, including its neighboring towns, over six hundred whites and one 
hundred and fifty negroes. It must be remembered that all the country 
west of the Mississippi was now under French rule, and remained so until 
ceded again to Spain, its original owner, who afterwards sold it and the 
country including New Orleans to the United States. At Detroit there 
were, according to Capt. Carver, who was in the Northwest from 1766 to 
1768, more than one hundred houses, and the river was settled for more 
than twenty miles, although poorly cultivated — the people being engaged 
in the Indian trade. This old town has a history, which we will here 
relate. 

It is the oldest town in the Northwest, having been founded by 
Antoiue de Lamotte Cadillac, in 1701. It was laid out in the form of an 
oblong square, of two acres in length, and an acre and a half in width. 
As described by A. D. Frazer, who first visited it and became a permanent 
resident of the place, in 1778, it comprised within its limits that space 
between Mr. Palmer's store (Conant Block) and Capt. Perkins' house 
(near the Arsenal building), and extended back as far as the public barn, 
and was bordered in front by the Detroit River. It was surrounded by 
oak and cedar pickets, about fifteen feet long, set in the ground, and had 
four gates — east, west, north and south. Over the first three of these 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 49 

gates were block houses provided with four guns apiece, each a six- 
pounder. Two six-gun batteries were planted fronting the river and in a 
parallel direction with the block houses. There were four streets running 
east and west, the main street being twenty feet wide and the rest fifteen 
feet, while the four streets crossing these at right angles were from ten 
to fifteen feet in width. 

At the date spoken of by Mr. Frazer, there was no fort within the 
.enclosure, but a citadel on tiie ground corresponding to the present 
northwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and Wayne Street. The citadel was 
inclosed by pickets, and within it were erected barracks of wood, two 
stories high, sufiBcient to contain ten officers, and also barracks sufficient 
to contain four hundred men, and a provision store built of brick. The 
citadel also contained a hospital and guard-house. The old town of 
Detroit, in 1778, contained about sixty houses, most of them one story, 
with a few a story and a half in height. They were all of logs, some 
hewn and some round. There was one building of splendid appearance, 
called the " King's Palace," two stories high, which stood near the east 
gate. It was built for Governor Hamilton, the first governor commissioned 
by the British. There were two guard-houses, one near the west gate and 
the other near the Government House. Each of the guards consisted of 
twenty-four men and a subaltern, who mounted regularly every morning 
between nine and ten o'clock, . Each furnished four .sentinels, who weie 
relieved every two hours. There was also an officer of the day, who per- 
formed strict dut3\ Each of the gates was shut regularly at sunset ; 
even wicket gates were shut at nine o'clock, and all the keys were 
delivered into the hands of the commanding officer. They were ox^ened 
in the morning at sunrise. No Indian or squaw was permitted to enter 
town with any weapon, such as a tomahawk or a knife. It was a stand- 
ing order that the Indians should deliver their arms and instruments of 
every kind before they were permitted to pass the sentinel, and they were 
restored to them on their return. No more than twenty-five Indians were 
allowed to enter the town at any one time, and they were admitted only 
at the east and west gates. At sundown the drums beat, and all the 
Indians were required to leave town instantly. There was a council house 
near the water side for the purpose of holding council with the Indians. 
The population of the town was about sixty families, in all about two 
hundred males and one hundred females. This town was destroyed by 
fire, all except one dwelling, in 1805. After which the present " new " 
town was laid out. 

On the breaking out of the Revolution, the British held every post of 
importance in the West. Kentucky was formed as a component part of 
V^irginia, and the sturdy pioneers of the West, alive to their interests, 



60 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

and recosrnizins: the o^reat benefits of obtaining the control of the trade in 
this part of the New World, held steadily to their purposes, and those 
within the commonwealth of Kentucky proceeded to exercise their 
civil privileges, by electing John Todd and Ricliard Gallaway, 
burgesses to represent them in the Assembly of the parent state. 
Early in September of that year (1777) the first court was held 
in Harrodsburg, and Col. Bowman, afterwards major, who had arrived 
in August, was made the commander of a militia organization which 
had been commenced the March previous. Thus the tree of loyalty 
was growing. The chief spirit in this far-out colony, who had represented 
her the A'ear previous east of the mountains, was now meditating a move 
unequaled in its boldness. He had been watching the movements of the 
British throughout the Northwest, and understood their whole plan. Hfc 
saw it was through their possession of the posts at Detroit, Vinceunes, 
Kaskaskia, and other places, which would give them constant and easy 
access to the various Indian tribes in the Northwest, that the British 
intended to penetrate the country from the north and soutn, ana annihi- 
late the frontier fortresses. This moving, energetic man was Colonel, 
afterwards General, George Rogers Clark. He knew the Indians were not 
unanimously in accord with the English, and he was convinced that, could 
the British be defeated and expelled from the Northwest, the natives 
might be easily awed into neutralit}^ ; and by spies sent for the purpose, 
he satisfied himself that the enterprise against the Illinois settlements 
might easily succeed. Having convinced himself of the certainty of the 
project, he repaired to the Capital of Virginia, which place he reached on 
November 5th. While he was on his way, fortunately, on October 17th, 
Burgoyne had been defeated, and the spirits of the colonists greatly 
encouraged thereby. Patrick Henry was Governor of Virginia, and at 
once entered heartil}^ into Clark's plans. The same plan had before been 
agitated in the Colonial Assemblies, but there was no one until Clark 
came who was sufficiently acquainted with the condition of affairs at the 
scene of action to be able to guide them. 

Clark, having satisfied the Virginia leaders of the feasibility of his 
plan, received, on the 2d of January, two sets of instructions — one secret, 
the other open — the latter authorized him to proceed to enlist seven 
companies to go to Kentucky, subject to his orders, and to serve three 
months from their arrival in the West. The secret order authorized him 
to arm these troops, to procure his powder and lead of General Hand 
at Pittsburgh, and to proceed at once to subjugate the country. 

With these instructions Clark repaired to Pittsburgh, choosing rather 
to raise his men west of the mountains, as he well knew all were needed 
in the colonies in the conflict there. He sent Col. W. B. Smith to Hoi- 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 61 

ston for the same purpose, but neither succeeded in raising the required 
number of men. The settlers in these parts were afraid to leave their 
own firesides exposed to a vigilant foe, and but few could be induced to 
join the proposed expedition. With three companies and several private 
volunteers, Clark at length commenced his descent of the Ohio, which he 
navigated as far as the Falls, where he took possession of and fortified 
Corn Island, a small island between the present Cities of Louisville, 
Kentucky, and New Albany, Indiana. Remains of this fortification may 
yet be found. At this place he appointed Col. Bowman to meet him 
with such recruits as had reached Kentucky by the southern route, and 
as many as could be spared from the station. Here he announced to 
the men their real destination. Having completed his arrangements, 
and chosen his party, he left a small garrison upon the island, and on the 
24th of June, during a total eclipse of the sun, which to them augured 
no good, and which fixes beyond dispute the date of starting, he with 
his chosen band, fell down the river. His plan was to go by water as 
far as Fort Massac or Massacre, and thence march direct to Kaskaskia. 
Here he intended to surprise the garrison, and after its capture go to 
Cahokia, then to Vincennes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, he 
intended to march directly to the Mississippi River and cross it into the 
Spanish country. Before his start he received two good items of infor- 
mation : one that the alliance had been formed between France and the 
United States ; and the other that the Indians throughout the Illinois 
country and the inhabitants, at the various frontier posts, had been led to 
believe by the British that the "■ Long Knives" or Virginians, were the 
most fierce, bloodthirsty and cruel savages that ever scalped a foe. With 
this impression on their minds, Clark saw that proper management would 
cause them to submit at once from fear, if surprised, and then from grati- 
tude would become friendly if treated with unexpected leniency. 

The march to Kaskaskia was accomplished through a hot July sun, 
and the town reached on the evening of July 4. He captured the fort 
near the village, and soon after the village itself by surprise, and without 
the loss of a single man or bj'- killing any of the enemy. After sufficiently 
Avorking upon the fears of the natives, Clark told them they were at per- 
fect liberty to worship as they pleased, and to take whichever side of the 
great conflict they would, also he would protect them from any barbarity 
from British or Indian foe. This had the desired effect, and the inhab- 
itants, so unexpectedly and so gratefully surprised by the unlooked 
for turn of affairs, at once swore allegiance to the American arms, and 
when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the 6th of July, they accom- 
panied him, and through their influence the inhabitants of the place 
surrendered, and gladly placed themselves under his protection. Thus 



52 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

the two important posts in Illinois passed from the hands of the English 
into the possession of Virginia. 

In the person of the priest at Kaskaskia, M. Gibault, Clark found a 
powerful ally and generous friend. Clark saw that, to retain possession 
of the Northwest and treat successfully with the Indians within its boun- 
daries, he must establish a government for the colonies he had taken. 
St. Vincent, the next important post to Detroit, remained yet to be taken 
before the Mississippi Valley was conquered. M. Gibault told him that 
he would alone, by persuasion, lead Vincennes to throw off its connection 
with England. Clark gladly accepted his offer, and on the 14th of July, 
in company with a fellow-townsman, M. Gibault started on his mission of 
peace, and on the 1st of August returned with the cheerful intelligence 
that the post on the " Oubache " had taken the oath of allegiance to 
the Old Dominion. During this interval, Clark established his courts, 
placed garrisons at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, successfully re-enlisted his 
men, sent word to have a fort, which proved the germ of Louisville, 
erected at the Falls of the Ohio, and dispatched Mr. Rocheblave, who 
had been commander at Kaskaskia, as a prisoner of war to Richmond. 
In October the County of Illinois was established by the Legislature 
of Virginia, John Todd appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Civil Governor, 
and in November General Clark and his men received the thanks of 
the Old Dominion through their Legislature. 

In a speech a few days afterward, Clark made known fully to the 
natives his plans, and at its close all came forward and swore alle- 
giance to the Long Knives. While he was doing this Governor Hamilton, 
having made his various arrangements, had left Detroit and moved down 
the Wabash to Vincennes intending to operate from that point in reducing 
the Illinois posts, and then proceed on down to Kentucky and drive the 
rebels from the West. Gen. Clark had, on the return of M. Gibault, 
dispatched Captain Helm, of Fauquier County, Virginia, with an attend- 
ant named Henry, across the Illinois prairies to command the fort. 
Hamilton knew nothing of the capitulation of the post, and was greatly 
surprised on his arrival to be confronted by Capt. Helm, who, standing at 
the entrance of the fort by a loaded cannon ready to fire upon his assail- 
ants, demanded upon what terms Hamilton demanded possession of the 
fort. Being granted the rights of a prisoner of war, he surrendered to 
the British General, who could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw the 
force in the garrison. 

Hamilton, not realizing the character of the men with wliom he was 
contending, gave up his intended campaign for the Winter, sent his four 
hundred Indian warriors to prevent troops from coming down the Ohio, 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 63 • 

and to annoy the Americans in all ways, and sat qnietly down to pass the 
Winter. Information of all these proceedings having reached Clark, he 
saw that immediate and decisive action was necessary, and that unless 
he captured Hamilton, Hamilton would capture him. Glark received the 
news on the 29th of Januar}'-, 1779, and on February 4th, having suffi- 
ciently garrisoned Kaskaskia and Cahokia, he sent down the Mississippi 
a " battoe," as Major Bowman writes it, in order to ascend the Ohio and 
Wabash, and operate with the land forces gathering for the fray. 

On the next day, Clark, with his little force of one hundred and 
twenty men, set out for the post, and after incredible hard marching 
through much mud, the ground being thawed by the incessant spring 
rains, on the 22d reached the fort, and being joined by his " battoe," at 
once commenced the attack on the post. The aim of the American back- 
woodsman was unerring, and on the 24th the garrison surrendered to the 
intrepid boldness of Clark. The French were treated with great kind- 
ness, and gladly renewed their allegiance to Virginia. Hamilton was 
sent as a prisoner to Virginia, where he was kept in close confinement. 
During his command of the British frontier posts, he had offered prizes 
to the Indians for all the scalps of Americans they would bring to him, 
and had earned in consequence thereof the title "• Hair-buyer General," 
by which he was ever afterward known. 

Detroit was now without doubt within easy reach of the enterprising 
Virginian, could he but raise the necessary force. Governor Henry being 
apprised of this, promised him the needed reinforcement, and Clark con- 
cluded to wait until he could capture and sufficiently garrison the posts. 
Had Clark failed in this bold undertaking, and Hamilton succeeded in 
uniting the western Indians for the next Spring's campaign, the West 
would indeed have been swept from the Mississippi to the Allegheny 
Mountains, and the great blow struck, which had been contemplated from 
the commencement, by the British. 

" But for this small army of dripping, but fearless Virginians, the 
union of all the tribes from Georgia to Maine against the colonies might 
have been effected, and the whole current of our history changed." 

At this time some fears were entertained by the Colonial Govern- 
ments that the Indians in the North and Northwest were inclining to the 
British, and under the instructions of Washington, now Commander-in- 
Chief of the Colonial army, and so bravely fighting for American inde- 
pend<3nce, armed forces were sent against the Six Nations, and upon the 
Ohio frontier, Col. Bowman, acting under the same general's orders, 
marched against Indians within the present limits of that State. These 
expeditions were in the main successful, and the Indians were compelled 
to sue for peace. 



54 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

During this same year (1779) the famous " Land Laws" of Virginia 
were passed. The passage of these laws was of more consequence to the 
pioneers of Kentucky and the Northwest than the gaining of a few Indian 
conflicts. These laws confirmed in main all grants made, and guaranteed 
to all actual settlers their rights and privileges. After providing for the 
settlers, the laws provided for selling the balance of the public lands at 
forty cents per acre. To carry the Land Laws into effect, the Legislature 
sent four Virginians westward to attend to the various claims, over many 
of which great confusion prevailed concerning their validity. These 
gentlemen opened their court on (3ctober 13, 1779, at St. Asaphs, and 
continued until April 26, 1780, when they adjourned, having decided 
three thousand claims. They were succeeded by the surveyor, who 
came in the person of Mr. George May, and assumed his duties on the 
10th day of the month whose name he bore. With the opening of the 
next year (1780^ the troubles concerning the navigation of the Missis- 
sippi commenced. The Spanish Government exacted such measures in 
relation to its trade as to cause the overtures made to the United States 
to be rejected. The American Government considered they had a right 
to navigate its channel. To enforce their claims, a fort was erected below 
the mouth of the Ohio on the Kentucky side of the river. The settle- 
ments in Kentucky were being rapidly filled by emigrants. It was dur- 
ing this year that the first seminary of learning was established in the 
West in this young and enterprising Commonwealth. 

The settlers here did not look upon the building of this fort in a 
friendly manner, as it aroused the hostility of the Indians. Spain had 
been friendly to the Colonies during their struggle for independence, 
and though for a while this friendship appeared in danger from the 
refusal of the free navigation of the river, yet it was finally settled to the 
satisfaction of both nations. 

The Winter of 1779-80 was one of the most unusually severe ones 
ever experienced in the West. The Indians always referred to it as the 
"■Great Cold." Numbers of wild animals perished, and not a few 
pioneers lost their lives. The following Summer a party of Canadians 
and Indians attacked St. Louis, and attempted to take possession of it 
in consequence of the friendly disposition of Spain to the revolting 
colonies. They met with such a determined resistance on the part of the 
inhabitants, even the women taking part in the battle, that they were 
compelled to abandon the contest. The}'' also made an attack on the 
settlements in Kentucky, but, becoming alarmed in some unaccountable 
manner, they fled the country in great haste. 

About this time arose the question in the Colonial Congress con- 
cerning the western lands claimed by Virginia, New York, Massachusetts 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 55 

and Connecticut. The agitation concerning this subject finally led New 
York, on the 19th of February, 1780, to pass a law giving to the dele- 
gates of that State in Congress the power to cede her western lands for 
the benefit of the United States. This law was laid before Confess 
during the next month, but no steps were taken concerning it until Sep- 
tember 6th, when a resolution passed that body calling upon the States 
claiming western lands to release their claims in favor of the whole body. 
This basis formed the union, and was the first after all of those legislative 
measures which resulted in the creation of the States of Ohio, Indiana, 
Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In December of the same 
year, the plan of conquering Detroit again arose. The conquest might 
have easily been effected by Clark had the necessary aid been furnished 
him, Nothing decisive was done, vet the heads of the Government knew 
that the safety of the Northwest from British invasion lay in the capture 
and retention of that important post, the only unconquered one in the 
territory. 

Before the close of the year, Kentucky was divided into the Coun- 
ties of Lincoln, Fayette and Jefferson, and the act establishing the Town 
of Louisville was passed. This same year is also noted in the annals of 
American history as the year in which occurred Arnold's treason to the 
United States. 

Virginia, in accordance with the resolution of Congress, on the 2d 
day of January, 1781, agreed to yield her western lands to the United 
States upon certain conditions, which Congress would not accede to, and 
the Act of Cession, on the part of the Old Dominion, failed, nor was 
anything farther done until 1783. During all that time the Colonies 
were busily engaged in the struggle with the mother country, and in 
consequence thereof but little heed was given to the western settlements. 
Upon the 16th of April, 1781, the first birth north of the Ohio River of 
American parentage occurred, being that of Mary Heckewelder, daughter 
of the widely known Moravian missionary, whose band of Christian 
Indians suffered in after years a horrible massacre by the hands of the 
frontier settlers, who had been exasperated by the murder of several of 
their neighbors, and in their rage committed, without regard to humanity, 
a deed which forever afterwards cast a shade of shame upon their lives. 
For this and kindred outrages on the part of the whites, the Indians 
committed many deeds of cruelty which darken the years of 1771 and 
1772 in the history of the Northwest. 

During the year 1782 a number of battles among the Indians and 
frontiersmen occurred, and between the Moravian Indians and the Wyan- 
dots. In these, horrible acts of cruelty were practised on the captives, 
many of such dark deeds transpiring under the leadership of the notorious 



56 



THE NORTHWEST TEREITORY. 



frontier outlaw, Simon Girty, whose name, as well as those of his brothers, 
was a terror to women and children. These occurred chief!}' in the Ohio 
valleys. Cotemporary with them were several engagements in Kentucky, 
in which the famous Daniel Boone engaged, and who, often by his skill 
and knowledge of Indian warfare, saved the outposts from cruel destruc- 



^ 



^.^? \ 'm^'^0v^^^^ 




INDIANS ATTACKING FKONTIEKSMEN. 

tion. By the close of the year victory had perched upon the American 
banner, and on the 30th of November, provisional articles of peace had 
been arranged between the Commissioners of England and her uncon- 
querable colonies. Cornwallis had been defeated on the 19th of October 
preceding, and the liberty of America was assured. On the 19th of 
April following, the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, peace was 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 57 

proclaimed to the army of the United States, and on the 3d of the next 
September, the definite treaty which ended our revolutionary struggle 
was concluded. By the terms of that treaty, the boundaries of the West 
were as follows : On the north the line was to extend along the center of 
the Great Lakes ; from the western point of Lake Superior to Long Lake ; 
thence to the Lake of the Woods ; thence to the head of the Mississippi 
River; down its center to the 31st parallel of latitude, then on that line 
east to the head of the Appalachicola River ; down its center to its junc- 
tion with the Flint ; thence straight to the head of St. Mary's River, and 
thence down along its center to the Atlantic Ocean. 

Following the cessation of hostilities with England, several posts 
were still occupied by the British in the North and West. Among these 
was Detroit, still in the hands of the enemy. Numerous engagements 
with the Indians throughout Ohio and Indiana occurred, upon whose 
lands adventurous whites would settle ere the title had been acquired by 
the proper treaty. 

To remedy this latter evil, Congress appointed commissioners to 
treat with the natives and purchase their lands, and prohibited the set- 
tlement of the territory until this could be done. Before the close of the 
year another attempt was made to capture Detroit, which was, however, 
not pushed, and Virginia, no longer feeling the interest in the Northwest 
she had formerly done, withdrew her troops, having on the 20th of 
December preceding authorized the whole of her possessions to be deeded 
to the United States. This was done on the 1st of March following, and 
the Northwest Territory passed from the control of the Old Dominion. 
To Gen. Clark and his soldiers, however, she gave a tract of one hundred 
and fifty thousand acres of land, to be situated any where north of the 
Ohio wherever they chose to locate them. They selected the region 
opposite the falls of the Ohio, where is now the dilapidated village of 
Clarksville, about midway between the Cities of New Albany and Jeffer- 
sonville, Indiana. 

While the frontier remained thus, and Gen. Haldimand at Detroit 
refused to evacuate alleging that he had no orders from his King to do 
so, settlers were rapidly gathering about the inland forts. In the Spring 
of 1784, Pittsburgh was regularly laid out, and from the journal of Arthur 
Lee, who passed through the town soon after on his way to the Indian 
council at Fort Mcintosh, we suppose it was not very prepossessing in 
appearance. He says : 

" Pittsburgh is inhabited almost entirely by Scots and Irish, who 
live in paltry log houses, and are as dirty as if in the north of Ireland or 
even Scotland. There is a great deal of trade carried on, the goods being 
bought at the vast expense of forty-five shillings per pound from Phila- 



68 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

delphia and Baltimore. They take in the shops flour, wheat, skins and 
money. There are in the town four attorneys, two doctors, and not a 
priest of any persuasion, nor church nor chapel." 

Kentucky at this time contained thirty thousand inhabitants, and 
was beginning to discuss measures for a separation from Virginia. A 
land office was opened at Louisville, and measures were adopted to take 
defensive precaution against the Indians who were yet, in some instances, 
incited to deeds of violence by the British. Before the close of this year, 
1784, the military claimants of land began to occupy them, although no 
entries were recorded until 1787. 

The Indian title to the Northwest was not yet extinguished. They 
held large tracts of lands, and in order to prevent bloodshed Congress 
adopted means for treaties with the original owners and provided for the 
surveys of the lands gained thereby, as well as for those north of the 
Ohio, now in its possession. On January 31, 1786, a treaty was made 
with the Wabash Indians. The treaty of Fort Stanwix had been made 
in 1784. That at Fort Mcintosh in 1785, and through these much land 
was gained. The Wabash Indians, however, afterward refused to comply 
with the provisions of the treaty made with them, and in order to compel 
their adherence to its provisions, force was used. Daring the year 1786, 
the free navigation of the Mississippi came up in Congress, and caused 
various discussions, which resulted in no definite action, only serving to 
excite speculation in regard to the western lands. Congress had promised 
bounties of land to the soldiers of the Revolution, but owing to the 
unsettled condition of affairs along the Mississippi respecting its naviga- 
tion, and the trade of the Northwest, that body had, in 1783, declared 
its inability to fulfill these promises until a treaty could be concluded 
between the two Governments. Before the close of the year 1786, how- 
ever, it was able, through the treaties with the Indians, to allow some 
grants and the settlement thereon, and on the 14th of September Con- 
necticut ceded to the General Government the tract of land known as 
the " Connecticut Reserve," and before the close of the following year a 
large tract of land north of the Ohio was sold to a company, who at once 
took measures to settle it. By the provisions of this grant, the company 
were to pay the United States one dollar per acre, subject to a deduction 
of one-third for bad lands and other contingencies. They received 
750,000 acres, bounded on the south by the Ohio, on the east by the 
seventh range of townships, on the west by the sixteenth range, and on 
the north by a line so drawn as to make the grant complete without 
the reservations. In addition to this. Congress afterward granted 100,000 
acres to actual settlers, and 214,285 acres as army bounties under the 
resolutions of 1789 and 1790. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



59 



k While Dr. Cutler, one of the agents of the company, was pressing 
its claims before Congress, that body was bringing into form an ordinance 
for the political and social organization of this Territory. When the 
cession was. made by Virginia, in 1784, a plan was offered, but rejected. 
A motion had been made to strike from the proposed plan the prohibition 
of slavery, which prevailed. The plan was then discussed and altered, 
and finally passed unanimously, with the exception of South Carolina. 
By this proposition, the Territory was to have been divided into states 




by parallels and meridian lines. This, it was thought, would make ten 
states, which were to have been named as follows — beginning at the 
northwest corner and going southwardly : Sylvania, Michigania, Cher- 
sonesus, Assenisipia, Metropotamia, Illenoia, Saratoga, Washington, Poly- 
potamia and Pelisipia. 

There was a more serious objection to this plan than its category of 
names, — the boundaries. The root of the difficulty was in the resolu- 
tion of Congress passed in October, 1780, which fixed the boundaries 
of the ceded lands to be from one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles 



60 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

square. These resolutions being presented to the Legislatures of Vir- 
ginia and Massachusetts, they desired a change, and in July, 1786, the 
subject was taken up in Congress, and changed to favor a division into 
not more than five states, and not less than three. This was approved by 
the State Legislature of Virginia. The subject of the Government was 
again taken up by Congress in 1786, and discussed throughout that year 
and until July, 1787, when the famous "Compact of 1787" was passed, 
and the foundation of the government of the Northwest laid. This com- 
pact is fully discussed and explained in the history of Illinois in this book, 
and to it the reader is referred. 

The passage of this act and the grant to the New England Company 
was soon followed by an application to the Government by John Cleves 
Symmes, of New Jersey, for a grant of the land between the Miamis. 
This gentleman had visited these lands soon after the treaty of 1786, and, 
being greatly pleased with them, offered similar terms to those given to the 
New England Company. The petition was referred to the Treasury 
Board with power to act, and a contract was concluded the following 
year. During the Autumn the directors of the New England Company 
were preparing to occupy their grant the following Spring, and upon the 
23d of November made arrangements for a party of forty-seven men, 
under the superintendency of Gen. Rufus Putnam, to set forward. Six 
boat-builders were to leave at once, and on the first of January the sur- 
veyors and their assistants, twenty-six in number, were to meet at Hart- 
ford and proceed on their journey westward ; the remainder to follow as 
soon as possible. Congress, in the meantime, upon the 8d of October, 
had ordered seven hundred troops for defense of the western settlers, and 
to prevent unauthorized intrusions ; and two days later appointed Arthur 
St. Clair Governor of the Territory of the Northwest. 

AMERICAN SETTLEMENTS. 

The civil organization of the Northwest Territory was now com- 
plete, and notwithstanding the uncertainty of Indian affairs, settlers from 
the East began to come into the country rapidly. The New England 
Company sent their men during the Winter of 1787-8 pressing on over 
the Alleglienies by the old Indian path which had been opened into 
Braddock's road, and which has since been made a national turnpike 
from Cumberland westward. .Through the weary winter days they toiled 
on, and by April were all gathered on the Yohiogany, where boats had 
been built, and at once started for the Muskingum. Here they arrived 
on the 7th of that month, and unless the Moravian missionaries be regarded 
<as the pioneers of Ohio, this little band can justly claim tliat honor. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



61 



Gen. St. Clair, the appointed Governor of the Northwest, not having 
yet arrived, a set of laws were passed, written out, and published by 
being nailed to a tree in the embryo town, and Jonathan Meiijfs appointed 
to administer them. 

Washington in writing of this, the first American settlement in the 
Northwest, said : " No colony in America was ever settled under 
such favorable auspices as that which has just commenced at Muskingum. 
Information, property and strength will be its characteristics. I know 
many of its settlers personally, and there never were men better calcu- 
lated to promote the welfare of such a community." 







A PIONEER DWELLING. 



On the 2d of July a meeting of the directors and agents was held 
on the banks of the Muskingum, " for the purpose of naming the new- 
born city and its squares." As yet the settlement was known as the 
"Muskingum," but that was now changed to the name Marietta, in honor 
of Marie Antoinette. The square upon which the block -houses stood 
was called ^'Campus Martius ;"" square number 19, '■'• CapitoUum ;'" square 
number 61, '■'■ Cecilia ;'^ and the great road through the covert way, " Sacra 
Via.'' Two days after, an oration was delivered by James M. Varnum, 
who with S. H. Parsons and John Armstrong had been appointed to the 
judicial bench of the territory on the 16th of October, 1787. On July 9, 
Gov. St. Clair arrived, and the colony began to assume form. The act 
of 1787 provided two district grades of government for the Northwest, 



62 THE NORTHWEST TEEKITORY. 

under the first of which the whole power was invested in the hands of a 
governor and three district judges. This was immediately formed upon 
the Governor's arrival, and the first laws of the colony passed on the 25th 
of July. These provided for the organization of the militia, and on the 
next da}^ appeared the Governor's proclamation, erecting all that country 
that had been ceded b}^ the Indians east of the Scioto River into the 
County of Washington. From that time forward, notwithstanding the 
doubts yet existing as to the Indians, all Marietta prospered, and on the 
2d of September the first court of the territory was held with imposing 
ceremonies. 

The emigration westward at this time was very great. The com- 
mander at Fort Harmer, at the mouth of the Muskingum, reported four 
thousand five hundred persons as having passed that post between Feb- 
ruary and June, 1788 — many of whom would have purchased of the 
"Associates," as the New England Company was called, had they been 
ready to receive them. . 

On the 26th of November, 1787, Symmes issued a pamphlet stating 
the terms of his contract and the plan of sale he intended to adopt. In 
January, 1788, Matthias Denman, of New Jersey, took an active interest 
in Symmes' purchase, and located among other tracts the sections upon 
which Cincinnati has been built. Retaining one-third of this locality, he 
sold the other two-thirds to Robert Patterson and John Filson, and the 
three, about August, commenced to lay out a town on the spot, which 
was designated as being opposite Licking River, to the moulh of which 
they proposed to have a road cut from Lexington. The naming of the 
town is thus narrated in the "Western Annals " : — " Mr. Filson, who had 
been a schoolmaster, was appointed to name the town, and, in respect to 
its situation, and as if with a prophetic perception of the mixed race that 
were to inhabit it in after days, he named it Losantiville, which, being 
interpreted, means : ville, the town : anti^ against or opposite to ; os, the 
mouth ; L. of Licking." 

Meanwhile, in July, Symmes got thirty persons and eight four-horse 
teams under way for the West. These reached Limestone (^now Mays- 
ville) in September, where were several persons from Redstone. Here 
Mr. Symmes tried to found a settlement, but the great freshet of 1789 
caused the " Point," as it was and is yet called, to be fifteen feet under 
water, and the settlement to be abandoned. The little band of settlers 
removed to the mouth of the Miami. Before Symmes and his colony left 
the " Point," two settlements had been made on his purchase. The first 
was by Mr. Stiltes, the original projector of. the whole plan, who, with a 
colony of Redstone people, had located at the mouth of the Miami, 
whither Symmes went with his Maysville colony. Here a clearing had 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



63 



been made by the Indians owing to the great fertility of the soil. Mr. 
Stiltes with his colony came to this place on the 18th of November, 1788, 
with twenty-six persons, and, building a block-house, prepared to remain 
through the Winter. They named the settlement Columbia. Here they 
were kindly treated by the Indians, but suffered greatly from the flood 
of 1789. 

On the 4th of March, 1789, the Constitution of the United States 
went into operation, and on April 30, George Washington was inaug- 
urated President of the American people, and during the next Summer, 
an Indian war was commenced by the tribes north of the Ohio. The 
President at first used pacific means ; but these failing, he sent General 
Harmer against the hostile tribes. He destroyed several villages, but 




mi'&SeaJiy^' 



BREAKING PRAIRIE. 



was defeated in two battles, near the present City of Fort Wayne, 
Indiana. From this time till the close of 1795, the principal events were 
the wars with the various Indian tribes. In 1796, General St. Clair 
was appointed in command, and marched against the Indians; but while 
he was encamped on a stream, the St. Mary, a branch of the Maumee, 
he was attacked and defeated with the loss of six hundred men. 

General Wayne was now sent against the savages. In August, 1794, 
he met them near the rapids of the Maumee, and gained a complete 
victory. This success, followed by vigorous measures, compelled the 
Indians to sue for peace, and on the 30th of July, the following year, the 
treaty of Greenville was signed by the principal chiefs, by which a large 
tract of country was ceded to the United States. 

Before proceeding in our narrative, we will pause to notice Fort 
Washington, erected in the early part of this war on the site of Cincinnati. 
Nearly all of the great cities of the Northwest, and indeed of the 



64 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

whole country, have had their nuclei in those rude pioneer structures, 
known as forts or stockades. Thus Forts Dearborn, Washington, Pon- 
chartrain, mark the original sites of the now proud Cities of Chicago, 
Cincinnati and Detroit. So of most of the flourishing cities east and west 
of the Mississippi. Fort Washington, erected by Doughty in 1790, was a 
rude but highly interesting structure. It was composed of a number of 
strongly-built hewed log cabins. Those designed for soldiers' barracks 
were a story and a half high, while those composing the officers quarters 
were more imposing and more conveniently arranged and furnished. 
The whole were so placed as to form a hollow square, enclosing about an 
acre of ground, with a block house at each of the four angles. 

The logs for the construction of this fort were cut from the ground 
upon which it was erected. It stood between Third and Fourth Streets 
of the present city (Cincinnati) extending east of Eastern Row, now 
Broadway, which was then a narrow alley, and the eastern boundary of 
of the town as it was originally laid out. On the bank of the river, 
immediately in front of the fort, was an appendage of the fort, called the 
Artificer's Yard. It contained about two acres of ground, enclosed by 
small contiguous buildings, occupied by workshops and quarters of 
laborers. Within this enclosure there was a large two-story frame house, 
familiarly called the " Yellow House," built for the accommodation of 
the Quartermaster General. For many years this was the best finished 
and most commodious edifice in the Queen City. Fort Washington was 
for some time the headquarters of both the civil and military governments 
of the Northwestern Territory. 

Following the consummation of the treaty various gigantic land spec- 
ulations were entered into by different persons, who hoped to obtain 
from the Indians in Michigan and northern Indiana, large tracts of lands. 
These were generally discovered in time to prevent the outrageous 
schemes from being carried out, and from involving the settlers in war. 
On October 27, 1795, the treaty between the United States and Spain 
was signed, whereby the free navigation of the Mississippi was secured. 

No sooner had the treat}^ of 1795 been ratified than settlements began 
to pour rapidly into the West. The great event of the year 1796 was the 
occupation of that part of the Northwest including Michigan, which was 
this year, under the provisions of the treaty, evacuated by the British 
forces. The United States, owing to certain conditions, did not feel 
justified in addressing the authorities in Canada in relation to Detroit 
and other frontier posts. When at last the British authorities were 
called to give them up, they at once complied, and General Wayne, wha 
had done so much to preserve the frontier settlements, and who, before 
the year's close, sickened and died near Erie, transferred his head- 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 65 

quarters to the neighborhood of the lakes, where a county named after 
him was formed, which included the northwest of Ohio, all of Michigan, 
and the northeast of Indiana. During this same year settlements were 
formed at the present City of Chillicothe, along the Miami from Middle- 
town to Piqua, while in the more distant West, settlers and speculators 
began to appear in great numbers. In September, the City of Cleveland 
was laid out, and during the Summer and Autumn, Samuel Jackson and 
Jonathan Sharpless erected the first manufactory of paper — the " Red- 
stone Paper Mill" — in the West. St. Louis contained some seventy 
houses, and Detroit over three hundred, and along the river, contiguous 
to it, were more than three thousand inhabitants, mostly French Canadians, 
Indians and half-breeds, scarcely any Americans venturing yet into that 
part of the Northwest. 

The election of representatives for the territory had taken place, 
and on the 4th of February, 1799, they convened at Losantiville — now 
known as Cincinnati, having been named so by Gov. St. Clair, and 
considered the capital of the Territory — to nominate persons from whom 
the members of the Legislature were to be chosen in accordance with 
a previous ordinance. This nomination being made, the Assembly 
adjourned until the 16th of the following September. From those named 
the President selected as members of the council, Henry Vandenburg, 
of Vincennes, Robert Oliver, of Marietta, James Fiudlay and Jacob 
Burnett, of Cincinnati, and David Vance, of Vanceville. On the 16th 
of September the Territorial Legislature met, and on the 24th the two 
houses were duly organized, Henry Vandenburg being elected President 
of the Council. 

The message of Gov. St. Clair was addressed to the Legislature 
September 20th, and on October 13th that body elected as a delegate to 
Congress Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison, who received eleven of the votes 
cast, being a majority of one over his opponent, Arthur St. Clair, son of 
Gen. St. Clair. 

The whole number of acts passed at this session, and approved by 
the Governor, were thirty-seven — eleven others were passed, but received 
his veto. The most important of those passed related to the militia, to 
the administration, and to taxation. On the 19th of December this pro- 
tracted session of the first Legislature in the West was closed, and on the 
30th of December the President nominated Charles Willing Bryd to the 
office of Secretary of the Territory vice Wm. Henry Harrison, elected to 
Congress. The Senate confirmed his nomination the next day. 



66 THE NOKTHWEST TERRITORY. 



DIVISION OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

The increased emigration to the Northwest, the extent of the domain, 
and the inconvenient modes of travel, made it very difficult to conduct 
the ordinary oj^erations of government, and rendered the efficient action 
of courts almost impossible. To remedy this, it was deemed advisable to 
divide the territory for civil purposes. Congress, in 1800, appointed a 
committee to examine the question and report some means for its solution. 
This committee, on the 3d of March, reported that : 

"In the three western countries there has been but one court having 
cognizance of crimes, in five years, and the immunity which offenders 
experience attracts, as to an asylum, the most vile and abandoned crim- 
inals, and at the same time deters useful citizens from making settlements 
ia such society. The extreme necessity of judiciary attention and assist- 
ance is experienced in civil as well as in criminal cases. * * * * Xo 
minister a remedy to these and other evils, it occurs to this committee 
that it is expedient that a division of said territory into two distinct and 
sei^arate governments should be made ; and that such division be made 
by a line beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami River, running 
directly north until it intersects the boundary between the United States 
and Canada." 

The report was accepted by Congress, and, in accordance with its 
suggestions, that body passed an Act extinguishing the Northwest Terri- 
tory, which Act was approved May 7. Among its provisions were these : 

" That from and after July 4 next, all that part of the Territory of 
the United States northwest of the Ohio River, which lies to the westward 
of a line beginning at a point on the Ohio, opposite to the mouth of the 
Kentucky River, and running thence to Fort Recovery, and thence north 
until it shall intersect the territorial line between the United States and 
Canada, shall, for the purpose of temporary government, constitute a 
separate territory, and be called the Indiana Territory." 

After providing for the exercise of the civil and criminal powers of 
the territories, and other provisions, the Act further provides: 

""That until it shall otherwise be ordered by the Legislatures of the 
said Territories, respectively, Chillicothe on the Scioto River shall be the 
seat of government of the Territory of the United States northwest of the 
Ohio River ; and that St. Vincennes on the Wabash River shall be the 
seat of government for the Indiana Territory." 

Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison was appointed Governor of the Indiana 
Territory, and entered upon his duties about a year later. Connecticut 
also about this time released her claims to the reserve, and in March a law 












CRETE 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 67 

was passed accepting this cession. Settlements had been made upon 
tbirt^'-five of the townships in the reserve, mills had been built, and seven 
hundred miles of road cut in various directions. On the 3d of November 
the General Assembly met at Chillicothe. Near the close of the year, 
the first missionary of the Connecticut Reserve came, who found no 
township containing more than eleven families. It was upon the first of 
October that the secret treaty had been made between Napoleon and the 
King of Spain, whereby the latter agreed to cede to France the province 
of Louisiana. 

In January, 1802, the Assembly of the Northwestern Territory cliar- 
tered the colleGfe at Athens. From tlie earliest dawn of the western 
colonies, education was promptly provided for, and as early as 1787, 
newspapers were issued from Pittsburgh and Kentucky, and largely read 
throughout the frontier settlements. Before the close of this year, the 
Congress of the United States granted to the citizens of the Northwestern 
territory the formation of a State government. One of the provisions of 
the "compact of 1787" provided that whenever the number of inhabit- 
ants within prescribed limits exceeded 45,000, they should be entitled to 
a separate government. The prescribed limits of Ohio contained, from a 
census taken to ascertain the legality of the act, more than that number, 
and on the 30th of April, 1802, Congress passed the act defining its limits, 
and on the 29th of November the Constitution of the new State of Ohio, 
so named from the beautiful river forming its southern boundary, came 
into existence. The exact limits of Lake Michigan were not then known, 
but the territory now included within the State of Michigan was wholly 
within the territory of Indiana. 

Gen. Harrison, while residing at Vincennes, made several treaties 
with the Indians, thereby gaining large tracts of lands. The next year is 
memorable in the history of the West for the purchase of Louisiana from 
France by the United States for $15,000,000. Thus by a peaceful mode, 
the domain of the United States was extended over a large tract of 
country west of the Mississippi, and was for a time under the jurisdiction 
of the Northwest government, and, as has been mentioned in the early 
part of this narrative, was called the "New Northwest." The limits 
of this history will not allow a descrip^tion of its territory. The same year 
large grants of land were obtained from the Indians, and the House of 
Representatives of the new State of Ohio signed a bill respecting the 
College Township in the district of Cincinnati. 

Before the close of the year. Gen. Harrison obtained additional 
grants of lands from the various Indian nations in Indiana and the present 
•limits of Illinois, and on the 18th of August, 1804, completed a treaty at 
St. Louis, whereby over 51,000,000 acres of lands were obtained from the 



68 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

aborigines. Measures were also taken to learn the condition of affairs in 
and about Detroit. 

C. Jouett, the Indian agent in Michigan, still a part of Indiana Terri- 
tory, reported as follows upon the condition of matters at that post : 

" The Town of Detroit. — The charter, which is for fifteen miles 
square, was granted in the time of Louis XIV. of France, and is now, 
from the best information I have been able to get, at Quebec. Of those 
two hundred and twenty-five acres, only four are occupied by the town 
and Fort Lenault. The remainder is a common, except twenty-four 
acres, which were added twenty years ago to a farm belonging to Wm. 
Macomb. * * * A stockade incloses the town, fort and citadel. The 
pickets, as well as the public houses, are in a state of gradual decay. The 
streets are narrow, straight and regular, and intersect each other at right 
angles. The houses are, for the most part, low and inelegant." 

During this year, Congress granted a township of land for the sup- 
port of a college, and began to offer inducements for settlers in these 
wilds, and the country now comprising the State of Michigan began to 
fill rapidly with settlers along its southern borders. This same year, also, 
a law was passed organizing the Southwest Territory, dividing it into two 
portions, the Territory of New Orleans, which city was made the seat of 
government, and the District of Louisiana, which was annexed to the 
domain of Gen. Harrison. 

On the 11th of January, 1805, the Territory of Michigan was formed, 
Wm. Hull was appointed governor, with headquarters at Detroit, the 
change to take effect on June 30. On the 11th of that month, a fire 
occurred at Detroit, which destroyed almost every building in the place. 
When the officers of the new territory reached the post, they found it in 
ruins, and the inhabitants scattered throughout the country. Rebuild- 
ing, however, soon commenced, and ere long the town contained more 
houses than before the fire, and many of them much better built. 

While this was being done, Indiana had passed to the second grade 
of government, and through her General Assembly had obtained large 
tracts of land from the Indian tribes. To all this the celebrated Indian, 
Tecumthe or Tecumseh, vigorously protested, and it was the main cause 
of his attempts to unite the various Indian tribes in a conflict with the 
settlers. To obtain a full account of these attempts, the workings of the 
British, and the signal failure, culminating in the death of Tecumseh at 
the battle of tlie Thames, and the close of the war of 1812 in the Northwest, 
we will step aside in our story, and relate the principal events of his life, 
and his connection with this conflict. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



Qv 




TECUMSEH, THE SHAWANOE CHIEFTAIN. 



10 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



TECUMSEH, AND THE WAR OF 1812. 

This famous Indian chief was born about the year 1768, not far from 
the site of the present City of Piqua, Ohio. His father, Puckeshinwa, 
was a member of the Kisopok tribe of the Swanoese nation, and his 
mother, Methontaske, was a member of the Turtle tribe of the same 
people. They removed from Florida about the middle of the last century 
to the birthplace of Tecumseh. In 1774, his father, who had risen to be 
chief, was slain at the battle of Point Pleasant, and not long after Tecum- 
seh, by his bravery, became the leader of his tribe. In 1795 he was 
declared chief, and then lived at Deer Creek, near the site of the 
present City of Urbana. He remained here about one year, when he 
returned to Piqua, and in 1798, he went to White River, Indiana. In 
1805, he and his brother, Laulewasikan (Oi^en Door), who had announced 
himself as a prophet, went to a tract of land on the Wabash River, given 
them by the Pottawatomies and Kickapoos. From this date the chiel 
comes into prominence. He was now about thirty-seven years of age, 
was five feet and ten inches in height, was stoutly built, and possessed of 
enormous powers of endurance. His countenance was naturally pleas- 
ing, and he was, in general, devoid of those savage attributes possessed 
by most Indians. It is stated he could read and write, and had a confi- 
dential secretary and adviser, named Billy Caldwell, a half-breed, who 
afterward became chief of the Pottawatomies. He occupied the first 
house built on the site of Chicago. At this time, Tecumseh entered 
upon the great work of his life. He had long objected to the grants of 
land made by the Indians to tlie whites, and determined to unite all the 
Indian tribes into a league, in order that no treaties or grants of land 
could be made save by the consent of this confederation. 

He traveled constantly, going from north to south ; from the south 
to the north, everywhere urging the Indians to this step. He was a 
matchless orator, and his burning words had their effect. 

Gen. Harrison, then Governor of Indiana, by watching the move- 
ments of the Indians, became convinced that a grand conspiracy was 
forming, and made prej)arations to defend the settlements. Tecumseh's 
plan was similar to Pontiac's, elsewhere described, and to the cunning 
artifice of that chieftain was added his own sagacity. 

During the j'ear 1809, Tecumseh and the prophet were actively pre- 
paring for the work. In that year. Gen. Harrison entered into a treaty 
with the Delawares, Kickapoos, Pottawatomies, Miamis, Eel River Indians 
and Weas, in which these tribes ceded to the whites certain lands upon 
the Wabash, to all of which Tecumseh entered a bitter protest, averring 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 71 

as one principal reason that he did not want the Indians to give up any 
lands north and west of the Ohio River. 

Tecuraseh, in August, 1810, visited the General at Vincennes and 
lield a council relating to the grievances of the Indians. Becoming unduly 
angry at this conference he was dismissed from the village, and soon after 
departed to incite the southern Indian tribes to the conflict. 

Gen. Harrison determined to move upon the chief's headquarters at 
Tippecanoe, and for this purpose went about sixty-five miles up the 
Wabash, where he built Fort Harrison. From this place he went to the 
prophet's town, where he informed the Indians he had no hostile inten- 
tions, provided they were true to the existing treaties. He encamped 
near the village early in October, and on the morning of November 7, he 
was attacked by a large force of the Indians, and the famous battle of 
Tippecanoe occurred. The Indians were routed and their town broken 
up. Tecumseh returning not long after, was greatly exasperated at his 
brother, the prophet, even threatening to kill him for rashly precipitating 
the war, and foiling his (Tecumseh's) plans. 

Tecumseh sent word to Gen. Harrison that he was now returned 
from the South-, and was ready to visit the President as had at one time 
previously been proposed. Gen. Harrison informed him he could not go 
as a chief, which method Tecumseh desired, and the visit was never 
made. 

In June of the following year, he visited the Indian agent at 
Fort Wayne. Here he disavowed any intention to make a war against 
the United States, and reproached Gen. Harrison for marching against his 
people. The agent replied to this ; Tecumseh listened with a cold indif- 
ference, and after making a few general remarks, with a haughty air drew 
his blanket about him, left the council house, and departed for Fort Mai- 
den, in Upper Canada, where he joined the British standard. 

He remained under this Government, doing effective work for the 
Crown while engaged in the war of 1812 which now opened. He was, 
however, always humane in his treatment of the prisoners, never allow- 
ing his warriors to ruthlessly mutilate the bodies of those slain, or wan- 
tonly murder the captive. 

In the Summer of 1813, Perry's victor}'- on Lake Erie occurred, and 
shortly after active preparations were made to capture Maiden. On the 
27th of September, the American army, under Gen. Harrison, set sail for 
the shores of Canada, and in a few hours stood around the ruins of Mai- 
den, from which the British army, under Proctor, had retreated to Sand- 
wich, intending to make its way to the heart of Canada by the Valley of 
the Thames. On the 29th Gen. Harrison was at Sandwich, and Gen. 
McArthur took possession of Detroit and the territory of Michigan. 



72 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



On the 2d of October, the Americans began their pursuit of Proctor, 
whom they overtook on the 5th, and the battle of the Thames followed. 
Earlv in the euGraQement, Tecumseh who was at the head of the column 
of Indians was slain, and they, no longer hearing the voice of their chief- 
tain, fled. The victory was decisive, and practically closed the war in 
the Northwest. 




^w^iatHvi 



INDIANS ATTACKING A STOCKADE. 



Just who killed the great chief has been a matter of much dispute ; 
but the weight of opinion awards the act to Col. Richard M. Johnson, 
who fired at him with a pistol, the shot proving fatal. 

In 1805 occurred Burr's Insurrection. He took possession of a 
beautiful island in the Ohio, after the killing of Hamilton, and is charged 
by many with attempting to set up an independent government. His 
plans were frustrated by the general government, his pvoj^erty confiscated 
and he was compelled to flee the country for safety. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 73 

In January, 1807, Governor Hull, of Michigan Territory, made a 
treaty with the Indians, whereby all that peninsula was ceded to the 
United States. Before the close of the year, a stockade was built about 
Detroit. It was also during this year that Indiana and Illinois endeavored 
to obtain the repeal of that section of the compact of 1787, whereby 
slavery was excluded from the Northwest Territory. These attempts, 
however, all signally failed. 

In 1809 it was deemed advisable to divide the Indiana Territory. 
This was done, and the Territory of Illinois was formed from the western 
part, the seat of government being fixed at Kaskaskia. The next year, 
the intentions of Tecumseh manifested themselves in open hostilities, and 
then began the events already narrated. 

While this war was in progress, emigration to the West went on with 
surprising rapidity. In 1811, under Mr. Roosevelt of New York, the 
first steamboat trip was made on the Ohio, much to the astonishment of 
the natives, many of whom fled in terror at the appearance of the 
" monster." It arrived at Louisville on the 10th day of October. At the 
close of the first week of January, 1812, it arrived at Natchez, after being 
nearly overwhelmed in the great earthquake which occurred while on its 
downward trip. 

The battle of the Thames was fought on October 6, 1813. It 
effectually closed hostilities in the Northwest, although peace was not 
fully restored until July 22, 1814, when a treaty was formed at Green- 
ville, under the direction of General Harrison, between the United States 
and the Indian tribes, in which it was stipulated that the Indians should 
cease hostilities against the Americans if the war were continued. Such, 
happily, was not the case, and on the 24th of December the treaty 
of Ghent was signed by the representatives of England and the United 
States. This treaty was followed the next year by treaties with various 
Indian tribes throughout the West and Northwest, and quiet was again 
restored in this part of the new world. 

On the 18th of March, 1816, Pittsburgh was incorporated as a city. 
It then had a population of 8,000 people, and was already noted for its 
manufacturing interests. On April 19, Indiana Territory was allowed 
to form a state government. At that time there were thirteen counties 
organized, containing about sixty-three thousand inhabitants. The first 
election of state officers was held in August, when Jonathan Jennings 
was chosen Governor. The officers were sworn in on November 7, and 
on December 11, the State was formally admitted into the Union. For 
some time the seat of government was at Corydon, but a more central 
location being desirable, the present capital, Indianapolis (City of Indiana), 
vras laid out January 1, 1825. 



/ 

74 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

On the 28th of December the Bank of Illinois, at Shawneetown, was 
chartered, with a capital of $300,000. At this period all banks were 
under the control of the States, and were allowed to establish branches 
at different convenient points. 

Until this time Chillicothe and Cincinnati had in turn enjoyed the 
privileges of being the capital of Ohio. But the rapid settlement of the 
northern and eastern portions of the State demanded, as in Indiana, a 
more central location, and before the close of the year, the site of Col- 
umbus was selected and surveyed as the future capital of the State. 
Banking had begun in Ohio as early as 1808, when the first bank was 
chartered at Marietta, but here as elsewhere it did not bring to the state 
the hoped-for assistance. It and other banks were subsequently unable 
to redeem their currency, and were obliged to suspend. 

In 1818, Illinois was made a state, and all the territory north of her 
northern limits was erected into a separate territory and joined to Mich- 
igan for judicial purposes. By the following year, navigation of the lakes 
was increasing with great rapidity and affording an immense source -of 
revenue to the dwellers in the Northwest, but it was not until 1826 that 
the trade was extended to Lake Michigan, or that steamships began to 
navigate the bosom of that inland sea. 

Until the year 1832, the commencement of the Black Hawk War, 
but few hostilities were experienced with the Indians. Roads were 
opened, canals were dug, cities were built, common schools were estab- 
lished, universities were founded, many of which, especially the Michigan 
University, have achieved a world wide-reputation. The people were 
becoming wealthy. The domains of the United States had been extended, 
and had the sons of the forest been treated with honesty and justice, the 
record of many years would have been that of peace and continuous pros- 
perity. 

BLACK HAWK AND THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 

This conflict, though confined to Illinois, is an important epoch in 
the Northwestern history, being the last war with the Indians in this part 
of the United States. 

Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah, or Black Hawk, was born in the principal 
Sac village, about three miles from the junction of Rock River with the 
Mississippi, in the year 1767. His father's name was Py-e-sa or Pahaes ; 
his grandfather's, Na-na-ma-kee, or the Thunderer. Black Hawk early 
distinguished himself as a warrior, and at the age of fifteen was permitted 
to paint and was ranked among the braves. About the year 1783, he 
went on an expedition against the enemies of his nation, the Osages, one 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



76 




BrACK HAWK, THE SAC CHIEFTAIN. 



76 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

of whom he killed and scalped, and for this deed of Indian bravery he was 
permitted to join in the scalp dance. Three or four years after he, at the 
head of two hundred braves, went on another expedition against the 
Osages, to avenge the murder of some women and children belonging to 
his own tribe. Meeting an equal number of Osage warriors, a fierce 
battle ensued, in which the latter tribe lost one-half their number. The 
Sacs lost only about nineteen warriors. He next attacked the Cherokees 
for a similar cause. In a severe battle with them, near the present City 
of St. Louis, his father was slain, and Black Hawk, taking possession of 
the " Medicine Bag," at once announced himself chief of the Sac nation. 
He had now conquered the Cherokees, and about the year 1800, at the 
head of five hundred Sacs and Foxes, and a hundred lowas, he waged 
war against the Osage nation and subdued it. For two vears he battled 
successfully with other Indian tribes, all of whom he conquered. 

Black Hawk does not at any time seem to have been friendly to 
the Americans. When on a visit to St. Louis to see his " Spanish 
Father," he declined to see any of the Americans, alleging, as a reason, 
he did not want two fathers. 

The treaty at St. Louis was consummated in 1804. The next year the 
United States Government erected a fort near the head of the Des Moines 
Rapids, called Fort Edwards. This seemed to enrage Black Hawk, who 
at once determined to capture Fort Madison, standing on the west side of 
the Mississippi above the mouth of the Des Moines River. The fort was 
garrisoned by about fifty men. Here he was defeated. The difiiculties 
with the British Government arose about this time, and the War of 1812 
followed. That government, extending aid to the Western Indians, by 
giving them arms and ammunition, induced them to remain hostile to the 
Americans. In August, 1812, Black Hawk, at the head of about five 
hundred braves, started to join the British forces at Detroit, passing on 
his way the site of Chicago, where the famous Fort Dearborn Massacre 
' ~ ^ a few days before occurred. Of his connection with the British 

ernment but little is known. In 1813 he with his little band descended 
the Mississippi, and attacking some United States troops at Fort Howard 
was defeated. 

In the early part of 1815, the Indian tribes west of the Mississippi 
were notified that peace had been declared between the United States 
and England, and nearly all hostilities had ceased. Black Hawk did not 
sign any treaty, however, until May of the following year. He then recog- 
nized the validity of the treaty at St. Louis in 1804. From the time of 
signing this treaty in 1816, until the breaking out of the war in 1832, he 
and his band passed their time in the common pursuits of Indian life. 

Ten years before the commencement of this war, the Sac and Fox 



TttE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 77 

Indians were urged to join the lowas on the west bank of the Father of 
Waters. All were agreed, save the band known as the British Band, of 
which Black Hawk was leader. He strenuously objected to the removal, 
and was induced to comply only after being threatened with the power of 
the Government. This and various actions on the part of the white set- 
tlers provoked Black Hawk and his band to attempt the capture of his 
native village now occupied by the whites. The war followed. He and 
his actions were undoubtedly misunderstood, and had his wishes been 
acquiesced in at the beginning of the struggle, much bloodshed would 
have been prevented. 

Black Hawk was chief now of the Sac and Fox nations, and a noted 
warrior. He and his tribe inhabited a village on Rock River, nearly three 
miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, where the tribe had lived 
many generations. When that portion of Illinois was reserved to them, 
they remained in peaceable possession of their reservation, spending their 
time in the enjoyment of Indian life. The fine situation of their village 
and the quality of their lands incited the more lawless white settlers, who 
from time to time began to encroach upon the red men's domain. From 
one pretext to another, and from one step to another, the crafty white 
men gained a foothold, until through whisky and artifice they obtained 
deeds from many of the Indians for their possessions. The Indians were 
finally induced to cross over the Father of Waters and locate among the 
lowas. Black Hawk was strenuously opposed to all this, but as the 
authorities of Illinois and the United States thought this the best move, he 
was forced to comply. Moreover other tribes joined the whites and urged 
the removal. Black Hawk would not agree to the terms of the treaty 
made with his nation for their lands, and as soon as the military, called to 
enforce his removal, had retired, he returned to the Illinois side of the 
river. A large force was at once raised and marched against him. On 
the evening of May 14, 1832, the first engagement occurred between a 
band from this army and Black Hawk's band, in which the former were 
defeated. 

This attack and its result aroused the whites. A large force of men 
was raised, and Gen. Scott hastened from the seaboard, by way of the 
lakes, with United States troops and artillery to aid in the subjugation of 
the Indians. On the 24th of June, Black Hawk, with 200 warriors, was 
repulsed by Major Demont between Rock River and Galena. The Ameri- 
can army continued to move up Rock River toward the main body of 
the Indians, and on the 21st of July came upon Black Hawk and his band, 
and defeated them near the Blue Mounds. 

Before this action. Gen. Henry, in command, sent word to the main 
army by whom he was immediately rejoined, and the whole crossed the 



78 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

Wisconsin in pursuit of Black Hawk and his band who were fleeing to the 
Mississippi. They were overtaken on the lid of August, and in the battle 
which followed the power of the Indian chief was completely broken. He 
fled, but was seized by the Winnebagoes and delivered to the whites. 

On the 21st of September, 1832, Gen. Scott and Gov. Reynolds con- 
cluded a treaty with the Winnebagoes, Sacs and Foxes by which they 
ceded to the United States a vast tract of country, and agreed to remain 
peaceable with the whites. For the faithful performance of the provi- 
sions of this treaty on the part of the Indians, it was stipulated that 
Black Hawk, his two sons, the prophet Wabokieshiek, and six other chiefs 
of the hostile bands should be retained as hostages during the pleasure 
of the President. They were confined at Fort Barracks and put in irons. 

The next Spring, by order of the Secretary of War, they were taken 
to Washington. From there they were removed to Fortress Monroe, 
"there to remain until the conduct of their nation was such as to justify- 
their being set at liberty." They were retained here until the 4th of 
June, when the authorities directed them to be taken to the principal 
cities so that they might see the folly of contending against the white 
people. Everywhere they were observed by thousands, the name of the 
old chief being extensively known. By the middle of August they 
reached Fort Armstrong on Rock Island, where Black Hawk was soon 
after released to go to his countrymen. As he passed the site of his birth- 
place, now the home of the white man, he was deeply moved. His village 
where he was born, where he had so happily lived, and where he had 
hoped to die, was now another's dwelling place, and he was a wanderer. 

On the next day after his release, he went at once to his tribe and 
his lodge. His wife was j'et living, and with her he passed the remainder 
of his days. To his credit it may be said that Black Hawk always re- 
mained true to his wife, and served her with a devotion uncommon among 
the Indians, living with her upward of forty years. 

Black Hawk now passed his time hunting and fishing. A deep mel- 
ancholy had settled over him from which he could not be freed. At all 
times when he visited the whites he was received with marked atten- 
tion. He was an honored guest at the old settlers' reunion in Lee County, 
Illinois, at some of their meetings, and received many tokens of esteem. 
In September, 1838, while on his way to Rock Island to receive his 
annuity from the Government, he contracted a severe cold which resulted 
in a fatal attack of bilious fever which terminated his life on October 3. 
His faithful wife, who was devotedly attached to him, mourned deeply 
during his sickness. After his death he was dressed in the uniform pre- 
sented to him by the President while in Washington. He was buried in 
a grave six feet in depth, situated upon a beautiful eminence. " The 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 79 

body was placed in the middle of the grave, in a sitting posture, upon a 
seat constructed for the purpose. On his left side, tlie cane, given him 
by Henry Clay, was placed upright, with his right hand resting upon it. 
Many of the old warrior's trophies were placed in the grave, and some 
Indian garments, together with his favorite weapons." 

No sooner was the Clack Hawk war concluded than settlers began 
rapidly to pour into the northern parts of 'Illinois, and into Wisconsin, 
now free from Indian depredations. Chicago, from a trading post, had 
grown to a commercial center, and was rapidly coming into prominence. 
In 1835, the formation of a State Government in Michigan was discussed, 
but did not take active form until two years later, when the State became 
a part of the Federal Union. 

The main attraction to that portion of the Northwest lying west of 
Lake Michigan, now included in the State of Wisconsin, was its alluvial 
"wealth. Copper ore was found about Lake Superior. For some time this 
region was attached to Michigan for judiciary purjDoses, but in 1830 was 
made a territory, then including Minnesota and Iowa. The latter State 
was detached two years later. In 1848, Wisconsin was admitted as a 
State, Madison being made the capital. We have now traced the various 
divisions of the Northwest Territory (save a little in Minnesota) from 
the time it was a unit comprising this vast territory, until circumstances 
compelled its present division. 

OTHER INDIAN TROUBLES. 

Before leaving this part of the narrative, we will narrate briefly the 
Indian troubles in Minnesota and elsewhere by the Sioux Indians. 

In August, 1862, the Sioux Indians living on the western borders of 
Minnesota fell upon the unsuspecting settlers, and in a few hours mas- 
sacred ten or twelve hundred persons. A distressful panic was the 
immediate result, fully thirty thousand persons fleeing from their homes 
to districts supposed to be better protected. The military authorities 
at once took active measures to punish the savages, and a large number 
were killed and captured. About a year after, Little Crow, the chief, 
was killed by a Mr. Lampson near Scattered Lake. Of those captured, 
thirty were hung at Mankato, and the remainder, through fears of mob 
violence, were removed to Camp McClellan, on the outskirts of the City 
of Davenport. It was here that Big Eagle came into prominence and 
secured his release by the following order : 



80 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 




BIG EAGLE. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 81 

" Special Order, No. 430. " War Department, 

'' Adjutant General's Office, Washington, Dec. 3, 1864. 

" Big Eagle, an Indian now in confinement at Davenport, lowa^ 
will, upon the receipt of this order, be immediately released from confine- 
ment and set at liberty. 

" By order of the President of the United States. 
" Official : " E. D. TowNSEND, AssH Adft Gen. 

" Capt. James Vanderventer, Com'i/ Sub. Voh. 
"Through Com'g Gen'l, Washington, D. C." 

Another Indian who figures more prominently than Big Eagle, and 
who was more cowardly in his nature, with liis band of Modoc Indians, 
is noted in the annals of the New Northwest: we refer to Captain Jack. 
This distinguished Indian, noted for his cowardly murder of Gen. Canby, 
was a chief of a Modoc tribe of Indians inhabiting the border lands 
between California and Oregon. This region of country comprises what 
is known as the " Lava Beds," a tract of land described as utterly impene- 
trable, save by those savages who had made it their home. 

The Modocs are known as an exceedingly fierce and treacherous, 
race. They had, according to their own traditions, resided here for many 
generations, and at one time were exceedingly numerous and powerful. 
A famine carried off nearly half their numbers, and disease, indolence 
and the vices of the white man have reduced them to a poor, weak and 
insignificant tribe. 

Soon after the settlement of California and Oregon, complaints began 
to be heard of massacres of emigrant trains passing through the Modoc 
country. In 1847, an emigrant train, comprising eighteen souls, was en- 
tirely destroyed at a place since known as " Bloody Point." These occur- 
rences caused the United States Government to appoint a peace commission, 
who, after repeated attempts, in 1864, made a treaty with the Modocs, 
Snakes and Klamaths, in which it was agreed on their part to remove to 
a reservation set apart for them in the southern part of Oregon. 

With the exception of Captain Jack and a band of his followers, who 
remained at Clear Lake, about six miles from Klamath, all the Indians 
complied. The Modocs who went to the reservation were under chief 
Schonchin. Captain Jack remained at the lake without disturbance 
until 1869, when he was also induced to remove to the reservation. The 
Modocs and the Klamaths soon became involved in a quarrel, and Captain 
Jack and his band returned to the Lava Beds. 

Several attempts were made by tlie Indian Commissioners to induce 
them to return to the reservation, and finally becoming involved in a 



82 THK NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

difficulty with the commissioner and his military escort, a fight ensued, 
in which the chief and his band were routed. They were greatly enraged, 
and on their retreat, before the day closed, killed eleven inoffensive whites. 

The nation was aroused and immediate action demanded. A com- 
mission was at once appointed by the Government to see what could be 
done. It comprised the following persons : Gen. E. R. S. Canby^ Rev. 
Dr. E. Thomas, a leading Methodist divine of California; Mr. A. B. 
Meacham, Judge Rosborough, of California, and a Mr. Dyer, of Oregon. 
After several interviews, in which the savages were always aggressive, 
often appearing with scaljDS in their belts, Bogus Charley came to the 
commission on the evening of April 10, 1873, and informed them that 
Capt. Jack and his band would have a " talk " to-morrow at a place near 
Clear Lake, about three miles distant. Here the Commissioners, accom- 
panied by Charley, Riddle, the interpreter, and Boston Charley repaired. 
After the usual greeting the council proceedings commenced. On behalf 
of the Indians there were present : Capt. Jack, Black Jim, Schnac Nasty 
Jim, Ellen's Man, and Hooker Jim. They had no guns, but carried pis- 
tols. After short speeches by Mr. Meacham, Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas, 
Chief Schonchin arose to speak. He had scarcely proceeded when, 
as if by a preconcerted arrangement, Capt. Jack drew his pistol and shot 
Gen. Canby dead. In less than a minute a dozen shots were fired b}^ the 
savages, and the massacre completed. Mr. Meacham was shot by Schon- 
chin, and Dr. Thomas by Boston Charley. Mr. Dyer barely escaped, being 
fired at twice. Riddle, the interpreter, and his squaw escaped. The 
troops rushed to the spot where they found Gen. Canby and Dr. Thomas 
dead, and Mr. Meacham badly wounded. The savages had escaped to 
•their impenetrable fastnesses and could not be pursued. 

The whole country was aroused by this brutal massacre ; but it was 
not until the following May that the murderers were brought to justice. 
At that time Boston Charley gave himself up, and offered to guide the 
troops to Capt. Jack's stronghold. This led to the capture of his entire 
gang, a number of whom were murdered b^'' Oregon volunteers while on 
their way to trial. The remaining Indians were held as prisoners until 
July when their trial occurred, which led to the conviction of Capt. 
Jack, Schonchin, Boston Charle}^ Hooker Jim, Broncho, alias One-Eyed 
Jim, and Slotuck, who were sentenced to be hanged. These sentences 
were approved by the President, save in the case of Slotuck and Broncho 
whose sentences were commuted to imprisonment for life. The others 
were executed at Fort Klamath, October 3, 1873. 

These closed the Indian troubles for a time in the Northwest, and for 
several years the borders of civilization remained in peace. They were 
again involved in a conflict with the savages about the country of the 








CRETE 



THE NORTHWEST TKUlllTORY. 



S3 




CAPTAIN JACK, THE MODOC CHIEFTAIN. 



84 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

Black Hills, in which war the gallant Gen. Custer lost his life. Just 
now the borders of Oregon and California are again in fear of hostilities ; 
but as the Government has learned how to deal with the Indians, they 
' will be of short duration. The red man is fast passing away before the 
march of the white man, and a few more generations will read of the 
Indians as one of the nations of the past. 

The Northwest abounds in memorable places. We have generally 
noticed them in the narrative, but our space forbids their description in 
detail, save of the most important places. Detroit, Cincinnati, Vincennes, 
Kaskaskia and their kindred towns have all been described. But ere we 
leave the narrative we will present our readers with an account of the 
Kinzie house, the old landmark of Chicago, and the discovery of the 
source of the Mississippi River, each of which may well find a place in 
the annals of the Northwest. 

Mr. John Kinzie, of the Kinzie house, represented in the illustra- 
tion, established a trading house at Fort Dearborn in 1804. The stockade 
had been erected the year previous, and named Fort Dearborn in honor 
of the Secretary of War. It had a block house at each of the two angles, 
on the southern side a sallyport, a covered way on the north side, that led 
down to the river, for the double purpose of providing means of escape, 
and of procuring water in the event of a siege. 

Fort Dearborn stood on the south bank of the Chicago River, about 
half a mile from its mouth. When Major Whistler built it, his soldiers 
hauled all the timber, for he had no oxen, and so economically did he 
work that the fort cost the Government only fifty dollars. For a while 
the garrison could get no grain, and Whistler and his men subsisted on 
acorns. Now Chicago is the greatest grain center in the world. 

Mr. Kinzie bought the hut of the first settler, Jean Baptiste Point au 
Sable, on the site of which he erected his mansion. Within an inclosure 
in front he planted some Lombardy poplars, seen in the engraving, and in 
the rear he soon had a fine garden and growing orchard. 

In 1812 the Kinzie house and its surroundings became the theater 
of stirring events. The garrison of Fort Dearborn consisted of fifty-four 
men, under the charge of Capt. Nathan Heald, assisted by Lieutenant 
Lenai T. Helm (son-in-law to Mrs. Kinzie), and Ensign Ronan. The 
surgeon was Dr. Voorhees. The only residents at the post at that time 
were the wives of Capt. Heald and Lieutenant Helm and a few of the 
soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and a few Canadian voyagers with their 
wives and children. The soldiers and Mr. Kinzie were on the most 
friendly terms with the Pottawatomies and the Winnebagoes, the prin- 
cipal tribes around them^but they could not win them from their attach- 
ment to the British. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



85 



After the battle of Tippecanoe it was observed that some of the lead- 
ing chiefs became sullen, for some of their people had perished in that 
conflict with American troops. 

One evening in April, 1812, Mr. Kinzie sat playing his violin and liis 
children were dancing to the music, when Mrs. Kinzie came rushing into 
the house pale with terror, and exclaiming, " The Indians ! the Indians ! " 
" What? Where? " eagerly inquired Mr. Kinzie. " Up at Lee's, killing 
and scalping," answered the frightened mother, who, when the alarm was 
given, was attending Mrs. Burns, a newly-made mother, living not far off. 




KINZIE HOUSE. 



Mr. Kinzie and his family crossed the river in boats, and took refuge in 
the fort, to which place Mrs. Burns and her infant, not a day old, were 
conveyed in safety to the shelter of the guns of Fort Dearborn, and the 
rest of the white inhabitants fled. The Indians were a scalping party of 
Winnebagoes, who hovered around the fort some days, when they dis- 
appeared, and for several weeks the inhabitants were not disturbed by 
alarms. 

Chicago was then so deep in the wilderness, that the news of the 
declaration of war against Great Britain, made on the 19th of June, 1812, 
did not reach the commander of the garrison at Fort Dearborn till the 7th 
of August. Now the fast mail train will carry a man froni New York to 
Chicago in twenty-seven hours, and such a declaration might be sent, 
every word, by the telegraph in less than the same number of minutes. 




I?; 
« 

ft 

M 



O 
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THE irOETHWEST TERRITORY. 



87 



PRESENT CONDITION OF THE NORTHWEST 

Preceding chapters have hronght us to the close of the Black Hawk 
war, and we now turn to the contemphition of the growth and prosperity 
of the Northwest under the smile of peace and the blessings of our civili- 
za-tir»n. The pioneers of this region date events back to the deep snow 




A KEPRESENTATlVJi PIONEER. 



of 1831, no one arriving here since that date taking first honors. The 
inciting cau:ie of the immigration which overflowed the prairies early in. 
the '30s was the reports of the marvelous beauty and fertility of the 
region distributed through the East by those who had participated in the 
Black Hawk campaign with Gen. Scott. Chicago and Milwaukee then 
had a few hundred inhabitants, and Gurdon S. Hubbard's trail from the 
former city to Kaskaskia led almost through a wilderness. Vegetables 
and clothing were largely distributed through the regions adjoining the 



88 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



lakes by steamers from the Ohio towns. There are men now living in 
IlHnois who came to the state when barely an acre was in cultivation, 
and a man now prominent in the business circles of Chicago looked over 
the swampy, cheerless site of that metropolis in 1818 and went south- 
ward into civilization. Emigrants from Pennsvlvania in 1830 left behind 




LINCOLN MONUMENT, SPKINGFIELD, ILLINOIS. 

them but one small railway in the coal regions, thirty miles in length, 
and made their way to the Northwest mostly with ox teams, finding in 
Northern Illinois petty settlements scores of miles apart, although the 
southern portion of the state was fairly dotted with farms. The 
water courses of the lakes and rivers furnished transportation to the 
second great army of immigrants, and about 1850 railroads were 
pushed to that extent that the crisis of 1837 was precipitated upon us, 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



89 



from tlie effects of which the Western country had not fully recovered 
at the outbreak of the war. Hostilities found the colonists of the prairies 
fully alive to the demands of the occasion, and the honor of recruiting 







''•>'': :''''"/';^!;ifpik': 



the vast armies of the Union fell largely to Gov. Yates, of Illinois, and 
Gov. Morton, of Indiana. To recount the share of the glories of the 
campaign ^-on bj t'j.v Western troops is a needless task, except to 
mention the fact that Illinois gave to ihe nation the President who save'] 



90 



THE NORTHWEST TERKITORY. 



it, and sent out at the head of one of its regiments tne general who led 
ts armies to the final victory at Appomattox. The struggle, on the , 




FAKM VIEW IN WINTER. 

whole, had a marked effect for the better on the new Northwest, gi <dng 
it an impetus which twenty years of peace would not have produced. 
In a large degree this prosperity was an inflated one, and with the rest 
of the Union we have since been compelled to atone therefor by four 



7> 

THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 93 

years of depression of values, of scarcity of employment, and loss of 
fortune. To a less degree, however, than the manufacturing or mining- 
regions has the West suffered during the prolonged panic now so near its 
end. Agriculture, still the leading feature in our industries, has Ijeen 
quite prosperous througli all these dark years, and the farmers liave 
cleared away man}- incumbrances resting over them from the period of 
fictitious values. The population has steadily increased, the arts and 
sciences are gaining a stronger foothold, the trade area of the region is 
becoming daily more extended, and we have been largely exempt from 
the financial calamities which have nearly wrecked communities on the 
seaboard dependent wholly on foreign commerce or domestic manufacture. 

At the present period there are no great schemes broached for the 
Northwest, no propositions for government subsidies or national works 
of improvement, but the capital of the world is attracted hither for the 
purchase of our products or the expansion of our capacity for serving the 
nation at large. A new era is dawning as to transportation, and we bid 
fair to deal almost exclusively with the increasing and expanding lines 
of steel rail running through every few miles of territory on the prairies. 
The lake marine will no doubt continue to be useful in the warmer 
season, and to serve as a regulator of freight rates ; but experienced 
navigators forecast the decay of the system in moving to the seaboard 
the enormous crops of the West. Within the past five years it has 
become quite common to see direct shipments to Europe and the West 
Indies going through from the second-class towns along the Mississippi 
and Missouri. 

As to popular education, the standard has of late risen very greatly^ 
and our schools would be creditable to any section of the Union. 

More and more as the events of the war pass into obscurity will the 
fate of the Northwest be linked with that of the Southwest, and the 
next Congressional apportionment will give the valley of the Mississippi 
absolute control of the legislation of the nation, and do much toward 
securing the removal of the Federal capitol to some more central location. 

Our public men continue to wield the full share of influence pertain- 
ing to their rank in the national autonomy, and seem not to forget that 
for the past sixteen years they and their constituents have dictated the 
principles which should govern the country. 

In a work like this, destined to lie on the shelves of the library for 
generations, and not doomed to daily destruction like a newspaper, one 
can not indulge in the same glowing predictions, the sanguine statements 
of actualities that fill the columns of ephemeral publications. Time may 
bring grief to the pet projects of a writer, and explode castles erected on 
a pedestal of facts. Yet there are unmistakable indications before us of 



y4 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 




LAKE BLrrr. 

The frontage of Lake Bluff Grounds on Lake Michigan, with one hundred and seventy feet of gradual ascent. 




inon BRIDGE, LAKE BLUFF, LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 95 

the same radical change in our great Northwest which characterizes its 
history for the past thirty years. Our domain has a sort of natural 
geographical border, save where it melts away to the southward in the 
cattle raising districts of the southwest. 

Our prime interest will for some years doubtless be the growth of 
the food of the world, in which branch it has already outstripped all 
competitors, and our great rival in this duty will naturally be the fertile 
plains of Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado, to say nothing of the new 
empire so rapidly growing up in Texas. Over these regions tliere is a 
continued progress in agriculture and in railway building, and we must 
look to our laurels. Intelligent observers of events are fully aware of 
the strides made in the way of shipments of fresh meats to Europe, 
many of these ocean cargoes being actually slaughtered in the West and 
transported on ice to the wharves of the seaboard cities. That this new 
enterprise will continue there is no reason to doubt. There are in 
Chicago several factories for the canning of prepared meats for European 
consumption, and the orders for this class of goods are already immense. 
English capital is becoming daily more and more dissatisfied with railway 
loans and investments, and is gradually seeking mammoth outlays in 
lands and live stock. The stock j^ards in Chicago, Indianapolis and East 
St. Louis are yearly increasing their facilities, and their plant steadily 
grows more valuable. Importations of blooded animals from the pro- 
gressive countries of Europe are destined to greatly improve the qualit}- 
of our beef and mutton. Nowhere is there to be seen a more enticing 
display in this line than at our state and county fairs, and the interest 
in the matter is on the increase. 

To attempt to give statistics of our grain production for 1877 would 
be useless, so far have we surpassed ourselves in the quantity and 
quality of our product. We are too liable to forget that we are giving 
the world its first article of necessity — its food supply. An opportunity 
to learn this fact so it never can be forgotten was afforded at Chicago at 
the outbreak of the great panic of 1873, when Canadian purchasers, 
fearing the prostration of business mightbring about an anarchical condition 
of affairs, went to that city with coin in bulk and foreign drafts to secure 
their supplies in their own currency at first hands. It may be justly 
claimed by the agricultural community that their combined efforts gave 
the nation its first impetus toward a restoration of its crippled industries, 
and their labor brought the gold premium to a lower depth than the 
government was able to reach by its most intense efforts of legislation 
and compulsion. The hundreds of millions about to be disbursed for 
farm products have already, by the anticipation common to all commercial 



96 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



nations, set the wheels in motion, and - will relieve us from the perils so 
long shadowing our efforts to return to a healthy tone. 

Manufacturing has attained in the chief cities a foothold which bids 
fair to render the Northwest independent of the outside world. Nearly 




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our whole region has a distribution of coal measures which will in time 
support the manufactures necessary to our comfort and prosperity. As 
to transportation, the chief factor in the production of all articles excep*"- 
food, no section is so magnificently endowed, and our facilities are yearly 
increasing beyond those of any other region. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 97 

The period from a central point of the war to the outbreak of the 
'panic was marked by a tremendous growth in our railway lines, but the 
depression of the times caused almost a total suspension of operations. 
Now that prosperity is returning to our stricken country we witness its 
anticipation by the railroad interest in a series of projects, extensions, 
and leases which bid fair to largely increase our transportation facilities. 
The process of foreclosure and sale of incumbered lines is another matter 
to be considered. In the case of the Illinois Central road, which formerly 
transferred to other lines at Cairo the vast burden of freight destined for 
the Gulf region, we now see the incorporation of the tracks connecting 
through to New Orleans, every mile co-operating in turjiing toward the 
northwestern metropolis the weight of the inter-state commerce of a 
thousand miles or more of fertile plantations. Three competing routes 
to Texas have established in Chicago their general freight and passenger 
agencies. Four or five lines compete for all Pacific freights to a point as 
as far as the interior of Nebraska. Half a dozen or more splendid bridge 
structures have been thrown across the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers by 
the railways. The Chicago and Northwestern line has become an aggre- 
gation of over two thousand miles of rail, and the Chicago, Milwaukee 
and St. Paul is its close rival in extent and importance. The three lines 
running to Cairo via Vincennes form a through route for all traffic with 
the states to the southward. The chief projects now under discussion 
are the Chicago and Atlantic, which is to unite with lines now built to 
Charleston, and the Chicago and Canada Southern, which line will con- 
nect with all the various branches of that Canadian enterprise. Our 
latest new road is the Chicago and Lake Huron, formed of three lines, 
and entering the city from Valparaiso on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne 
and Chicago track. The trunk lines being mainly in operation, the 
progress made in the way of shortening tracks, making air-line branches, 
and running extensions does not show to the advantage it deserves, as 
this process is constantly adding new facilities to the established order 
of things. The panic reduced the price of steel to a point where the 
railways could hardly afford to use iron rails, and all our northwestern 
lines report large relays of Bessemer track. The immense crops now 
being moved have given a great rise to the value of railway stocks, and 
their transportation must result in heavy pecuniary advantages. 

Few are aware of the importance of the wholesale and jobbing trade 
of Chicago. One leading firm has since the panic sold f 24,000,000 of 
dry goods in one year, and they now expect most confidently to add 
sevent}' per cent, to the figures of their last year's business. In boots 
and shoes and in clothing, twenty or more great firms from the east have 
placed here their distributing agents or their factories ; and in groceries 



98 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



Chicago supplies the entire Northwest at rates presenting advantages 
over New York. 

Chicago has stepped in between New York and the rural banks as a 
financial center, and scarcely a banking institution in the grain or cattle 
regions but keeps its reserve funds in the vaults of our commercial insti- 
tutions. Accumulating here throughout the spring and summer months, 
they are ■ summoned home at pleasure to move the products of the 
prairies. This process greatly strengthens the northwest in its financial 
operations, leaving home capital to supplement local operations on 
behalf of home interests. 

It is impossible to forecast the destiny of this grand and growing 
section of the Union. Figures and predictions made at this date might 
seem ten years hence so ludicrously small as to excite only derision. 




-}i^:.j.^c^^^''''' 



ILLINOIS. 

Length, 380 miles, mean width about 156 miles. Area, 55,410 square 
miles, or 35,462,400 acres. Illinois, as regards its surface, constitutes a 
table-land atavar3-ing elevation ranging between 350 and 800 feet above 
the sea level ; compr>sed of extensive and highly fertile prairies and plains, 
^luch of the south <3'"ision of the State, especially the river-bottoms, are 
thickly wooded. The prairies, too, have oasis-like clumps of trees 
scattered here and there at intervals. The chief rivers irrio^atingf the 
State are the Mississippi — dividing it from Iowa and JNIissouri— the Ohio 
(forming its south barrier), the Illinois, Wabash, Kaskaskia, and San- 
gamon, with their numerous affluents. The total extent of navigable 
streams is calculated at 4,000 miles. Small lakes are scattered over vari- 
ous parts of the State. Illinois is extremely prolific in minerals, chiefly 
coal, iron, copper, and zinc ores, sulphur and limestone. The coal-field 
alone is estimated to absorb a full third of the entire coal-deposit of North 
America. Climate tolerably equable and healthy ; the mean temperature 
standing at about 51° Fahrenheit As an agricultural region, Illinois takes 
a competitive rank with neighboring States, the cereals, fruits, and root- 
crops yielding plentiful returns ; in fact, as a grain-growing State, Illinois 
may be deemed, in proportion to her_ size, to possess a greater area of 
lands suitable for its production than any other State in the Union. Stock- 
raising is also largely carried on, while her manufacturing interests in 
regard of woolen fabrics, etc., are on a very extensive and yearly expand- 
ing scale. The lines of railroad in the State are among the most exten- 
sive of the Union. Inland water-carriage is facilitated by a canal 
connecting the Illinois River with Lake Michigan, and thence with the 
St. Lawrence and Atlantic. Illinois is divided into 102 counties ; the 
chief towns being Chicago, Springfield (capital), Alton, Quincy, Peoria, 
Galena, Bloomington, Rock Island, Vandalia, etc. By the new Consti- ■ 
tution, established in 1870, the State Legislature consists of 51 Senators, 
elected for four y^ars, and 153 Representatives, for two years ; which 
numbers were to be decennially increased thereafter to the number of 
six per every additional half-million of inhabitants. Religious and 
educational institutions are largely diffused throughout, and are in a verv 
flourishing condition. Illinois has a State Lunatic and a Deaf and Dumb 
Asylum at Jacksonville ; a State Penitentiary at Joliet ; and a Home for 

(99) 



100 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



Soldiers' Orphans at Normal. On November 30, 1870, the public debt of 
the State was returned at $4,870,937, with a balance of $1,808,833 
unprovided for. At the same period the value of assessed and equalized 
property presented the following totals: assessed, $840,031,703 ; equal- 
ized $480,664,058. The name of Illinois, through nearly the whole of 
the eighteenth century, embraced most of the known regions north and 
west of Ohio. French colonists established themselves in 1673, at 
Cahokia and Kaskaskia, and the territory of which these settlements 
formed the nucleus was, in 1763, ceded to Great Britain in conjunction 
with Canada, and ultimately resigned to the United States in 1787. 
Illinois entered the Union as a State, December 3, 1818; and now sends 
19 Rej)resentatives to Congress. Population, 2,539,891, in 1870. 




i AVESTERN DWELLING. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. lUl 



INDIANA.* 



The profile of Indiana forms a nearly exact parallelogram, occupy- 
ing one of the most fertile portions of the great Mississippi Valley. The 
2:reater extent of the surface embraced within its limits consists of gentle 
undulations rising into hilly tracts toward the Ohio bottom. The chief 
rivers of the State are the Ohio and Wabash, with their numerous 
affluents. The soil is higlily productive of the cereals and grasses — most 
particularly so in the valleys of the Ohio, Wabash, Whitewater, and 
White Rivers. The northeast and central portions are well timbered 
with virgin forests, and the west section is notably rich in coal, constitut- 
ing an offshoot of the great Illinois carboniferous field. Iron, copper, 
marble, slate, gypsum, and various claj'^s are also abundant. From an 
agricultural point of view, the staple products are maize and wheat, with 
the other cereals in lesser yields ; and besides these, flax, hemp, sorghum, 
hops, etc., are extensively raised. Indiana is divided into 92 counties, 
and counts among her principal cities and towns, those of Indianapolis 
Cthe capital). Fort Wayne, Evansville, Terre Haute, Madison, Jefferson- 
ville, Columbus, Vincennes, South Bend, etc. The public institutions of 
the State are many and various, and on a scale of magnitude and 
efficiency commensurate with her important political and industrial status. 
Upward of two thousand miles of railroads permeate the State in all 
directions, and greatly conduce to the development of her expanding 
manufacturing interests. Statistics for the fiscal year terminating 
October 31, 1870, exhibited a total of receipts, $3,896,541 as against dis- 
bursements, $3,532,406, leaving a balance, $364,135 in favor of the State 
Treasury. The entire public debt, January 5, 1871, $3,971,000. This 
State was first settled by Canadian voyageurs in 1702, who erected a fort 
at Vincennes ; in 1763 it passed into the hands of the English, and was 
by the latter ceded to the United States in 1783. From 1788 till 1791, 
an Indian warefare prevailed. In 1800, all the region west and north of 
Ohio (then formed into a distinct territory) became merged in Indiana. 
In 1809, the present limits of the State were defined, Michigan and 
Illinois having previously been withdrawn. In 1811, Indiana was the 
theater of the Indian War of Tecumseh, ending with the decisive battle 
of Tippecanoe. In 1816 (December 11), Indiana became enrolled among 
the States of the American Union. In 1834, the State passed through a 
monetary crisis owing to its having become mixed up with railroad. 
<:anal, and other speculations on a gigantic scale, which ended, for the 
time being, in a general collapse of puV)lic credit, and consequent bank- 
ruptcy. Since that time, however, the greater number of the public 



102 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

works which had brought about that imbroglio — especially the great 
Wabash and Erie Canal — have been completed, to the great benefit of 
the State, whose subsequent progress has year by year been marked by 
rapid strides in the paths of wealth, commerce, and general social and 
political prosperity. The constitution now in force was adopted in 1851. 
Population, 1,680^637. 



IOWA. 

In shape, Iowa presents an almost perfect parallelogram ; has a 
length, north to south, of about 300 miles, by a pretty even width of 208 
miles, and embraces an area of 55,045 square miles, or 35,228,800 acres. 
The surface of the State is generally undulating, rising toward the 
middle into an elevated plateau which forms the "divide" of the 
Missouri and Mississippi basins. Rolling prairies, especially in the south 
section, constitute a regnant feature, and the river bottoms, belted with 
woodlands, present a soil of the richest alluvion. Iowa is well watered ; 
the principal rivers being the Mississippi and Missouri, which form 
respectively its east and west limits, and the Cedar, Iowa, and Des 
Moines, affluents of the first named. Mineralogically, Iowa is important 
as occupying a section of the great Northwest coal field, to the extent of 
an area estimated at 25,000 square miles. Lead, copper, zinc, and iron, 
are also mined in considerable quantities. The soil is well adapted to 
the production of wheat, maize, and the other cereals : fruits, vegetables, 
and esculent roots ; maize, wheat, and oats forming the chief staples. 
Wine, tobacco, hops, and wax, are other noticeable items of the agricul- 
tural yield. Cattle-raising, too, is a branch of rural industry largely 
engaged in. The climate is healthy, although liable to extremes of heat 
and cold. The annual gross product of the various manufactures carried 
on in this State approximate, in round numbers, a sum of $20,000,000. 
Iowa has an immense railroad system, besides over 500 miles of water- 
communication by means of its navigable rivers. The State is politically 
divided into 99 counties, with the following centers of population : Des 
Moines (capital), Iowa City (former capital), Dubuque, Davenport, Bur- 
lington, Council Bluffs, Keokuk, Muscatine, and Cedar Rapids. The 
State institutions of Iowa — religious, scholastic, and philanthropic — are 
on a par, as regards number and perfection of organization and operation, 
with those of her Northwest sister States, and education is especially 
well cared for, and largely diffused. Iowa formed a portion of the 
American territorial acquisitions from France, by the so-called Louisiana 
purchase in 1803, and was politically identified with Louisiana till 1812, 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 103 

when it merged into the Missouri Territory; in 1834 it came under the 
INIichigan organization, and, in 1836, under that of Wisconsin. Finally, 
after being constituted an independent Territory, it became a State of 
the Union, December 28, 1846. Population in 1860, 674,913 ; in 1870, 
1,191,792, and in 1875, 1,853,118. 



MICHIGAN. 

United area, 56,243 square miles, or 35,995,520 acres. Extent of the 
Upper and smaller Peninsula — length, 316 miles; breadth, fluctuating 
between 36 and 120 miles. The south division is 416 miles long, by from 
50 to 300 miles wide. Aggregate lake-shore line, 1,400 miles. The 
Upper, or North, Peninsula consists chiefly of an elevated plateau, 
expanding into the Porcupine mountain-system, attaining a maximum 
height of some 2,000 feet. Its shores along Lake Superior are eminently 
bold and picturesque, and its area is rich in minerals, its product of 
copper constituting an important source of industry. Both divisions are 
heavily wooded, and the South one, in addition, boasts of a deep, rich, 
loamy soil, throwing up excellent crops of cereals and other agricultural 
produce. The climate is generally mild and humid, though the Winter 
colds are severe. The chief staples'of farm husbandry include the cereals, 
grasses, maple sugar, sorghum, tobacco, fruits, and dairy-stuffs. In 1870, 
the acres of land in farms were : improved, 5,096,939 ; unimproved 
woodland, 4,080,146 ; other unimproved land, 842,057. The cash value 
of land was $398,240,578 ; of farming implements and machinery, 
$13,711,979. In 1869, there were shipped from the Lake Superior ports, 
874,582 tons of iron ore, and 45,762 of smelted pig, along with 14,188 
tons of copper (ore and ingot). Coal is another article largely mined. 
Inland communication is provided for by an admirably organized railroad 
system, and by the St. Mary's Ship Canal, connecting Lakes Huron and 
Superior. Michigan is politically divided into 78 counties ; its chief 
urban centers are Detroit, Lansing (capital), Ann Arbor, Marquette, 
Bay City, Niles, Ypsilanti, Grand Haven, etc. The Governor of the 
State is elected biennially. On November 30, 1870, the aggregate bonded 
debt of Michigan amounted to $2,385,028, <ind the assessed valuation of 
land to $266,929,278, representing an estimated cash value of $800,000,000. 
Education is largely diffused and most excellently conducted and pro- 
vided for. The State University at Ann Arbor, the colleges of Detroit 
and Kalamazoo, the Albion Female College, the State Normal School at 
Ypsilanti, and the State Agricultural College at Lansing, are chief among 
the academic institutions. Michigan (a term of Chippewa}^ origin, and 



104 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

signifying " Great Lake), was discovered and first settled by French 
Canadians, wlio, in 1670, founded Detroit, the pioneer of a series of trad- 
ing-posts on the Indian frontier. During the " Conspiracy of Pontiac," 
following the French loss of Canada, Michigan became the scene of a 
sanguinary struggle between the whites and aborigines. In 1796, it 
became annexed to the United States, which incorporated this region 
with the Northwest Territory, and then with Indiana Territory, till 1803, 
when it became territorially independent. Michigan was the theater of 
warlike operations during the war of 1812 with Great Britain, and in 
1819 was authorized to be represented by one delegate in Congress ; in 
1837 she was admitted into the Union as a State, and in 1869 ratified the 
15th Amendment to the Federal Constitution. Population, 1,184,059. 



WISCONSIN. 

It has a mean length of 260 miles, and a maximum breadth of 215. 
Land area, 53,924 square miles, or 34,511,360 acres. Wisconsin lies at a 
considerable altitude above sea-level, and consists for the most part of an 
upland plateau, the surface of which is undulating and very generally 
diversified. Numerous local eminences called mounds are interspersed 
over the State, and the Lake Michigan coast-line is in many parts char- 
acterized by lofty escarped cliffs, even as on the west side the banks of 
the Mississippi form a series of high and picturesque bluffs. A group of 
islands known as The Apostles lie off the extreme north point of the 
State in Lake Superior, and the great estuary of Green Bay, running far 
inland, gives formation to a long, narrow peninsula between its waters 
and those of Lake Michigan. The river-system of Wisconsin has three 
outlets — those of Lake Superior, Green Bay, and the Mississippi, which 
latter stream forms the entire southwest frontier, widening at one point 
into the large watery expanse called Lake Pepin. Lake Superior receives 
the St. Louis, Burnt Wood, and Montreal Rivers ; Green Bay, *the 
Menomonee, Peshtigo, Oconto, and Fox; while into the Mississippi 
empty the St. Croix, Chippewa, Black, Wisconsin, and Rock Rivers. 
The chief interior lakes are those of Winnebago, Horicon, and Court 
Oreilles, and smaller sheets of water stud a great part of the surface. 
The climate is healthful, with cold Winters and brief but very warm 
Summers. Mean annual rainfall 31 inches. The geological system 
represented b}^ the State, embraces those rocks included between the 
primary and the Devonian series, the former containing extensive 
deposits of copper and iron ore. Besides these minerals, lead and zinc 
are found in great quantities, together with kaolin, plumbago, gypsum, 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 105 

and various clays. Mining, consequently, forms a prominent industry, 
and one of yearly increasing dimensions. The soil of Wisconsin is of 
varying quality, but fertile on the whole, and in the north parts of the 
State heavily timbered. The agricultural yield comprises the cereals, 
together with flax, hemp, tobacco, pulse, sorgum, and all kinds of vege- 
tables, and of the hardier fruits. In 1870, the State had a total number 
of 102,904 farms, occupying 11,715,321 acres, of which 5,899,343 con- 
sisted of improved land, and 3,437,442 were timbered. Cash value of 
farms, $300,414,064 ; of farm implements and machinery, 114,239,364. 
Total estimated value of all farm products, including betterments and 
additions to stock, $78,027,032 ; of orchard and dairy stuffs, $1,045,933 ; 
of lumber, $1,327,618 ; of home manufactures, $338,423 ; of all live-stock, 
$45,310,882. Number of manufacturing establishments, 7,136, employ- 
ing 39,055 hands, and turning out productions valued at $85,624,966. 
The political divisions of the State form 61 counties, and the chief places 
of wealth, trade, and population, are Madison (the capital), Milwaukee, 
Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Prairie du Chien, Janesville, Portage City, 
Racine, Kenosha, and La Crosse. In 1870, the total assessed valuation 
reached $333,209,838, as against a true valuation of both real and personal 
estate aggregating $602,207,329. Treasury receipts during 1870, $886,- 
696 ; disbursements, $906,329. Value of church property, $4,749,983. 
Education is amply provided for. Independently of the State University 
at Madison, and those of Galesville and of Lawrence at Appleton, and 
the colleges of Beloit, Racine, and Milton, there are Normal Schools at 
Platteville and Whitewater. The State is divided into 4,802 common 
school districts, maintained at a cost, in 1870, of $2,094,160. The chari- 
table institutions of Wisconsin include a Deaf and Dumb Asylum, an 
Institute for the Education of the Blind, and a Soldiers' Orphans' School. 
In January, 1870, the railroad system ramified throughout the State 
totalized 2,779 miles of track, including several lines far advanced toward 
completion. Immigration is successfully encouraged by the State author- 
ities, the larger number of yearly new-comers being of Scandinavian and 
German origin. The territory now occupied within the limits of the 
State of Wisconsin was explored by French missionaries and traders in 
1639, and it remained under French jurisdiction until 1703, when it 
became annexed to the British North American possessions. In 1796, it 
reverted to the United States, the government of which latter admitted 
it within the limits of the Northwest Territory, and in 1809, attached it 
to that of Illinois, and to Michigan in 1818. Wisconsin became independ- 
ently territorially organized in 1836, and became a State of the Union, 
March 3, 1847. Population in 1870, 1,064,985, of which 2,113 were of 
the colored race, and 11,521 Indians, 1,206 of the latter being out of 
tribal relations. 



106 * THE NORTHWEST TERaiTORY. 



MINNESOTA. 

Its length, north to south, embraces an extent of 380 miles; its 
breadth one of 250 miles at a maximum. Area, 84,000 square miles., or 
54,760,000 acres. The surface of Minnesota, generally speaking, con- 
sists of a succession of gently undulating plains and prairies, drained by 
an admirable water-system, and with here and there heavil}- timbered 
bottoms and belts of virgin forest. The soil, corresponding with such a 
superfices, is exceptionally rich, consisting for the most part of a dark, 
calcareous sandy drift intermixed with loam. A distinguishing physical 
feature of this State is its riverine ramifications, expanding in nearly 
every part of it into almost innumerable lakes — the whole presenting an 
aggregate of water-power having hardly a rival in the Union. Besides 
the Mississippi — which here has its rise, and drains a basin of 800 miles 
of country — the principal streams are the Minnesota (334 miles long), 
the Red River of the North, the St. Croix, St. Louis, and many others of 
lesser importance ; the chief lakes are those called Red, Cass, Leech, 
Mille Lacs, Vermillion, and Winibigosh. Quite a concatenation of sheets 
of water fringe the frontier line where Minnesota joins British America, 
culminatinsf in the Lake of the Woods. It has been estimated, that of 
an area of 1,200,000 acres of surface between the St. Croix and Mis- 
sissippi Rivers; not less than 73,000 acres are of lacustrine formation. In 
point of minerals, the resources of Minnesota have as yet been very 
imperfectly developed ; iron, copper, coal, lead — all these are known to 
exist in considerable deposits ; together with salt, limestone, and potter's 
clay. The agricultural outlook of the State is in a high degree satis- 
factor}' ; wheat constitutes the leading cereal in cultivation, with Indian 
corn and oats in next order. Fruits and vegetables are grown in great 
plenty and of excellent quality. The lumber resources of Minnesota are 
important ; the pine forests in the north region alone occupying an area 
of some 21,000 square miles, which in 1870 produced a return of scaled 
logs amounting to 313,116,416 feet. The natural industrial advantages 
possessed by Minnesota are largely improved upon by a railroad system. 
The political divisions of this State number 78 counties ; of which the 
chief cities and towns are : St. Paul (the capital), Stillwater, Red Wing, 
St. Anthony, Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, and Mankato. Minnesota has 
already assumed an attitude of high importance as a manufacturing State ; 
this is mainly due to the wonderful command of water-power she pos- 
sesses, as before spoken of. Besides her tiinber-trade, the milling of 
flour, the distillation of whisky, and the tanning of leather, are prominent 
interests, which, in 1869, gave returns to the amount of 114,831,043. 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 107 

Education is notably provided for on a broad and catholic scale, the 
entire amount expended scholastically during the year 1870 being $857,- 
816 ; while on November 30 of the preceding year the permanent school 
fund stood at $2,476,222. Besides a University and Agricultural College, 
Normal and Reform Schools flourish, and with these may be mentioned 
such various philanthropic and religious institutions as befit the needs of 
an intelligent and prosperous community. The finances of the State for 
the fiscal year terminating December 1, 1870, exhibited*a balance on the 
right side to the amount of $136,164, being a gain of $44,000 over the 
previous year's figures. The earliest exploration of Minnesota by the 
whites was made in 1680 by a French Franciscan, Father Hennepin, who 
gave the name of St. Antony to the Great Falls on the Upper Missisippi. 
In 1763, the Treaty of Versailles ceded this region to England. 
Twenty years later, Minnesota formed part of the Northwest Territory 
transferred to the United States, and became herself territorialized inde- 
pendently in 1849. Indian cessions in 1851 enlarged her boundaries, and. 
May 11, 1857, Minnesota became a unit of the great American federation 
of States. Population, 439,706. 



NEBRASKA. 

Maximum length, 412 miles ; extreme breadth, 208 miles. Area, 
75,905 square miles, or 48,636,800 acres. The surface of this State is 
almost entirely undulating prairie, and forms part of the west slope of 
the orreat central basin of the North American Continent. In its west 
division, near the base of the Rocky Mountains, is a sandy belt of 
country, irregularly defined. In this part, too, are the " dunes,*' resem- 
bling a wavy sea of sandy billows, as well as the Mauvaises Terres, a tract 
of singular formation, produced by eccentric disintegrations and denuda- 
tions of the land. The chief rivers are the Missouri, constituting its en- 
tire east line of demarcation ; the Nebraska or Platte, the Niobrara, the 
Republican Fork of the Kansas, the Elkhorn, and the Loup Fork of the 
Platte. The soil is very various, but consisting chiefly of rich, bottomy 
loam, admirably adapted to the raising of heavy crops of cereals. All 
the vegetables and fruits of the temperate zone are produced in great 
"size and plenty. For grazing purposes Nebraska is a State exceptionally 
well fitted, a region of not less than 23,000,000 acres being adaptable to 
this Ijranch of husbandry. It is believed that the, as yet, comparatively 
infertile tracts of land found in various parts of the State are susceptible 
of productivity by means of a properly conducted system of irrigation. 
Few minerals of moment have so far been found within the limits of 



108 



THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 



Nebraska, if we may except important saline deposits at the head of Salt 
Creek in its southeast section. The State is divided into 57 counties, 
independent of the Pawnee and Winnebago Indians, and of unorganized 
territory in the northwest part. The principal towns are Omaha, Lincoln 
(State capital), Nebraska City, Columbus, Grand Island, etc. In 1870, 
the total assessed value of property amounted to $53,000,000, being an 
increase of $11,000,000 over the previous year's returns. The total 
amount received from the school-fund during the year 1869-70 was 
177,999. Education is making great onward strides, the State University 
and an Agricultural College being far advanced toward completion. In 
the matter of railroad communication, Nebraska bids fair to soon place 
herself on a par with her neighbors to the east. Besides being inter- 
sected by the Union Pacific line, with its off-shoot, the Fremont and Blair, 
other tracks are in course of rapid construction. Organized by Con- 
gressional Act into a Territory, May 30, 1854, Nebraska entered the 
Union as a full State, March 1, 1867. Population, 122,993. 




HTTNTING PRAIEIE WOLVES IX AN EARLY DAY. 



Early History of Illinois. 



The name of this beautiful Prairie State is derived from Illim, a 
Delaware word signifying Superior Men. It has a French termination, 
and is a symbol of how the two races — the French and the Indians — 
were intermixed during the early history of the country. 

The appellation Avas no doubt well applied to the primitive inhabitr 
ants of the soil whose prowess in savage warfare long withstood the 
combined attacks of the fierce Iroquois on the one side, and the no less 
savage and relentless Sacs and Foxes on the other. The Illinois were 
once a powerful confederacy, occupying the most beautiful and fertile 
region in the great Valle}^ of the Mississippi, which their enemies coveted 
and struggled long and hard to wrest from them. By the fortunes of 
war they were diminished in numbers, and finally destroyed. " Starved 
Rock," on the Illinois River, according to tradition, commemorates their 
last tragedy, where, it is said, the entire tribe starved rather than sur- 
render. 

EARLY DISCOVERIES. 

The first European discoveries in Illinois date back over two hun- 
dred years. They are a part of that movement which, from the begin- 
ning to the middle of the seventeenth century, brought the French 
Canadian missionaries and fur traders into the Valley of the Mississippi, 
and which, at a later period, established the civil and ecclesiastical 
authority of France from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico, 
and from the foot-hills of the Alleghanies to the Rocky Mountains. 

The great river of the West had been discovered by DeSoto, the 
Spanish conqueror of Florida, three quarters of a century before the 
French founded Quebec in 1608, but the Spanish left the country a wil- 
derness, without further exploration or settlement within its borders, in 
which condition it remained until the Mississippi was discovered by the 
agents of the French Canadian government, Jolietand Marquette, in 1673. 
These renowned explorers were not the first white visitors to Illinois. 
In 1671 — two years in advance of them — came Nicholas Perrot to Chicago. 
He had been sent by Talon as an agent of the Canadian government to 

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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 



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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. Ill 

call a great peace convention of Western Indians at Green Bay, prepara- 
tory to the movement for the discovery of the Mississippi. It was 
deemed a good stroke of policy to secure, as far as possible, the friend- 
ship and co-operation of tlie Indians, far and near, before venturing upon 
an enterprise which their hostility might render disastrous, and which 
their friendship and assistance would do so much to make successful ; 
and to this end Perrot was sent to call to"ether in council the tribes 
throughout tlie Northwest, and to promise them the commerce and pro- 
tection of the French government. He accordingly arrived at Green 
Bay in 1671, and procuring an escort of Pottawattamies, proceeded in a 
bark canoe upon a visit to the Miarais, at Chicago. Perrot was there- 
fore the first European to set foot upon the soil of Illinois. 

Still there were others before Marquette. In 1672, the Jesuit mis- 
sionaries, Fathers Claude Allouez and Claude Dablon, bore the standard 
of the Cross from their mission at Green Bay through western Wisconsin 
and northern Illinois, visiting the Foxes on Fox River, and the Masquo- 
tines and Kickapoos at the mouth of the Milwaukee. These missionaries 
penetrated on the route afterwards followed by Marquette as far as the 
Kickapoo village at the head of Lake Winnebago, where Marquette, in 
his journey, secured guides across the portage to the Wisconsin. 

The oft-repeated story of Marquette and Joliet is well known. 
They were the agents employed by the Canadian government to discover 
the Mississippi. Marquette was a native of France, born in 1637, a 
Jesuit priest by education, and a man of simple faith and of great zeal and 
devotion in extending the Roman Catholic religion among the Indians. 
Arriving in Canada in 1666, he was sent as a missionary to the far 
Northwest, and, in 1668, founded a mission at Sault Ste. Marie. The 
following year he moved to La Pointe, in Lake Superior, where he 
instructed a branch of the Hurons till 1670, when he removed south, and 
founded the mission at St. Ignace, on the Straits of Mackinaw. Here 
he remained, devoting a portion of his time to the study of the Illinois 
language under a native teacher who had accompanied him to the mission 
from La Pointe, till he was joined by Joliet in the Spring of 1673. B}- 
the way of Green Bay and the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, they entered 
the Mississippi, which they explored to the mouth of the Arkansas, and 
returned by the way of the Illinois and Chicago Rivers to Lake Michigan. 

On his way up the Illinois, Marquette visited the great village of 
the Kaskaskias, near what is now Utica, in the county of LaSalle. The 
following year he returned and established among them the mission of 
the Immaculate Virgin Mary, which was the first Jesuit mission founded 
in Illinois and in the Mississippi Valley. The intervening winter he 
had spent in a hut which his companions erected on the Chicago River, a 
few leagues from its mouth. The founding of this mission was the last 



112 HISTOK\ OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

act of Marquette's life. He died in Michigan, on his way back to Green 
Bay, May 18, 1675. 

FIRST FRENCH OCCUPATION. 

The first French occupation of the territory now embraced in Illi- 
nois was effected by LaSalle in 1680, seven years after the time of Mar- 
:iuette and Joliet. LaSalle, having constructed a vessel, the " Griffin," 
above the falls of Niagara, which he sailed to Green Bay, and having 
passed thence in canoes to the mouth of the St. Joseph River, by which 
and the Kankakee he reached the Illinois, in January, 1680, erected Fort 
Crevecceur, at the lower end of Peoria Lake, where the city of Peoria is 
now situated. The place where this ancient fort stood may still be seen 
just below the outlet of Peoria Lake. It was destined, however, to a 
temporary existence. From this point, LaSalle determined to descend 
the Mississippi to its mouth, but did not accomplish this purpose till two 
years later — in 1682. Returning to Fort Frontenac for the purpose of 
getting materials with which to rig his vessel, he left the fort in charge of 
Touti, his lieutenant, who during his absence was driven off by the Iro- 
quois Indians. These savages had made a raid upon the settlement of 
the Illinois, and had left nothing in their track but ruin and desolation. 
Mr. Davidson, in his History of Illinois, gives the following graphic 
account of the picture that met the eyes of LaSalle and his companions 
on their return : 

" At the great town of the Illinois they were appalled at the scene 
which opened to their view. No hunter appeared to break its death-like 
silence with a salutatory whoop ot welcome. The plain on which the 
town had stood was now strewn with charred fragments of lodges, which 
had so recently swarmed with savage life and hilarity. To render more 
hideous the picture of desolation, large numbers ot skulls had been 
placed on the upper extremities of lodge-poles which had escaped the 
devourino; flames. In the midst of these horrors was the rude fort of 
the spoilers, rendered frightful by the same ghastly relics. A near 
approach showed that the graves had been robbed of their bodies, and 
swarms of buzzards were discovered gluttinj: their loathsome stomachs 
on the reeking corruption. To complete the work of destruction, the 
growing corn of the village had been cut down and burned, while the 
pits containing the products of previous years, had been rifled and their 
contents scattered with wanton waste. It was evident the suspected 
blow of the Iroquois had fallen with relentless fury." 

Tonti had escaped LaSalle knew not whither. Passing down the 
lake in search of him and his men, LaSalle discovered that the fort had 
been destroyed, but the vessel which he had partly constructed was still 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. IV6 

on tiie stocks, and but slightly injured. After further fruitless search, 
failing to find Tonti, he fastened to a tree a painting representing himself 
and party sitting in a canoe and bearing a pipe of peace, and to the paint- 
ing attached a letter addressed to Tonti. 

Tonti had escaped, and, after untold privations, taken shelter among 
the Pottawattamies near Green Bay. These were friendly to the French. 
One of their old chiefs used to say, " There were but three great cap- 
tains in the world, himself, Tonti and LaSalle." 

GENIUS OF LaSALLE. 

We must now return to LaSalle, whose exploits stand out in such 
bold relief. He was born in Rouen, France, in 1643. His father was 
wealthy, but he renounced his patrimony on entering a college of the 
Jesuits, from which he separated and came to Canada a poor man in 1666. 
The priests of St. Sulpice, among whom he had a brother, were then the 
proprietors of Montreal, the nucleus of which was a seminary or con- 
vent founded by that oj'der. The Superior granted to LaSalle a large 
tract of land at LaChine, where he established himself in the fur trade. 
He was a man of daring genius, and outstripped all his competitors in 
exploits of travel and commerce with the Indians. In 1669, he visited 
the headquarters of the great Iroquois Confederacy, at Onondaga, in the 
heart of New York, and, obtaining guides, explored the Ohio River to 
the falls at Louisville. 

In order to understand the genius of LaSalle, it must be remembered 
that for many years prior to his time the missionaries and traders were 
obliged to make their way to the Northwest by the Ottawa River (of 
Canada) on account of the fierce hostility of the Iroquois along the lower 
lakes and Niagara River, which entirely closed this latter route to the 
Upper Lakes. They carried on their commerce chiefly by canoes, pad- 
dling them through the Ottawa to Lake Nipissing, carrying them across 
the portage to French River, and descending that to Lake Huron. This 
being the route by which they reached the Northwest, accounts for the 
fact that all the earliest Jesuit missions were established in the neisfhbor- 
hood of the Upper Lakes. LaSalle conceived the grand idea of opening 
the route by Niagara River and the Lower Lakes to Canadian commerce 
by sail vessels, connecting it with the navigation of the Mississippi, and 
thus opening a magnificent water communication from the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico. This truly grand and comprehensive 
purpose seems to have animated him in all his wonderful achievements 
and the matchless difficulties and hardships he surmounted. As the first 
step in the accomplishment of this object he established himself on Lake 
Ontario, and built and garrisoned Fort Frontenac, the site of the present 



114 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

city of Kingston, Canada. Here he obtained a grant of land from the 
French crown and a body of troops by which he beat back the invading 
Iroquois and cleared the passage to Niagara Falls. Having by this mas- 
terly stroke made it safe to attempt a hitherto untried expedition, his 
next step, as we have seen, was to advance to the Falls with all his 
outfit for building a ship with which to sail the lakes. He was success- 
ful in this undertaking, though his ultimate purpose was defeated by a 
strange combination of untoward circumstances. The Jesuits evidently 
hated LaSalle and plotted against him, because he had abandoned them 
and co-operated with a rival order. The fur traders were also jealous of 
his superior success in opening new channels of commerce. At LaChine 
he had taken the trade of Lake Ontario, which but for his presence there 
would have gone to Quebec. While they were plodding with their barK 
canoes through the Ottawa he was constructing sailing vessels to com- 
mand the trade of the lakes and the Mississippi. These great plans 
excited the jealousy and envy of the small traders, introduced treason and 
revolt into the ranks of his own companions, and finally led to the foul 
assassination by which his great achievements Were prematurely ended. 

In 1682, LaSalle, having completed his vessel at Peoria, descended 
the Mississippi to its confluence with the Gulf of Mexico. Erecting a 
standard on which he inscribed the arms of France, he took formal pos- 
session of the whole valley of the mighty river, in the name of Louis 
XIV., then reigning, in honor of whom he named the country Louisiana. 

LaSalle then went to France, was appointed Governor, and returned 
with a fleet and immigrants, for the purpose of planting a colony in Illi- 
nois. They arrived in due time in the Gulf of Mexico, but failing to 
find the mouth of the Mississippi, up which LaSalle intended to sail, his 
supply ship, with the immigrants, was driven ashore and wrecked on 
Matagorda Bay. With the fragments of the vessel he constructed a 
stockade and rude huts on the shore for the protection of the immigrants, 
calling the post Fort St. Louis. He then made a trip into New Mexico, 
in search of silver mines, but, meeting with disappointment, returned to 
find his little colony reduced to forty souls. He then resolved to travel 
on foot to Illinois, and, starting with his companions, had reached the 
valley of the Colorado, near the mouth of Trinity river, when he vras 
shot by one of his men. This occurred on the 19th of March, 1687. 

Dr. J. W. Foster remarks of him : " Thus fell, not far from the banks 
of the Trinity, Robert Cavalier de la Salle, one of the grandest charac- 
ters that ever figured in American history — a man capable of originating 
the vastest schemes, and endowed with a will and a judgment capable of 
carrying them to successful results. Had ample facilities been placed by 
the King of France at his disposal, the result of the colonization of this 
continent might have been far different from what we now behold." 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. ll-'> 



EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

A temporary ^jcttlement was made at Fort St. Louis, or the old Kas- 
kaskia village, on the Illinois River, in what is now LaSalle County, in 
1682. In 1690, this was removed, with the mission connected with it, to 
Kaskaskia, on the river of that name, emptying into the lower Mississippi 
in St. Clair County. Cahokia was settled about the same time, or at 
least, both of these settlements began in the year 1690, though it is now 
pretty well settled that Cahokia is the older place, and ranks as the oldest 
permanent settlement in lUinoib, as well as in the Mississippi Valley. 
The reason for the removal of the jld Kaskaskia settlement and mission, 
was probably because the dangerous and difficult route by Lake Michigan 
and the Chicago portage had been almost abandoned, and travelers and 
traders passed down and up the Mississippi by the Fox and Wisconsin 
River route. They removed to the vicinity of the Mississippi in order 
to be in the line of travel from Canada to Louisiana, that is, the lower 
part of it, for it was all Louisiana then south of the lakes. 

During the period of French rule in Louisiana, the population prob- 
ably never exceeded ten thousand, including whites and blacks. Within 
that portion of it now included in Indiana, trading posts were established 
at the principal Miami villages which stood on the head waters of the 
Maumee, the Wea villages situated at Ouiatenon, on the Wabash, and 
the Piankeshaw villages at Post Vincennes ; all of which were probably 
visited by French traders and missionaries before the close of the seven- 
teenth century. 

In the vast territory claimed by the French, many settlements of 
considerable importance had sprung up. Biloxi, on Mobile Bay, had 
been founded by DTberville, in 1699; Antoine de Lamotte Cadillac had 
founded Detroit in 1701 ; and New Orleans had been founded by Bien- 
ville, under the auspices of the Mississippi Company, in 1718. In Illi- 
nois also, considerable settlements had been made, so that in 1730 they 
embraced one hundred and forty French families, about six hundred " con- 
verted Indians," and many traders and voyageurs. In that portion of the 
country, on the east side of the Mississippi, there were five distinct set- 
tlements, with their respective villages, viz. : Cahokia, near the mouth 
of Cahokia Creek and about five miles below the present city of St. 
Louis ; St. Philip, about forty-five miles below Cahokia, and four miles 
above Fort Chartres ; Fort Chartres, twelve miles above Kaskaskia ; 
Kaskaskia, situated on the Kaskaskia River, five miles above its conflu- 
ence with the Mississippi ; and Prairie du Rocher, near Fort Chartres. 
f o these must be added St. Genevieve and St. Louis, on the west side 
of the Mississippi. These, with the exception of St. Louis, are among 



116 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF LLIilNOIS. 




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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 117 

the oldest French towns in the Mississippi Valley. Kaskaskia, in its best 
days, was a town of some two or three thousand inhabitants. After it 
passed from the crown of France its population for many years did not 
exceed fifteen hundred. Under British rule, in 1773, the population had 
decreased to four hundred and fifty. As early as 17^1, the Jesuits had 
established a college and a monastery in Kaskaskia. 

Fort Chartres was first built under the direction of the Mississippi 
Company, in 1718, by M. de Boisbraint, a military officer, under command 
of Bienville. It stood on the east bank of the Mississippi, about eighteen 
miles below Kaskaskia, and was for some time the headquarters of the 
military commandants of the district of Illinois. 

In the Centennial Oration of Dr. Fowler, delivered at Philadelphia, 
by appointment of Gov. Beveridge, we find some interesting facts with 
regard to the State of Illinois, which we appropriate in this history: 

In 1682 Illinois became a possession of the French crown, a depend- 
ency of Canada, and a part of Louisiana. In 1765 the English flag was 
run up on old Fort Chartres, and Illinois was counted among the treas- 
ures of Great Britain. 

In 1779 it was taken from the English by Col. George Rogers Clark. 
This man was resolute in nature, wise in council, prudent in policy, bold 
in action, and heroic in danger. Few men who have figured in the his- 
tory of America are more deserving than this colonel. Nothing short of 
first-class ability could have rescued Vincens and all Illinois from the 
English. And it is not possible to over-estimate the influence of this 
achievement upon the republic. In 1779 Illinois became a part of Vir- 
ginia. It was soon known as Illinois County. In 1784 Virginia ceded 
all this territory to the general government, to be cut into States, to be 
republican in form, with " the same right of sovereignty, freedom, and 
independence as the other States." 

In 1787 it was the object of the wisest and ablest legislation found 
in any merely human records. No man can study the secret history of 

THE "COMPACT OF 1787," 

and not feel that Providence was guiding with sleepless eye these unborn 
States. The ordinance that on July 13, 1787, finally became the incor- 
porating act, has a most marvelous history. Jefferson had vainly tried 
to secure a system of government for the northwestern territory. He 
. was an emancipationist of that day, and favored the exclusion of slavery 
from the territory Virginia had ceded to the general government; but 
the South voted him down as often as it came up. In 1787, as late as 
July 10, an organizing act without the anti-slavery clause was pending. 
This concession to the South was expected to carry it. Congress was in 



118 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

session in New York City. On July 5, Rev. Dr. Manasseh Cutler, of 
Massachusetts, came into New York to lobby on the northwestern terri- 
tory. Everything seemed to fall into his hands. Events were ripe. 

The state of the public credit, the growing of Southern prejudice, 
the basis of his mission, his personal character, all combined to complete 
one of those sudden and marvelous revolutions of public sentiment that 
once in five or ten centuries are seen to sweep over a country like the 
breath of the Almighty. Cutler was a graduate of Yale — received his 
A.M. from Harvard, and his D.D. from Yale. He had studied and taken 
degrees in the three learned professions, medicine, law, and divinity. He 
had thus America's best indorsement. He had published a scientific 
examination of the plants of New England. His name stood second only 
to that of Franklin as a scientist in America. He was a courtly gentle- 
man of the old style, a man of commanding presence, and of inviting- 
face. The Southern members said they had never seen such a gentleman 
in the North. He came representing a company that desired to purchase 
a tract of land now included in Ohio, for the purpose of planting a colony. 
It was a speculation. Government money was worth eighteen cents on 
the dollar. This Massachusetts company had collected enough to pur- 
chase 1,500,000 acres of land. Other speculators in New York made 
Dr. Cutler their agent (lobbyist). On the 12th he represented a demand 
for 5,500,000 acres. This would reduce the national debt. Jefferson 
and Virginia were regarded as authority concerning the land Virginia 
had just ceded. Jefferson's policy wanted to provide for the public credit, 
and this was a good opportunity to do something. 

Massachusetts then owned the territory of Maine, which she was 
crowding on the market. She was opposed to opening the northwestern 
region. This fired the zeal of Virginia. The South caught the inspira- 
tion, and all exalted Dr. Cutler. The English minister invited him to 
dine with some of the Southern gentlemen. He was the center of interest. 

The entire South rallied round him. Massachusetts could not vote 
against him, because many of the constituents of her members were 
interested personally in the western speculation. Thus Cutler, making 
friends with the South, and, doubtless, using all the arts of the lobby» 
was enabled to command the situation. True to deeper convictions, he 
dictated one of the most compact and finished documents of wise states- 
manship that has ever adorned any human law book. He borrowed from 
Jefferson the term " Articles of Compact," which, preceding tlie federal 
constitution, rose into the most sacred character. He then followed very 
closely the constitution of Massachusetts, adopted three years before. 
Its most marked points were : 

1. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever. 

2. Provision for public schools, giving one township for a seminary, 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 119 

and every section numbered 16 in each township ; that is, one-thirty-sixth 
of all the land, for public schools. 

3. A provision prohibiting the adoption of any constitution or the 
enactment of any law that should nullify pre-existing contracts. 

Be it forever remembered that this compact declared that " Religion, 
morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the 
happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall always 
be encouraged." 

Dr. Cutler planted himself on this platform and would not yield. 
Griving his unqualified declaration that it was that or nothing — that unless 
they could make the land desirable they did not want it — he took his 
horse and buggv, and started for the constitutional convention in Phila- 
delphia. On July 13, 1787, the bill was put upon its passage, and was 
unanimously adopted, every Southern member voting for it, and only one 
man, Mr. Yates, of New York, voting against it. But as the States voted 
as States, Yates lost his vote, and the compact was put beyond repeal. 

Thus the great States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wis- 
consin — a vast empire, the heart of the great valley — were consecrated 
to freedom, intelligence, and honesty. Thus the great heart of the nation 
was prepared for a year and a day and an hour. In the light of these eighty- 
nine years I affirm that this act whs the salvation of the republic and the 
destruction of slavery. Soon the South saw their great blunder, and 
tried to repeal the compact. In 1803 Congress referred it to a committee 
of which John Randolph was chairman. He reported that this ordinance 
was a compact, and opposed repeal. Thus it stood a rock, in the way 
of the on-rushing sea of slavery. 

With all this timely aid it was, after all, a most desperate and pro- 
tracted struggle to keep the soil of Illinois sacred to freedom. It was 
the natural battle-field for the irrepressible conflict. In the southern end 
of the State slavery preceded the compact. It e:iisted among the old 
French settlers, and was hard to eradicate. The southern part of the 
State was settled from the slave States, and this population brought their 
laws, customs, and institutions with them. A stream of population from 
the North poured into the northern part of the State. These sections 
misunderstood and hated each other perfectly. The Southerners regarded 
the Yankees as a skinning, tricky, penurious race of peddlers, filling the 
country with tinware, brass clocks, and wooden nutmegs. The North- 
erner thought of the Southerner as a lean, lank, lazy creature, burrowing 
in a hut, and rioting in whisk^s dirt and ignorance. These causes aided 
iu making the struggle long and bitter. So strong was the sympathy 
with slavery that, in spite of the ordinance of 1787, and in spite of the 
deed of cession, it was determined to allow the old French settlers to 
retain their slaves. Planters from the slave States might bring their 



120 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

slaves, if they would give them a chance to choose freedom or years 
of service and bondage for their children till they should become 
thirty years of age. If they chose freedom they must leave the State 
in sixty days or be sold as fugitives. Servants were whipped for offenses 
for which white men are fined. Each lash paid forty cents of the fine. A 
neo-ro ten miles from home without a pass was whipped. These famous 
laws were imported from the slave States just as they imported laws foi 
the inspection of flax and wool when there was neither in the State. 

These Black Laws are now wiped out. A vigorous effort was made 
to protect slavery in the State Constitution of 1817. It barely failed. 
It was renewed in 1825, when a convention was asked to make a new 
constitution. After a hard fight the convention was defeated. But 
slaves did not disappear from the census of the State until 1850. There 
were mobs and murders in the interest of slavery. Lovejoy was added 
to the list of martyrs — a sort of first-fruits of that long life of immortal 
heroes who saw freedom as the one supreme desire of their souls, and 
were so enamored of her that they preferred to die rather than survive her. 

The population of 12,282 that occupied the territory in A.D. 1800, 
increased to 45,000 in A.D. 1818, when the State Constitution was 
adopted, and Illinois took her place in the Union, with a star on the flag 
and two votes in the Senate. 

Shadrach Bond was the first Governor, and in his first message he 
recommended the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. 

The simple economy in those days is seen in the fact that the entire 
bill for stationery for the first Legislature was only $13.50. Yet this 
simple body actually enacted a very superior code. 

There was no money in the territory before the war of 1812. Deer 
skins and coon skins were the circulating medium. In 1821, the Legis- 
lature ordained a State Bank on the credit of the State. It issued notes 
in the likeness of bank bills. These notes were made a legal tender for 
every thing, and the bank was ordered to loan to the people $100 on per- 
sonal security, and more on mortgages. They actually passed a resolu- 
tion requesting the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States to 
•receive these notes for land. The old French Lieutenant Governor, Col. 
Menard, put the resolution as follows: '' Gentlemen of the Senate : It is 
moved and seconded dat de notes of dis hank be made land-ofBce money. 
All in favor of dat motion say aye ; all against it say no. It is decided 
in de affirmative. Now, gentlemen, I bet you one hundred dollar he 
never be land-office money ! " Hard sense, like hard money, is always 
above par. 

This old Frenchman presents a fine figure up against the dark back- 
ground of most of his nation. They made no progress. They clung to 
their earliest and simplest implements. They never wore hats or cap? 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 121 

They pulled their blankets over their heads in the winter like the Indians, 
with whom they freely intermingled. 

Demagogism had an early development. One John Grammar (^only 
in name), elected to the Territorial and State Legislatures of 1816 and 
1836, invented the policy of opposing every new thing, saying, " If it 
succeeds, no one will ask who voted against it. If it proves a failure, he 
could quote its record." In sharp contrast with Grammar was the char- 
acter of D. P. Cook, after whom the county containing Chicago was 
named. Such was his transparent integrity and remarkable ability that 
his will was almost the law of the State. In Congress, a young man, 
and from a poor State, he was made Chairman of the Ways and Means 
Committee. He was pre-eminent for standing by his committee, regard- 
less of consequences. It was his integrity that elected John Quincy 
Adams to the Presidency. There were four candidates in 1824, Jackson, 
Clay, Crawford, and John Quincy Adams. There being no choice by the 
people, the election was thrown into the House. It was so balanced that 
it turned on his vote, and that he cast for Adams, electing him ; then 
went home to face the wrath of the Jackson party in Illinois. It cost 
him all but character and greatness. It is a suggestive comment on the 
times, that there was no legal interest till 1830. It often reached 150 
per cent., usually 50 per cent. Then it was reduced to 12, and now to 
10 per cent. 

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE PRAIRIE STATE. 

In area the State has 55,410 square miles of territory. It is about 
150 miles wide and 400 miles long, stretching in latitude from Maine to 
North Carolina. It embraces wide variety of climate. It is tempered 
on the north by the great inland, saltless, tideless sea, which keeps the 
thermometer from either extreme. Being a table land, from 600 to 1,600 
feet above the level of the sea, one is prepared to find on the health 
maps, prepared by the general government, an almost clean and perfect 
record. In freedom from fever and malarial diseases and consumptions, 
the three deadly enemies of the American Saxon, Illinois, as a State, 
stands without a superior. She furnishes one of the essential conditions 
of a great people — sound bodies. I suspect that this fact lies back of 
that old Delaware word, Illini, superior men. 

The great battles of history that have been determinative of dynas- 
ties and destinies have been strategical battles, chiefly the question of 
position. Thermopyhe has been the Avar-cry of freemen for twenty-four 
centuries. It only tells how much there may be in position. All this 
advantage belongs to Illinois. It is in the heart of the greatest valley in 
the world, the vast region between the mountains — a valley that could 



122 HISTORY OF THE STATE. OF ILLINOIS. 

feed mankind for one thousand years. It is well on toward the center of 
the continent. It is in the great temperate belt, in which have been 
found nearly all the aggressive civilizations of history. It has sixty-five 
miles of frontage on the head of the lake. With the Mississippi forming 
the western and southern boundarv, with the Ohio running along the 
southeastern line, with the Illinois River and Canal dividing the State 
diagonally from tiie lake to the Lower Mississippi, and with the Rock and 
Wabash Rivers furnishing altogether 2,000 miles of water-front, con- 
necting with, and running through, in all about 12,000 miles of navi- 
gable water. 

But this is not all. These waters are made most available by the 
fact that the lake and the State lie on the ridge running into the great 
valley from the east. Within cannon-shot of the lake the water runs 
away from the lake to the Gulf. The lake now empties at both ends, 
one into the Atlantic and one into the Gulf of Mexico. The lake thus 
seems to hang over the land. This makes the dockage most serviceable ; 
there are no steep banks to damage it. Both lake and river are made 
for use. 

The climate varies from Portland to Richmond ; it favors every pro- 
duct of the continent, including the tropics, with less than half a dozen 
exceptions. It j)roduces every great nutriment of the world except ban- 
anas and rice. It is hardly too much to say that it is the most productive 
spot known to civilization. With the soil full of bread and the earth full 
of minsrals ; with an upper surface of food and an under layer of fuel ; 
with perfect natural drainage, and abundant springs and streams and 
navigable rivers ; half way between the forests of the North and the fruits 
of the South ; within a day's ride of the great deposits of iron, coal, cop- 
per, lead, and zinc ; containing and controlling the great grain, cattle, 
pork, and lumber markets of the world, it is not strange that Illinois has 
the advantage of position. 

This advantage has been supplemented by the character of the popu- 
lation. In the early days when Illinois was first admitted to the Union, 
her population were cliiefl}^ from Kentucky and Virginia. But, in the 
conflict of ideas concerning slavery, a strong tide of emigration came in 
from the East, and soon changed this composition. In 1870 her non- 
native population were from colder soils. New York furnished 133,290 ; 
Ohio gave 162,623; Pennsylvania sent on 98,352; the entire South gave 
us only 206,734. In all her cities, and in all her German and Scandina- 
vian and other foreign colonies, Illinois has only about one-fifth of her ^ 
people of foreign birth. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 123 



PROGRESS OF DEVELOPMENT. 

One of the greatest elements in the early development of Illinois is 
the Illinois and Michigan Canal, connecting the Illinois and Mississippi 
Rivers with the lakes. It was of the utmost importance to the State. 
It was recommended by Gov. Bond, the first governor, in his first message. 
In 1821, the Legislature appropriated $10,000 for surveying the route. 
Two bright young engineers surveyed it, and estimated the cost at 
$600,000 or $700,000. It finally cost $8,000,000. In 1825, a law was 
passed to incorporate the Canal Company, but no stock was sold. In 
1826, upon the solicitation of Cook, Congress gave 800,000 acres of land 
on the line of the work. In 1828, another law — commissioners appointed, 
and work commenced with new survey and new estimates. In 1834-35, 
George Farquhar made an able report on the whole matter. This was, 
doubtless, the ablest report ever made to a western legislature, and it 
became the model for subsequent reports and action.' From this the 
work went on till it was finished in 1848. It cost the State a large 
amount of money ; but it gave to the industries of the State an impetus 
that pushed it up into the first rank of greatness. It was not built as a 
speculation any more than a doctor is employed on a speculation. But 
it has paid into the Treasary of the State an average annual net sum of 
over $111,000. 

Pending the construction of the canal, the land and town-lot fever 
broke out in the State, in 1834-35. It took on the malignant type in 
Chicago, lifting the town up into a city. The disease spread over the 
entire State and adjoining States, It was epidemic. It cut up men's 
farms without regard to locality, and ^ut up the purses of the purchasers 
without regard to consequences. It is estimated that building lots enough 
were sold in Indiana alone to accommodate every citizen then in the 
United States. 

Towns and cities were exported to the Eastern market by the ship- 
load. There was no lack of buyers. Every up-ship came freighted with 
speculators and their money. 

This distemper seized upon the Legislature in 1836-37, and left not 
one to tell the tale. They enacted a system of internal improvement 
without a parallel in the grandeur of its conception. They ordered the 
construction of 1,300 miles of railroad, crossing the State in all direc- 
tions. This was surpassed by the river and canal improvements. 
There were a few counties not touched by either railroad or river or 
canal, and those were to be comforted and compensated by the free dis- 
tribution of $200,000 among them. To inflate this balloon beyond cre- 
dence it was ordered that work should be commenced on both ends of 



124 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

each of these railroads and rivers, and at each river-crossing, all at the 
same time. The appropriations for these vast improvements were over 
$12,000,000, and commissioners were appointed to borrow the money on 
the credit of the State. Remember that all this was in the early days of 
railroading, when railroads were luxuries ; that the State had whole 
counties with scarcely a cabin ; and that the population of the State was 
less than 400,000, and you can form some idea of the vigor with which 
these brave men undertook the work of making a great State. In the 
light of history I am compelled to say that this was only a premature 
throb of the power that actually slumbered in the soil of the State. It 
was Hercules in the cradle. 

At this juncture the State Bank loaned its funds largely to Godfrey 
Giiman & Co., and to other leading houses, for the purpose of drawing 
trade from St. Louis to Alton. Soon they failed, and took down the 
bank with them. 

In 1840, all hope seemed gone. A population of 480,000 were loaded 
with a debt of $14,000,000. It had only six small cities, really only 
towns, namely : Chicago, Alton, Springfield, Quincy, Galena, Nauvoo. 
This debt was to be cared for when there was not a dollar in the treas- 
ury, and when the State had borrowed itself out of all credit, and when 
there was not good money enough in the hands of all the people to pay 
the interest of the debt for a single year. Yet, in the presence of all 
these difficulties, the young State steadily refused to repudiate. Gov. 
Ford took hold of the problem and solved it, bringing the State through 
in triumph. 

Having touched lightly upon some of the more distinctive points in 
the history of the development of Illinois, let us next briefly consider the 

MATERIAL RESOURCES OF THE STATE. 

It is a garden four hundred miles long and one hundred and fifty 
miles wide. Its soil is chiefly a black sandy loam, from six inches to 
sixty feet thick. On the American bottoms it has been cultivated for 
one hundred and fifty years without renewal. About the old French 
towns it has yielded corn for a century and a half without rest or help. 
It produces nearly everything green in the temperate and tropical zones. 
She leads all other States in the number of acres actually under plow. 
Her products from 25,000,000 of acres are incalculable. Her mineral 
wealth is scarcely second to her agricultural power. She has coal, iron, 
lead, copper, zinc, many varieties of building stone, fire clay, cuma clay, 
common brick clay, sand of all kinds, gravel, mineral paint — every thing 
needed for a high civilization. Left to herself, she has the elements of 
all greatness. The single item of coal is too vast for an appreciative 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 125 

handling in figures. We can handle it in general terms like algebraical 
signs, but long before we get up into the millions and billions the human 
mind drops down from comprehension to mere symbolic apprehension. 

When I tell you that nearly four-fifths of the entire State is under- 
laid with a deposit of coal more than forty feet thick on the average (now 
estimated, by recent surveys, at seventy feet thick), you can get some 
idea of its amount, as you do of the amount of the national debt. There 
it is! 41,000 square miles — one vast mine into which you could put 
any of the States ; in which you could bury scores of European and 
ancient empires, and have room enough all round to work without know- 
ing that they had been sepulchered there. 

Put this vast coal-bed down by the other great coal deposits of the 
world, and its importance becomes manifest. Great Britain has 12,000 
square miles of coal; Spain, 3,000; France, 1,719; Belgium, 578; Illinois 
about twice as many square miles as all combined. Virginia has 20,000 
square miles ; Pennsylvania, 16,000 ; Ohio, 12,000. Illinois has 41,000 
square miles. One-seventh of all the known coal on this continent is in 
Illinois. 

Could we sell the coal in this single State for one-seventh of one cent 
a ton it would pay the national debt. Converted into power, even with 
the wastage in our common engines, it would do more work than could 
be done by the entire race, beginning at Adam's wedding and working 
ten hours a day through all the centuries till the present time, and right 
on into the future at the same rate for the next 600,000 years. 

Great Britain uses enough mechanical power to-day to give to each 
man, woman, and child in the kingdom the help and service of nineteen 
untirino' servants. No wonder she has leisure and luxuries. No wonder 
the home of the common artisan has in it more luxuries than could be 
found in the palace of good old King Arthur. Think, if you can conceive 
of it, of the vast army of servants that slumber in the soil of Illinois, 
impatiently awaiting the call of Genius to come forth to minister to our- 
comfort. 

At the present rate of consumption England's coal supply will be 
exhausted in 250 years. When this is gone she must transfer her dominion 
either to the Indies, or to British America, which I would not resist ; or 
to some other people, which I would regret as a loss to civilization. 

COAL IS KING. 

At the same rate of consumption (which far exceeds our own) the 
deposit of coal in Illinois will last 120,000 years. And her kingdom shall 
be an everlasting kingdom. 

Let us turn now from this reserve power to the annual products of 



126 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

the State. We shall not be humiliated in this field. Here we strike the 
secret of our national credit. Nature provides a market in the constant 
appetite of the race. Men must eat, and if we can furnish the provisions 
we can command the treasure. All that a man hath will he give for his 
Hfe. 

According to the last census Illinois produced 80,000,000 of bushels 
of wheat. That is more wheat than was raised by any other State in the 
Union. She raised In 1875, 130,000,000 of bushels of corn — twice as 
much as any other State, and one-sixth of all the corn raised in the United 
States. She harvested 2,747,000 tons of hay, nearly one-tenth of all the 
hay in the Republic. It is not generally appreciated, but it is true, that 
the hay crop of the country is worth more than the cotton crop. The 
hay of Illinois equals the cotton of Louisiana. Go to Charleston, S. C, 
and see them peddling handfuls of hay or grass, almost as a curiosity, 
as we regard Chinese gods or the cryolite of Greenland ; drink your 
coffee and condensed milk ; and walk back from the coast for many a 
league through the sand and burs till you get up into the better atmos- 
phere of the mountains, without seeing a waving meadow or a grazing 
herd ; then you will begin to appreciate the meadows of the Prairie State, 
where the grass often grows sixteen feet high. 

The value of her farm implements is $211,000,000, and the value of 
her live stock is only second to the great State of New York. in 1875 
she had 25,000,000 hogs, and packed 2,113,845, about one-half of all that 
were packed in the United States. This is no insignificant item. Pork 
is a growing demand of the old world. Since the laborers of Europe 
have gotten a taste of our bacon, and we have learned how to pack it dry 
in boxes, like dry goods, the world has become the market. 

The hoCT is on the march into the future. His nose is ordained to 
uncover the secrets of dominion, and his feet shall be guided by the star 
of empire. 

Illinois marketed $57,000,000 worth of slaughtered animals — more 
than any other State, and a seventh of all the States. 

Be patient with me, and pardon ray pride, and I will give you a list 
of some of the things in which Illinois excels all other States. 

Depth and richness of soil ; per cent, of good ground ; acres of 
improved land ; large farms — some farms contain from 40,000 to 60,000 
acres of cultivated land, 40,000 acres of corn on a single farm ; number of 
farmers ; amount of wheat, corn, oats and honey produced ; value of ani- 
mals for slaughter ; number of hogs ; amount of pork ; number of horses 
— three times as many as Kentucky, the horse State. 

Illinois excels all other States in miles of railroads and in miles of 
postal service, and in money orders sold per annum, and in the amount of 
lumber sold in her markets. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 127 

Illinois is only second in many important matters. This sample list 
comprises a few of the more important : Permanent school fund (good 
for a 3'oung state) ; total income for educational purposes ; number of pub- 
lishers of books, maps, papers, etc.; value of farm products and imple- 
ments, and of live stock ; in tons of coal mined. 

The shipping of Illinois is only second to New York. Out of one 
port during the business hours of the season of navigation she sends forth 
a vessel every ten minutes. This does not include canal boats, which go 
one every five minutes. No wonder she is only second in number of 
bankers and brokers or in physicians and surgeons. 

She is third in colleges, teachers and schools ; cattle, lead, hay, 
flax, sorghum and beeswax. 

She is fourth in population, jri children enrolled in public schools, in 
law schools, in butter, potatoes and carriages. 

She is fifth in value of real and personal property, in theological 
seminaries and colleges exclusively for women, in milk sold, and in boots 
and shoes manufactured, and in book-binding. 

She is only seventh in the production of wood, while she is the 
twelfth in area. Surely that is well done for the Prairie State. She now 
has much more wood and growing timber than she had thirty years ago. 

A few leading industries will justify emphasis. She manufactures 
$205,000,000 worth of goods, which places her well up toward New York 
and Pennsylvania. The number of her manufacturing establishments 
increased from 1860 to 1870, 300 per cent.; capital employed increased 350 
per cent,, and the amount of product increased 400 per cent. She issued 
5,500,000 copies of commercial and financial newspapers — only second to 
New York. She has 6,759 miles of railroad, thus leading all other States, 
worth $636,458,000, using 3,245 engines, and 67,712 cars, making a train 
long enough to cover one-tenth of the entire roads of the State. Her 
stations are only five miles apart. She carried last year 15,795,000 passen- 
gers, an average of 36^ miles, or equal to taking her entire population twice 
across the State. More than two-thirds of her land is within five miles of 
a railroad, and less than two per cent, is more than fifteen miles away. 

The State has a large financial interest in the Illinois Central railroad. 
The road was incorporated in 1850, and the State gave each alternate sec- 
tion for six miles on each side, and doubled the price of the remaining 
land, so keeping herself good. The road received 2,595,000 acres of land, 
and pays to the State one-seventh of the gross receipts. The State 
receives this year $350,000, and has received in all about 87,000,000. It 
is practically the people's road, and it has a most able and gentlemanly 
management. Add to this the annual receipts from the canal, $111,000, 
and a large per cent, of the State tax is provided for. 



128 HISTORY OF TECE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 



THE RELIGION AND MORALS 

of the State keep step with her productions and growth. She was born 
of the missionary spirit. It was a minister who secured for her the ordi- 
nance of 1787, by which she has been saved from slavery, ignorance, and 
dishonesty. Rev. Mr. Wiley, pastor of a Scotch congregation in Randolph 
County, petitioned the Constitutional Convention of 1818 to recognize 
Jesus Christ as king, and the Scriptures as the only necessary guide and 
book of law. The convention did not act in the case, and the old Cove- 
nanters refused to accept citizenship. They never voted until 1824, when 
the slavery question was submitted to the peopte; then they all voted 
against it and cast the determining votes. Conscience has predominated 
whenever a great moral question has been submitted to the people. 

But little mob violence has ever been felt in the State. In 1817 
regulators disposed of a band of horse-thieves that infested the territory. 
The Mormon indignities finally awoke the same spirit. Alton was also 
the scene of a pro-slavery mob, in which Lovejoy was added to the list of 
martyrs. The moral sense of the people makes the law supreme, and gives 
to the State unruffled peace. 

With $22,300,000 in church property, and 4,298 church organizations, 
the State has that divine police, the sleepless patrol of moral ideas, that 
alone is able to secure perfect safety. Conscience takes the knife from 
the assassin's hand and the bludgeon from the grasp of the highwayman. 
We sleep in safety, not because we are behind bolts and bars — these only 
fence against the innocent ; not because a lone officer drowses on a distant 
corner of a street; not because a sheriff may call his posse from a remote 
part of the county ; but because conscience guards the very portals of the 
air and stirs in the deepest recesses of the public mind. This spirit issues 
within the State 9,500,000 copies of religious papers annually, and receives 
still more from without. Thus the crime of the State is only one-fourth 
that of New York and one-half that of Pennsylvania. 

Illinois never had but one duel between her own citizens. In Belle- 
ville, in 1820, Alphonso Stewart and William Bennett arranged to vindi- 
cate injured honor. The seconds agreed to make it a sham, and make 
them shoot blanks. Stewart was in the secret. Bennett mistrusted some- 
thing, and, unobserved, slipped a bullet into his gun and killed Stewart. 
He then fled the State. After two years he was caught, tried, convicted, 
and, in spite of friends and political aid, was hung. This fixed the code 
of honor on a Christian basis, and terminated its use in Illinois. 

The early preachers were ignorant men, who were accounted eloquent 
according to the strength of their voices. But they set the style for all 
public speakers. Lawyers and political speakers followed this rule. Gov. 



HISTORY OP THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 129 

Ford says: "Nevertheless, these first preachers were of incalculable 
benefit to the country. They inculcated justice and morality. To them 
are we indebted for the first Christian character of the Protestant portion 
of the people." 

In education Illinois surpasses her material resources. The ordinance 
of 1787 consecrated one thirty-sixth of her soil to common schools, and 
the law of 1818, the first law that went upon her statutes, gave three per 
cent, of all the rest to 

EDUCATION. 

The old compact secures this interest forever, and by its yoking 
moralit}- and intelligence it precludes the legal interference with the Bible 
in the public schools. With such a start it is natural that we should have 
11,050 schools, and that our illiteracy should be less than New York or 
Pennsylvania, and only about one-half of Massachusetts. We are not to 
blame for not having more than one-half as many idiots as the great 
States. These public schools soon made colleges inevitable. The first 
college, still flourishing, was started in Lebanon in 1828, by the M. E. 
church, and named after Bishop McKendree. Illinois College, at Jackson- 
ville, supported by the Presbyterians, followed in 1830. In 1832 the Bap- 
tists built Shurtleff College, at Alton. Then the Presbj^terians built Knox 
College, at Galesburg, in 1838, and the Episcopalians built Jubilee College, 
at Peoria, in 1847. After these earl}' years colleges have rained down. 
A settler could hardly encamp on the prairie but a college would spring 
up by his wagon. The State now has one very well endowed and equipped 
university, namely, the Northwestern University, at Evanston, with six 
colleges, ninety instructors, over 1,000 students, and $1,500,000 endow- 
ment. 

Rev. J. M. Peck was the first educated Protestant minister m tne 
State. He settled at Rock Spring, in St. Clair County, 1820, and left his 
impress on the State. Before 1837 only party papers were published, but 
Mr. Peck published a Gazetteer of Illinois. Soon after John Russell, of 
Bluffdale, published essays and tales showing genius. Judge James Hall 
published The Illinois Monthly Magazine with great ability, and an annual 
called The Western Souvenir^ which gave him an enviable fame all over the 
United States. From these beginnings Illinois has gone on till she has 
more volumes in public libaaries even than Massachusetts, and of the 
44,500,000 volumes in all the public libraries of the United States, she 
has one-thirteenth. In newspapers she stands fourth. Her increase is 
marvelous. In 1850 she issued 5,000,000 copies; in 1860, 27,590,000 ; in 
1870, 113,140,000. In 1860 she had eighteen colleges and seminaries; in 
1870 she had eighty. That is a grand advance for the war decade. 

This brings us to a record unsurpassed in the history of any age, 



130 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 



THE WAR RECORD OF ILLINOIS. 

I hardly know where to begin, or how to advance, or what to say. 1 
can at best give you only a broken synopsis of her deeds, and you must 
put them in the order of glory for yourself. Her sons have always been 
foremost on fields of danger. In 1832-33, at the call of Gov. Reynolds, 
her sons drove Blackhawk over the Mississippi. 

When the Mexican war came, in May, 1846, 8,370 men offered them- 
selves when only 3,720 could be accepted. The fields of Buena Vista and 
Vera Cruz, and the storming of Cerro Gordo, will carry the glory of Illinois 
soldiers along after the infamy of the cause they served has been forgotten. 
But it was reserved till our day for her sons to find a field and cause and 
foemen that could fitly illustrate their spirit and heroism. Illinois put 
into her own regiments for the United States government 256,000 men^ 
and into the army through other States enough to swell the number to 
290,000. This far exceeds all the soldiers of the federal government in 
all the war of the revolution. Her total years of service were over 600,000. 
She enrolled men from eighteen to forty-five 3^ears of age when the law 
of Congress in 1864 — the test time — only asked for those from twenty to 
forty-five. Her enrollment was otherwise excessive. Her people wanted 
to go, and did not take the pains to correct the enrollment. Thus the 
basis of fixing the quota was too great, and then the quota itself, at least 
in the trying time, was far above any other State. 

Thus the demand on some counties, as Monroe, for example, took every 
able-bodied man in the county, and then did not have enough to fill the 
quota. Moreover, Illinois sent 20,844 men for ninety or one hundred days, 
for whom no credit was asked. When Mr. Lincoln's attention was called 
to the inequality of the quota compared with other States, he replied, 
" The country needs the sacrifice. We must put the whip on the free 
horse." In spite of all these disadvantages Illinois gave to the country 
73,000 years of service above all calls. With one-thirteenth of the popu- 
lation of the loyal States, she sent regularly one-tenth of all the soldiers, 
and in the peril of the closing calls, when patriots were few and weary, 
she then sent one-eighth of all that were called for by her loved and hon- 
ored son in the white house. Her mothers and daughters went into the 
fields to raise the grain and keep the children together, while the fathers 
and older sons went to the harvest fields of the world. I knew a father 
and four sons who agreed that one of them must stay at home ; and they 
pulled straws from a stack to see who might go. The father was left. 
The next day he came into the camp, saying : " Mother says she can get 
the crops in, and I am going, too." I know large Methodist churches 
from which every male member went to the army. Do you want to know 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OP ILLINOIS. 131 

what these heroes from Illinois did in the field ? Ask tiny soldier with a 
good record of his own, who is thus able to judge, and he will tell you 
that the Illinois men went in to win. It is common history that the greater 
victories were won in the West. When everything else looked dark Illi- 
nois was gaining victories all down the river, and dividing the confederacy. 
Sherman took with him on his great march forty-five regiments of Illinois 
infantry, three companies of artillery, and one company of cavalry. He 
could not avoid 

GOING TO THE SEA. 

If he had been killed, I doubt not the men would have gone right on. 
Lincoln answered all rumors of Sherman's defeat with, " It is impossible ; 
there is a mighty sight of fight in 100,000 Western men." Illinois soldiers 
brougrht home 300 battle-flasi^s. The first United States flag that floated 
over Richmond was an Illinois flag. She sent messengers and nurses to 
every field and hospital, to care for her sick and wounded sons. She said, 
*• These suffering ones are my sons, and I will care for them." 

When individuals had given all, then cities and towns came forward 
with their credit to the extent of many millions, to aid these men and 
cheir families. 

Illinois gave the country the great general of the war — Ulysses S. 
Grant — since honored with two terms of the Presidency of the United 
States. 

One other name from Illinois comes up in all minds, embalmed in all 
hearts, that must have the suprem* place in this story of our glory and 
of our nation's honor ; that name is Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois. 

The analysis of Mr. Lincoln's character is difficult on account of its 
symmetry. 

In this age we look with admiration at his uncompromising honesty. 
And well we may, for this saved us. Thousands throughout the length 
and breadth of our country who knew him only as " Honest Old Abe." 
voted for him on that account ; and wisely did they choose, for no other 
man could have carried us through the fearful night of the war. When 
his plans were too vast for our comprehension, and his faith in the cause 
too sublime for our participation ; when it was all night about us, and all 
dread before us, and all sad and desolate behind us ; when not one ray 
shone upon our cause; when traitors were haughty and exultant at the 
South, and fierce and blasphemous at the North ; when the loyal men here 
seemed almost in the minority ; when the stoutest heart quailed, the bravest 
cheek paled ; when generals were defeating each other for place, and 
contractors were leeching out the very heart's blood of the prostrate 
republic : when every thing else had failed us, w^e looked at this calm, 
patient man standing like a rock in the storm, and said : " Mr. Lincoln 



132 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLmOIS. 

is honest, and we. can trust him still." Holding to this single point with 
the energy of faith and despair we held together, and, under God, he 
brought us through to victory. 

His practical wisdom made him the wonder of all lands. With such 
certainty did Mr. Lincoln follow causes to their ultimate effects, that his 
foresight of contingencies seemed almost prophetic. 

He is radiant with all the great virtues, and his memory shall shed a 
glory upon this age that shall fill the eyes of men as they look into his- 
tory. Other men have excelled him in some point, but, taken at all 
points, all in all, he stands head and shoulders above every other man of 
6,000 years. An administrator, he saved the nation in the perils of 
unparalleled civil war. A statesman, he justified his measures by their 
success. A philanthropist, he gave liberty to one race and salvation to 
another. A moralist, he bowed from the summit of human power to the 
foot of the Cross, and became a Christian. A mediator, he exercised mercy 
under the most absolute abeyance to law. A leader, he was no partisan. 
A coTnmander, he was untainted with blood. A ruler in desperate times, 
he was unsullied with crime. A man, he has left no word of passion, no 
thought of malice, no trick of craft, no act of jealousy, no purpose of 
selfish ambition. Thus perfected, without a model, and without a peer, 
he was dropped into these troubled years to adorn and embellish all that 
is good and all that is great in our humanity, and to present to all coming 
time "the representative of the divine idea of free government. 

It is not too much to say that away down in the future, when the 
republic has fallen from its niche in the wall of time ; when the great 
war itself shall have faded out in the distance like a mist on the horizon ; 
when the Anglo-Saxon language shall be spoken only by the tongue of 
the stranger ; then the generations looking this way shall see the great 
president as the supreme figure in this vortex of history 

CHICAGO. 

It is impossible in our brief space to give more than a meager sketch 
of such a city as Chicago, which is in itself the greatest marvel of the 
Prairie State. This mysterious, majestic, mighty city, born first of water, 
and next of fire; sown in weakness, and raised in power; planted among 
the willows of the marsh, and crowned with the glory of the mountains ; 
sleeping on the bosom of the prairie, and rocked on the bosom of the sea , 
the youngest city of the world, and still the eye of the prairie, as Damas- 
cus, the oldest city of the world, is the eye of the desert. With a com- 
merce far exceeding that of Corinth on her isthmus, in the highway to 
the East ; with the defenses of a continent piled around her by the thou- 
sand miles, making her far safer than Rome on the banks of the Tiber j 





LOCKPORT 



HISTORY OP THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 



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334 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

with schools eclipsing Alexandria and Athens ; with liberties more con- 
spicuous than those of the old republics ; with a heroism equal to the first 
Carthage, and with a sanctity scarcely second to that of Jerusalem — set 
your thoughts on all this, lifted into the eyes of all men by the miracle of 
its growth, illuminated by the flame of its fall, and transfigured by the 
divinity of its resurrection, and you will feel, as I do, the utter impossi- 
bility of compassing this subject as it deserves. Some impression of her 
importance is received from the shock her burning gave to the civilized 
world. 

When the doubt of her calamity was removed, and the horrid fact 
was accepted, there went a shudder over all cities, and a quiver over all 
lands. There was scarcely a town in the civilized world that did not 
shake on the brink of this opening chasm. The flames of our homes red- 
dened all skies. The city was set upon a hill, and could not be hid. All 
eyes were turned upon it. To have struggled and suffered amid the 
scenes of its fall is as distinguishing as to have fought at Thermopylae, or 
Salamis, or Hastings, or Waterloo, or Bunker Hill. 

Its calamity amazed the world, because it was felt to be the common 
property of mankind. 

The early history of the city is full of interest, just as the early his- 
tory of such a man as Washington or Lincoln becomes public property, 
and is cherished by every patriot. 

Starting with 560 acres in 1833, it embraced and occupied 23,000 
acres in 1869, and, having now a population of more than 500,000, it com- 
mands general attention. 

The first settler — Jean Baptiste Pointe au Sable, a mulatto from the 
West Indies — came and began trade with the Indians in 1796. John 
Kinzie became his successor in 1804, in which year Fort Dearborn was 
erected. 

A mere trading-post was kept here from that time till about the time 
of the Blackhawk war, in 1832. It was not the city. It was merely a 
cock crowing at midnight. The morning was not yet. In 1833 the set- 
tlement about the fort was incorporated as a town. The voters were 
divided on the propriety of such corporation, twelve voting for it and one 
against it. Four years later it was incorporated as a city, and embraced 
660 acres. 

The produce handled in this city is an indication of its power. Grain 
and flour were imported from the East till as late as 1837. The first 
exportation by way of experiment was in 1839. Exports exceeded imports 
first in 1842. The Board of Trade was organized in 1848, but it was so 
weak that it needed nursing till 1855. Grain was purchased by the 
wagon-load in the street. 

I remember sitting with my father on a load of wheat, in the long 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. VS5 

line of wagons along Lake street, while the buyers came and untied the 
bags, and examined the grain, and made their bids. That manner of 
business had to cease with the day of small things. Now our elevators 
will hold 15,000,000 bushels of grain. The cash value of the produce 
handled in a year is ■'1215,000,000, and the produce weiglis 7,000,000 
tons or 700,000 car loads. This handles thirteen and a half ton each 
minute, all tlie year round. One tenth of all the wheat in the United 
States is handled in Chicago. Even as long ago as 1853 the receipts of 
grain in Chicago exceeded those of the goodly city of St. Louis, and in 
1854 the exports of grain from Chicago exceeded those of New York and 
doubled those of St. Petersburg, Archangel, or Odessa, the largest grain 
markets in Europe. 

The manufacturing interests of the city are not contemptible. In 
1873 manufactories employed 45,000 operatives ; in 1876, 60,000. The 
manufactured product in 1875 was worth $177,000,000. 

No estimate of the size and power of Chicago would be adequate 
that did not put large emphasis on the railroads. Before they came 
thundering along our streets canals were the hope of our country. But 
who ever thinks now of traveling by canal packets ? In June, 1852, 
there were only forty miles of railroad connected with the city. The 
old Galena division of the Northwestern ran out to Elgin. But now, 
who can count the trains and measure the roads that seek a terminus or 
connection in this city ? The lake stretches away to the north, gathering 
in to this center all the harvests that might otherwise pass to the north 
of us. If you will take a map and look at the adjustment of railroads, 
you will see, first, that Chicago is the great railroad center of the world, 
as New York is the commercial city of this continent ; and, second, that 
the railroad lines form the iron spokes of a great wheel whose hub is 
this city. The lake furnishes the only break in the spokes, and this 
seems simply to have pushed a few spokes together on each shore. See 
the eighteen trunk lines, exclusive of eastern connections. 

Pass round the circle, and view their numbers and extent. There 
is the great Northwestern, with all its branches, one branch creeping 
along the lake shore, and so reaching to the north, into the Lake Superior 
regions, away to the right, and on to the Northern Pacific on the left, 
swinging around Green Bay for iron and copper and silver, twelve months 
in the year, and reaching out for the wealth of the great agricultural 
belt and isothermal line traversed by the Northern Pacific. Another 
branch, not so far north, feeling for the heart of the Badger State. 
Another pushing lower down the Mississippi — all these make many con- 
nections, and tapping all the vast wheat regions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, 
Iowa, and all the regions this side of sunset. There is that elegant road, 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, running out a goodly number of 



136 



HISTOKY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 




OLD FOKT DEAKBOEX, 1830. 




PKESENT SITE OF LAKE STKEET BEIDGE, CHICAGO, IX 1833. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 137 

branches, and reaping the great fields this side of the Missouri River. 
I can only mention the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis, our Illinois Central, 
described elsewhere, and the Chicago & Rock Island. Further around 
we come to the lines connecting us with all the eastern cities. The 
Chicago, Indianapolis & St. Louis, tlie Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & 
Chicago, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, and the Michigan Cen- 
tral and Great Western, give us many highwaj^s to the seaboard. Thus we 
reach the Mississippi at five points, from St. Paul to Cairo and the Gulf 
itself by two routes. We also reach Cincinnati and Baltimore, and Pitts- 
burgh and Philadelphia, and New York. North and south run the water 
courses of the lakes and the rivers, broken just enough at this point to 
make a pass. Through this, from east to west, run the long lines that 
stretch from ocean to ocean. 

This is the neck of the glass, and the golden sands of commerce 
must pass into our hands. Altogether we have more than 10,000 miles 
of railroad, directly tributary to this city, seeking to unload their wealth 
in our coffers. All these roads have come themselves by the infallible 
instinct of capital. Not a dollar was ever given by the city to secure 
one of them, and only a small per cent, of stock taken originally by her 
citizens, and that taken simply as an investment. Coming in the natural 
Drder of events, they will not be easily diverted. 

There is still another showing to all this. The connection between 
New York and San Francisco is by the middle route. This passes inevit- 
ablv through Chicago. St. Louis wants the Southern Pacific or Kansas 
Pacific, and pushes it out through Denver, and so on up to Cheyenne. 
But before the road is fairly under way, the Chicago roads shove out to 
Kansas City, making even the Kansas Pacific a feeder, and actually leav- 
ing St. Louis out in the cold. It is not too much to expect that Dakota, 
Montana, and Washington Territory will find their great market in Chi- 



cago. 



But these are not all. Perhaps I had better notice here the ten or 
fifteen new roads that have just entered, or are just entering, our city. 
Their names are all that is necessary to give. Chicago & St. Paul, look- 
ing up the Red River country to the British possessions ; the Chicago, 
Atlantic & Pacific ; the Chicago, Decatur & State Line ; the Baltimore & 
Ohio; the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes; the Chicago & LaSalle Rail- 
road ; the Chicago, Pittsburgh & Cincinnati ; the Chicago and Canada 
Southern ; the Chicago and Illinois River Railroad. These, with their 
connections, and with the new connections of the old roads, already in 
process of erection, give to Chicago not less than 10,000 miles of new 
tributaries from the richest land on the continent. Thus there will be 
added to the reserve power, to the capital within reach of this city, not 
less than $1,000,000,000. 



138 HISTOIIY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

Add to all this transporting power the ships that sail one every nine 
minutes of the business hours of the season of navigation ; add, also, the 
canal boats that leave one every five minutes during the same time — and 
you will see something of the business of the city. 

THE COMMERCE OF THIS CITY 

has been leaping along to keep pace with the growth of the country 
around us. In 1852, our commerce reached the hopeful sum of 
$20,000,000. In 1870 it reached -$^00,000,000. In 1871 it was pushed 
up above $150,000,000. And in 1875 it touched nearly double that. 

One-half of our imported goods come directly to Chicago. Grain 
enough is exported directly from our docks to the old world to employ a 
semi-weekly line of steamers of 3,000 tons capacity. This branch is 
not likely to be greatly developed. Even after the great Welland Canal 
is completed we shall have only fourteen feet of water. The great ocean 
vessels will continue to control the trade. 

The banking capital of Chicago is $21,481,000. Total exchange in 
1875, 1659,000,000. Her wholesale business in 1875 was 1294,000,000. 
The rate of taxes is less than in any other great city. 

The schools of Chicago are unsurpassed in America. Out of a popu- 
lation of 300,000 there were only 186 persons between the ages of six 
and twenty-one unable to read. This is the best known record. 

In 1831 the mail system was condensed into a half-breed, who went 
on foot to Niles, Mich., once in two weeks, and brought back what papers 
and news he could find. As late as 1846 there was often only one mail 
a week. A post-office was established in Chicago in 1833, and the post- 
master nailed up old boot-legs on one side of his shop to serve as boxes 
for the nabobs and literary men. 

It is an interesting fact in the growth of the young city that in the 
active life of the business men of that day the mail matter has grown to 
a daily average of over 6,500 pounds. It speaks equally well for the 
intelligence of the people and the commercial importance of the place, 
that the mail matter distributed to the territory immediately tributary to 
Chicago is seven times greater than that distributed to the territory 
immediately tributary to St. Louis. 

The improvements that have characterized the city are as startling 
as the city itself. In 1831, Mark Beaubien established a ferry over the 
river, and put himself under bonds to carry all the citizens free for the 
privilege of charging strangers. Now there are twenty-four large bridges 
and two tunnels. 

In 1833 the government expended -130,000 on the harbor. Then 
commenced that series of manoeuvers with the river that has made it one 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. l^V^ 

of the world's curiosities. It used to wind around in the lower end of 
the town, and make its way rippling over the sand into the lake at the 
foot of Madison street. They took it up and put it down where it now 
is. It was a narrow stream, so narrow that even moderately small crafts 
had to go up through the willows and cat's tails to the point near Lake 
street bridge, and back up one of the branches to get room enough in 
which to turn around. 

In 1844 the quagmires in the streets were first pontooned by plank 
roads, which acted in wet weather as public squirt-guns. Keeping you 
out of the mud, they compromised by squirting the mud over you. The 
wooden-block pavements came to Chicago in 1857. In 1840 water was 
delivered by peddlers in carts or by hand. Then a twenty-five horse- 
power engine pushed it through hollow or bored logs along the streets 
till 1854, when it was introduced into the houses by new works. The 
first fire-engine was used in 1835, and the first steam fire-engine in 1859. 
Gas was utilized for lighting the city in 1850. The Young Men's Chris- 
tian Association was organized in 1858, and horse railroads carried them 
to their work in 1859. The museum was opened in 1863. The alarm 
telegraph adopted in 1864. The opera-house built in 1865. The city 
grew from 560 acres in 1833 to 23,000 in 1869. In 1834, the taxes 
amounted to $48.90, and the trustees of the town borrowed $60 more for 
opening and improving streets. In 1835, the legislature authorized a loan 
of $2,000, and the treasurer and street commissioners resigned rather than 
plunge the town into such a gulf. 

Now the city embraces 36 square miles of territory, and has 30 miles 
of water front, besides the outside harbor of refuge, of 400 acres, inclosed 
by a crib sea-wall. One-third of the city has been raised up an average 
of eight feet, giving good pitch to the 263 miles of sewerage. The water 
of the city is above all competition. It is received through two tunnels 
extending to a crib in the lake two miles from shore. The closest analy- 
sis fails to detect any impurities, and, received 35 feet below the surface, 
it is always clear and cold. The first tunnel is five feet two inches in 
diameter and two miles long, and can deliver 50,000,000 of gallons per 
day. The second tunnel is seven feet in diameter and six miles long, 
running four miles under the city, and can deliver 100,000,000 of gal- 
lons per day. This water is distributed through 410 miles of water- 
mains. 

The three grand engineering exploits of the city are : First, lifting 
the city up on jack-screws, whole squares at a time, without interrupting 
the business, thus giving us good drainage ; second, running the tunnels 
under the lake, giving us the best water in the world ; and third, the 
turning the current of the river in its own channel, delivering us from the 
old abominations, and making decency possible. They redound about 



140 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

equally to the credit of the engineering, to the energy of the people, and 
to the health of the city. 

That which really constitutes the city, its indescribable spirit, its soul, 
the way it lights up in every feature in the hour of action, has not been 
touched. In meeting strangers, one is often surprised how some homely 
women marry so well. Their forms are bad, their gait uneven and awk- 
ward, their complexion is dull, their features are misshapen and mismatch- 
ed, and when we see them there is no beauty that we should desire them. 
But when once they are aroused on some subject, they put on new pro- 
portions. They light up into great power. The real person comes out 
from its unseemly ambush, and captures us at will. They have power. 
They have ability to cause things to come to pass. We no longer wonder 
why they are in such high demand. So it is with our city. 

There is no grand scenery except the two seas, one of water, the 
other of prairie. Nevertheless, there is a spirit about it, a push, a breadth, 
a power, that soon makes it a place never to be forsaken. One soon 
ceases to believe in impossibilities. Balaams are the only prophets that are 
disappointed. The bottom that has been on the point of falling out has 
been there so long that it has grown fast. It can not fall out. It has all 
the capital of the world itching to get inside the corporation. 

The two great laws that govern the growth and size of cities are, 
first, the amount of territory for which they are the distributing and 
receiving points ; second, the number of medium or moderate dealers that 
do this distributing. Monopolists build up themselves, not the cities. 
They neither eat, wear, nor live in proportion to their business. Both 
these laws help Chicago. 

The tide of trade is eastward — not up or down the map, but across 
the map. The lake runs up a wingdam for 500 miles to gather in the 
business. Commerce can not ferry up there for seven months in the year, 
and the facilities for seven months can do the work for twelve. Then the 
great region west of us is nearly all good, productive land. Dropping 
south into the trail of St. Louis, you fall into vast deserts and rocky dis- 
tricts, useful in holding the world together. St. Louis and Cincinnati, 
instead of rivaling and hurting Chicago, are her greatest sureties of 
dominion. They are far enough away to give sea-room, — farther off than 
Paris is from London, — and yet they are near enough to prevent the 
springing up of any other great city between them. 

St. Louis will be helped by the opening of the Mississippi, but also 
hurt. That will put New Orleans on her feet, and with a railroad running 
over into Texas and so West, she will tap the streams that now crawl up 
the Texas and Missouri road. The current is East, not North, and a sea- 
port at New Orleans can not permanently help St. Louis. 

Chicago is in the field almost alone, to handle the wealth of one- 



HISTORY OP THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 141 

fourth 9f the territory of this great republic. This strip of seacoast 
divides its margins between Portland, Boston, New York, Philadelpliia, 
Baltimore and Savannah, or some other great port to be created for the 
South in the next decade. But Chicago has a dozen empires casting their 
treasures into her lap. On a bed of coal that can run all the machinery 
of the world for 500 centuries ; in a garden that can feed the race by the 
thousand years; at the head of the lakes that give her a temperature as a 
summer resort equaled by no great city in the land ; with a climate that 
insures the health of her citizens ; surrounded by all the great deposits 
of natural wealth in mines aud forests and herds, Chicago is the wonder 
of to-day, aud will be the city of the future. 

MASSACRE AT FORT DEARBORN. 

During the war of 1812, Fort Dearborn became the theater of stirring 
events. The garrison consisted of fifty-four men under command of 
Captain Nathan Heald, assisted by Lieutenant Helm (son-in-law of Mrs. 
Ivinzie) and Ensign Ronan. Dr. Voorhees was surgeon. The only resi- 
dents at the post at that time were the wives of Captain Heald and Lieu- 
tenant Helm, and a few of the soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and 
a few Canadian voyageurs^ with their wives and children. The soldiers 
and Mr. Kinzie were on most friendly terms with the Pottawattamies 
and Winnebagos, the principal tribes around them, but they could not 
win them from their attachment to the British. 

One evening in April, 1812, Mr. Kinzie sat playing on his violin and 
his children were dancing to the music, when Mrs. Kinzie came rushiug 
into the house, pale with terror, and exclaiming : " The Indians ! the 
Indians!" "What? Where?" eagerly inquired Mr. Kinzie. "Up 
at Lee's, killing and scalping," answered the frightened mother, who, 
when the alarm was given, was attending Mrs. Barnes (just confined) 
living not far off. Mr. Kinzie and his family crossed the river and took 
refuge in the fort, to which place Mrs. Barnes and her infant not a day 
old were safely conveyed. The rest of the inhabitants took shelter in the 
fort. This alarm was caused by a scalping party of Winnebagos, who 
hovered about the fort several days, when they disappeared, and. for several 
weeks the inhabitants were undisturbed. 

On the 7th of August, 1812, General Hull, at Detroit, sent orders to 
Captain Heald to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and to distribute all the United 
States property to the Indians in the neighborhood — a most insane order. 
The Pottawattamie chief, who brought the dispatch, had more wisdom 
than the commanding general. He advised Captain Heald not to make 
the distribution. Said he : " Leave the fort and stores as they are, and 
let the Indians make distribution for themselves ; and while they are 
engaged in the business, the white people may escape to Fort Wayne." 







o 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 143 

Captain Heald held a council with the Indians on the afternoon ot 
the 12th, in which his officers refused to join, for they had been informed 
that treachery was designed — that the Indians intended to murder the 
white people in the council, and then destroy those in the fort. Captain 
Heald, however, took the precaution to open a port-hole displayino- a 
cannon pointing directly upon the council, and by that means saved 
his life. 

Mr. Kinzie, who knew the Indians well, begged Captain Heald not 
to confide in their promises, nor distribute the arms and munitions araono" 
them, for it would only put power into their hands to destroy the whites. 
Acting upon this advice, Heald resolved to withhold the munitions of 
war : and on the night of the 13th, after the distribution of the other 
property had been made, the powder, ball and liquors were thrown into 
the river, the muskets broken up and destroyed. 

Black Partridge, a friendly chief, came to Captain Heald, and said : 
" Linden birds have been singing in my ears to-day: be careful on the 
march you are going to take." On that dark night vigilant Indians had 
crept near the fort and discovered the destruction of their promised booty 
going on within. The next morning the powder was seen floating on the 
surface of the river. The savages were exasperated and made loud com- 
plaints and threats. 

On the following day when preparations were making to leave the 
fort, and all the inmates were deeply impressed with a sense of impend- 
ing danger, Capt. Wells, an uncle of Mrs. Heald, was discovered upon 
the Indian trail among the sand-hills on the borders of the lake, not far 
distant, with a band of mounted Miamis, of whose tribe he was chief, 
having been adopted by the famous Miami warrior, Little Turtle. When 
news of Hull's surrender reached Fort Wayne, he had started with this 
force to assist Heald in defending Fort Dearborn. He was too late. 
Every means for its defense had been destroyed the night before, and 
arrangements were made for leaving the fort on the morning of the loth. 

It was a warm bright morning in the middle of August. Indications 
were positive that the savages intended to murder the white people ; and 
when they moved out of the southern gate of the fort, the march was 
like a funeral procession. The band, feeling the solemnity of the occa- 
sion, struck up the Dead March in Saul. 

Capt. Wells, who had blackened his face with gun-powder in token 
of his fate, took the lead with his band of Miamis, followed by Capt. 
Heald, with his wife by his side on horseback. Mr. Kinzie hoped by his 
personal influence to avert the impending blow, and therefore accompanied 
them, leaving his family in a boat in charge of a friendly Indian, to be 
taken to his trading station at the site of Niles, Michigan, in the event oi 
his death. 



14t 



HISTOKY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 




I 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 145 

The procession moved slowly alon<j the lake shore till they reached 
the sand-hills between the prairie and the beach, wlien the Pottawattamie 
escort, under the leadershij) of Blackbird, filed to the right, placing those 
hills between them and the white people. Wells, with his Miamis, had 
kept in the advance. They suddenly came rushing back, Wells exclaim- 
ing, " They are about to attack us ; form instantly." These words were 
quickly followed by a storm of bullets, which came whistling over the 
little hills which the treacherous savas^es had made the covert for their 
murderous attack. The white troops charged upon the Indians, drove 
them back to the prairie, and then the battle was waged between fifty- 
four soldiers, twelve civilians and three or four women (the cowardly 
Miamis having fled at the outset) against five hundred Indian warriors. 
The white people, hopeless, resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible. 
Ensign Ronan wielded his weapon vigorously, even after falling upon his 
knees weak from the loss of blood. Capt. Wells, who was by the side of 
his niece, Mrs. Heald, when the conflict began, behaved with the greatest 
coolness and courage. He said to her, " We have not the slightest chance 
for life. We must part to meet no more in this world. God bless you."' 
And then he dashed forward. Seeing a young warrior, painted like a 
demon, climb into a wagon in which were twelve children, and tomahawk 
them all, he cried out, unmindful of his personal danger, " If that is your 
game, butchering women and children, I will kill too.'* He spurred his 
horse towards the Indian camp, where they had left their squaws and 
papooses, hotly pursued by swift-footed young warriors, who sent bullets 
Avhistling after him. One of these killed his horse and wounded him 
severely in the leg. With a yell the young braves rushed to make him 
their prisoner and reserve him for torture. He resolved not to be made 
a captive, and bj^ the use of the most provoking epithets tried to induce 
them to kill him instantly. He called a fiery young chief a squaw, when 
the enraged warrior killed Wells instantly with his tomahawk, jumped 
upon his body, cut out his heart, and ate a portion of the warm morsel 
with savage delight ! 

In this fearful combat women bore a conspicuous part. Mrs. Heald 
was an excellent equestrian and an expert in the use of the rifle. She 
fought the savages bravely, receiving several severe wounds. Though 
faint from the loss of blood, she managed to keep her saddle. A savage 
raised his tomahawk to kill her, when she looked him full in the face, 
and with a sweet smile and in a gentle voice said, in his own language, 
" Surely you will not kill a squaw ! " The arm of the savage fell, and 
the life of the heroic woman was saved. 

Mrs. Helm, the step-daughter of Mr. Kinzie, had an encounter with 
a stout Indian, who attempted to tomahawk her. Springing to one side, 
she received the glancing blow on her shoulder, and at the same instant 



146 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

seized the savage round the neck with her arms and endeavored to get 
hold of his scalping knife, which hung in a sheath at his breast. While 
she was thus struggling she was dragged from her antagonist by anothei 
powerful Indian, who bore her, in spite of her struggles, to the margin 
of the lake and plunged her in. To her astonishment she was held by 
him so that she would not drown, and she soon perceived that she was 
in the hands of the friendlv Black Partridge, who had saved her life. 

The wife of Sergeant Holt, a large and powerful woman, behaved as 
bravely as an Amazon. She rode a tine, high-spirited horse, which the 
Indians coveted, and several of them attacked her with the butts of their 
guns, for the purpose of dismounting her ; but she used the sword which 
she had snatched from her disabled husband so skillfiiUy that she foiled 
them ; and, suddenly wheeling her horse, she dashed over the prairie, 
followed by the savages shouting, "■ The brave woman ! the brave woman ! 
Don't hurt her ! " They finally overtook her, and while she was fighting 
them in front, a powerful savage came up behind her, seized her by the 
neck and dragged her to the ground. Horse and woman were made 
captives. Mrs. Holt was a long time a captive among the Indians, but 
was afterwards ransomed. 

In this sharp conflict two-thirds of the white people were slain and 
wounded, and all their horses, baggage and provision were lost. Only 
twenty-eight straggling men now remained to fight five hundred Indians 
rendered furious b}'" the sight of blood. They succeeded in breaking 
through the ranks of the murderers and gaining a slight eminence on the 
prairie near the Oak Woods. The Indians did not pursue, but gathered 
on their flanks, while the chiefs held a consultation on the sand-hills, and 
showed signs of willingness to parley. It would have been madness on 
the part of the whites to renew the fight; and so Capt. Heald went for- 
ward and met Blackbird on the open prairie, where terms of surrender 
were soon agreed upon. It was arranged that the white people should 
give up their arms to Blackbird, and that the survivors should become 
prisoners of war, to be exchanged for ransoms as soon as practicable. 
With this understanding captives and captors started for the Indian 
camp near the fort, to which Mrs. Helm had been taken bleeding and 
suffering b}^ Black Partridge, and had met her step-father and learned 
that her husband was safe. 

A new scene of horror was now opened at the Indian camp. The 
wounded, not being included in the terms of surrender, as it was inter- 
preted by the Indians, and the British general. Proctor, having offered a 
liberal bounty for American scalps, delivered at Maiden, nearly all the 
wounded men were killed and scalped, and the price of the trophies was 
afterwards paid by the British government. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 



149 




SHABBONA. 



[This was engraved from a daguerreotype, taken when Shabbona was 83 years old.] 



This celebrated Indian chief, whose portrait appears in this work, deserves 
more than a passing notice. Although Shabbona was not so conspicuous as 
Tecumseh or Black Hawk, yet in point of merit he was superior to either 
of them. 

Shabbona was born at an Indian village on the Kankakee River, now in 
Will County, about the year 1775. While young he was made chief of the 
band, and went to Shabbona Grove, now DeKalb County, where they were 
found in the early settlement of the county. 

In the war of 1812, Shabbona, with his warriors, joined Tecumseh, was 



150 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 

aid to that great chief, and stood by his side when he fell at the battle of 
the Thames. At the time of the Winnebago war, in 1827, he visited almost 
every village among the Pottawatomies, and by his persuasive arguments 
prevented them from taking part in the war. By request of the citizens 
of Chicago, Shabbona, accompanied by Billy Caldwell (Sauganash), visited 
Big Foot's village at Geneva Lake, in order to pacify the warriors, as fears 
were entertained that they were about to raise the tomahawk against the 
whites. Here Shabbona was taken prisoner by Big Foot, and his life 
threatened, but on the following day was set at liberty. From that time 
the Indians (through reproach) styled him " the white man's friend," 
und many times his life was endangered. 

Before the Black Hawk war, Shabbona met in council at two differ- 
ent times, and by his influence prevented his jDcople from taking part with 
the Sacs and Foxes. After the death of Black Partridge and Senachwine, 
no chief among the Pottawatomies exerted so much influence as Shabbona. 
Black Hawk, aware of this influence, visited him at two different times, in 
order to enlist him in his cause, but was unsuccessful. While Black Hawk 
was a prisoner at Jefferson Barracks, he said, had it not been for Shabbona 
the wliole Pottawatomie nation would have joined his standard, and he 
could have continued the war for years. 

To Shabbona many of the early settlers of Illinois owe the pres- 
ervation of their lives, for it is a well-known fact, had he not notified the 
people of their danger, a large portion of them would have fallen victims 
to the tomahawk of savages. By saving the lives of whites he endangered 
his own, for the Sacs and Foxes threatened to kill him, and made two 
attempts to execute their threats. They killed Pypeogee, his son, and 
Pyps, his nephew, and hunted him down as though he was a wild beast. 

Shabbona had a reservation of two sections of land at his Grove, but 
by leaving it and going west for a short time, the Government declared 
the reservation forfeited, and sold it the same as other vacant land. On 
Shabbona's return, and finding his possessions gone, he was very sad and 
broken down in spirit, and left the Grove for ever. The citizens of Ottawa 
raised money and bought him a tract of land on the Illinois River, above 
Seneca, in Grundy County, on which they built a house, and supplied 
him with means to live on. He lived here until his death, which occurred 
on the 17th of Jul}^ 1859, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, and was 
buried with great j)omp in the cemetery at Morris. His squaw, Pokanoka, 
was drowned in Mazen Creek, Grundy County, on the 30th of November, 
1864, and was buried by his side. 

In 1861 subscriptions were taken uj) in many of the river towns, to 
erect a monument over the remains of Shabbona, but the war breaking- 
out, the enterprise was abandoned. Only a plain marble slab marks the 
resting-place of this friend of the white man. 




''>4" 









^/ ^^^^ 




P LA J /V FIELD 



Abstract of I Illinois State Laws. 



BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY NOTES. 

No promissory note, check, draft, bill of exchange, order, or note, negO' 
tiahle instrument payable at sight, or on demand, or on presentment, shall 
be entitled to days of grace. All other bills of exchange, drafts or notes are 
entitled to three dags of grace. All the above mentioned paper falling 
due on Sunday, Neiv Years'' Day, the Fourth of July, Christmas, or any 
day appointed or recommended by the President of the United States or 
the Governor of the State as a day of fast or thanksgiving, shall be deemed 
as due on the day previous, and should two or more of these days come 
together, then such instrument shall be treated as due on the day previous 
to the first of said days. No defense can be made against a negotiable 
instrument (^assigned before due^ in the hands of the assignee without 
notice, except fraud was used in obtaining the same. To hold an indorser, 
due diligence must be used by suit, in collecting of the maker, unless suit 
would have been unavailing. Notes payable to person named or to order, 
in order to absolutely transfer title, must be indorsed by the payee. Notes 
payable to bearer may be transferred by delivery, and when so payable 
every indorser thereon is held as a guarantor of payment unless otherwise 
expressed. 

In computing interest or discount on negotiable instruments, a month 
shall be considered a calendar month or tivelfth of a year, and for less 
than a month, a day shall be figured a thirtieth part of a month. Notes 
only bear interest when so expressed, but after due they draw the legal 
interest, even if not stated. 

INTEREST. 

The legal rate of interest is six per cent. Parties may agree in writ- 
ing on a rate not exceeding ten per cent. If a rate of interest greater 
than ten per cent, is contracted for, it works a forfeiture of the whole of 
said interest, and only the principal can be recovered. 

DESCENT. 

When no ivill is made, the property of a deceased person is distrib- 
uted as follows : 



152 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

First. To his or her children and their descendants in equal parts ; 
the descendants of the deceased child or grandchild taking the share of 
their deceased parents in equal parts among them. 

Second. Where there is no child, nor descendant of such child, and 
no widow or surviving husband, then to the parents, brothers and sisters 
of the deceased, and their descendants, in equal parts, the surviving 
parent, if either be dead, taking a double portion; and if there is no 
parent living, then to the brothers and sisters of the intestate and their 
descendants. 

Third. When there is a widow or surviving husband, and no child or 
children., or descendants of the same, then one-half of the real estate and 
the whole of the personaL estate shall descend to such ividoiv or surviving 
husband, absolutely, and the other half of the real estate shall descend as 
in other cases where there is no child or children or descendants of the 
same. 

Fourth. When there is a widow or surviving husband and also a child 
or children, or descendants of the latter, then one third of all the personal 
estate to the widow or surviving husband absolutely. 

Fifth. If there is no child, parent, brother or sister, or descendants of 
either of them, and no widow or surviving husband, then in equal parts 
to the next of kin to the intestate in equal degree. Collaterals shall not 
be represented except with the descendants of brothers and sisters of the 
intestate, and there shall be no distinction between kindred of the whole 
and the half blood. 

Sixth. If any intestate leaves a ividoiv or surviving husband and no 
kindred, then to such widow or surviving husband ; and if there is no such 
widow or surviving husband, it shall escheat to and vest in the county 
where the same, or the greater portion thereof, is situated. 

WILLS AND ESTATES OF DECEASED PERSONS. 

No exact form of words are necessary in order to make a will good at 
law. Every male person of the age of twenty-one years, and exery female 
of the age of eighteen years, of sound mind and memory, can make a valid 
will ; it must be in writing, signed by the testator or by some one in his 
or her presence and by his or her direction, and attested by two or more 
credible witnesses. Care should be taken that the witnesses are not inter- 
ested in the will. Persons knowing themselves to have been named in the 
will or appointed executor, must within thirty days of the death of 
deceased cause the will to be proved and recorded in the proper county, 
or present it, and refuse to accept ; on failure to do so are liable to forfeit 
the sum of tioenty dollars per month. Inventory to be made by executor 
or administrator within three months from date of letters testamentary or 



ABSTRACT OP ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 153 

of administration. Executors' and administrators' compensation not to 
exceed six per cent, on amount of personal estate, and three })or cent. 
on money realized from real estate, with such additional allowance ae 
shall be reasonable for extra services. Appi-aisers' compensation $2 pei 
day. 

Notice requiring all claims to be presented against tlie estate shall b^ 
given by the executor or administrator within six months of being quali- 
fied. Any person having a claim and not presenting it at the time fixed 
by said notice is required to have summons issued notifying tlie executor 
or administrator of his having filed his claim in court ; in such cases the 
costs have to be paid by the claimant. Claims should be filed within two 
gears from the time administration is granted on an estate, as after that 
time they ure forever barred^ unless other estate is found that was not in- 
ventoried. Married women, infants, persons insane, imprisoned or without 
the United States, in the employment of tlie United States, or of this 
State, have two years after their disabilities are removed to file claims. 
Claims are classified and paid out of the estate in the following manner: 

First. Funeral expenses. 

Second. The widow's award, if there is a widow ; or children if there 
are ciiildren, and no ividow. 

Third. Expenses attending the last illness, not including physician's 
bill. 

Fourth. Debts due the common school or township fund. 

Fifth. All expenses of proving the ivill and taking out letters testa- 
mentary or administration, and settlement of the estate, and the physi- 
cian s bill in the last illness of deceased. 

Sixth. Where the deceased has received money in trust for any pur- 
pose, his executor or administrator shall pay out of his estate the amount 
received and not accounted for. 

Seventh. All other debts and demands of whatsoever kind, without 
regard to quality or dignity, which shall be exhibited to the court within 
two years from the granting of letters. 

Award to Widow and Children, exclusive of debts and legacies or be- 
quests, except funeral expenses : 

First. The family pictures and wearing apparel, jewels and ornaments 
of herself and minor children. 

Second. School books and the family library of the value of $100. 

Third. One sewing machine. 

Fourth. Necessary beds, bedsteads and bedding for herself and family. 
Fifth. The stoves and pipe used in the family, with the necessary 
cooking utensils, or in case they have none, $30 in money. 

Sixth. Household and kitchen furniture to the value of $100. 

Seventh. One milch cow and caffor every four members of her family. 



154 ABSTBACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

Eighth. Two sheep for each member of her family, and the fleecea 
taken from the same, and one horse, saddle and bridle. 

Ninth. Provisions for herself and family for one year. 

Tenth. Food for the stock above specified for six months. 

Eleventh. Fuel for herself and family for three months. 

Twelfth. One hundred dollars worth of other property suited to her 
condition in life, to be selected by the ividow. 

The ividow if she elects may have in lieu of the said award, the same 
personal property or money in place thereof as is or may be exempt from 
execution or attachment against tlie head of a family. 

TAXES. 

The owners of real and personal property, on the first day of May in 
each year, are liable for the taxes thereon. 

Assessments should be completed before the fourth Monday in June., 
at which time the town board of review meets to examine assessments, 
hear objections., and make such changes as ought to be made. The county 
board have also power to correct or change assessments. 

The tax books are placed in the hands of the town collector on or 
before the tenth day of December, who retains them until the tenth day 
of March following, when he is required to return them to the county 
treasurer, who then collects all delinquent taxes. 

No costs accrue on real estate taxes till advertised, which takes place 
the first day of April, when three weeks' notice is required before judg- 
ment. Cost of advertising, twenty cents each tract of land, and ten cents 
each lot. 

Judgment is usually obtained at May term of County Court. Costs 
six cents each tract of land, and five cents each lot. Sale takes place in 
June. Costs in addition to those before mentioned, twenty-eight cents 
each tract of land, and twenty-seven cents each town lot. 

Real estate sold for taxes may be redeemed any time before the expi- 
ration of two years from the date of sale, hy payment to the County Clerk 
of the amount for which it was sold and twenty-five per cent, thereon if 
redeemed within six months, fifty per cent, if between six and twelve 
months, if between twelve and eighteen months seventy-five per cent., 
and if between eighteen months and two years one hundred per cent., 
and in addition, all subsequent taxes paid by the purchaser, with ten per 
cent, interest thereon, also one dollar each tract if i^otice is given by the 
purchaser of the sale, and a fee of twenty-five cents to the clerk for his 
certificate. 

JURISDICTION OF COURTS. 

Justices have jurisdiction in all civil cases on contracts for the recovery 
of moneys for damages for injury to real property, or taking, detaining, or 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 155 

injuring personal property ; for rent; for all cases to recover damages done 
real or personal property by railroad companies, in actions of replevin^ and 
in actions for damages for fraud in the sale^ purchase, or exchange of per- 
sonal property, when the amount claimed as due is not over $200. They 
have also jurisdiction in all cases for violation of the ordinances of cities, 
towns or villages. A justice of the peace may orally order an officer or a 
private person to arrest any one committing or attempting to commit a 
criminal offense. He also upon complaint can issue his warrant for the 
arrest of any person accused of having committed a crime, and have him 
brought before him for examination. 

COUNTY COURTS 

Have jurisdiction in all matters of probate (except in counties having a 
population of one hundred thousand or over), settlement of estates of 
deceased persons, appointment of guardians and conservators, and settle^ 
ment of their accounts ; all matters relating to apprentices ; proceedings 
for the collection of taxes and assessments, and in proceedings of executors, 
administrators, guardians and conservators for the sale of real estate. In 
law cases they have concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Courts in all 
cases where justices of the peace now have, or hereafter may have, 
jurisdiction when the amount claimed shall not exceed $1,000, and in all 
criminal offenses where the punishment is not imprisonment in the peni- 
tentiary, or death, and in all cases of appeals from justices of the peace 
and police magistrates; excepting when the county judge is sitting as a 
justice of the peace. Circuit Courts have unlimited jurisdiction. 

LIMITATION OF ACTION. 

Accounts five years. Notes and written contracts ten years. Judg- 
ments tiventy years. Partial payinents or new promise in writing, within 
or after said period, will revive the debt. Absence from the State deducted, 
and when the cause of action is barred by the law of another State, it has 
the same effect here. Slander and libel, one year. Personal injuries, two 
years. To recover land or make entr}^ thereon, tiventy years. Action to 
foreclose mortgage or trust deed, or make a sale, within ten years. 

All persons in possession of land, and paying taxes for seven consecu- 
tive years, with color of title, and all persons paying taxes for seven con- 
secutive years, with color of title, on vacant land, shall be held to be the 
legal owners to the extent of their paper title. 

MARRIED WOMEN 

May sue and be sued. Husband and wife not liable for each other s debts, 
either before or after marriage, but both are liable for expenses and edu- 
cation of the family. 



156 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

She may contract the same as if unmarried, except that in a partner- 
ship business she can not, without consent of her husband, unless he has 
abandoned or deserted her, or is idiotic or insane, or confined in peniten- 
tiary ; she is entitled and can recover her own earnings, but neither hus- 
band nor wife is entitled to compensation for any services rendered for the 
other. At the death of the husband, in addition to widow's award, a 
married woman has a dower interest (one-third) in all real estate owned 
by her liusband after their marriage, and which has not been released by 
her, and the husband has the same interest in the real estate of the wife 
at her death. 

EXEMPTIONS FROM FORCED SALE. 

JSoyne worth $1,000, and the following Personal Property : Lot of ground 
and buildings thereon, occupied as a residence by the debtor, being a house- 
holder and having a family, to the value of $1,000. Exemption continues 
after the death of the householder for the benefit of widow and family, some 
one of them occupying the homestead until youngest child shall become 
twenty-one years of age, and until death of widow. There is no exemption 
from sale for taxes, assessments, debt or liability incurred for the purchase 
or improvement of said homestead. No release or waiver of exemption is 
valid, unless in writing, and subscribed by such householder and Avife (if 
he have one), and acknowledged as conveyances of real estate are required 
to be acknowledged. The following articles of personal property owned 
by the debtor, are exempt from execution, writ of attachment, and distress 
for rent : The necessary wearing apparel. Bibles, school books and family 
pictures of every person ; and, 2d, one hundred dollars worth of other 
property to be selected by the debtor, and, in addition, when the debtor 
is the head of a family and resides with the same, three hundred dollars 
worth of other property to be selected by the debtor ; provided that such 
selection and exemption shall not be made by the debtor or allowed to 
him or her from any money, salary or wages due him or her from any 
person or persons or corporations whatever. 

When the head of a family shall die, desert or not reside with the 
same, the family shall be entitled to and receive all the benefit and priv- 
ileges which are by this act conferred upon the head of a family residing 
with the same. No personal property is exempt from execution when 
judgment is obtained for the wages of laborers or servants. Wages of a 
laborer who is the head of a family can not be garnisheed, except the sum 
due him be in excess of $25. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 167 

DEEDS AND MORTGAGES. 

To be valid there must be a valid consideration. Special care should 
be taken to have them signed, sealed, delivered, and properly acknowl- 
edged, with the proper seal attached. Witnesses are not required. The 
acknoivledgement raust be made in this state, before Master in Chancery^ 
Notary Public^ United States Commissioner, Circuit or County Clerk, 'Justice 
of Peace, or any Court of Record having a seal, or any Judge, Justice, or 
Clerk of any such Court. When taken before a Notary Public, or United 
States Commissioner, the same shall be attested by his official seal, when 
taken l)efore a Cotirt or the Clerk thereof, the same shall be attested by 
the seal of such Court, and when taken before a Justice of the Peace resid- 
ing out of the county where the real estate to be conveyed lies, there shall 
be added a certificate of the County Clerk under his seal of office, that he 
was a Justice of the Peace in the county at the time of taking the same. 
A deed is good without such certificate attached, but can not be used in 
evidence unless such a certificate is produced or other competent evidence 
introduced. Acknowledgements made out of the state must either be 
executed according to the laws of this state, or there should be attached 
a certificate that it is in conformity with the laws of the state or country 
where executed. Where this is not done the same may be proved by any 
other legal way. Acknowledgments where the Homestead rights are to 
be waived must state as follows : " Including the release and waiver of 
the right of homestead." 

Notaries Public can take acknowledgements any where in the state. 

Sheriffs, if authorized by the mortgagor of real or personal property 
in his mortgage, may sell the property mortgaged. 

In the case of the death of grantor or holder of the equity of redemp" 
tion of real estate mortgaged, or conveyed by deed of trust where equity 
of redemption is waived, and it contains power of sale, must be foreclosed 
in the same manner as a common mortgage in court. ' 

ESTRAYS. 

JSorses, mules, asses, neat cattle, swine, sheep, or goats found straying 
at any time during the year, in counties where such animals are not allowed 
to run at large, or between the last day of October and the 15th day of 
April in other counties, the oivner thereof being unknown, may be taken up 
as estrays. 

No person not a householder in the county where estray is found can 
lawfidly take up an estray, and then only u^jon or about his farm or place 
of residence. Estrays should not be used before advertised, except animals 
giving milk, which may be milked for their benefit. 



158 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

Notices must be posted up within five (5) days in tliree (3) of the 
most public places in the town or precinct in which estray was found, giv- 
ing the residence of the taker up, and a particular description of the 
estray, its age, color, and marks natural and artificial, and stating before 
what justice of the peace in such town or precinct, and at what time, not 
less than ten (10) nor more than fifteen (15) days from the time of post- 
ing such notices, he will apply to have the estray appraised. 

A copy of such notice should be filed by the taker up with the town 
clerks whose duty it is to enter the same at large, in a hook kept by him 
for that purpose. 

If the owner of estray shall hot have appeared and proved ownership^ 
and taken the same away, first paying the taker up his reasonable charges 
for taking up, keeping, and advertising the same, the taker up shall appear 
before the justice of the peace mentioned in above mentioned notice, and 
make an affidavit as required by law. 

As the affidavit has to he made hefore the justice, and all other steps as 
to appraisement, etc., are before him, who is familiar therewith, they are 
therefore omitted here. 

Any person taking up an estray at any other place than about or 
upon his farm or residence, or without complying with the law, shall forfeit 
and pay a fine of ten dollars with costs. 

Ordinary diligence is required in taking care of estrays, but in case 
they die or get away the taker is not liable for the same. 

GAME. 

It is unlawful for any person to kill, or attempt to kill or destroy, in 
any manner, any prairie hen or chicken or woodcock between the 15th day 
of January and the 1st day of September ; or any deer, fawn, wild-turkey, 
partridge or pheasant between the 1st day of February and the 1st day 
of October ; or any quail between the 1st day of February and 1st day of 
November ; or any wild goose, duck, snipe, brant or other water fowl 
between the 1st day of May and 15th day of August in each year. 
Penalty : Fine not less than $5 nor more than $25, for each bird or 
animal, and costs of suit, and stand committed to county jail until fine is 
paid, but not exceeding ten days. It is unlauful to hunt with gun, dog 
or net within the inclosed grounds or lands of another without permission. 
Penalty: Fine not less than $3 nor more than $100, to be paid into 
school fund. 

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 

"Whenever any of the following articles shall be contracted for, or 
sold or delivered, and no special contract or agreement shall be made to 
the contrary, the weight per bushel shall be as follows, to-wit : 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 



159 





Pounds. 




Pounds. 


Stone Coal, 


- 80 


Buckwheat, - 


- 52 


Uiislacked Lime, 


- 80 


Coarse Salt, 


- 50 


Corn in the ear, 


- 70 


Barle3s - - - 


- 48 


Wiieat, 


- 60 


Corn Meal, 


- 48 


Irish Potatoes, 


- 60 


Castor Beans, 


- 46 


Wiiite Beans, 


- 60 


Timothy Seed, - 


- 45 


Clover Seed, - 


- 60 


Hemp Seed, - 


- 44 


Onions, - » _ 


- 57 


Malt, - - . . 


- 38 


Shelled Corn, 


- 56 


Dried Peaches, 


- 33 


Rye, - - - - 


- 56 


Oats, - - - - 


- 32 


Flax Seed, 


- 56 


Dried Apples, 


- 24 


Sweet Potatoes, - 


- 55 


Bran, - - - - 


- 20 


Turnips, 


- 55 


Blue Grass Seed, - 


- 14 


Fine Salt, - 


- 55 


Hair (plastering), 


8 



Penaltjj for giving less than the above standard is double the amount 
of property wrongfully not given, and ten dollars addition thereto. 

MILLERS. 

The owner or occupant of every public grist mill in this state shall 
grind all grain brought to his mill in its turn. The toll for both steam 
and water mills, is, for grinding and bolting wheats rye, or other grain., one 
eighth part; for grinding Indian corn, oats, barley and huckivheat not 
required to be bolted, one seventh part; for grinding malt, and chopping ?i[\ 
kinds of grain, one eighth part. It is the duty of every miller when his 
mill is in repair, to aid and assist in loading and unloading all grain brouoht 
to him to be ground, and he is also required to keep an accurate half 
bushel measure, and an accurate set of toll dishes or scales for weiohino' 
the grain. The penalty for neglect or refusal to comply with the law is 
$5, to the use of any person to sue for the same, to be recovered before 
any justice of the peace of the county where penalty is incurred. Millers 
are accountable for the safe keeping of all grain left in his mill for the 
purpose of being ground, with bags or casks containing same (except it 
results from unavoidable accidents), provided that such bags or casks are 
distinctly marked with the initial letters of the owner's name. 



MARKS AND BRANDS. 

Owners of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep or goats may have one ear mark 
and one brand, but which shall be different from his neighbor's, and may 
be recorded by the county clerk of the county in which such property is 
kept. The fee for such record is fifteen cents. The record of such shall 
be open to examination free of charge. In cases of disputes as to marks 
or brands-, such record is vrima facie evidence. Owners of cattle, horses, 
hogs, sheep or goats that may have been branded by the former owner. 



lt)0 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

may be re-branded in presence of one or more of his neighbors, who shall 
certify to the facts of the marking or branding being done, when done, 
and in what brand or mark they were re-branded or re-marked, which 
certificate may also be recorded as before stated. 

ADOPTION OF CHILDREN. 

Children may be adopted by any resident of this state, by filing a 
petition in the Circuit or County Court of the county in which he resides, 
asking leave to do so, and if desired may ask that the name of the child 
be changed. Such petition, if made by a person having a husband or 
wife, will not be granted, unless the husband or wife joins therein, as the 
adoption must be by them jointly. 

The petition shall state name, sex, and age of the child, and the new 
name, if it is desired to change the name. Also the name and residence 
of the parents of the child, if known, and of the guardian, if any, and 
whether the parents or guardians consent to the adoption. 

The court must find, before granting decree, that the parents of the 
<ihild^ or the survivors of them, have deserted his or her family or such 
child for one year next preceding the application, or if neither are living, 
the guardian ; if no guardian, the next of kin in this state capable of giving 
consent, has had notice of the presentation of the petition and consents 
to such adoption. If the child is of the age of fourteen years or upwards, 
the adoption caii not be made ivithout its consent. 

SURVEYORS AND SURVEYS. 

There is in every county elected a surveyor known as county sur- 
veyor, who has power to appoint deputies, for whose official acts he is 
responsible. It is the duty of the county surveyor, either by himself or 
his deputy, to make all surveys that he may be called upon to make within 
his county as soon as may be after application is made. The necessary 
chainmen and other assistance must be employed by the person requiring 
the same to be done, and to be by him paid, unless otherwise agreed ; but 
the chainmen must be disinterested persons and approved by the surveyor 
and sworn by him to measure justly and impartially. 

The County Board in each count}'- is required by law to provide a copy 
of the United States field notes and plats of their surveys of the lands 
in the county to be kept in the recorder's office subject to examination 
by the public, and the county surveyor is required to make his surveys 
in conformity to said notes, plats and the laws of the United States gov- 
erning such matters. The surveyor is also required to keep a record 
of all surveys made by him, which shall be subject to inspection by any 
one interested, and shall be delivered up to his successor in offic6, \ 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. Ifil 

certified copy of the said surveyor's record shall be prima facie evidence 
of its contents. 

The fees of county surveyors are six dollars per day. The county 
surveyor is also ex officio inspector of mines, and as such, assisted by some 
practical miner selected by him, shall once each year inspect all the 
mines in the county, for which they shall each receive such compensa- 
tion as may be fixed by the County Board, not exceeding $3 a day, to 
be paid out of the county treasury. 

ROADS AND BRIDGES. 

Where practicable from the nature of the ground, persons traveling 
in any kind of vehicle, must turn to the right of the center of the road, so 
as to permit each carriage to pass without interfering with each other. 
The penalty for a violation of this provision is $5 for every offense, to 
be recovered by the party injured ; but to recover, there must have 
occurred some injury to person or property resulting from the violation. 
The owners of any carriage traveling upon any road in this State for the 
conveyance of passengers who shall employ or continue in his employment 
as driver any person who is addicted to drunkenness, or the excessive use of 
spiritous liquors, after he has had notice of the same, shall forfeit, at the 
rate of $5 per day, and if any driver while actually engaged in driving 
any such carriage, shall be guilty of intoxication to such a degree as to 
endanger the safety of passengers, it shall be the duty of the owner, on 
receiving written notice of the fact, signed b3^ one of the passengers, and 
certified by him on oath, forthwith to discharge such driver. If such owner 
shall have such driver in his employ within three months after such notice, 
he is liable for $5 per day for the time he shall keep said driver in his 
employment after receiving such notice. 

Persons driving any carriage on any public highway are prohibited 
from ru7ining their horses upon any occasion under a penalty of a fine not 
exceeding $10, or imprisonment not exceeding sixty days, at the discre- 
tion of the court. Horses attached to any carriage used to convey passen- 
gers foT hire must be properly hitched or the lines placed in the hands of 
some other person before the driver leaves them for any purpose. For 
violation of this provision each driver shall forfeit twenty dollars, to be 
recovered by action, to be commenced within six months. It is under- 
stood by the term carriage herein to mean any carriage or vehicle used 
for the transportation of passengers or goods or either of them. 

The commissioners of highways in the different tov/ns have the care 
and superintendence of highways and bridges therein. They have all 
the powers necessary to lay out, vacate, regulate and repair all roads^ 
build and repair bridges. In addition to the above, it is their duty to 
erect and keep in repair at the forks or crossing-place of the most 



162 ABSTRACT OP ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

important roads post and guide boards with plain inscriptions, giving 
directions and distances to the most noted phices to which such road may 
lead ; also to make provisions to prevent thistles, burdock, and cockle 
burrs, mustard, yellow dock, Indian mallow and jimson weed from 
seeding, and to extirpate the same as far as practicable, and to prevent 
all rank growth of vegetation on the public highways so far as the same 
may obstruct public travel, and it is in their discretion to erect watering 
places for public use for watering teams at such points as may be deemed 
advisable. 

The Commissioners, on or before the 1st day of May of each year, 
shall make out and deliver to their treasurer a list of all able-bodied men 
in their town, excepting paupers, idiots, lunatics, and such others as are 
exempt by law, and assess against each the sum of two dollars as a poll 
tax for highway purposes. Within thirty days after such list is delivered 
they shall cause a written or printed notice to be given to each person so 
assessed, notifying him of the time when and place where such tax must 
be paid, or its equivalent in labor performed ; they may contract with 
persons owing such poll tax to perform a certain amount of labor on any 
road or bridge in payment of the same, and if such tax is not paid nor 
labor performed by the first Monday of July of such year, or within ten 
days after notice is given after that time, they shall bring suit therefor 
against such person before a justice of the peace, who shall hear and 
determine the case according to law for the offense complained of, and 
shall forthwith issue an execution, directed to any constable of the county 
where the delinquent shall reside, who shall forthwith collect the moneys 
therein mentioned. 

The Commissioners of Highways of each town shall annually ascer- 
tain, as near as practicable, how much money must be raised by tax on real 
and personal property for the making and repairing of roads, only, to any 
amount they may deem necessary, not exceeding forty cents on each one 
hundred dollars' worth, as valued on the assessment roll of the previous 
year. The tax so levied on property lying within an incorporated village, 
town or city, shall be paid over to the corporate authorities of such town, 
village or city. Commissioners shall receive $1.50 for each day neces- 
sarily employed in the discharge of their duty. 

Overseers. At the first meeting the Commissioners shall choose one 
of their number to act General Overseer of Highways in their township, 
whose duty it shall be to take charge of and safely keep all tools, imple- 
ments and machinery belonging to said town, and shall, by the direction 
of the Board, have general supervision of all roads and bridges in their 
town. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 163 

As all township and county officers are familiar with their duties, it 
is only intended to give the points of the law that the public should be 
familiar with. The manner of laying out, altering or vacating roads, etc., 
will not be here stated, as it would require more space than is contem- 
plated in a work of this kind. It is sufficient to state that, the first step 
is by petition, addressed to the Commissioners, setting out what is prayed 
for, giving the names of the owners of lands if known, if not known so 
state, over which the road is to pass, giving the general course, its place 
of beginning, and where it terminates. It requires not less than twelve 
freeholders residing within three miles of the road who shall sign the 
petition. Pubhc roads must not be less than fifty feet wide, nor more 
than sixty feet wide. Roads not exceeding two miles in length, if peti- 
tioned for, may be laid out, not less than forty feet. Private roads 
for private and public use, may be laid out of the width of three rods, on 
petition of the person directly interested ; the damage occasioned thereby 
shall be paid by the premises benefited thereby, and before the road is 
opened. If not opened in two years, the order shall be considered 
rescinded. Commissioners in their discretion may permit persons who 
live on or have private roads, to work out their road tax thereon. Public 
roads must be opened in five days from date of filing order of location, 
or be deemed vacated. 

DRAINAGE. 

Whenever one or more owners or occupants of land desire to construct 
I drain or ditch across the land of others for agricultural, sanitary or 
mining purposes, the proceedings are as follows : 

File a petition in the Circuit or County Court of the county in which 
the proposed ditch or drain is to be constructed, setting forth the neces- 
sity for the same, with a description of its proposed starting point, route 
and terminus, and if it shall be necessary for the drainage of the land or 
coal mines or for sanitary purposes, that a drain, ditch, levee or similar 
work be constructed, a description of the same. It shall also set forth 
the names of all persons owning the land over which such drain or ditch 
shall be constructed, or if unknown stating that fact. 

No private property shall be taken or damaged for the purpose of 
constructing a ditch, drain or levee, without compensation, if claimed by 
the owner, the same to be ascertained by a jury; but if the construction 
of such ditch, drain or levee shall be a benefit to the owner, the same 
shall be a set off against such compensation. 

If the proceedings seek to affect the property of a minor, lunatic or 
married woman, the guardian, conservator or husband of the same shall 
be made party defendant. The petition may be amended and parties 
made defendants at any time when it is necessary to a fair trial. 



164 ABSTRACT OP ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

When the petition is presented to the judge, he shall note therein 
when he will hear the same, and order the issuance of summonses and 
the publication of notice to each non-resident or unknown defendant. 

The petition may be heard by such judge in vacation as well as in 
term time. Upon the trial, the jury shall ascertain the just compensation 
to each owner of the property sought to be damaged by the construction 
of such ditch, drain or levee, and truly report the same. 

As it is only contemplated in a work of this kind to give an abstract 
of the laws, and as the parties who have in charge the execution of the 
further proceedings are likely to be familiar with the requirements of the 
statute, the necessary details are not here inserted. 

WOLF SCALPS. 

The County Board of any county in this State may hereafter aliuw 
such bounty on wolf scalps as the board may deem reasonable. 

Any person claiming a bounty shall produce the scalp or scalps with 
the ears thereon, within sixty days after the wolf or wolves shall have 
been caught, to the Clerk of the County Board, who shall administer to 
said person the following oath or affirmation, to-wit: "You do solemnly 
swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that the scalp or scalps here pro- 
duced by you was taken from a wolf or wolves killed and first captured 
by yourself within the limits of this county, and within the sixty days 
last past." 

CONVEYANCES. 

When the reversion expectant on a lease of any tenements or here- 
ditaments of any tenure shall be surrendered or merged, the estate which 
shall for the time being confer as against the tenant under the same lease 
the next vested right to the same tenements or hereditaments, shall, to 
the extent and for the purpose of preserving such incidents to and obli- 
gations on the same reversion, as but for the surrender or merger thereof, 
would have subsisted, be deemed the reversion expectant on the same 
lease. 

PAUPERS. 

Every poor person who shall be unable to earn a livelihood in conse- 
quence ot any bodily infirmity^ idiocy, lunacy or unavoidable cause, shall 
be supported by the father, grand-father, mother, grand-mother, children, 
grand-children, brothers or sisters of such poor person, if they or either 
af them be of sufficient ability ; but if any of such dependent class shall 
have become so from intemperance or other bad conduct, they shall not be 
entitled to support from any relation except parent or child. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 16T 

The children shall first be called on to support their parents, if they 
are able ; but if not, the parents of such poor person shall then be called 
on, if of sufficient ability ; and if there be no parents or children able, 
then the brothers and sisters of such dependent person shall be called 
upon ; and if there be no brothers or sisters of sufficient ability, the 
grand-children of such person shall next be called on ; and if they are 
not able, then the grand-parents. Married females, Avhile their husbands 
live, shall not be liable to contribute for the support of their poor relations 
except out of their separate property. It is the duty of the state's 
(^county) attorne}^ to make complaint to the County Court of his county 
against all the relatives of such paupers in this state liable to his support 
and prosecute the same. In case the state's attorney neglects, or refuses, to 
complain in such cases, then it is the duty of the overseer of the poor to 
do so. The person called upon to contribute shall have at least ten days' 
notice of such application by summons. The court has the power to 
determine the kind of support, depending upon the circumstances of the 
parties, and maj^ also order two or more of the different degrees to main- 
tain such poor person, and prescribe the proportion of each, according to 
their ability. The court may specify the time for which the relative shall 
contribute — in fact has control over the entire subject matter, with power 
to enforce its orders. Every county (except those in which the poor are 
supported by the towns, and in such cases the towns are liable) is required 
to relieve and support all poor and indigent persons lawfully resident 
therein. Residence means the actual residence of the party, or the place 
where he was employed ; or in case he was in no employment, then it 
shall be the place where he made his home. When any person becomes 
chargeable as a pauper in any county or town who did not reside at the 
commencement of six months immediately preceding his becoming so, 
but did at that time reside in some other county or town in this state, 
then the county or town, as the case may be, becomes liable for the expense 
of taking care of such person until removed, and it is the duty of the 
overseer to notify the proper authorities of the fact. If any person shall 
bring and leave any pauper in any county in this state where such pauper 
had no legal residence, knowing him to be such, he is liable to a fine of 
iBlOO. In counties under township organization, the supervisors in each 
town are ex-officio overseers of the poor. The overseers of the poor act 
under the directions of the County Board in taking care of the poor and 
granting of temporary relief; also, providing for non-resident persons not 
paupers who may be taken sick and not able to pay their way, and in case 
of death cause such person to be decently buried. 

The residence of the inmates of poorhouses and other charitable 
institutions for voting purposes is their former place of abode. 



168 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

FENCES. 

In counties under township organization, the town assessor and com- 
missioner of highways are the fence-viewers in their respective towns. 
In other counties the County Board appoints three in each precinct annu- 
ally. A laivful fence is four and one-half feet high, in good repair, con- 
sisting of rails, timber, boards, stone, hedges, or whatever the fence- 
viewers of the town or precinct where the same shall lie, shall consider 
equivalent thereto, but in counties under townshij) organization the annual 
town meeting may establish any other kind of fence as such, or the County 
Board in other counties may do the same. Division fences shall be made 
and maintained in just proportion by the adjoining owners, except when 
the owner shall choose to let his land lie open, but after a division fence is 
built by agreement or otherwise, neither party can remove his part of such 
fence so long as he may crop or use such land for farm purposes, or without 
giving the other part}^ one year's notice in writing of his intention to remove 
his portion. When any person shall enclose his land upon the enclosure 
of another, he shall refund the owner of the adjoining lands a just pro- 
portion of the value at that time of such fence. The value of fence and 
the just proportion to be paid or built and maintained by each is to be 
ascertained by two fence-viewers in the town or precinct. Such fence- 
viewers have power to settle all disputes between different owners as to 
fences built or to be built, as well as to repairs to be made. Each party 
chooses one of the viewers, but if the other party neglects, after eight 
days' notice in writing, to make his choice, then the other party ma} 
select both. It is. sufficient to notify the tenant or party in possession, 
when the owner is not a resident of the town or precinct. The two 
fence-viewers chosen, after viewing the premises, shall hear the state- 
ments of the parties , in case they can't agree, they shall select another 
fence-viewer to act with them, and the decision of any two of them is 
final. The decision must be reduced to writing, and should plainly set 
out description of fence and all matters settled by them, and must be 
filed in the office of the town clerk in counties under township organiza- 
tion, and in other counties with the county clerk. 

Where any person is liable to contribute to the erection or the 
repairing of a division fence, neglects or refuses so to do, the part}' 
injured, after giving sixty days notice in writing when a fence is to be 
erected, or ten days when it is only repairs, may proceed to have the 
work done at the expense of the party whose duty it is to do it, to be 
recovered from him with costs of suit, and the party so neglecting shall 
also be liable to the party injured for all damages accruing from such 
neglect or refusal, to be determined by any two fence-viewers selected 
as before provided, the appraisement to be reduced to writing and signed. 





JOLIET 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. lOU 

Where a person shall conclude to remove his part of a division fence, 
and let his land lie open, and having given the year's notice required, the 
adjoining owner may cause the value of said fence to be ascertained by 
fence-viewers as before provided, and on payment or tender of the 
amount of such valuation to the owner, it shall prevent the removal, A 
party removing a division fence without notice is liable for the damages 
accruing thereby. 

Where a fence has been built on the land of another through mis- 
take, the owner may enter upon such premises and remove his fence and 
material within oix months after the division line has been ascertained. 
Where the material to build such a fence- has been taken from the land 
on which it was built, then before it can be removed, the person claiming 
must first pay for such material to the owner of the land from which it 
was taken, nor shall ijuch a fence be removed at a time when the removal 
will throw open or expose the crops of the other party ; a reasonable 
time must be given beyond the ^ix months to remove crops. 

The compensation of fence-viewers is one dollar and fifty cents a 
day each, to be paid in the first instance by the party calling them, but 
in the end all expenses, including amount charged by the fence-viewers, 
must be paid equally b}'' the parties, except in cases where a party neglects 
or refuses to make or maintain a just proportion of a division fence, when 
the party in default shall pay them. 

DAMAGES FROM TRESPASS. 

Where stock of any kind breaks into any person's enclosure, the 
fence being good and sufficient, the owner is liable for the damage done ; 
but where the damage is done by stock running at large, contrary to law, 
the owner is liable where thijre is not such a fence. Where stock is 
found trespassing on the enclosure of another as aforesaid, the owner oi 
occupier of the premises may take possession of such stock and keep the 
same until ^damages, with reasonable charges for keeping and feeding and 
all costs of suit, are paid. Any person taking or rescuing such stock so 
held without his consent, shall be liable to a fine of not less than three 
nor more than five dollars for each animal rescued, to be recovered by 
suit before a justice of the peace for the use of the school fund. Within 
twenty-four hours after taking such animal into his possession, the per- 
son taking it up must give notice of the fact to the owner, if known, or 
if unknown, notices must be posted in some public place near the premises. 

LANDLORD AND TENANT. 

The owner of lands, or his legal representatives, can sue for and 
recover rent therefor, in any of the following cases : 

First. When rent is due and in arrears on a lease for life or lives. 



170 ABSTKACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

Second. When lands are held and occupied by any person without 
any special agreement for rent. 

Third. When possession is obtained under an agreement, written 
or verbal, for the purchase of the premises and before deed given, the 
right to possession is terminated by forfeiture on con-compliance with the 
agreement, and possession is wrongfully refused or neglected to be given 
upon demand made in writing by the party entitled thereto. Provided 
that all payments made by the vendee or his representatives or assigns, 
may be set off against the rent. 

Fourth. When land has been sold upon a judgment or a decree of 
court, when the party to such judgment or decree, or person holding under 
him, wrongfully refuses, or neglects, to surrender possession of the same, 
after demand in writing by the person entitled to the possession. 

Fifth. When the lands have been sold upon a mortgage or trust 
deed, and the mortgagor or grantor or person holding under him, wrong- 
fully refuses or neglects to surrender possession of the same, after demand 
in writing by the person entitled to the jiossession. 

If any tenant, or any person who shall come into possession from or 
under or by collusion with such tenant, shall willfully hold over any lands, 
etc., after the expiration the term of their lease, and after demand made 
in writing for the possession thereof, is liable to pay double rent. A 
tenancy from 3^ear to 3'ear requires sixty days notice in writing, to termi- 
nate the same at the end of the year ; such notice can be given at any 
time within four months preceding the last sixty days of the year. 

A tenancy by the month, or less than a 3"ear, where the tenant holds 
over without an}' special agreement, the landlord may terminate the 
tenancy, by thirty days notice in writing. 

When rent is due, the landlord may serve a notice upon the tenant, 
stating that unless the rent is paid within not less than five days, his lease 
will be terminated ; if the rent is not paid, the landlord may consider the 
lease ended. When default is made in any of the terms of a lease, it 
shall not be necessary to give more than ten days notice to quit or of the 
termination of such tenancy ; and the same may be terminated on giving 
such notice to quit, at any time after such default in any of the terms of 
such lease ; which notice may be substantially in the following form, viz: 

To , You are hereb}^ notified that, in consequence of your default 

in (here insert the character of the default), of the premises now occupied 
by you, being etc. (here describe the premises), I have elected to deter- 
mine your lease, and you are hereby notified to quit and deliver up pos- 
session of the same to me within ten days of this date (dated, etc.) 

The above to be signed by the lessor or his agent, and no other notice 
or demand of possession or termination of such tenancy is necessar3\ 

Demand may be made, or notice served, by delivering a written or 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 171 

pn/ited, or partly either, copy thereof to the tenant, or leaving the same 
with some person above the age of twelve years residing on or in posses- 
sion of the premises ; and in case no one is in the actual possession of the 
said premises, then by posting the same on the premises. When the 
tenancy is for a certain time, and the term expires by the terms of the 
lease, the tenant is then bound to surrender possession, and no notict 
to quit or demand of possession is necessar3\ 

Distress for rent. — In all cases of distress for rent, the landlord, by 
himself, his agent or attorney, may seize for rent any personal property of 
his tenant that may be found in the county where the tenant resides ; the 
property of any other person, even if found on the premises, is not 
liable. 

An inventory of the property levied upon, with a statement of the 
amount of rent claimed, should be at once filed with some justice of the 
peace, if not over $200 ; and if above that sum, with the clerk of a court 
of record of competent jurisdiction. Property may be released, by the 
party executing a satisfactory bond for double the amount. 

The landlord ma}' distrain for rent, any time within six months after 
the expiration of the term of the lease, or when terminated. 

In all cases where the premises rented shall be sub-let, or the lease 
assigned, the landlord shall have the same right to enforce lien against 
such lessee or assignee, that he has ^against the tenant to whom the pre- 
mises were rented. 

When a tenant abandons or removes from the premises or any part 
thereof, the landlord, or his agent or attorney, may seize upon any grain 
or other crops grown or growing upon the premises, or part thereof so 
abandoned, whether the rent is due or not. If such grain, or other crops, 
or any part thereof, is not fully grown or matured, the landlord, or his 
agent or attorney, shall cause the same to be properly cultivated, harvested 
or gathered, and may sell the same, and from the proceeds pay all his 
labor, expenses and rent. The tenant may, before the sale of such pro- 
perty, redeem the same by tendering the rent and reasonable compensation 
for work done, or he may replevy the same. 

Exemption. — The same articles of personal property which are bylaw 
exempt from execution, except the crops as above stated, is also exempt 
from distress for rent. 

If any tenant is about to or shall permit or attempt to sell and 
remove from the premises, without the consent of his landlord, such 
portion of the crops raised thereon as will endanger the lien of the land- 
lord upon such crops, for the rent, it shall be lawful for the landlord to 
distress before rent is due. 



172 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

LIENS. 

Any person who shall by contract^ express or implied, or partly both, 
with the owner of any lot or tract of land, furnisli labor or material, or 
services as an architect or superintendent, in building, altering, repairing 
or ornamenting any house or other building or appurtenance thereto on 
such lot, or upon any street or alley, and connected with such improve- 
ments, shall have a lien upon the whole of such lot or tract of land, and 
upon such house or building and appurtenances, for the amount due to 
him for such labor, material or services. If the contract is expressed, and 
the time for the completion of the work is beyond three years from the com- 
mencement thereof ; or, if the time of payment is beyond one year from 
the time stipulated for the completion of the work, then no lien exists. 
If the contract is implied, then no lien exists, unless the work be done or 
material is furnished within one year from the commencement of the work 
or delivery of the materials. As between different creditors having liens, 
no preference is given to the one whose contract was first made ; but each 
shares pro-rata. Incumbrances existing on the lot or tract of the land at 
the time the contract is made, do not operate on the improvements, and 
are only preferred to the extent of the value of the land at the time of 
making the contract. The above lien can not be enforced unless suit is 
commenced within six months after the last payment for labor or materials 
shall have become due and payable. Sub-contractors, mechanics, workmen 
and other persons furnishing any material, or performing any labor for a 
contractor as before specified, have a lien to the extent of the amount due 
the contractor at the time the following notice is served upon the owner 
of the land who made the contract : 

To , You are hereby notified, that I have been employed by 



(here state whether to labor or furnish material, and substantially the 
nature of the demand) upon your (here state in general terms description 
and situation of building), and that I shall hold the (building, or as the 
case may be), and your interest in the ground, liable for the amount that 

may (is or may become) due me on account thereof. Signature, 

Date, 

If there is a contract in writing between contractor and sub-contractor, 
a copy of it should be served with above notice, and said notice must be 
served within forty days from the completion of such sub-contract, if there 
is one ; if not, then from the time payment should have been made to the 
j)erson performing the labor or furnishing the material. If the owner is 
not a resident of the county, or can not be found therein, then the above 
notice must be filed with the clerk of the Circuit Court, with his fee, fifty 
cents, and a copy of said notice must be published in a newspaper pub- 
lished in the county, for four successive weeks. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 173 

When the owner or agent is notified as above, he can retain any 
money due the contractor sufficient to pay such chiini ; if more than one 
claim, and not enough to pay all, they are to be paid pro rata. 

The owner has the right to demand in writing, a statement of the 
contractor, of what he owes for labor, etc., from time to time as the work 
progresses, and on his failure to comply, forfeits to the owner $50 for 
every offense. 

The liens referred to cover any and all estates, whether in fee for 
life, for years, or any other interest which the owner may have. 

To enforce the lien of sub-contractors^ suit must be commenced within 
three months from the time of the performance of the sub-contract, or 
during the work or furnishing materials. 

Hotel, inn and hoarding-house keepers, have a lien upon the baggage 
and other valuables of their guests or boarders, brought into such hotel, 
inn or boarding-house, by their guests or boarders, for the proper charges 
due from such guests or boarders for their accommodation, board and 
lodgings, and such extras as are furnished at their request. 

Stable-keepers and other persons have a lien upon the horses, car- 
riages and harness kept by them, for tlie proper charges due for the keep- 
ing thereof and expenses bestowed thereon at the request of the owner 
or the person having the possession of the same. 

Agisters (persons who take care of cattle belonging to others), and 
persons keeping, yarding, feeding or pasturing domestic animals, shall 
have a lien upon the animals agistered, kept, yarded or fed, for the proper 
charges due for such service. 

All persons who may furnish any railroad corporation in this state 
with fuel, ties, material, supplies or any other article or thing necessary 
for the construction, maintenance, operation or repair of its road by con- 
tract, or may perform work or labor on the same, is entitled to be paid as 
part of the current expenses of the road, and have a lien upon all its pro- 
perty. Sub-contractors or laborers have also a lien. The conditions and 
limitations both as to contractors and sub-contractors, are about the same 
as herein stated as to general liens. 

DEFINITION OF COMMERCIAL TERMS. 

i means dollars, being a contraction of U. S., which was formerly 



placed before any denomination of money, and meant, as it means now, 
United States Currency. 

X means pounds, English money. 

@ stands for at or to. Ih fox pound, and bbl. for barrel; 1^ {or per or 
hi/ the. Thus, Butter sells at 20(aj30c f lb, and Flour at |8(a 12 f bbl. 

% for per cent and # for number. 

May 1.— Wheat sells at |1.20@1.25, "seller June." Seller June 



X;4 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

means that the person who sells the wheat has the privilege of delivering 
it at any time during the month of June. 

Selling shorty is contracting to deliver a certain amount of grain or 
stock, at a fixed price, within a certain length of time, when the seller 
has not the stock on hand. It is for the interest of the person selling 
*' short," to depress the market as much as possible, in order that he may 
buy and fill his contract at a profit. Hence the " shorts " are termed 
*' bears." 

Buying long^ is to contract to purchase a certain amount of grain or 
shares of stock at a fixed price, deliverable within a stipulated time, 
expecting to make a profit by the rise of prices. The "longs" are 
termed " bulls," as it is for their interest to " operate " so as to " toss " 
the prices upward as much as possible. 

NOTES. 

Form of note is legal, worded in the simplest way, so that tlie 
amount and time of payment are mentioned. 

$100. Chicago, 111., Sept. 15, 1876. 

Sixty days from date I promise to pa}' to E. F. Brown, 
or order. One Hundred dollars, for value received. 

L. D. LowEY, 

A note to be payable in any thing else than money needs only the 

facts substituted for money in the above form. 

ORDERS. 

Orders should be worded simply, thus : 

'Mr. F. H. Coats: Chicago, Sept. 15, 1876. 

Please pay to H. Birdsall, Twenty-five dollars, and charge to 



F. D. Silva. 



RECEIPTS. ' 



Receipts should always state when received and what for, thus : 

.$100. Chicago, Sept. 15, 1876. 

Received of J. W. Davis, One Hundred dollars, for services 
rendered in grading his lot in Fort Madison, on account. 

Thomas Brady. 

If receipt is in full it should be so stated. 

BILLS OF PURCHASE. 

W. N. Mason, Salem, Illinois, Sept. 15, 1876. 

Bought of A. A. Graham. 
4 Bushels of Seed Wheat, at $1.50 - - - - 16.00 

2 Seamless Sacks " .30 - - .60 



Received payment, $6.60 

A. A. Graham. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 176 

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT. 

An agreement is where one party promises to another to do a certain 
thing in a certain time for a stipulated sum. Good business men always 
reduce an agreement to writing, which nearh^ always saves misunder- 
standings and trouble. No particular form is necessary, but the facts must 
be clearly and explicitly stated, and there must, to make it valid, be a 
reasonable consideration. 

GENERAL FORM OF AGREEMENT. 

This Agreement, made the Second day of October, 1876, between 
John Jones, of Aurora, County of Kane, State of Illinois, of the first part, 
and Thomas Whiteside, of the same place, of the second part — 

WITNESSETH, that the said John Jones, in consideration of the agree- 
ment of the party of the second part, hereinafter contained, contracts and 
agrees to and with the said Thomas Whiteside, that he will deliver, in 
good and marketable condition, at the Village of Batavia, 111., during the 
month of November, of this year, One Hundred Tons of Prairie Hay, in 
the following lots, and at the following specified times ; namely, twenty- 
five tons by the seventh of November, twenty-five tons additional by the 
fourteenth of the month, twenty-five tons more by the twenty-first, and 
the entire one hundred tons to be all delivered by the thirtieth of 
November. 

And the said Thomas Whiteside, in consideration of the prompt 
fulfillment of this contract, on the part of the party of the first part, 
contracts to and agrees with the said John Jones, to pay for said hay five 
dollars per ton, for each ton as soon as delivered. 

In case of failure of agreement by either of the parties hereto, it is 
hereby stipulated and agreed that the party so failing shall pa}' to the 
other, One Hundred Dollars, as fixed and settled damages. 

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands the day and 
year first above written. John Jones, 

Thomas Whiteside. 

AGREEMENT WITH CLERK FOR SERVICES. 

This Agreement, made the first day of May, one thousand eight 
hundred and seventy-six, between Reuben Stone, of Chicago, County 
of Cook, State of Illinois, party of the first part, and George Barclay, of 
Englewood, County of Cook, State of Illinois, party of the second part — 

WITNESSETH, that said George Barclay agrees faithfully and dili- 
gently to work as clerk and salesman for the said Reuben Stone, for 
and during the space of one year from the date hereof, should both 
live such length of time, without absenting himself from his occupation ; 



176 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

durino- which time he, the said Barclay, in the store of said Stone, of 
Chicago, will carefully and honestly attend, doing and perforining all 
duties as clerk and salesman aforesaid, in accordance and in all respects 
as directed and desired by the said Stone. 

In consideration of which services, so to be rendered by the said 
Barclay, the said Stone agrees to pay to said Barclay the annual sum of 
one thousand dollars, payable in twelve equal monthly payments, each 
upon the last day of each month ; provided that all dues for days of 
absence from business by said Barclay, shall be deducted from the sum 
otherwise by the agreement due and payable by the said Stone to the said 
Barclay. 

Witness our hands. Reuben Stone. 

George Barclay. 

BILLS OF SALE. 

A bill of sale is a written agreement to another party, for a consider- 
ation to convey his right and interest in the personal property. The 
purchaser must take actual possession of the property. Juries have 
power to determine upon the fairness or unfairness of a bill of sale. 

COMMON FORM OF BELL OF SALE. 

Know all Men by this instrument, that I, Louis Clay, of Princeton, 
Illinois, of the first part, for and in consideration of Five Hundred 
and Ten dollars, to me paid by John Floyd, of the same place, of the 
second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have sold, and 
by this instrument do convey unto the said Floyd, party of the second 
part, his executors, administrators, and assigns, my undivided half of 
ten acres of corn, now growing on the farm of Thomas Tyrrell, in the 
town above mentioned ; one pair of horses, sixteen sheep, and five cows, 
belonging to me, and in my possession at the farm aforesaid ; to have and 
to hold the same unto the party of the second part, his executors and 
assigns, forever. And I do, for myself and legal representatives, agree 
with the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives, to 
warrant and defend the sale of the afore-mentioned property and chattels 
unto the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives, 
against all and every person whatsoever. 

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand, this tenth day 
of October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. 

Louis Clay. 

BONDS. 

A bond is a written admission on the part of the maker in which he 
pledges a certain sum to another, at a certain time. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 177 

COMMON FORM OF BOND. 

Know all Men by this instrument, that I, George Edgerton, of 
Watseka, Iroiiuois County, State of Illinois, am firmly hound unto Peter 
Kirchoff, of the place aforesaid, in the sum of five hundred dollars, to be 
paid to the said Peter Kirchoff, or his legal representatives ; to which 
payment, to be made, I bind myself, or my legal representatives, by this 
instrument. 

Sealed with my seal, and dated this second day of November, one 
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four. 

The condition of this bond is such that if I, George Edgerton, my 
heirs, administrators, or executors, shall promptly pay the sum of two 
hundred and fifty dollars in three equal annual payments from the date 
hereof, with annual interest, then the above obligation to be of no effect ; 
otherwise to be in full force and valid. 
Sealed and delivered in 

presence of George Edgerton. [l.s.] 

William Turner. 

CHATTEL MORTGAGES. 

A chattel mortgage is a mortgage on personal property for payment 
of a certain sum of money, to hold the property against debts of other 
creditors. The mortgage must describe the property, and must be 
acknowledged before a justice of the peace in the township or precinct 
where the mortgagee resides, and entered upon his docket, and must be 
recorded in the recorder's office of the county. 

GENERAL FORM OF CHATTEL MORTGAGE. 

This Indenture, made and entered into this first day of January^ 
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, 
between Theodore Lottinville, of the town of Geneseo in the County 
of Henry, and State of Illinois, party of the first part, and Paul Henshaw, 
of the same town, county, and State, party of the second part. 

Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consider- 
ation of the sum of one thousand dollars, in hand paid, the receipt whereof 
is hereby acknowledged, does hereby grant, sell, convey, and confirm unto 
the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, all and 
singular the following described goods and chattels, to wit : 

Two three-year old roan-colored horses, one Burdett organ, No. 987, 
one Brussels carpet, 15x20 feet in size, one marble-top center table, one 
Home Comfort cooking stove. No. 8, one black walnut bureau with mirror 
attached, one set of parlor chairs (six in number), upholstered in green 
rep, with lounge corresponding with same in style and color of upholstery, 
now in possession of said Lottinville, at No. 4 Prairie Ave., Geneseo, 111.; 



178 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

Too"ether with all and singular, the appurtenances thereunto \)elong- 
ing, or in any wise appertaining ; to have and to hold the above described 
goods and chattels, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and 
assigns, forever. 

Provided, always, and these presents are upon this express condition, 
that if the said Theodore Lottinville, his heirs, executors, administrators, 
or assigns, shall, on or before the first day of January, A.D., one thousand 
eight hundred and seventy-six, pay, or cause to be paid, to the said Paul 
Ranslow, or his lawful attorney or attorneys, heirs, executors, adminis- 
trators, or assigns, the sum of One Thousand dollars, together with the 
interest that may accrue thereon, at the rate of ten per cent, per annum, 
from the first day of January, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and 
seventy-five, until paid, according to the tenor of one promissory note 
bearing even date herewith for the payment of said sum of money, that 
then and from thenceforth, these presents, and everything herein con- 
tained, shall cease, and be null and void, anything herein contained to the 
contrary notwithstanding. 

Provided, also, that the said Theodore Lottinville may retain the 
possession of and have the use of said goods and chattels until the day 
of payment aforesaid ; and also, at his own expense, shall keep said goods 
and chattels; and also at the expiration of said time of payment, if said 
sum of money, together with the interest as aforesaid, shall not be paid, 
shall deliver up said goods and chattels, in good condition, to said Paul 
Ranslow, or his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns. 

And provided, also, that if default in payment as aforesaid, by said 
party of the first part, shall be made, or if said party of the second part 
shall at any time before said promissory note becomes due, feel himself 
unsafe or insecure, that then the said party of the second part, or his 
attorney, agent, assigns, or heirs, executors, or administrators, shall have 
the right to take possession of said goods and chattels, wherever they 
may or can be found, and sell the same at public or private sale, to the 
highest bidder for cash in hand, after giving ten days' notice of the time 
and place of said sale, together with a description of the goods and chat- 
tels to be sold, by at least four advertisements, posted up in public places 
in the vicinity where said sale is to take place, and proceed to make the 
sum of money and interest promised as aforesaid, together with all reason- 
able costs, charges, and expenses in so doing ; and if there shall be any 
overplus, shall pay the same without delay to the said party of the first 
part, or his legal representatives. 

In testimony whereof, the said party of the first part has hereunto 
set his hand and affixed his seal, the day and year first above written. 
Signed, sealed and delivered in 

presence of Theodore Lottinville. [l.s.] 

Samuel J. Tilden. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 179 



LEASE OF FARM AND BUILDINGS THEREON. 

This Indenture, made this second day of June, 1875, between David 
Patton of the Town of Bisbee, State of Illinois, of the first part, and John 
Doyle of the same place, of the second part, 

Witnesseth, that the said David Patton, for and in consideration of 
the covenants hereinafter mentioned and reserved, on the part of the said 
John Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, to be paid, kept, 
and performed, hath let, and by these presents doth grant, demise, and 
let. uuto the said John Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, 
all rliat parcel of land situate in Bisbee aforesaid, bounded and described 
as follows, to wit : 

l^Here describe the land.^ 

Together witli all the appurtenances appertaining thereto. To have 
and to liold the said premises, with appurtenances thereto belonging, unto 
the said Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, for the term of 
five years, from the first day of October next following, at a yearly rent 
of Six Hundred dollars, to be paid in equal payments, semi-annually, as 
long as said buildings are in good tenantable condition. 

And the said Do3'le, by these presents, covenants and agrees to pay 
all taxes and assessments, and keep in repair all hedges, ditches, rail, and 
other fences ; (the said David Patton, his heirs, assigns and administra- 
tors, to furnish all timber, brick, tile, and other materials necessary for 
such repairs.) 

Said Doyle further covenants and agrees to apply to said land, in a 
farmer-like manner, all manure and compost accumulating upon said 
farm, and cultivate all the arable land in a husbandlike manner, accord- 
ing to the usual custom among farmers in the neighborhood ; he also 
agrees to trim the hedges at a seasonable time, preventing injury from 
cattle to such hedges, and to all fruit and other trees on the said premises. 
That he will seed down with clover and timothy seed twentj' acres yearly 
of arable land, ploughing the same number of acres each Spring of land 
now in grass, and hitherto unbroken. 

It is further agreed, that if the said Doyle shall fail to perform the 
whole or any one of the above mentioned covenants, then and in that 
case the said David Patton may declare this lease terminated, by giving 
three months' notice of the same, prior to the first of October of any 
year, and may distrain any part of the stock, goods, or chattels, or other 
property in possession of said Doyle, for sufficient to compensate for the 
non-performance of the above written covenants, the same to be deter- 
mined, and amounts so to be paid to be determined, by three arbitrators, 
chosen as follows : Each of the parties to this instrument to choose one, 



180 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

and the two so chosen to select a third ; the decision of said arbitrators 
to be final. 

In witness whereof, we have hereto set our hands and seals. 
Signed, sealed, and delivered 

in presence of David Patton. [l.s.] 

James Waldron. John Doyle. [l.s.] 

FORM OF LEASE OF A HOUSE. 

This Instrument, made the first day of October, 1875, witnesseth 
that Amos Griest of Yorkville, County of Kendall, State of Illinois, hath 
rented from Aaron Young of Logansport aforesaid, the dwelling and lot 
No. 13 Ohio Street, situated in said City of Yorkville, for five years 
from the above date, at the yearly rental of Three Hundred dollars, pay- 
able monthly, on the first day of each month, in advance, at the residence 
of said Aaron Young. 

At the expiration of said above mentioned term, the said Griest 
agrees to give tlie said Young peaceable possession of the said dwelling, 
in as good condition as when taken, ordinary wear and casualties excepted. 

In witness whereof, we place our hands and seals the day and year 
aforesaid. 

Signed, sealed and delivered Amos Griest. [l.s.] 

in presence of 

NiCKOLAS SCHUTZ, AARON YoUNG. [L.S.] 

Notary Public. 

LANDLORD'S AGREEMENT. 

This certifies that I have let and rented, this first day of January, 
1876, unto Jacob Schmidt, my house and lot, No. 15 Erie Street, in the 
City of Chicago, State of Illinois, and its appurtenances ; he to have the 
free and uninterrupted occupation thereof for one year from this date, at 
the yearly rental of Two Hundred dollars, to be paid monthly in advance ; 
rent to cease if destroyed by fire, or otherwise made untenantable. 

Peter Funk, 
TENANT'S AGREEMENT. 

This certifies that I have hired and taken from Peter Funk, his 
house and lot. No. 15 Erie Street, in the City of Chicago, State of Illi- 
nois, with appurtenances thereto belonging, for one year, to commence 
this day, at a yearly rental of Two Hundred dollars, to be 23aid monthly 
in advance ; unless said house becomes untenantable from fire or other 
causes, in which case rent ceases ; and I further agree to give and yield 
said premises one year from this first day of January 1876, in as good 
condition as now, ordinary wear and damage by the elements excepted. 

Given under my hand this day. Jacob Schmidt. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 181 

NOTICE TO QUIT. 

To F. W. Arlen, 

Sir : Please observe that the terra of one year, for which the house 

and hind, situated at No. 6 Indiana Street, and now occupied by you, 

were rented to you, expired on the first day of October, 1875, and as I 

desire to repossess said premises, you are hereby requested and required 

to vacate the same. Respectfully Yours, 

P. T. Barnum. 
Lincoln, Neb., October 4, 1875. 

TENANT'S NOTICE OF LEAVING. 

Dear Sir : 

The premises I now occupy as your tenartt, at No. 6 Indiana Street, 
I shall vacate on the first day of November, 1875. You will please take 
notice accordingly. 

Dated this tenth day of October, 1875. F. W. Arlen. 

To P. T. Barnum, Esq. 

REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE TO SECURE PAYMENT OF MONEY. 

This Indenture, made this sixteenth day of May., in the year of 
our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, between William 
Stocker, of Peoria, County of Peoria, and State of Illinois, and OUa, his 
wife, party of the first part, and Edward Singer, party of the second part. 

Whereas, the said party of the first part is justly indebted to the said 
party of the second part, in the sum of Two Thousand dollars, secured 
to be paid by two certain promissory notes (bearing even date herewith) 
the one due and payable at the Second National Bank in Peoria, Illinois, 
with interest, on the sixteenth day of May, in the year one thousand eight 
hundred and seventy-three ; the other due and payable at the Second 
National Bank at Peoria, 111., with interest, on the sixteenth day of Ma}', 
in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventj'^-four. 

Now, therefore, this indenture witnesseth, that the said party of the 
first part, for the better securing the payment of the money aforesaid, 
with interest thereon, according to the tenor and eifect of the said two 
promissory notes above mentioned ; and, also in consideration of the fur- 
ther sum of one dollar to them in hand paid by the said party of the sec- 
ond part, at the delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby 
acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, and conveyed, and by these 
presents do grant, bargain, sell, and convey, unto the said party of the 
second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, all that certain parcel of land, 

situate, etc. 

[^Describing the premises.^ 

To have and to hold the same, together with all and singular the 

Tenements, Hereditaments, Privileges and Appurtenances thereunto 



182 ABSTRACT OP ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

belonging or in any wise appertaining. And also, all the estate, interest, 
and claim whatsoever, in law as well as in equity which the party of 
the first part have in and to the premises hereby conveyed unto the said 
party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, and to their only proper 
use, benefit and behoof. And the said William Stocker, and 011a, his 
wife, party of the first part, hereby expressly waive, relinquish, release, 
and convey unto the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, 
administrators, and assigns, all right, title, claim, interest, and benefit 
whatever, in and to the above described premises, and each and every 
part thereof, which is given b}" or results from all laws of this state per- 
taining to the exemption of homesteads. 

Provided always, and these presents are upon this express condition, 
that if the said party of the first part, their heirs, executors, or adminis- 
trators, shall well and truly pay, or cause to be paid, to the said party of 
the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, the afore- 
said sums of money, with such interest thereon, at the time and in the 
manner specified in the above mentioned promissor}- notes, according to 
the true intent and meaning thereof, then in that case, these presents and 
every thing herein expressed, shall be absolutely null and void. 

In witness whereof, the said party of the first part hereunto set their 
hands and seals the day and year first above written. 
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of 

James Whitehead, William Stocker. [l.s.] 

Fred. Samuels. Olla Stocker. [l.s.] 

WARRANTY DEED WITH COVENANTS. 

This Indenture, made this sixth day of April, in the year of oui 
Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, between Henry Best 
of Lawrence, County of Lawrence, State of Illinois, and Belle, his wife, 
of the first part, and Charles Pearson of the same place, of the second part, 

Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration 
of the sura of Six Thousand dollars in hand paid by the said party of the 
second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, 
bargained, and sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain, and sell, 
unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, all the fol- 
lowing described lor, piece, or parcel of land, situated in the City of Law- 
rence, in the County of Lawrence, and State of Illinois, to wit : 

\_Here describe the property.'] 

Together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances 
thereunto Ijelonging or in any wise appertaining, and the reversion and 
reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof; 
and all the estate, rignt, title, interest, claim, and demand whatsoever, of 
the said party of the nrst pan, either in law or equity, of, in, and to tht 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 185 

above bargained premises, with the hereditaments and appurtenances. 
To have and to hokl the said premises above bargained and described^ 
with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs 
and assigns, forever. And the said Henry Best, and Belle, his wife, par- 
ties of the first part, hereby expressly waive, release, and relinquish unta 
the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, and 
assigns, all right, title, claim, interest, and benefit whatever, in and to the 
above described premises, and each and every part thereof, which is given 
by or results from all laws of this state pertaining to the exemption of 
homesteads. 

And the said Henry Best, and Belle, his wife, party of the first 
part, for themselves and their heirs, executors, and administrators, do 
covenant, grant, bargain, and agree, to and with the said party of the 
second part, his heirs and assigns, that at the time of the ensealing and 
delivery of these presents they were well seized of the premises above 
conveyed, as of a good, sure, perfect, absolute, and indefeasible estate of 
inheritance in law, and in fee simple, and have good right, full power, 
and lawful authority to grant, bargain, sell, and convey the same, in 
manner and form aforesaid, and that the same are free and clear from all 
former and other grants, bargains, sales, liens, taxes, assessments, and 
encumbrances of what kind or nature soever ; and the above bargained 
premises in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the 
second part, his heirs and assigns, against all and every person or persons, 
lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part thereof, the said party 
of the first part shall and will warrant and forever defend. 

In testimony whereof, the said parties of the first part have hereunto 
set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. 
Signed, sealed and delivered 

in presence of Henry Best, [l.s.] 

Jerry Linklater. Belle Best. [l.s.] 

QUIT-CLAIM DEED. 

This Indenture, made the eighth day of June, in the year of our 
Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, between David Tour, 
of Piano, County of Kendall, State of Illinois, party of the first part, 
and Larry O'Brien, of the same place, party of the second part, 

Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in considera- 
tion of Nine Hundred dollars in hand paid by the said party of the sec- 
ond part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and the said party 
of the second part forever released and discharged therefrom, has remised, 
released, sold, conveyed, and quit-claimed, and by these presents does 
remise, release, sell, convey, and quit- claim, unto the said party of the 
second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, all the right, title, interest, 



186 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

claim, and demand, which the said party of the first part has in and to 
the following described lot, piece, or parcel of land, to wit : 

[^Here describe the land.^ 
To have and to hold the same, together with all and singular the 
appurtenances and privileges thereunto belonging, or in any wise there- 
unto appertaining, and all the estate, right, title, interest, and claim 
whatever, of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity, to 
the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of the said party of the second 
part, his heirs and assigns forever. 

In witness whereof the said party of the first part hereunto set his 
hand and seal the day and year above written. 

Signed, sealed and delivered David Tour, [l.s.] 

in presence of 
Thomas Ashley. 

The above forms of Deeds and Mortgage are such as have heretofore 
been generally used, but the following are much shorter, and are made 
equally valid by the laws of this state. 

WARRANTY DEED. 

The grantor (here insert name or names and place of residence), for 
and in consideration of (here insert consideration) in hand paid, conveyvS 
and warrants to (here insert the grantee's name or names) the following 
described real estate (here insert description), situated in the County of 
in the State of Illinois. 

Dated this day of A. D. 18 . 

QUIT CLAIM DEED. 

The grantor (here insert grantor's name or names and place of resi- 
dence), for the consideration of (here insert consideration) convey and 
quit-claim to (here insert grantee's name or names) all interest in the 
following described real estate (here insert description), situated in the 
County of in the State of Illinois. 

Dated this day of A. D. 18 . 

MORTGAGE. 

The mortgagor (here insert name or names) mortgages and warrants 
to (here insert name or names of mortgagee or mortgagees), to secure the 
payment of (here recite the nature and amount of indebtedness, showing 
when due and the rate of interest, and whether secured by note or other- 
wise), the following described real estate (here insert description thereof), 
situated in the County of in the State of Illinois. 

Dated this day of A. D. 18 . 

RELEASE. 

Know all Men by these presents, tliat I, Peter Ahlund, of Chicago, 
of the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, for and in consideration of 
One dollar, to me in hand paid, and for other good and valuable considera- 





JOLIET. 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 187 

tions, the receipt whereof is hereby confessed, do hereby grant, bargain, 
remise, convey, release, and quit-claim unto Joseph Carlin of Chicago, 
of the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, all the right, title, interest, 
claim, or demand whatsoever, I may have acquired in, through, or by a 
certain Indenture or Mortgage Deed, bearing date the second day of Jan- 
uary, A. D. 1871, and recorded in the Recorder's office of said county, 
in book A of Deeds, page 46, to the premises therein described, and which 
said Deed was made to secure one certain promissory note, bearing even 
date with said deed, for the sum of Three Hundred dollars. 

Witness my hand and seal, this second day of November, A. D. 1874. 

Peter Ahlund. [l.s.] 
State of Illinois, ) 
Cook County. ] ' I, George Saxton, a Notary Public in 

and for said county, in the state aforesaid, do hereby 

certify that Peter Ahlund, personally known to nif 

as the same person whose name is subscribed to the 

foregoing Release, appeared before me this day in 

[ ^s^.yl^^ ] person, and acknowledged that he signed, sealed, and 

delivered the said instrument of writing as his free 

a.id voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein 

set forth. 

Giv^n under my hand and seal, this second day of 

November, A. D. 1874. 

George Saxton, N. P. 

GENERAL FO^riVI OF WILL FOR REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. 

I, Charles Mansfield, of the Town of Salem, County of Jackson, 
Srate of Illinois, being aware of the uncertainty of life, and in failing 
health, but of sound mind and memory, do make and declare this to be 
my last will and testament, in manner folio tving, to wit: 

First. I give, devise and bequeath unto my oldest son, Sidney H. 
Mansfield, the sum of Two Thousand Dollars, of bank stock, now in the 
Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the farm owned by myself 
in the Town of Buskirk, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, with 
all the houses, tenements, and improvements thereunto belonging ; to 
have and to hold unto my said son, his heirs and assigniv, forever. 

Second. I give, devise and bequeath to each of my daughters, Anna 
Louise Mansfield and Ida Clara Mansfield, each Two Thousand dollars in 
bank stock, in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, and also each 
one quarter section of land, owned by myself, situated in the Town of 
Lake, Illinois, and recorded in my name in the Recorder's office in the 
county where such land is located. The north one hundred and sixty 
acres of said half section is devised to my eldest daughter, Anna Louise. 
6 



188 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

Third. I give, devise and bequeath to my son, Franlc Alfred Mans- 
field, Five shares of Railroad stock in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 
and my one hundred and sixty acres of land and saw mill thereon, situ- 
ated in Manistee, Michigan, with all the improvements and appurtenances 
thereunto belonging, which said real estate is recorded in my name in the 
county Avhere situated. 

Fourth. I give to my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, all my 
household furniture, goods, chattels, and personal property, about my 
home, not hitherto disposed of, including Eight Thousand dollars of bank 
stock in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, Fifteen shares in 
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the free and unrestricted use, pos- 
session, and benefit of the home farm, so long as she may live, in lieu of 
dower, to which she is entitled by law ; said farm being my present place 
of residence. 

Fifth. I bequeath to my invalid father, Elijah H. Mansfield, the 
income from rents of my store building at 145 Jackson Street, Chicago, 
Illinois, during the term of his natural life. Said building and land there- 
with to revert to my said sons and daughters in equal proportion, upon 
the demise of my said father. 

Sixth. It is also my will and desire that, at the death of my wife, 
Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, or at any time when she may arrange to 
relinquish her life interest in the above mentioned homestead, the same 
may revert to my above named children, or to the lawful heirs of each. 

And lastly. I nominate and appoint as executors of this my last will 
and testament, my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, and my eldest son, 
Sidney H. Mansfield. 

I further direct that my debts and necessary funeral expenses shail 
be paid from moneys now on deposit in the Savings Bank of Salem, the 
residue of such moneys to revert to my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, 
for her use forever. 

In witness whereof, I, Charles Mansfield, to this my last will and 
testament, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fourth day of April, 
eighteen hundred and seventy-two. 



Signed, sealed, and declared by Charles 
Mansfield, as and for his last will and 
testament, in the presence of us, who, 
at his request, and in his presence, and 
in the presence of each other, have sub- 
scribed our names hereunto as witnesses 
thereof. 

Peter A. Schenck, Sycamore, Ills. 

Frank E. Dent, Salem, Ills. 



Charles Mansfield, [l.s.] 



Charles Mansfield, [l.s.] 



ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 189 

CODICIL 

Whereas I, Charles Mansfield, did, on the fourth day of April, one 
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, make my last will and testa- 
ment, I do now, by this writing, add this codicil to my said will, to be 
taken as a part thereof. 

Whereas, by the dispensation of Providence, my daughter, Anna 
Louise, has deceased November fifth, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, 
and whereas, a son has been born to me, which son is now christened 
Richard Albert Mansfield, I give and bequeath unto him my gold watch, 
and all right, interest, and title in lands and bank stock and chattels 
bequeathed to ni}'^ deceased daughter, Anna Louise, in the body of this will. 

In witness whereof, I hereunto place my hand and seal, this tenth 
day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-five. 

Signed, sealed, published, and declared to^ 

us by the testator, Charles Mansfield, as 

and for a codicil to be annexed to his 

last will and testament. And we, at 

his request, and in his presence, and in 

the presence of each other, have sub- 
scribed our names as witnesses thereto, 

at the date hereof. 
Frank E. Dent, Salem, Ills. 
John C. Shay, Salem, Ills. 

CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS 

May be legally made by electing or appointing, according to the usages 
or customs of the body of which it is a part, at any meeting held for that 
purpose, two or more of its members as trustees, wardens or vestrymen, and 
may adopt a corporate name. The chairman or secretary of such meeting 
shall, as soon as possible, make and file in the office of the recorder of 
deeds of the county, an affidavit substantially in the following form : 

State of Illinois, ) 



> 



County ' ^^' 



I, — , do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), 

that at a meeting of the members of the (here insert the name of the 
church, society or congregation as known before organization), held at 

(here insert place of meeting), in the County of , and State of 

Illinois, on the day of , A.D. 18 — , for that purpose, the fol- 
lowing persons were elected (or appointed) [here insert their names^ 
trustees, wardens, vestrymen, (or officers by whatever name they may 
choose to adopt, with powers similar to trustees) according to the rules 
and usages of such (church, society or congregation), and said 



190 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 

adopted as its corporate name (here insert name), and at said meeting 
this afifiant acted as (chairman or secretary, as the case may be). 

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this day of , A.D. 

18—. Name of Affiant 

which affidavit must be recorded by the recorder, and shall be, or a certi- 
fied copy made by the recorder, received as evidence of such an incorpo- 
ration. 

No certificate of election after the first need be filed for record. 

The term of office of the trustees and the general government of the 
society can be determined by the rules or by-laws adopted. Failure to 
elect trustees at the time provided does not work a dissolution, but the 
old trustees hold over. A trustee or trustees may be removed, in the 
same manner by the society as elections are held by a meeting called for 
that purpose. The property of the society vests in the corporation. The 
corporation may hold, or acquire b}" purchase or otherwise, land not 
exceeding ten acres, for the purpose of the society. The trustees have 
the care, custody and control of the property of the corporation, and can, 
u'hen directed by the society, erect houses or improvements, and repair 
and alter the same, and may also when so directed by the society, 
mortgage, encumber, sell and convey any real or personal estate belonging 
to the corporation, and make all proper contracts in the name of such 
corporation. But thej' are prohibited by law from encumbering or inter- 
fering with any property so as to destroy the effect of any gift, grant, 
devise or bequest to the corporation ; but such gifts, grants, devises oi 
bequests, must in all cases be used so as to carry out the object intended 
by the persons making the same. Existing societies may organize in the 
manner herein set forth, and have all the advantages thereof. 

SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUBSCRIPTION. 

The business of publishing books by subscription having so often been 
brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations 
not authorized by the publisher ; in order to prevent that as much as possi- 
ble, and that there may be more general knowledge of the relation such 
agents bear to their principal, and the law governing such cases, the fol- 
lowing statement is made : 

A subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by 
which the subscriber agrees to pay a certain sum for the work described ; 
the consideration is concurrent that the publisher shall publish the booh 
named, and deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price 
named. The nature and character of the work is described in the prospectus 
and by the sample shown. These should be carefully examined before sub- 
scribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to pay. 



ABSTRACT OF 1L,LIN0IS STATE LAWS. 191 

and not the too often exaggerated statements of the agent^ who is.mereli/ 
employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he is usually paid a commission 
for each subscriber, and has no authority to change or alter the conditions 
upon which the subscriptions are authorized to be made by the publisher. 
Should the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional or 
modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by prospectus 
and sample, in order to bind the principal, the subscriber should see that 
such conditions or changes are stated over or in connection with his signa- 
ture, so that the publisher may have notice of the same. 

All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or 
any other business, should remember that the law as to written contracts is, 
that they can not be varied, altered or rescinded verbally, but if done at all, 
must be done in ivriting. It is therefore important that all persons contem- 
plating subscribing should distinctly understand that all talk before or after 
the subscription is made, is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of the 
contract. 

Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as 
canvassers. They are agents appointed to do a particular business in a 
prescribed mode, and have no authority to do it in any other way to the 
prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal in any other 
matter. They cannot collect money, or agree that payment may be made 
in anything else but money. They can not extend the time of payment 
beyond the time of delivery, nor bind their principal for the payment of 
expenses incurred in their buisness. 

It would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons, 
before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instru- 
ment, would examine carefully ivhatitis ; if they can not read themselves, 
should call on some one disinterested who can. 



192 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 

We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, 
establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common 
defense, promote the general loelfare, and secure the blessings of liberty 
to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution 
for the United States of America. 

Article I. 

Section 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in 
a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and 
House of Representatives. 

Sec. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of mem- 
bers chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the 
electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of 
the most numerous branch of the State Legislature. 

No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the 
age of twenty-live years, and been seven years a citizen of the United 
States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in 
which he shall be chosen. 

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the sev- 
eral states which may be included within this Union, according to their 
respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole 
number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of 
years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. 
The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first 
meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subse- 
quent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The 
number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, 
but each state shall have at least one Representative ; and until such 
enumeration shall be made the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled 
to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plan- 
tations one, Connecticut five, New York six. New Jersey four, Pennsylva- 
nia eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten. North Carolina five, 
and Georgia three. 

When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the 
Executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such 
vacancies. 

The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other 
ofificers, and shall have the sole jiower of impeachment. 

Sec. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two 
Senators from each state, chosen by the Legislature thereof for six years ; 
and each Senator shall have one vote. 

Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first 
election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. 
The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expira- 



AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 19d 

tion of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth 
year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that 
one-third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by 
resignation or otherwise, during the recess of the Legislature of any state, 
the Executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next 
meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies. 

No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age 
of thirty years and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and 
who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he 
shall be chosen. 

The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the 
Senate, but shall liave no vote unless they be equally divided. 

The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President fro 
tempore, in the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise 
the office of President of the United States. 

The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When 
sitting for that purpose they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the 
President of the United States is tried the Chief Justice shall preside. 
And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds 
of the members present. 

Judgment, in cases of impeachment, shall not extend further than to 
removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of 
honor, trust, or profit under the United States; but the party convicted 
shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, 
and punishment according to law. 

Sec. 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections for Sen- 
ators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each state by the Legis- 
lature thereof; but the Congress ma}' at any time by law make or alter 
such regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators. 

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such 
meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by 
law appoint a different day. 

Sec. 5. Each house shall be the judge of the election, returns, and 
qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute 
a quorum to do business ; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to 
day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members 
in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide. 

Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its 
members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, 
expel a member. 

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to 
time publish the same, excepting such parts as may, in their judgment, 
require secrecy ; and the yeas and nays of the members of either house 
on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered 
on the journal. 

Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without the 
consent of the other, adjourn for more than three daj's, nor to any other 
place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. 

Sec. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compen- 
sation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the 
treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, 



194 coNSTirmox of the its'ited states 

felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their 
attendance at the session of their respective houses, and in going to and 
returning from the same ; and for any speech or debate in either house 
they shall not be questioned in any other place. 

Xo Senator or Representative shall, duiing the time for which he was 
elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United 
States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall 
have been increased during such time ; and no person holding any office 
under the United States, shall be a member of either house during his 
continuance in office. 

Sec. 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of 
Representatives ; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments 
as on . ther bUls. 

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and 
the Senate, shall, before it becomes a law. be presented to the President 
the United States ; if he approve he shall sign it ; but if not he shall 
return it. with his objections, to that house in which it shall have origi- 
nated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and 
proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration two-thirds of that 
house shall agree to pass the bdl. it shall be sent, together with the objec- 
tions, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if 
approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law. But in all 
such cases the votes of both hoiLses shall be determined by yeas and nays, 
and the names of the persons voting for and against the biU shall be entered 
on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned 
by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted), after it shaU have 
been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he 
had signed it, unless the Congress, by their adjournment, prevent its 
return, in which case it shall not be a law. 

Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the 
Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a 
question of adjournment), shall be presented to the President of the 
United States, and before the same shall take effect shall be approved by 
him, or, being disapproved by him, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of 
the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and lim- 
itations prescribed in the case of a bill. 

Sec. 8, The Congress shall have power — 

To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts, 
and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United 
Gtates ; but all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughout 
the United States ; 

To borrow money on the credit of the United States ; 

To resrulate commerce with foreisrn nations, and among the several 
Str.tes, and with the Indian tribes : 

To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on 
the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States : 

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and 
fix the standard of weights and measures : 

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the sectirities and 
current coin of the United States ; 

To establish post offices and post roads ; 



AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 195 

To promote the progress of sciences and useful arts, by securing, 
for ]'miied times, to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their 
respective writings and discoveries ; 

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court ; 

To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high 
seas, and oiTenses against the law of nations ; 

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules 
concerning captures on land and water ; 

To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that 
use shall be for a longer term than two years; 

To provide and maintain a navy ; 

To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and 
naval forces ; 

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the 
Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions ; 

To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and 
for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the 
United States, reserving to the states respectively the appointment of the 
officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the disci- 
pline prescribed by Congress ; 

To exercise legislation in all cases whatsoever over such district (not 
exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the 
acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United 
States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by ihe 
consent of the Legislature of the state in which the same shall be. for 
the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards, and other needful 
buildings ; and 

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying 
into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this 
Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any depart- 
ment or officer thereof. 

Sec. 9. The migration or importation of such persons as any of the 
states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited 
by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, 
but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten 
dollars for each person. 

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, 
unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may 
require it. 

No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. 

No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion 
to the census or enumeration hereinbefore directed to be taken. 

No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any state. 

No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or rev- 
enue to the ports of one state over those of another; nor shall vessels 
bound to or from one state be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in 
another. 

No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of 
appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of 
the receipts and expeditures of all public money shall be published from 
time to time. 



196 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States : and no 
person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the 
consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title 
of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state. 

Sec. 10. No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confeder- 
ation ; grant letters of marque and reprisal ; coin money ; emit bills of 
credit ; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of 
debts ; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the 
obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. 

No state shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts 
or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary 
for executing its inspection laws, and the net produce of all duties and 
imposts laid by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the 
Treasury of the United States •, and all such laws shall be subject to the 
revision and control of the Congress. 

No state shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty on 
tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any 
agreement or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or 
engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will 
not admit of delay. 

Article II. 

Section 1. The Executive power shall be vested in a President of 
the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term 
of four years, and, together with the Vice-President chosen for the same 
term, be elected as follows : 

Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof 
may direct, a number of Electors, equal to the whole number of Senators 
and Representatives to which the state may be entitled in the Congress; 
but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or 
profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector. 

[ * The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by 
ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of 
the same state with themselves. And they shall make a list of all the 
persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each ; which list they 
shall sign and certify, and transmit, sealed, to the seat of the government 
of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The Pres- 
ident of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Rep- 
resentatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. 
The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President, 
if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed ; 
and if there be more than one who have such majority, and have an equal 
number of votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately 
choose by ballot one of them for President ; and if no person have a ma- 
jority, then from the five highest on the list the said House shall in like 
manner choose the President. But in choosing the President, the vote 
shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one 
vote ; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members 
from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be 
necessary to a choice. In every case, after the choice of the President, 

• This clause between.brackets has been superseded and annulled by the Twelfth.amendment. 



AND ITS AMENDMENTS. IQf 

the person having the greatest number of votes of the Electors shall be 
the Vice-President. But if there should remain two or more who have 
equal votes, the Senate shall choose i'rom then) by ballot the Vice-Presi- 
dent.] 

The Congress may determine the time of choosing the Electors, and 
the ddj'' on which the}' shall give their votes ; which day shall be the same 
throughout the United States. 

No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United 
States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible 
to the office of President ; neither shall any person be eligible to that 
office who shall not have attained the age of thirty-five years, and been 
fourteen years a resident within the United States. 

In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, 
resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said 
office, the same ajiall devolve on the Vice-Puesident, and the Congress 
may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inabil- 
ity, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall 
then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the dis- 
ability be removed, or a President shall be elected. 

The' President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a com- 
pensation which shall neither be increased nor diminished during tlie 
period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive 
within that period any other emolument from the United States or any of 
them. 

Before he enters on the execution of his office, he shall take the fol- 
lowing oath or affirmation : 

" I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the 
office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, 
preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." 

Sec. 2. The President shall be commander in chief of the army and 
navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when 
called into the actual service of the United States ; he may require the 
opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive 
departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective 
offices, and he shall have powei' to grant reprieves and pardon for offenses 
against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. 

He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present con- 
cur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice of the Senate, 
shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of 
the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States whose 
appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be 
estal)lished by law ; but the Congress may by law vest the appointment 
of such inferior officers as they think proper in the President alone, in 
the courts of law, or in the heads of departments. 

The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may 
happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which 
shall expire at the end of their next session. 

Sec. 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress information 
of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such mea- 
sures as he shall judge necessary and expedient ; he may on extraordinary 



198 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

occasions convene both houses, or either of them, and in case of disagree- 
ment between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may 
adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper ; he shall receive 
ambassadors and other public ministers ; he shall take care that the laws be 
faithfidly executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United 
States. 

Sec. 4. The President, Vice-President, and all civil officers of the 
United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and con- 
viction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. 

Article III. 

Section I. The judicial power of the United States shall be vested 
in one Supreme Court, and such inferior courts as the Congress may from 
time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the Supreme and 
inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at 
stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be 
diminished during their continuance in office. 

Sec. 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and 
equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and 
treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority ; to all cases 
affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls ; to all cases of 
admiralty and maritime jurisdiction ; to controversies to which the United 
States shall be a party ; to controversies between two or more states ; 
between a state and citizens of another state ; between citizens of differ- 
ent states ; between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants 
of different states, and between a state or the citizens thereof, and foreign 
states, citizens, or subjects. 

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, 
and those in which a state shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall have' 
original jurisdiction. 

In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall 
have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions 
and under such regulations as the Congress shall make. 

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by 
jury ; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall 
have been committed ; but when not committed within anj^ state, the 
trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have 
directed. 

Sec. 3. Treason against the United States shall consist only in levy- 
ing war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid 
and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the tes- 
timony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open 
court. 

The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, 
but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, 
except during the life of the person attainted. 

Article IV. 

Section 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the 
public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And 



AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 199 

tlie Congress may, by general laws, prescribe the manner in which such 
acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof. 

Sec. 2. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges 
and immunities of citizens in the several states. 

A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, 
who shall flee from justice and be found in another state, shall, on demand 
of the executive authority of the state from which he fled, be delivered 
up, to be removed to the state having jurisdicl.on of the crime. 

No person held to service or labor in one state, under the laws thereof 
escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation 
therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered 
up on the claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due. 

Sec. 3. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union ; 
but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any 
other state ; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, 
or parts of states, without the consent of the Legislatures of the states 
concerned, as well as of the Congress. 

The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful 
rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging 
to the United States ; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed 
as to prejudice any claims of the United States or of any particular state. 

Sec. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every state in this 
Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them 
against invasion, and on application of the Legislature, or of the Execu- 
tive (when the Legislature can not be convened), against domestic vio- 
lence. 

Article V. 

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it 
necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the ap- 
plication of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call 
a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be 
valid to all intents and purposes as part of this Constitution, when rati- 
fied by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by con- 
ventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other, mode of ratifi- 
cation may be proposed by the Congress. Provided that no amendment 
which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and 
eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth 
section of the first article ; and that no state, without its consent, shall 
be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. 

Aeticle VI. 

All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adop- 
tion of this Constitution shall be as valid against the United States under 
this Constitution as under the Confederation. 

This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be 
made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, 
under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the 
land ; and the Judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in 
the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding. 

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the mem- 



200 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 



bers of the several state Legislatures, and all executive and judicial offi- 
cers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound 
by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution ; but no religious test 
shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under 
the United States. 

^ , ■ Article VII. 

The ratification of the Conventions of nine states shall be sufficient 
for the establishment of this Constitution between the states so ratifying 
the same. 

Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present, the 
seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand 
seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of the independence of the 
United States of America the twelfth. In witness whereof we have 
hereunto subscribed our names. 

GEO. WASHINGTON, 

President and Deputy from Virgmia. 



Neiv Hampshire. 
John Langdon, 
Nicholas Gilman. 

Massachusetts. 
Nathaniel Gorham, 
RuFUS King. 

Connecticut. 
Wm. Sam'l Johnson, 
Roger Sherman. 



Delaware. 
Geo. Read, 
John Dickinson, 
Jaco. Broom, 
Gunning Bedford, Jr., 
Richard Bassett. 

Maryland. 
James M' Henry, 
Danl. Carroll, 
Dan. of St. Thos. Jenifer. 



Neiv York. 
Alexander Hamilton. 

New Jersey. 
WiL. Livingston, 
Wm. Paterson, 
David Brearley, 
JoNA. Dayton. 

Pennsylvania. 
B. Franklin, 
RoBT. Morris, 
Thos. Fitzsimons, 
James Wilson, 
Thos. Mifflin, 
Geo. Clymer, 
Jared Ingersoll, 
Gouv. Morris. 



Virginia. 
John Blair, 
James Madison, Jr. 

North Carolina. 
Wm. Blount, 
Hu. Williamson, 
Rich'd Dobbs Spaight. 

South Carolina. 
j. rutledge, 
Charles Pinckney, 
Chas. Cotesworth Pinckney, 
Pierce Butler. 

Georgia. . 
William Few, 
Abr. Baldwin. 

WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary. 



AIJD ITS AJyiENDMENTS. 203 



Articles in Addition to and Amendatory of the Constitution 
OP the United States of America. 

Proposed hy Congress and ratified by the Legislatures of the several states, 
pursuant to the fifth article of the original Constitution. 

Article I. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment cf religion^ 
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of 
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, 
and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 

Article II. 

A well regulated militia being necessary to the. security of a free 
state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. 

Article III. 

No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without 
the consent of the owner, nor in time of war but in a manner to be pre- 
scribed by law. 

Article IV. 

The right of tlie people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers^ 
and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be vio- 
lated ; and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by 
oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched 
and the persons or things to be seized. 

Article V. 

No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous 
crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in 
cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in actual 
service in time of war or public danger ; nor shall any person be subject 
for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb ; nor shall 
be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be 
deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor 
shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. 

Article VI. 

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a 
speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district 
wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have 
been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and 
cause of the accusation ; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; 
to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor ; and to 
have the assistance of counsel for his defense. 

Article VII. 

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed 
twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact 



204 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 

tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United 
States than according to the rules of the common law. 

Article VIII. 

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, 
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. 

Article IX. 

The enumeration, in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be 
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. 

Article X. 

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, 
nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, 
or to the people. 

Article XI. 

The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to 
extend to any suit in law or equity commenced or prosecuted against one 
of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or sub- 
jects of any foreign state. 

Article XII. 

The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot 
for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an 
inhabitant of the same state with themselves ; they shall name in their 
ballots the person to be voted for as president, and in distinct ballots the 
person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of 
all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice- 
President, and of the number of votes for each, which list they shall sign 
and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United 
States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the 
Senate shall, in presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, 
open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person 
having the greatest number of votes for President shall be the President, 
if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed ; 
and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the 
highest number not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as 
President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by 
ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be 
taken by States, the representation from each state having one vote; a 
quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two- 
thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to 
a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a Presi- 
dent whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the 
fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as 
President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of 
the President. The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice- 
President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be the majority 
of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a major- 




y^^l^c^^. 



MANHATTAN TP. 



O^^^^^y 




AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 205 

ity, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose 
the Vice-President ; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds 
of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the wliole number 
shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible 
to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the 



United States. 



Article XIII. 



Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a 
punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, 
shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their juris- 
diction. 

Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro- 
priate legislation. 

Article XIV. 

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and 
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States, and 
of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law 
which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United 
States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, 
without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction 
the equal protection of the laws. 

Sec. 2. Representatives shall be appointed among the several states 
according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of per- 
sons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed ; but when the right to 
vote at any election for the choice of Electors for President and Vice- 
President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the execu- 
tive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the Legislature 
thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being 
twenty-one years of age and citizens of the United States, or in any way 
abridged except for participation in rebellion or other crimes, the basis of 
representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the num- 
ber of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens 
twenty-one years of age in such state. 

Sec. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, 
or Elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or 
military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previ- 
ously taken an oath as a Member of Congress, or as an officer of the 
United States, or as a member of any state Legislature, or as an execu- 
tive or judicial officer of any state to support the Constitution of the 
United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the 
same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may 
by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability. 

Sec. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States author- 
ized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and boun- 
ties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be ques- 
tioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall pay any debt 
or obligation incurred in the aid of insurrection or rebellion against the 
United States, or any loss or emancipation of any slave, but such debts, 
obligations, and claims shall be held illegal and void. 



206 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Sec. 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate 
legislation, the provisions of this act. 

Article XV. 

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall 
not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any state, on 
account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 

Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro- 
priate legislation. 



ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT. 

November 7, 1876. 



COUNTIES. 



Adams 

Alexander... 

Bond 

Boone 

Brown 

Bureau 

Calhoun 

Carroll 

Cass 

Champaign.. 

Christian 

Clark 

Clay 

Clinton 

Coles 

Cook 

Crawford 

Cumberland. 

DeKalb 

DeWltt 

Douglas 

DuPage 

Edgar 

Edwards 

Effingham... 

Fayrtte 

Foru 

Franklin 

Fulton 

Gallatin 

Greene 

Grundy , 

Hamilton... 
Hancock .. 

Hardin 

Henderson.. 

Henry 

Iroquois 

Jackson 

Jasper 

Jetferson ... 

Jersey 

Jo Daviess.. 
Johnson ... 

Kane 

Kankakee .. 

Kendall 

Knox 

Lake 

La .Salle 

Lawrence... 
Lee 



® J= 3 



S'gg 



•a S * 



C c* 

o — 

OH 
*- u 



" o 



• o 



4953 
1219 
1520 
1965 

944 
3719 

441 
2231 
1209 
4530 
2501 
1814 
1416 
1329 
2957 
36548 
1355 
1145 
3679 
1928 
1631 
2129 
2715 

970 
1145 
1881 
1601 

966 
4187 

703 
1695 
1996 

627 
3496 

330 
1315 
4177 
3768 
2040 



1346 

1345 

2907 

1367 

5398 

262 

1869 

.5235 

2619 

6277 

1198 

3087 



6308 
1280 
1142 
363 
1495 
2218 
900 
918 
1618 
3103 
3287 
2197 
1541 
1989 
2822 
39240 
1643 
1407 
1413 
1174 
1357 
1276 
2883 
466 
2265 
2421 
742 
1302 
4669 
1140 
3160 
1142 
1433 
4207 
611 
1015 
1928 
2578 
2071 



41 17.... 



17 

43 

183 

145 



111 

74 

604 

207 

236 

112 

132 

102 

277 

38 

129 

65 

746 

94 

25 

161 

61 

43 

57 

204 

391 

89 

282 

1 

108 

770 



10 



1667 
2166 
2276 

893 
2850 
1363 

524 
2632 
1647 
6001 
1329 
2080 



134 
1 

340 
249 
106 



647 

'iw 

61 
172 

26 
309 
141 

55 
514 

27 
100 



11 



COUNTIES. 



es and 

heeler, 

ubllcan. 


^^'^ 


®-M 


d 


^ S 2 


.^2 


o 


2^- 


-3 0.^ 


- O 


X « 


-su 


a.-:. 





Jl. o 

•was 

a 

< 



Livingston... 

Logan 

Macon 

Macoupin 

Madison 

Marlon 

Marshall . 

Mason 

Massac 

McDonough. 

McHenry 

McLean 

Menard 

Mercer 

Monroe 

Montgomery 

Morgan 

Moultrie 

Ogle 

Peona 

Pope 

Perry 

Piatt 

Pike 

Pulaski 

Putnam 

Randolph 

Richland 

Rock Island., 

Saline 

Sangamon ... 

Schuyler 

Scott 

Shelby 

Stark 

St. Clair 

Stephenson., 

Tazewell 

Union 

Vermilion... 

Wabash 

Warren 

Washington . 

Wavne 

White 

Whiteside..., 

Will 

Williamson. 
Winnebago. 
Woodford . . , 

Total 



3550 
2788 
3120 
3567 
4554 
2009 
1553 
1566 
1231 
2952 
3465 
6363 
1115 
2209 

845 
2486 
3069 
1245 
3833 
4665 
1319 
1541 
1807 
3055 
1043 

646 
2357 
1410 
3912 

930 
4851 
1522 

910 
2069 
1140 
4708 
3198 
2850 

978 
4372 

650 
2795 
1911 
1570 
1297 
3851 
4770 
1672 
4505 
1733 



2134 
2595 
2782 
4076 
4730 
2444 
1430 
19.39 

793 
2811 
1874 
4410 
1657 
1428 
1651 
3013 
3174 
1672 
1921 
5443 

800 
1383 
1316 
4040 

772 

459 
2589 
1552 
2838 
1081 
5847 
1804 
1269 
3553 

786 
5891 
2758 
3171 
2155 
3031 

936 
1984 
1671 
1751 
2066 
2131 
8999 
1644 
1568 
2105 



1170 

37 
268 
114 

39 
209 
135 

86 

20 
347 

34 
518 

10 

90 

7 

201 

109 

28 
104 

95 
5 

48 
11 

35 



16 



14 
2 

55 

27 

641 

29 

115 

182 

341 

96 

99 

26 

44 

3 

288 

207 

138 

39 

482 

469 

133 

677 

41 

70 

237 



275958 257099 16951 130 157 



Practical Rules for Every Day Use. 



How to find the gain or loss per cent, ivhen the cost and selling price 
art given. 

Rule. — Find the difference between the cost and selling price, which 
will be the gain or loss. 

Annex two ciphers to the gain or loss, and divide it by the cost 
price ; the result will be the gain or loss per cent. 

How to change gold into currency. 

Rule. — Multiply the given sura of gold by tlie price of gold. 

Hoto to change currency into gold. 

Divide the amount in currency by the price of gold. 

Hoiv to find each partner's share of the gain or loss in a copartnership 
business. 

Rule. — Divide the whole gain or loss by the entire stock, the quo- 
tient will be the gain or loss per cent. 

Multiply each partner's stock by this per cent., the result will be 
each one's share of the gain or loss. 

Hoiv to find gross and net weight and price of hogs. 

A short and simple method for finding the net weight, or price of hogs, 
when the gross weight or price is given, and vice versa. 

Note.— It is generally ;issunied that the gross weight of Hogs diminished by 1-5 or 20 per cent. 
of itself gives the net weight, and the net weight increased by K or 25 per cent, of itself equals the 
Kress weight. 

To find the net weight or gross price. 
Multipl}^ the given number by .8 (tenths.) 

To find the gross iveight or net price. 
Divide the given number by .8 (tenths.) 

How to find the capacity of a granary, bin, or ivagon-bed. 

Rule. — Multiply (by short method) the number of cubic feet by 
6308, and point off one decimal place — the result will be the correct 
answer in bushels and tenths of a bushel. 

For only an approximate answer, multiply the cubic feet by 8, and 
point off one decimal place. 

Hoxv to find the contents of a corn-crib. 

Rule. — Multiply the number of cubic feet by 54, short meihod, or 

(207) 



208 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 

by 4^ ordinary method, and point off one decimal place — the result will 
be the answer in bushels. 

NOTK— In estliniUliiff com in the ear, tlie quality and the time it Uas been cribbed must be taken 
into consideration, since corn will shrink considerably during the Winter and Spring. This rule generally holdi 
good for corn measured at the time it is cribbed, provided It is sound and clean. 

Hoiv to find the contents of a cistern or tank. 

Rule. — Multiply the square of the mean diameter by the depth (all 
in feet) and this product by 5681 (short method), and point off ONE 
decimal place^the result will be the contents in barrels of 31^ gallons. 

How to find the contents of a barrel or cask. 

Rule. — Under the square of the mean diameter, write the length 
(all in inches) in reversed order, so that its units will fall under the 
TENS ; multiply by short method, and this product again by 430 ; point 
off one decimal place, and the result will be the answer in wine gallons. 

Hoiv to measure hoards. 

Rule. — Multiply the length (in feet) by the width (in inches) and 
divide the product by 12 — the result will be the contents in square feet. 

Hoiv to measure scantlings., joists, planks, sills, etc. 

Rule. — Multipl}- the width, the thickness, and the length together 
(the width and thickness in inches, and the length in feet), and divide 
the product by 12 — the result will be square feet. 

Hoiv to find the number of acres m a body of land. 

Rule. — Multiply the length by the width (in rods), and divide the 
product by 160 (carrying the division to 2 decimal places if there is a 
remainder) ; the result will be the answer in acres and hundredths. 

When the opposite sides of a piece of land are of unequal length, 
add them together and take one-half for the mean length or width. 

Hoiv to find the number of square yards in a floor or tvall. 

Rule. — Multiply the length by the width or height (in feet), and 
divide the product by 9, the result will be square yards. 

ffoiv to find the number of bricks required in a building. 

Rule. — Multiply the number of cubic feet by 22^. 

The number of cubic feet is found by multiplying the length, height 
and thickness (in feet) together. 

Bricks are usually made 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, and two inches 
thick ; hence, it requires 27 bricks to make a cubic foot without mortar, 
but it 'is generally assumed that the mortar fills 1-6 of the space. 

Sotv to find the number of shingles required in a roof. 

Rule. — Multiply the number of square feet in the roof by 8, if the 
shingles are exposed 4i inches, or by 7 1-5 if exposed 5 inches. 

To find the number of square feet, multiply the length of the roof by 
twice the length of the rafters. 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 209 

To find the length of the rafters, at one-fourth pitch, multiply the 
width of the building by .56 (hundredths) ; at one-third pitch, by .6 
(tenths) ; at two-fifths pitch, by .64 (hundredths) ; at one-half 
pitch, by .71 (hundredths). This gives the length of the rafters from 
the apex to the end of the wall, and whatever they are to project must be 
taken into consideration. 

NOTK.— By )i or }i pitch Is meant that the apex or coin h of the roof lstobe)<or>i tlie width of the 
huilding hi||;her than the walls or base of tlic rafters. 

How to reckon the cost of hay. 

Rule. — Multiply the number of p6unds by half the price per ton, 
and remove the decimal point three places to the left. 

How to measure grain. 

Rule. — Level the grain ; ascertain the space it occupies in cubic 
feet ; multiply the number of cubic feet by 8, and point off one place to 
the left. 

Note.— Exactness requires the addition to every three hundred bushels of one extra busliel. 

The foregoing rule may be used for finding the number of gallons, by 
multiplying the number of bushels by 8. 

If the corn in the box is in the ear, divide the answer by 2, to find 
the number of bushels of shelled corn, because it requires 2 bushels of eai 
corn to make 1 of shelled corn. 

Rapid rules for measuring land ivithout instruments. 

In measuring land, the first thing to ascertain is the contents of any 
given plot in square yards ; then, given the number of yards, find out the 
number of rods and acres. 

The most ancient and simplest measure of distance is a step. Now, 
an ordinary-sized man can train himself to cover one yard at a stride, on 
the average, with sufficient accuracy for ordinary purposes. 

To make use of this means of measuring distances, it is essential to 
walk in a straight line ; to do this, fix the eye on two objects in a line 
straight ahead, one comparatively near, the other remote ; and, in walk- 
ing, keep these objects constantly in line. 

Farmers and others by adopting the folloiving simple arid ingenious con- 
trivance^ may alivays carry tvith them the scale to construct a correct yard 
measure. 

Take a foot rule, and commencing at the base of the little finger of 
the left hand, mark the quarters of the foot on the outer borders of the 
left arm, pricking in the marks with indelible ink. 

To find how many rods in letigth tvill 7nake an acre., the width being given. 
Rule. — Divide 160 by the width, and the quotient will be the answer. 



210 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 

How to find the number of acres in any plot of land, the number of rods 
being given. 

Rule. — Divide the number of rods by 8, multiply the quotient by 5, 
and remove the decimal point two places to the left. 

The diameter being given, to find the circumference. 

Rule. — Multiply the diameter ])y 3 1-7. 

How to find the diameter, ivhen the circumference is given. 

Rule. — Divide the circumference by 3 1-7. 

To find how many solid feet a round stick of timber of the same thick- 
ness throughout will contain when squared. 

Rule. — Square half the diameter in inches, multiply by 2, multiply 
by the length in feet, and divide the product by 144. 

Creneral rule for measuring timber, to find the solid contents in feet. 

Rule. — Multiply the depth in inches by the breadth in inches, and 
then multiply by the length in feet, and divide by 144. 

To find the number of feet of timber in trees with the bark on. 

Rule. — Multiply the square of one-fifth of the circumference in 
inches, by twice the length, in feet, and divide by ^44. Deduct 1-10 to 
1-15 according to the thickness of the bark. 

Hoioard's new rule for computing interest. 

Rule. — The reciprocal of the rate is the time for which the interest 
on any sum of money will be shown by simply removing the decimal 
point two places to the left; for ten times that time, remove the point 
one place to the left ; for 1-10 of the same time, remove the point three 
places to the left. 

Increase or diminish the results to suit the time given. 

Note.— The reciprocal of the rate is found by inverting tlie rate ; thus 3 per cent, per month, in- 
verted, becomes 3^ of a month, or 10 days. 

When the rate is expressed by one figure, always write it thus : 3-1, 
three ones. 

Rule for converting English into American currency. 
Multiply the pounds, with the shillings and pence stated in decimals, 
by 400 plus the premium in fourths, and divide the product by 90. 

U. S. GOVERNMENT LAND MEASURE. 

A township — 36 sections each a mile square. 
A section — 640 acres. 

A quarter section, half a mile square — 160 acres. 
An eighth section, half a mile long, north and south, and a quarter 
of a mile wide — 80 acres. 

A sixteenth section, a quarter of a mile square — 40 acres. 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 211 

The sections are all numbered 1 to 36, commencing at the north-east 
corner. 

The sections are divided into quarters, wliicli are named by the 
cardinal points. The quarters are divided in the same way. The de- 
scription of a forty acre lot would read: The south half of the west half of 
the south-west quarter of section 1 in township 24, north of range 7 west, 
or as the case might be ; and sometimes Avill fall short and sometimes 
overrun the number of acres it is supposed to contain. 

The nautical mile is 795 4-5 feet longer than the common mile. 

SURVEYORS' MEASURE. 

7 02-100 inches make 1 link. 

25 links " 1 rod. 

4 rods " 1 chain. 

80 chains " 1 mile. 

Note. — A chain is 100 links, equal to 4 rods or QQ feet. 

Shoemakers formerly used a subdivision of the inch called a barley- 
corn ; three of which made an inch. 

Horses are measured directly over the fore feet, and the standard of 
measure is four inches — called a hand. 

In Biblical and other old measurements, the term span is sometimes 
used, which is a length of nine inches. 

The sacred cubit of the Jews was 24.024 inches in length. 

The common cubit of the Jews was 21.704 inches in length. 

A pace is equal to a yard or 36 inches. 

A fathom is equal to 6 feet. 

A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is strictly 
speaking a nautical term, and should be three geographical miles, equal 
to 3.45 statute miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said 
to be a league. 

In cloth measure an aune is equal to li yards, or 45 inches. 

An Amsterdam ell is equal to 26.796 inches. 

A Trieste ell is equal to 25.284 inches. 

A Brabant ell is equal to 27.116 inches. 

HOW TO KEEP ACCOUNTS. 

Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little business, 
should keep a record of his transactions in a clear and systematic man- 
ner. For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunity of ac- 
quiring a primary knowledge of the ijrinciples of book-keeping, we here 
present a simple form of keeping accounts which is easily comprehended, 
and well adapted to record the business transactions of farmers, mechanics 
and laborers. 



212 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



1875. 



A. H. JACKSON. 



Dr. 



Cr. 



Jan. 
Feb. 
March 



April 

May 

(( 

July 



10 

17 

4 

4 

8 

8 

13 

37 

9 

9 

6 

24 

4 



To 7 bushels Wheat at $1.25 

By shoeing span of Horses — 

To 14 bushels Oats ...at$ .45 

To 5 lbs. Butter.. at .25 

By new Harrow — 

By sharpening 2 Plows 

By new Double-Tree 

To Cow and Calf. 

To half ton of Hay 

By Cash. 

By repairing Corn-Planter. 

To one Sow with Pigs . . 

By Cash, to balance account 



18 


75 


n 


6 


30 




1 


25 


18 
2 


48 


00 




6 


25 


25 

4 


17 


50 


35 

188 


188 


05 



50 



00 
40 
25 



00 

75 

15 
05 



1875. 



CASSA MASON. 



Dr. 



Cr. 



Marrh 21 


Rv 3 davs' labor .-. 


. . at $1.25 


16 
8 

10 

2 
2 

20 
18 


00 
10 

00 

75 
70 

00 
20 


$3 

25 
12 

18 
9 

167 


75 


" 21 

" 23 

May 1 

" 1 


To 2 Shoats 

To 18 bushels Corn. 

By 1 month's Labor. 


at 3.00 

at .45 


00 


To Cash . - - 




June 19 


Bv 8 davs' Mowinar .. . -.- 


at $1.50 


00 


" 26 


To 50 lbs. Flour 




July 10 
" 29 

Aug. 12 
" 12 


To 27 lbs. Meat. 

By 9 days' Harvesting 

By 6 days' Labor 

To Cash .. 


at $ .10 

at 2.00 

at 1.50 


00 
00 


Sept. 1 


To Cash to balance account _ .. 










167 


75 


75 



INTEREST TABLE. 



A Simple Rulk for accuratelt Computing Interest at Anv Given Per Cent, for any 

Length of Time. 

Multiply the principal (amount of money at interest) by the time reduced to days; then divide tliis itrnduct 
by the quotient oljtained by dividing 360 (the number of days in the interest year) by the per cent, of interest, 
andt/ie quotient thus obtained will be the required interest. 

illustration. Solution. 

Requiretheinterestof $462.50 for one month and eighteen days at 6 per cent. An $462.50 

Interest month is 30 davs; one month and eighteen days eiiual 48 days. $462.50 multi- .48 

plied by .48 gives $222.0000; 360 divided by 6 (the per cent, of interest) gives 60, and 

$222.0000 divided by 60 will give you the exact interest, which is $3.70. If the rate of 370000 

interest in the above example were 12 per cent., we would divide the $222.0000 by 30 6)360 \ 185000 

(because 360 divided bv 13 gives 30); u 4 per cent., we would divide by 90; if 8 per - — 

cent., by 45; and in like manner for any other per cent. 60/$222.0000($3.7O 



180 

420 
420 

00 



MISCELLANEOUS TABLE. 



12 units, or things, 1 Dozen. 
12 dozen, 1 Gross. 
20 things, I Score. 



I 196 pounds, 1 Barrel of Flour. 

200 pounds, 1 Barrel of Pork. 

I 56 pounds, 1 Firkin of Butter. 



24 sheets of paper. 1 Quire. 

20 quires paper 1 Ream. 

4 ft. wide, 4 ft. high, and 8 ft. long, 1 Cord Wood. 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 213 

NAMES OF THE STATES OF THE UNION, AND THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS. 

Virginia. — The oldest of the States, was so called in honor of Queen 
Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made 
his first attempt to colonize that region. 

Florida. — Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida on Easter 
Sunday, and called the country in commemoration of the day, which was 
the Pasqua Florida of the Spaniards, or " Feast of Flowers." 

Louisiana was called after Louis the Fourteenth, who at one time 
owned that section of the country. 

Alabama Avas so named by the Indians, and signifies " Here we Rest." 

Mississippi is likewise an Indian name, meaning " Long River." 

Arkansas^ from Kansas, the Indian word for " smoky water."* Its 
prefix was really arc, the French word for " bow." 

The Carolinas were originally one tract, and were called "Carolana," 
after Charles the Ninth of France. 

G-eorgia owes its name to George the Second of England, who first 
established a colony there in 1732. 

Tennessee is the Indian name for the "River of the Bend," i.e.., the 
Mississippi which forms its western boundary. 

Kentucky is the Indian name for " at the head of the river." 

Ohio means "• beautiful ; " loiva^ " drowsy ones ; " Mimiesota, " cloudy 
water," and Wisconsin, " wild-rushing channel." 

Illinois is derived from the Indian word illini, men, and the French 
suffix ois, together signifying "tribe of men." 

Michigan was called by the name given the Icike, fish-tveir, which was 
so styled from its fancied resemblance to a fish trap. 

Missouri is from the Indian word " muddy," which more properly 
applies to the river that flows through it. 

Oregon owes its Indian name also to its principal river. 

Cortes named California. 

Massachusetts is the Indian for " The country around the great hills." 

Connecticut, from the Indian Quon-ch-ta-Cut, signifying "Long 
River." 

Maryland, after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles the First, of 
England. 

Nexo York was named by the Duke of York. 

Pennsylvania means " Penn's woods," and was so called after William 
Penn, its orignal owner. 



214 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



Delaware after Lord De La Ware. 

New Jersey^ so called in honor of Sir George Carteret, who was 
Governor of the Island of Jersey, in the British Channel. 

Maine was called after the province of Maine in France, in compli- 
ment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned that province. 

Vermont^ from the French word Vert Mont, signifying Green 
Mountain. 

New Hampshire, from Hampshire county in England. It was 
formerly called Laconia. 

The little State of Rhode Island owes its name to the Island of 
Rhodes in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said to greatly 
resemble. 

Texas is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that 
section of the country was called before it was ceded to the United States. 



POPULATION OF THE 
UNITED STATES. 



STATES AND TERRITOEIES. 



Alaljaina 

Arkansas 

California 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

XUlnois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massacliusetts 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New Hampshire. 

New Jersey 

New York 

North Carolina .. 

■Ohio. 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania 

Rhode Island 

South Carolina... 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Vermont 

Virginia 

West Virginia 

Wisconsin 



Total States., 



Arizona 

Colorada 

Dakota 

District of Columbia. 

Idaho 

Montana 

New Mexico 

Uuh 

WSwhington 

Wyoming 



Total 
Population. 



Total Territories 



Total United States 38,555,983 



996. 
484. 
560, 
537, 
125, 
187, 

1,184, 

2,539, 

1,680, 

1,191, 
364, 

1,321, 
726, 
626, 
780, 

1,457, 

1,184, 
439, 
827, 

1,721, 

122, 

42, 

318. 

906, 

4,382. 

1,071. 

2,665, 
90, 

3,521. 
217, 
705, 

1,258. 
818. 
330. 

1,225, 
442, 

1,054, 



992 
471 

247 
454 
015 
748 
109 
891 
637 
792 
399 
Oil 
915 
915 
894 
351 
059 
706 
922 
295 
993 
491 
300 
096 
7.59 
361 
260 
923 
791 
3.53 
606 
520 
579 
551 
163 
014 
670 



38.113,253 



9,658 
39,864 
14,181 
131.700 
14,999 
20,595 
91,874 
86,786 
23,955 

9,118 

442,730 



POPULATION OF FIFTY 
PRINCIPAL CITIES. 



Cities. 



New York, N. Y 

Philadelphia, Pa 

Brooklyn, N. Y^ 

St. Louis, Mo 

Chicago, 111 

Baltimore, Md 

Boston, Mass 

Cincinnati, Ohio 

New Orleans, La. .. 
.San Francisco, Cal.. 

Buffalo, N. Y 

Washington, D. C... 

Newark. N. J 

Louisville, Ky 

Cleveland, Ohio 

Pittsburg, Pa 

Jersey City, N. J ... 

Detroit, Mich 

Milwaukee, Wis 

Albany, N. Y 

Providence, R. I 

Rochester, N. Y 

Allegheny, Pa 

Richmond, Va 

New Haven, Conn.. 

Charleston, S. C 

Indianapolis, Ind... 

Troy, N. Y' 

Syracuse, N. Y 

Worcester, Mass 

Lowell. Mass 

Memphis, Tenn 

Cambridge, Mass... 

Hartford, Conn 

■Scranton, Pa 

Reading, Pa 

Paterson, N. J 

Kansas City, Mo 

Mobile, .\la 

Toledo, Oliio 

Portland, Me 

Columbus. Ohio 

Wilmington, Del 

Dayton, Ohio 

Lawrence, Mass 

Utica, N. Y 

Charlestown, Mass 

Savannah, Ga 

Lynn. Mass 

Fall River, Mass... 



Aggregate 
Population. 



942, 

674, 

396, 

310, 

298. 

267, 

250, 

216, 

191, 

149. 

117, 

109, 

105, 

100, 

92, 

86, 

82, 

79, 

71, 

69 

68 

62. 

53, 

61 

50. 

48, 

48 

46, 

43, 

41, 

40, 

40. 

39, 

37, 

35, 

33 

33 

32 

32 

31 

31 

31 

.30, 

30, 

28 

28 

38 

28, 

28, 

26, 



292 
022 
099 
864 
977 
354 
526 
239 
418 
473 
714 
199 
059 
53 
829 
076 
.546 
577 
440 
422 
904 
386 
180 
038 
840 
956 
244 
465 
051 
105 
928 
225 
634 
180 
092 
930 
579 
260 
034 
.584 
,413 
274 
841 
473 
921 
804 
323 
235 
233 
766 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



21a 



POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



,Statks and 
territokiks. 


square 
Miles. 


States. 
AlAl>aina 


50.722 


Arkansas 

Califnrni.l 


52,198 
IHS MKl 


Connecticut 

Delaware 


4.674 
2,120 


Florida 

GeorKia 

Illinois 


59.268 
58.000 
55.410 


1 11(11 Ana 


33 809 




55,045 


Kansas 

Kenluclty 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts... 
Michigan* 


81,318 
37,600 
41,346 
31,776 
11,184 
7,800 
56,451 
83,531 


Mississippi 

IMlssouri 


47,156 
65,350 


Nel)raska 

Nevada 


75.995 
112,090 


New llainpsliire. 

New Jersey 

New York 

North Carolina.. 
Ohio 


9,280 

8.320 

47.000 

50.704 

39.964 


Oregon 


95,244 



Area in 



POPl'LATION. 



1870. 



1,350,544 
528,349 

■ 857;039 



996,992 

484.471 

560,247 

537.454 

12.5.015 

187.748 
1.184,109 
2.539,891 
1,680,637 
1,191.792 

364,399 
1,321,011 

726,915 

626,915 

780,894 
1,457,351 
1,184,059 

439,706 

827,922 
1,721,295 

123,993 
42.491 

318.300 

906,096 
4,382.759 
1,071,361 
2,665.260 
90,923 
Last Census of Michigan taken in 1874. 



1875. 



1.651,912 

1,334,031 

598,429 



246,280 
52,540 



1.026..502 
4,705,208 



Miles 
K. U. 

1872. 



1,671 

25 

1,013 

820 

227 

466 

2,108 

5,904 

3,529 

3.160 

1,760 

1,123 

539 

871 

820 

1,606 

2,235 

1,612 

990 

2,580 

828 

593 

790 

1,265 

4,470 

1,190 

3,740 

lo9 



State.s ani> 
Tkrkitorik.s. 



states. 

Pennsylvania 

Rhode Island 

South Carolina... 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Vermont 

Virginia 

West Virginia 

Wisconsin 

Total States 

Territories. 

Arizona 

Colorado 

Dakota 

Dist. of Columbia. 

Idaho 

Montana 

New Mexico 

Utah 

Wasliington 

Wyoming 

Total Territories. 



Area In 

sciuare 
Mile.s. 



46,000 
1.306 
29,385 
45,600 
237..504 
10.212 
40.904 
23,000 
53.924 



Population. 



1,950,171 



113,916 

104,500 

147,490 

60 

90,932 

143.776 

121,201 

80,056 

69,944 

93,107 



965,032 



1870. 



3,521,791 
217,353 
70.5.606 

1,258,520 
818,579 
330.551 

1,22.5,163 
442.014 

1,0.54.670 



38,113,253 



9,658 
39,864 
14,181 
131.700 
14,999 
20.595 
91.874 
86.786 
23.955 

9.118 



442,730 



1875. 



258,239 
925,145 



1,236.729 



Miles 
R. R. 
1872. 



5.113 
136 

1,201 

1,.520 
865 
675 

1,490 
485 

1,725 



59,587 



392 



375 

■■■4'98 

1,265 



Aggregate of U. ,S.. 2,915,203 38,555,983' 60,852 

• Included in tlie Railroad Mileage of INIaryland. 



PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD 

l^OPULATION AND ArEA. 



Countries. 



Population. 



China 

Britisli Kuipire 

Russia 

United States with Alaska. . . 

France 

Austria and Hungary 

Japan 

Great Britain and Ireland. . . 

German Empire 

Italy 

Spain 

Brazil 

Turkey 

Mexico 

Sweden and Norway 

Persia 

Belgium 

Bavaria 

Portugal 

Holland 

Aew Grenada 

Chili 

Switzerland 

Peru 

Bolivia 

Argentine Republic 

Wurteniburg 

Denmark , 

Venezuela , 

Baden 

Greece 

Guatemala 

Ecuador 

Paraguay 

Hesse 

Liberia 

San Salvador 

Haytl 

Nicaragua 

Uruguay 

Honduras 

San Domingo 

Costa Rica 

Hawaii 



446,500.000 

226.817.108 

81,925,410 

38,925,600 

.36,469.800 

35.904,400 

34,785,300 

31,817,100 

29,906,092 

27,439,921 

16.642,000 

10.000.000 

16.463.000 

9.173.000 

5,921,500 

5,000.000 

5.021.300 

4,861,400 

3.995.200 

3.688.300 

3.000.000 

2,000,000 

2,669,100 

2,500,000 

2,000,000 

1,812,000 

1,818,500 

1,784.700 

1,500.000 

1,461.400 

1,457.900 

1,180,000 

1,, 300, 000 

1,000,000 

823,1,38 

718,000 

600,000 

572,000 

350.000 

300.000 

350,000 

136,000 

165.000 

62.950 



Date of 
Census. 



1871 
1871 
1871 
1870 
1866 
1869 
1871 
1871 
1871 
1871 
1867 



1869 
1870 
1870 
1869 
1871 
1868 
1870 
1870 
1869 
1870 
1871 

'1869 
1871 
1870 

'isii 

1870 
1871 

1871 

'1871 
1871 

'1871 
1871 
1871 

'i87'6 



Area in 
Square 

ftliles. 



3.741,846 

4,677,432 

8,003,778 

2,603,884 

204,091 

240.348 

149,399 

121,315 

160,207 

118,847 

195,775 

3,253.029 

672,621 

761,526 

292.871 

635.964 

11.373 

29.292 

34.494 

12,680 

357.157 

132,616 

15,992 

471.838 

497. .321 

871.848 

7,533 

14,753 

368,238 

5,912 

19,353 

40.879 

218,928 

63,787 

2,969 

9,576 

7,335 

10,205 

58,171 

66,722 

47,092 

17,827 

21,505 

7,633 



Inhabitants 

to Square 

Mile. 



119.3 

48.6 

10.2 

7.78 

178.7 

149.4 

232.8 

262.3 

187. 

230.9 

85. 

3.07 
24.4 



20. 
7.8 
441.5 
165.9 
115.8 
290.9 
8.4 
15.1 
166.9 
5.3 
4. 
2.1 
241.4 
120.9 
4.2 
247. 
75.3 
28.9 
5.9 
15.6 
277. 
74.9 
81.8 
56. 
6. 
6.5 
7.4 
7.6 
7.7 
80. 



Capitals. 



Pekin 

London 

St. Petersl)urg.. 

Washington 

Paris 

Vienna 

Yeddo 

London 

Berlin 

Rome 

Madrid 

Rio Janeiro 

(Constantinople . 

Mexico 

Stockholm 

Teheran 

Brussels 

Munich 

l.,isbon 

Hague 

Bogota 

Santiago 

Berne 

Lima 

Cliuquisaca 

Buenos Ay res. . 

Stuttgart 

Copenhagen 

Caraccas 

Carlsruhe 

.\thens 

Guatemala 

Quito 

.\suncion 

Darmstadt 

Monrovia 

Sal Salvador ... 
Port an Prince 

Managua 

Monte Video... 

C'omayagua 

•San Domingo... 

San .Jose 

Honolulu 



Population. 



1,648,800 

3,251,800 

667,000 

109,199 

1,825.300 

833,900 

1,5.54,900 

3,251,800 

825,400 

244,484 

332,000 

420,000 

1,075,000 

210,300 

136,900 

120,000 

314,100 

169,, 500 

224.063 

90,100 

45,000 

115,400 

36.000 

160,100 

25,000 

177.800 

91.600 

162,042 

47,000 

36,600 

43,400 

40,000 

70,000 

48,000 

30,000 

3,000 

15,000 

20,000 

10,000 

44.500 

12,000 

ao,ooo 

2,000 
7,643 



216 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION 



POPUI./lTION of ILLINOIS, 
By Counties. 



COtrXTIES. 



Adams 

Alexander. . 

Bond 

Boone 

Brown 

Bureau 

Calhoun 

Carroll 

Cass 

Champaign. 
Christian .. 

Clark- 

Clay. 

Clinton 

Coles - 

Cook 

Crawford 

Cumberland 
De Kaib... 
De Witt... 

Douglas 

Du Page.. . 

Edgar 

Edwards 

Effingham.. 

Fayette 

Ford 

Franklin 

Fulton 

Gallatin 

Greene 

Grundy 

Hamilton . . 

Hancock 

Hardin 

Henderson . 

Henry 

Iroquois 

Jackson 

Jasper 

Jefferson... 

Jersey 

Jo Daviess. 

Johnson 

Kane 

Kankakee. 
Kendall ... 

Knox 

Lake 

La Salle .. 
Lawrence.. 

Lee 

Livingston 
Logan 



A60RB0ATB. 



1870. 1860. 1850. 1840. 1830. 1820 



56362 
10564 

I3152 
12942 
12205 

32415 

6562 

16705 

II580 

32737 
20363 
187I9 

15875 
16285 

25235 
349966 

13889 
12223 
23265 
14768 

13484 
16685 
21450 

7565 
15653 
19638 

9103 
12652 
38291 

III34 
20277 

14938 
13014 

35935 
5113 

12582 
35506 
25782 

19634 
1 1234 
17864 

15054 
27820 
11248 
39091 

24352 
12399 
39522 
21014 
60792 

12533 
27171 

31471 
23053 



41323 
4707 

9815 
11678 

9938 
26426 

5144 
11733 
11325 
14629 
10492 
14987 

9336 

10941 

14203 

144954 

11551 

8311 
19086 
10820 

7140 
14701 
16925 

5454 
7816 

1 1 189 
1979 
9393 

33338 
8055 

16093 

10379 

9915 
2go6i 

3759 

9501 

20660 

12325 

9589 
8364 
12965 
12051 
27325 
9342 
30062 
15412 

13074 
2S663 

18257 
48332 
9214 
17651 
11637 
14272 



26508 
2484 
6144 
7624 
7198 
8841 

3231 

4586 

7253 
2649 
3203 
9532 
4289 

5139 
9335 

43385 

7135 
3718 
7540 
5002 



9290 
10692 
3524 
3799 
8075 



5681 

22508 

5448 

12429 

3023 

6362 

14652 

2887 

4612 

3807 

4149 

5862 

3220 

8109 

7354 
18604 

4114 
16703 



7730 

13279 
14226 

17815 

6l8I 

5.292 

1553 
5128 



14476 

3313 
5060 

1705 
4183 
3067 
1741 
1023 
2981 

1475 

1878 

7453 
3228 

3718 

9616 

10201 

4422 



1697 
3247 



3535 
8225 
3070 
1675 
6328 



3682 
13142 
10760 
11951 



3945 
9946 

1378 



1260 
1695 
3566 
1472 
5762 

4535 
6180 
3626 
6501 



7060 
2634 
9348 
7092 

2035 

759 

2333 



2186 
1390 
3124 



1090 



3940 

755 
2330 



3117 



4071 
1649 



2704 



4083 
1841 

7405 
7674 



2616 
483 



41 



1828 



2555 



2111 
1596 



274 



3668 



626 
2931 



931 



*23 

2999 



3444 



1763 
3155 



1542 
691 



843 



MISCELLANEOUS INFOKMATION. 



217 



POPULATION OF ILLINOIS— Concluded. 



COUNTIES. 



Macon 

Macoupin.. 

Madison 

Marion 

Marshall 

Mason 

Massac 

McDonough, 
McHenry .. 

McLean 

Menard 

Mercer 

Monroe 

Montgomery 

Morgan 

Moultrie 

Ogle 

Peoria 

Perry 

Piatt 

Pike- - 

Pope. 

Pulaski 

Putnam 

Randolph... 
Richland ... 
Rock Island 

Saline 

Sangamon .. 

Schuyler 

Scott 

Shelby- 

Stark'. 

St. Clair 

Stephenson.. 

Tazewell 

Union 

Vermilion. . 
Wabash .... 

Warren . 

Washington. 

Wayne 

White 

Whitesides . . 

Will 

Williamson.. 
Winnebago.. 
Woodford... 

Total... 



AGORBOATK. 



1870. 



26481 
32726 

44131 
20622 
16950 
161S4 
95S1 
26509 
23762 
5398S 

II735 
18769 

12982 

25314 

23463 

IO3S5 
27492 

47540 
13723 
10953 
307D8 

II437 

8752 

62S0 

20859 

12803 

297S3 
12714 

46352 
17419 
10530 
25476 
IO751 

5106S 
3060S 
27903 
16518 
303S8 
8841 
23174 
17599 
19758 
16S46 

27503 
43013 
17329 
29301 
18956 



2539891 



1860. 



13738 
24602 

3125I 
12739 
13437 
IO93I 
6213 
20069 
22089 
28772 

9584 
15042 

12S32 

13979 
22II2 

63S5 

22888 

36601 

9552 

6127 

27249 
6742 

3943 

5587 
17205 

9711 
21005 

9331 
32274 
14684 

9069 
14613 

9004 

37694 
25112 
21470 
11181 
19800 
7313 
18336 
13731 
12223 
12403 

18737 
29321 
12205 
24491 
132S2 



1711951 



1860. 



3988 

12355 

20441 

6720 

5180 

5921 

4092 

7616 

14978 

IO163 

6349 
5246 

7679 

6277 

16064 

3234 
10020 

17547 
5278 
1606 

18819 

3975 
2265 

3924 

11079 

4012 

6937 
5588 
19228 
10573 
7914 
7807 
3710 

20180 
11666 
12052 

7615 

1 1492 

4690 

8176 

6953 
6S25 
8925 
5361 

16703 
7216 

11773 
4415 



851470 



1840. 



3039 
7926 
14433 
474 
1849 



5308 
2578 
6565 
4431 
2352 

4481 

4490 

19547 



3479 
6153 
3222 



11728 
4094 



2131 
7944 



2610 



14716 
6972 
6215 
6659 
1573 

13631 
2800 
7221 
5524 
9303 
4240 

6739 
4810 

5133 
7919 

2514 

10167 

4457 
4609 



476183 



1830. 1820. 



II22 
1990 
6221 
2125 



(*) 



2000 

2953 
I27I4 



I215 



2396 
3316 



'"I3IO 
4429 



12960 
32959 



2972 



7078 



4716 

3239 
5836 
2710 
308 
1675 
2553 
6091 



1574-15 



13550 



*2I 
I516 



2610 



3492 



*5 

5248 



2362 



1517 
1114 
4828 



=^49 
55162 



218 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



STATE LAWS 
Relating to Rates of Interest and Penalties for Usury. 



States and Territories. 



Legal i Rate al- 
Rate of lowed by 
Interest.] Contract. 



Alabama 

Arizona 

Arkansas 

California 

Colorado 

Connecticut 

Dakota 

Delaware 

District of Columbia 

Florida 

Georgia 

Idaho 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 



per cent 

I 8 
lo 
6 
lo 

lO 

7 
7 
6 
6 
8 
7 

lO 

6 
6 
6 
8 
6 

5 
6 



Maryland I 6 

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Montana 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New Hampshire 

New Jersey 

New Mexico 

New York 

North Carolina 

Ohio 

Ontario, Canada 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania 

Quebec, Canada 

Rhode Island 

South Carolin i 

Tennessee 

Texas ... 

Utah 

Vermont , 

Virginia 

Washington Territorv 



West Virginia. 
Wisconsin 



Wyominj. 



6 
7 
7 
6 
6 
lo 
lo 

lO 

6 

7 
6 

7 
6 
6 
6 

lO 

6 
6 
6 

7 
6 
8 

lO 

6 
6 

lO 

6 
7 

12 



per cent. 

8 
Any rate. 

lO 

Any rate. 
Any rate. 
7 

12 

6 

lO 

Any rate. 

12 

24 
lO 
lO 
lO 
12 

8 

8 
Any rate. 

6 

Any rate, 
lo 

12 
lO 
lO 

Any rate 

12 

Any rate 
6 

7 
Any rate 

7 
8 
8 
Any rate 

12 

Any rate 
Any rate 
Any rate 
Any rate 

lO 
12 

Any rate 
6 
6* 

Any rate 
6* 

lO 

Any rate 



Penalties for Usury. 



Forfeiture of entire interest. 
Forfeiture of principal and interest. 



Forfeiture of excess of interest. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 
Forfeiture of principal. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Fine and imprisonment. 

Forfeiture of entire interest 

Forfeiture of excess of interest. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of ex. of in. above 12 per cent. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of excess of interest. 

Forfeiture of ex. of in. above 7 per cent. 
No Usury Law in this State. 
Forfeiture of excess of interest. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of thrice the excess and co<;ls. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of contract. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 
Forfeiture of excess abo\ e 6 per cent. 



Forfeiture of excess of intcre<^t. 
Forfeiture of excess of interest. 

Forfeiture of excess of interest. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 

Forfeiture of excess of interest. 
Forfeiture of entire interest. 



* Except in cases defined by statutes of the State. 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



219 



STATE LAWS 

Relating to Limitations of Actions : Showing Limit of Time in which 
Action may be Brought on the following : 



States and Tbrbitories. 



Alabama 

Arkansas 

California, 

Colorado 

Connecticut 

Dakota 

Delaware 

District oi Columbia . 

Florida 

Georgia 

Idaho 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri... 

Montana 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New Hampshire 

New Jersey 

New Mexico 

New York 

North Carolina 

Ohio 

Ontario (U. Canada).. 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania 

Quebec (L. Canada).. 

Rhode Island 

South Carolina 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Utah 

Vermont 

V'lrginia 

Washington Territory 

West Virginia 

Wisconsin 

Wyoming 



Assault 

slander, 

&c. 


Open 
Accts. 


Notes. 


Judg- 
ments. 


Scaled and 
witnessed 
Instru- 
ments. 


Years. 

I 


Years. 
3 


Years. 
6 


Years. 
20 


Years. 
10 


I 


3 


5 


10 


10 


I 
I 

3 

2 


2 

6 
6 
6 


4 
6 
6 
6 


5 

3 

20 
20 


5 

3 

17 

20 


I 


3 


6 


20 


20 


I 


3 


3 


12 


12 


2 
I 


4 
4 


5 
6 


20 
7 


20 
20 


2 
I 
2 


2 

5 
6 


4 

lO 
20 


5 
20 

2o 


5 
10 

20 


2 


5 


lO 


20 


10 


I 

I 
I 

2 


3 

2 

3 
6 


5 

5 

20 


5 
IS 
10 

20 


IS 
IS 
20 
20 


I 

2 
2 
2 


3 
6 

6 

6 


3 

20 

6 
6 


12 

20 

6 

10 


12 

20 

lO 

6 


I 
2 


3 

5 


6 

lO 


7 
20 


7 

10 


2 


5 


lO 


10 


10 


I 

2 
2 


4 

2 

6 


5 
4 
6 


5 

5 

20 


10 

4 
20 


2 


6 


6 


20 


16 


I 


6 


lo 


10 


10 


2 


6 


6 


20 


20 


3 

I 

2 


3 
6 
6 


3 
6 


10 

15 
20 


10 

IS 
20 


2 


6 


6 


10 


20 


I 


6 


6 


20 


20 


I 
I 


5 
6 


1 


30 
20 


30 
20 


2 
I 


6 
6 


6 
6 


20 
10 


20 
6 


I 

I 
2 


2 
2 

6 


4 
4 
4 


10 

5 
8 


5 
7 
8 


I 
2 


5 
3 


5 
6 


10 
6 


20 
6 


I 
2 


5 
6 


10 

6 


10 
20 


10 
20 


I 


6 


15 


15 


15 



PRODUCTIONS OF AGRICULTURE, STATE OF ILLINOIS, BY COUNTIES.— 1870, 



JOUNTIES. 
Total 



Adams 

Alexander ... 

Bond 

Boone 

Brown 

Bureau 

CalUoun 

Carroll 

Cass , 

Champaign.. 

Christian 

Clark 

Clay 

Clinton 

Coles 

Cook 

Crawford 

Cunil)erlaud. 

DeKalb 

DeWitt 

Doughvs 

DuPage 

Edgar 

Edwards. ... 
Effingham.... 

Fayette 

Ford 

Franklin 

Fulton 

Gallatin 

Greene 

Grundy.. . .. 

Hamilton 

Hancock 

Hardin 

Henderson. . 

Henry 

Ironuois. . .. 

Jackson 

Jasper .. .. 

Jetf ersou 

Jersey 

JoDaviess .. 
Johnson . . 

Kane 

Kankakee.... 

Kendall 

Knox 

'..ake 

LaSalle 

Lawrence . . . 

Lee 

Livingston... 

Logan 

Macon 

Macoupin 

Madison 

Marlon 

Marshall 

Mason 

Massac 

McDonough.. 

McHenry 

McLean 

Menard 

Mercer 

Monroe 

Montgomery. , 

Morgan 

Moultrie 

Ogle 

Peoria 

Perry 

Piatt 

Pike 

Pope 

Pulaski 

Putnam 

Randolph 

Richland 

Rock Island.., 

Saline 

Sangamon 

Schuyler 

Scott 

Shelby 

Stark 

St. Clair 

Stephenson ... 

Tazewell 

Union 

Vermilion 

AVabash 

AV'arren 

Washington.. 

Wayne 

AVh'ite 

Whitesides 

AViU 

Williamson .., 

Winnebago 

V.'oodford 



Improved 
Land. 



Number. 
19.329.952 



Woodl'nd 



Other un- 
improved 



Number, Number. 
5.061.578 1,491.331 



Spring 
Wheat. 



liu.shel.s, 
10.133.207 



Winter 
Wheat. 



Bushels. Bushels. 
19.99.5.198 2.456,578 



Rye. 



Indian 
Corn. 



Oats. 



Bushels. Bushels. 
129.921, 39.i 42,780.851 



287.926 

13.836 

145,045 

137.307 

57,062 

398,611 

37,684 

186.864 

92.902 

419.368 

241,472 

118.594 

146,922 

150,177 

208,337 

348.824 

105,505 

75,342 

334,502 

168,539 

147,633 

164,874 

^65,458 

58,912 

120,343 

187,196 

141.228 

80,749 

;J28,132 

49,572 

175,408 

193,999 

88,996 

311,517 

28,117 

140,954 

265,904 

322,510 

78,548 

90,86' 

118,951 

94,14' 

156,517 

57,820 

240,120 

312,182 

164,004 

330,829 

207,779 

533,724 

87,828 

322,212 

377,505 

321,709 

205,259 

231.059 

257,032 

173,081 

166,057 

209,453 

25,151 

261,635 

230,566 

494.978 

134.173 

222.809 

92,810 

276,682 

293,450 

144,220 

316,883 

170,729 

93,754 

94,454 

233,785 

55,980 

19,319 

37,271 

140,764 

75,079 

155,214 

72,309 

421,748 

96,195 

85,331 

310,179 

138,129 

231,117 

254,857 

229,126 

7.5,832 

360,251 

54,063 

266,187 

177.592 

147.352 

92,398 

289,809 

419,442 

128,448 

241,373 

22.5,504 



112,576 
17,761 
42,613 
29,886 
3.5,491 
41,866 
63.443 
29,793 
33,493 
16,789 
19,803 

102,201 
80,612 
48,868 
45,214 
19,635 
78,350 
40,334 
17,722 
29,548 
11,897 
17,243 
66,803 
57,585 
56.330 
93,460 
2,996 
3,994 

123,823 
68,750 
93,242 
6,256 
93,878 
43,385 
44,771 
34,705 
12,620 
22,478 
87,642 
67,023 
94,888 
51,42 
82,07 

3 
34,646 
10,978 
14,244 
41,566 
21,072 
48,11 : 
72,738 
12,071 
12,462 
17,394 
18,153 
81,224 
89,450 
61,579 
?8,26() 
Jl,739 
33,396 
52,547 
53,293 
40,366 
34,931 
45,977 
83,369 
47,804 
60,217 
24,783 
43,643 
48,666 
68,470 
5,978 

128,953 
87,754 
12,516 
17,184 

162.274 
50,618 
31,239 
70,393 
51,085 
62,477 
44,633 
74,908 
12,375 
76,591 
43,167 
45,268 
83,606 
53,078 
37,558 
27,294 
55,852 

146,794 
78,167 
21.823 
24,261 

116,949 
37.238 
25,217 



19,370 



1,915 

2,658 

25,608 

15,803 

2,754 

33,302 

6,604 

58,502 

19,173 

5,420 

5,225 

8,722 

3,274 

17,337 

27,185 

5,604 

6,551 

17,633 

7,316 

3.851 

14,282 

830 

26,206 

16,786 

63,976 

86,710 

4,076 

2,565 

29,653 

4,505 

3,343 

18.480 

107 

14,243 

31,459 

63,498 

5.991 

12,250 

778 

1,363 

45,779 

79,141 

399 

10,598 

2,283 

25.155 

24,399 

2,356 

3,27S 

7,409 

41,788 

408 

9,115 

7,343 

13,675 

4,142 

2,976 

31,013 

30 

14,035 

57,998 

49,08T 

13,952 

22,588 

666 

8,495 

1,376 

13,112 

14,913 

2,516 

220 

1.3,89' 

9,302 



4.174 
1.170 
2.025 

20,755 
809 

19,932 

21.294 
1,610 
9,314 
2,783 
2,016 

13,701 

14,846 
5,300 

31,122 
509 

14,583 
1.931 

10,486 
869 

37.310 
6,335 
1,648 

1.5,237 

23,135 



16,191 



700 

241,042 

13,276 

465,236 

75 

418,073 

12,165 

102,577 

18,360 



1,894 

500 

2,651 

144,296 

60 

550 

398,059 

106,493 

7,683 

106,096 

13,283 



77 



42,571 

365 

193,669 



21,700 

129 

181,378 

13 

161,112 

462,379 

57,160 

890 



282,758 



188,826 
103,466 
90,681 
267,764 
168,914 
271,181 



450,793 

120,206 

198,056 

55,239 

160 

550 



106,129 
73,261 



273,871 
401,790 
211,801 
36,152 
289,291 



59 

18,196 

17,128 

497,038 

92,361 



26.382 
130 



28,137 
450 



243,541 

200 

89.304 

56,221 

18 

15.526 

124,630 

2,550 

527,394 

132,417 



44,806 
' 186; 290 
266 



457,455 
195,286 
176 
408,606 
178,139 



947.616 

42,658 

368,625 

599 

117,502 

724 

221,298 

260 

127,054 

123,091 

504,041 

195,118 

85.73. 

610,888 

154,485 

4,904 

212,924 

84,69 

190 

11,695 

65,461 

693 

247,360 

122,703 

19.5,716 

351,310 

1,008 

111,324 

223,930 

83,093 

577,400 

150 

92,34 

232,750 

32,306 

69,062 

445 

10,480 

329,036 

87.808 

100,553 

558,367 

555 

92,191 

325 

480 

1,249 

7,654 

221 

2,193 

264,134 

2.260 

1,339 

40,963 

196,613 

861,398 

1,207,181 

173,652 

900 

125,628 

72.316 

36,146 

270 

10,955 

45,793 

13,203 

651,767 

744,891 

357,523 

196,436 

5,580 

31.843 

350, 4 4 (j 

39,762 

1,057,497 

70,457 

44,922 

796 

1,031,022 

150,268 

2.279 

83.011 

247,658 

165.724 

266,105 

452,015 



1,562.621 

2,118 

72.410 

180,231 

249.558 

202,201 

5,712 

672,486 

164,689 

184,321 

264 

1,996 
170,787 

2,468 
108,307 



20,989 

30 

6,240 

35,871 

4,742 

43,811 

186 

2.5.721 

2.772 

45,752 

10,722 

7,308 

3,221 

1,619 

8,825 

20,171 

15,497 

14,798 

21,018 

11,540 

9,01 

7,532 

37,508 

528 

19,759 

25,328 

11,577 

.5.195 

131,711 

512 

415 

4,93(1 

11,672 

133,533 

865 

96,430 

35,766 

23,259 

524 

9,16.'j 

5,934 



7.185 

2,468 
23,618 
12,935 

5,168 
113,54'; 

5,87(1 
48,30s 

1,121 
14,829 
26,163 
37,232 
29,223 

2,404 

3,685 

r4,5r 

36,135 

49,182 
544 

52,401 

29,264 

39.824 
4,283 

40,778 
1,425 
3,296 
5,535 
6,670 
157,504 

99,502 
1,01(1 
9,248 

25,303 
2,309 

• 222 
7.707 
3,235 
3.401 

20,003 
568 

23,073 

20,841 
930 

23.686 

30.534 

1,008 

135,362 

59,027 
1,737 

52,476 



72,212 

2,576 

8,665 

418 

31,658 

8,030 

6,228 

137,985 

20.426 



1,452,905 

244,220 

1,064,052 

466,985 

337,769 

3,030,404 

234,041 

1,367.965 

1,146.980 

3,924,720 

1,883,336 

614,58i' 

1,019,994 

813.257 

2,133,111 

570,427 

581,964 

403,075 

1,023,849 

1,311,635 

1,680,225 

331,981 

2,107,615 

352,371 

620,247 

962,525 

565,671 

653,209 

1,508,763 

509,491 

1,051,313 

295,971 

735,2.52 

1,510.401 

172,651 

1,712,901 

2,541,683 

799,810 

611,951 

461,345 

887,981 

519,120 

1,286,326 

343,298 

674,333 

637,399 

681,267 

2,708,319 

517,353 

3,077,028 

656,363 

1,656,97!- 

1,182,69(5 

4,221,640 

2,214,468 

1,051,544 

2.127,549 

1,034,05 

l,182,90:i 

2,648,72(1 

133.12(i 

1,362,490 

1,145.005 

3,723.379 

1,973.881 

2,054,962 

543,71 

1,527,898 

3,198,835 

1,753.141 

1,787,066 

969,224 

384.446 

1,029.725 

1,399,188 

315,958 

195,735 

334,259 

510,08(1 

482.594 

1.459,653 

531,516 

4,388,763 

440,975 

752,771 

2,082,578 

1,149 878 

1,423.121 

1,615,679 

2,062,053 

679,753 

2,818,027 

421,361 

2,982,853 

836.115 

1,179,291 

870. .521 

2,162,943 

1.131,458 

655,710 

1,237.406 

2,154.185 



759,074 
21,627 
461,097 
579,127 
■ 70.852 
987.426 
26,234 
775, IOC 
168,784 
721,375 
383,821 
212,628 
269,945 
446,324 
315.954 
1,584,225 
136,255 
171,880 
1,087,074 
216,756 
225,074 
860,809 
290,679 
129,152 
386.073 
497,395 
154,589 
222,426 
261,390 
27,164 
64,029 
269,332 
203,464 
579,599 
26,991 
229,286 
668,367 
430,746 
149,931 
149,214 
285,949 
71,770 
874,016 
74,525 
785,608 
772,408 
468,890 
787,952 
699,069 
1,509,642 
131,386 
903,197 
659,300 
490,226 
454,648 
459,417 
475,252 
389,446 
362,604 
272,660 
22,097 
280,717 
910.397 
911,127 
235,091 
452,889 
152,251 
668,424 
198,724 
263,992 
141,540 
334,892 
338,760 
130,610 
161,419 
67,886 
16,511 
86,519 
414,487 
204,634 
276,575 
69,793 
397,718 
119,359 
13,462 
637,812 
316,726 
476,851 
960,620 
505,841 
124,473 
436,051 
110,793 
601.054 
533,398 
404,482 
119.652 
880.838 
1,868.682 
180,986 
868,903 
744,581 





''{^,4 






la- 
■ f 




' y^^^^^^-^z^^-T^^ 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

By Hon. George H. Woodruff. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



It is probably well known to most who will read these pages, that the writer, 
some few years since, delivered two lectures on the early history of Joliet and 
Will County, which Mr. James Goodspeed thought worth printing and publish- 
ing. Those lectures were hastily prepared, and the record which they gave 
was very imperfect. Many names of early settlers were overlooked, and one 
entire' settlement was strangely omitted in copying. The writer is, therefore, 
very glad of an opportunity to revise and rewrite the sketch, adding many more 
names of the first settlers and noticing many matters in our later history. We 
will, at the same time, omit much that appears in "Forty Years Ago," that 
was not strictly historical. There will be found in the following pages brief 
notices, also, of many of our early prominent citizens who have passed away. 
But no one will be more sensible than the writer that the record will still be 
imperfect, and that some names will probably be left out, and many matters 
escape notice which some one will think to be unpardonable omissions. This is 
one of the things which detract from the pleasure of writing local annals ; but 
it seems unavoidable, as no one can know and remember everything, and both 
the time and space allotted to the writer are limited. 

In one respect, the writer is happy. In the previous effort to preserve a 
little of our early history, the letter "I" occurred quite often — disagreeably 
so. The writer did not then know that he had the right to use the word " we." 
He supposed that the editorial fraternity had the exclusive privilege of hiding 
behind that impenetrable shield. But having discovered that there is no law 
to prevent its free use by any one who desires to do so, he has adopted it and 
will use it freely, leaving the reader to guess when it means only the writer and 
when it means a clique, a city, a township or a county. 

The writer regrets that circumstances have made him a fixture in Joliet, 
and that, like the sessile crustacean known as the barnacle, he cannot go about 
in search of historic food, and can only gather up that which comes witliin the 
reach of his tentacles. But, fortunately, he is to be followed now by others, 
who will gather up the history of each township separately, and will thus re- 
cord the many names and facts Avhich he will overlook. This, too, will atone 



224 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

for the prominence which he has given to Joliet — a thing which was unavoid- 
able, as an annalist must necessarily say most about events and circumstances 
" most of Avhich he saw, and part of which he was." 

BOUNDARIES AND TOPOGRAPHY. 

Will County, as it is now constituted, consists of twenty-three and about 
one-half townships of land, and is bounded on the north by Du Page and Cook 
Counties : on the east by Cook County and the State of Indiana ; on the 
south by Kankakee County, and on the west by Grundy and Kendall Counties. 
It has an area, therefore, of (about) 541,440 acres, or 840 square miles. In 
its widest part it is (about) thirty-seven and one-half miles east and west, and 
thirty-six miles north and south. The fractional half township is occasioned 
by its embracing a strip about one and a half sections wide of Townships 33 
and 34 north, Range 15 east, which lie between Range 14 and the State line, 
and are added to the towns of Crete (34) and Washington (33). Otherwise, and 
excepting the towns of Wesley and Custer (which are divided by the Kan- 
kakee), and the town of Reed, which is the west half of T. 32, R. 9, the 
town organizations are identical with the survey of townships — that is, each 
town consists of a township of land. This will be apparent at once to the eye 
by reference to the map Avhich forms a part of this work. 

The plan of survey, which was early established for the public lands, ren- 
ders the description and identification of tracts of land easy and. certain. This 
plan, which is said to have been devised by Thomas Jefferson, and was adopted 
in 1786, consists in establishing, first, at convenient distances, meridian lines, 
which are called " principal meridians," and which are started from some well- 
known point and are run due north and south. Next, a parallel of latitude is 
run at right angles with the meridian, and is called the base line. From these 
main lines others are run, called township lines, just six miles each way, which 
divide the land into townsiiips of six miles square, which are subdivided into 
thirty-six sections, of 640 acres each, which can again be subdivided, by imag- 
inary lines, into quarters, half-quarters, etc. The lines running north and 
south divide the townships into ranges : and those running east and west, into 
townships. The meridian line from whch we count starts from the mouth of 
the Ohio River, and is the Third Principal Meridian. Our ranges are east of 
this meridian, and the townships are north of the base line. The base line 
from which we count is somewhat below Centralia, so that the southern line of 
"townships in our county is 32 north, and the Avestern range is 9 east. It is 
from this Third Principal Meridian that most of the State of Illinois is sur- 
veyed. By this simple mode of survey, any piece of land is definitely and 
easily described, even down to ten acres. In all townships the sections are 
numbered, beginning at the northeast corner and numbering through first 
course west, then returning on the second, and so on through the township. 
Of course, along large rivers and on lakes, fractional sections occur. Plats of 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 225 

the surveys are recorded in the general and local land offices, and sect- 
on corners are marked on the prairie by stakes, and in timber by "blazed" 
trees. 

The county is largely prairie, although it exhibits a great variety of soil 
and surface. There are several townships in which there is not a stick of tim- 
ber (except as introduced by cultivation), yet considerable bodies of timber are 
found along the streams, and in isolated groves which were early called 
"islands." In the early settlement of the count}'-, and of the Northwest gen- 
erally, the settlers were very careful to select locations adjacent to some grove, 
and to secure a timber lot was deemed indispensable to settlement. It was 
then supposed that the prairie land two or three miles from timber would be 
always open to the range of cattle. The prairie is generally of the kind called 
high or rolling, and many of the low portions Avere called "sloughs," as they 
contained water except in the dry season. There is, however, very little of 
actual swamp land (although considerable was returned as such) in the county, 
and at present scarcely an acre that is not inclosed. The system of drainage 
by tiles is coming largely into use, which is making the "sloughs" tlie most 
valuable portions of the land. 

The county is well watered, except in the eastern townships, which are the 
highest part of the county. A considerable stream is the Des Planes,* or as it 
is often called, the Aux Planes, which rises far to the north (in Wisconsin) and 
passing through Lake and Cook Counties, enters this county on Section 24, 
Township 37 North, Range 10 East, or the town of Dupage, and passes on 
through the towns of Lockport (Township 36 North, Range 10 East), and 
Joliet (Township 35 North, Range 10 East), a corner of Troy, and through 
Channahon (Township 34 North, Range 9 East), into the edge of Grundy 
County, where it is united to the Kankakee, and with it forms the Illinois. 
Just before leaving the county, it is united with the Du Page, a beautiful stream 
of about the same size and naturally the fullest in dry seasons, which rises in 
the northern part of Du Page County, where it is fed by copious springs, and 
enters this county in the town of Dupage by two branches — East and West Du 
Page — is united on Section 7 of the township, passes through the towns of 
Wheatland, Plainfield and Troy, and unites with the Des Planes in the town of 
Channahon. This union of the two rivers (by the way) is what gives rise to 
the name Channahon, that word being the Pottawatomie word for "meeting of 
the waters." The name was given to it by Judge Peck, one of the early set- 
tlers in that locality, of whom mention is made elsewhere. The Kankakee, 
which is the largest, perhaps larger than the Du Page and Des Planes united, 
enters the oounty at the southeast corner of Township 32, Range 10, and 
dividing it unequally, passes into Township 32, Range 9, then into Township 
33, Range 9, which forms the town of Wilmington, near the southeast corner, 

*We give what we believe the correct spelling of the name, although it in often spelled O'Plain. We suppose the 
word to be of French origin, and that the uieauing is the river of planes, or button-woods, which resemble the 
European plane tree. 



226 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

and, passing through the town diagonally, goes into Grundy County near the 
northeast corner of the town. A smaller stream, known as Hickory -Creek, 
and which on some old maps was put down as Joliet River, which rises in Cook 
County, enters the town of Frankfort (Township 35, Range 12 East), passes 
throuo-h it and New Lenox (Township 35, Range 11), and empties into the 
Des Planes in the town of Joliet, just below the city. Of these streams, the 
Du Pao-e, the Des Planes and the Kankakee afford good water-powers, which 
have been more or less improved as will be elsewhere noted. Hickory Creek 
has also a good water-power at times. Besides these there are minor streams 
of much value as water-courses. The most considerable are Forked Creek, 
which enters the Kankakee in the town of Wilmington; Prairie Creek, which 
enters the Kankakee from the northeast in the township of Wilmington ; Jack- 
son Creek, which enters the Des Planes from the east in the town of Channa- 
hon : Spring Creek, which enters Hickory in the town of Joliet ; the *Lilly- 
cache, which enters the Du Page in the town of Plainfield; Horse Creek, 
which enters the Kankakee in the town of Reed, and Rock Run, Avhich enters 
the Des Planes in the town of Troy. These last mentioned streams and sev- 
eral others for which we have no names, are considerable streams in times of 
high water, sometimes becoming impassable where not bridged, but in dry sea- 
sons become mere brooks or dry up altogether. The Lilly-cache, however, 
being fed by springs which are permanent, is always a beautiful little stream. 
In the extreme eastern part of the county in the town of Washington (Town- 
ship 33, Range 15), there is a small lake or pond called Eagle Lake, covering 
perhaps, a half quarter of land, and surrounded by a considerable tract of 
marsh. The Des Planes River below Joliet Mound, expands to a considerable 
width, and is called Joliet Lake. The county also, especially along the water- 
courses, abounds in springs of good water. 

All the larger streams abound in fish of the kinds known in common 
language as pike, buffalo, red horse, bass, sunfish, etc., etc. In the times of 
Indian occupation they were favorite resorts of the natives for fishing and trap- 
ping, and abounded in muskrats, mink, otter, beaver, etc., some of which still 
remain for the delectation of amateur trappers. The muskrat still tells the 
weather prophet whether we are to have a mild or hard Winter, and is almost 
as reliable as the moon. This region furnished large supplies in the early days 
for the fur traders. The various kinds of water-fowl are still abundant and 
furnish " sport " for those whose hearts and consciences will allow them ruth- 
lessly to take the life of God's beautiful creatures. The prairies also abound in 
the native hens and quails, the destruction of which has been restrained by game 
laws. In the early settlement of the county, deer were very abundant and an 
occasional one is seen still, but they have mostly gone with the Indian. Prairie 
wolves were also very abundant in the early day, and a source of much vexation 

*Thi8 name is often spelled Lillycash, which we suppose to be incorrect as tliere is no unusual amount of cash on 
its banks so far as we know. The worJ cache is French and means a bole or hiding place, the name given by traders 
and Indians to the places where they often hid corn and other things. 



HISTORY OF WFLL COUNTY. 227 

and damage, and are not yet extinct. BufHiiloes, no doubt, once roamed in vast 
herds over Will County, but had disappeared before settlement. The timber 
which filled the native groves and bordered the streams consisted of the various 
varieties of oak, black walnut, hickory, elm, iiard and soft maple, button-wood 
and iron-wood. Of these and others there was a large and vigorous growth of 
fine trees on the first settlement of th > county, most of wliich in a few years fell 
before the ax of the settler for the purpose of building log houses, rail fences, 
fire-wood, etc., and, as soon as saw-mills were built, for lumber. There were 
also numerous groves of the wild crab-apple, tlie fruit of which was tolerable for 
sauce, when we could get nothing better, and when in blossom the trees were 
a sight which cannot be excelled in beauty. Wild plums were also abundant 
and good, and wild grapes festooned the trees and furnished a fruit which was 
fair in quality and made good wine. The present growth of timber has mostly 
grown up within the memory of the older settlers. The scarcity of timber has 
now been amply compensated by the discovery of coal and the substitution of 
other material for fences, as well as the bringing in at low rates of the products 
of the great pineries of Michigan and Wisconsin. For building purposes, a sub. 
stitute has also been found in our abundant quarries, and also in the manufact- 
ure of brick, the material for Avhich are found in abundance within our own 
borders. The bluffs and bottoms of the streams — notably of the Des Planes — 
furnish a limitless supply of the most beautiful limestone. The quarries of 
this county and Cook, on the line of this river, have become known the United 
States over. The southwest corner of the county — embracing portions of the 
towns of Wilmington and Reed, which is a rich, level prairie — is included in 
the coal-fields of Illinois, which furnishes, at cheap rates, the coal needed for 
our manufactures and our firesides. The extent of the AVilmington coal-field is 
not large, but it furnishes a large supply of valuable coal. The area is esti- 
mated at twenty square miles, and the thickness of the vein averages, it is 
thought, three and a quarter feet. This, according to the usual mode of reckon- 
ing, would give sixty-six million tons. This corner of the county is honey- 
combed with shafts, the depth of which varies from twenty to seventy feet. 
Hundreds of thousands of tons are annually sent to market. This industry has 
built up a considerable city in the township of Reed, of the name of Braid- 
wood, the name of which has figured somewhat in our recent history. To show 
tlie different overlying and underlying strata in this locality we give a section 
of the Eagle shaft as we find it in the geological survey of the State : 

Soil and drift 22 feet, 6 inches. 

Sandstone (water-bearing) 24 feet. 

Clay shale (soap-stone) 27 feet, 6 inches. 

Coal 2 ft., 10 in. to ?. ft. 10 in. 

Coarse, porous, water-bearing sandstone 12 feet. 

Fire-clay ?, feet. 

Coarse sandstone (J feet. 

Greenish fire-clay 15 feet. 



228 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

This boring below the coal was made in the hope of finding a second bed of 
coal, which, as yet, has not been found. 

Throuo-h the valleys of the three principal streams, alluvial deposits con- 
stantly occur. In the Kankakee Valley, these are mostly in the form of sandy 
ridges, similar to those found on the shores of Lake Michigan. In the valley 
of the Des Planes, are found extensive beds of limestone gravel and sand. 
The most noted of these is the Joliet Mound, one fourth of a mile long and 
two or three hundred feet wide, and sixty feet high. This is composed of gravel 
and boAvlders lying upon a bed of blue clay six feet in thickness. The early ex- 
plorers imagined this to be the work of the mound-builders, but its composition 
and that of neighboring ridges and bluffs show very clearly its alluvial origin. 
The symmetry of the mound which was once so striking, and which led to the 
belief that it was of artificial orgin, has been in part destroyed, first, by the 
canal, and subsequently by the "Joliet Mound Tile Company," which has ex- 
ported its gravel, and made use of its clay in the manufacture of tile and brick. 
All along the valley on either side and above and below it are ridges of gravel, 
and a still larger mound, known as Mound Flat Head, presents the same ap- 
pearance on its western side, a bold, gravelly bluff some sixty feet high. 

Quarries of limestone of different varieties, and of more or less value, are 
found in the valley of the Des Plaines from the northern line of the county to 
the Joliet Mound. These furnish a supply of stone for building and flagging 
that is practically inexhaustible. The particulars respecting the various work- 
ings will be given in the township histories. There is also a good limestone 
quarry at Twelve-Mile Grove, in the town of Wilton, but its distance from rail- 
roads, has prevented its being worked, except for the wants of the immediate 
neighborhood. Good stone is also found on Jackson Creek and on the Du Page. 
Some of these varieties of limestone furnish the right material for lime, which 
is largely manufactured, especially in Joliet. Peat has been found in small 
patches in the eastern part of the county, but there are no extensive beds. 

Specimens of copper have been found, and iron nodules are found in the 
shales overlying the coal ; and it is found in the form of pyrites in the lime- 
stone ; but there are no important deposits of either metal. Indications of pe- 
troleum have been found in a boring upon the island at Wilmington, and in the 
Des Planes River, near its mouth. Considerable oil fever was generated at the 
time, and some money thrown away in boring for oil. 

A sandstone quarry has been opened.between the Kankakee and the feeder on 
Section 6, in the town of Wilmington, and also one on Section 20, just across the 
Du Page, near its mouth. There are also fine beds of molding sand in the town of 
Channahon. This sandstone quarry, a few years since, promised to become a valu- 
able property. It was opened by a company, of whom our citizen, M. Haley, 
was one, and large quantities were sent to Chicago to aid in the rebuilding of 
the city. The Sherman House, and other extensive blocks are built of it. 
Quite a town grew up about the locality, but, for some reason or other, it is 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 229 

not now worked, and the town of Shermanville is deserted. The opening of 
the quarry showed, after the removal of the surface soil, two feet of molding 
sand, two feet of fire sand, eight feet of sandstone and clay, and tlien twenty- 
five feet or more of bluish sandstone. This was considered to be Avhat Chicago 
especially needed — something that would not burn. But its beauty, we have 
heard was impaired by containing traces of iron, which soon gave it a rusty 
appearance ; and Chicago doesn't like to be thought rusty, and abandoned its use. 
Artesian wells have been sunk in Joliet and Lockport, and the number in 
Joliet is not less than twelve. From most of these, a steady and copious flow 
of water is obtained, and very clear and pure, except that some of them con- 
tain a little sulphur. It is believed that in almost any part of the county a 
flow of water could be obtained at less than six hundred feet. Water was 
obtained in Joliet at less than five hundred feet. The drilling of one of these 
wells showed 220 feet of limestone, 80 feet of soap and slate stone, 110 feet of 
sandstone, bearing the Avater. When the first one Avas successfully accomplished 
in Joliet, a great number of our citizens assembled to witness the floAv. So 
deeply interested, it is said, did some become, that they actually drank more or 
less of the crystal fluid, a thing Avhich some had not done before for many 
years, thus renewing the experiences of their youth. 

SURVEY, ETC. ^ 

The reader has perhaps observed on the maps of this State two lines run- 
ning parallel to each other and diagonally across the townships, and called the 
Indian Boundary. The land included between these lines — a strip tAventy miles 
wide — Avas surveyed in 1821-22 (the Indian title having been extinguished to 
this in 1818) for canal purposes, as hereafter explained. The land lying out- 
side of this was surveyed in 1837—38. Consequently the portion lying betAveen 
these lines Avas brought into market earlier than the other. At the time of the 
first survey, the parties who did the Avork Avere obliged to go to Fort Clark, as 
Peoria was then called, for their supplies. 

To each of the townships the same act Avhich provided for the survey gave 
the sixteenth section for school purposes. Another section, the thirty-sixth, 
is also set apart for the same purpose by a later act, but this was too recent to 
benefit our State. 

At the time of the first settlement of our county the title to the land (the 
Indian title having been purchased by treaty) was in the United States. Acts 
of Congress had, hoAvever, been passed for the purpose of encouraging settle- 
ment, by Avhich actual settlers Avere allowed to gain a pre-emption right, as it 
was called, or a right to purchase, to the exclusion of all others, 160 acres of 
land, or a quarter-section, at $1.25 per acre, whenever the same should be 
brought into market. Land offices Avere established Avhere settlers could prove 
up their rights and receive certificates in the form of receipts for the purchase 
money, for which patents Avere afterAvard given by the United States. In 



230 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

cases wbere the whole amount could not be secured in one place, or when 
prairie or timber could not be secured contiguous, a right to locate one eighty 
on unclaimed lands was given, which was called a " float." After the lands 
had been opened to pre-emption for a time, public sales were held, and outside 
parties, not actual settlers, were allowed to purchase. Early settlers will recall 
how conflicting claims often occurred between "squatters" and other claimants, 
and how neighborhoods often established a kind of mock court for their settle- 
ment. These were without any authority of law, but their decisions were 
generally received without appeal. Certain acts were required by the law to 
entitle a person to pre-emption — such as a certain amount of fencing, a cabin 
and actual residence for a certain period. When public sales occurred, how- 
ever, "squatters' rights " were enforced by the combined settlers against spec- 
ulators., whether the claimant had done what the law required or not. Many 
actual settlers also had not secured their pre-emption by reason of their not 
having the money to pay for the land. Speculators and squatters often com- 
promised by the speculator paying for the whole claim and giving the squatter 
one-half. These various terms, pre-emption, float, claim, squatter, etc., have 
now become obsolete in this region, but they were, forty or fifty years ago, 
words of great significance. 

Another act had been passed by Congress, in 1826, giving to the State 
every alternate section of land in a strip ten miles wide, lying along and each 
side of the contemplated route of a proposed canal. This act appropriated 
300,000 acres of land for the purpose of constructing the canal, and laid the 
foundation for the Illinois and Michigan Canal, a brief history of which is 
given further on. It was, no doubt, this act, as well as the natural beauty and 
fertility of the region, which gave rise to the tide of immigration which set in 
hither forty to fifty years ago. 

EARLIEST HISTORY. 

In tracing up the history of any locality or people, it is always pleasing to 
go back to the beginning of things, and to learn who first trod its soil and voy- 
aged upon its streams. Such an investigation in reference to Will County car- 
ries us back to 1673, when Louis Joliet, a French trader, and James Marquette, 
a Jesuit missionary, started out from Green Bay on their successful voyage for 
the discovery of the great river which, the Indians informed them, flowed to the 
Great West. Going up the Fox and across the "divide " into the Wisconsin, 
they came, in due time, to the great river, on whose ample bosom they floated 
as far as the Arkansas. This was far enough to satisfy them that it emptied 
into the Gulf of Mexico, and they retraced their steps. Coming to the mouth 
of the Illinois, they returned by that stream to Chicago, having learned from 
the Indians that it was a shorter route, passing, of course, up the Des Planes. 
Tradition says that they encamped upon the mound below Joliet. However 
this may be, it has borne the name of Joliet Mound from earliest times. This 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 2ol 

was probably the first time that the region noAv known as Will County was trodden 
by a white man. A few years after, two other early French explorers — La 
Salle, a trader and e.xplorer, and Father Hennepin, another Jesuit missionary — 
passed from the St. Joseph River into the Kankakee, and down it into the Illi- 
nois. These facts and the following incident from Indian history, ought to 
make the Des Planes and the Kankakee classic rivers. In a very interesting 
work published a few years since by N. Matson, of Bureau County (and who, 
by the way, seems to be one of our indefatigable searchers after the Indian his- 
tory of this region), we find the folloAving tradition respecting the mound: 

" One of the most celebrated Indians of history was Pontiac, the chief of 
the Ottawas, of Michigan, After the surrender of the Northwest by the 
French to England, in 1763, Pontiac for a while contested the claims of the 
English, and was known as their most able and bitter enemy. When he could 
no longer maintain the contest, he left the vicinity of Detroit, where he was 
born and had always lived, and with the remnants of his once powerful tribe 
(about two hundred warriors and their families), found a refuge on the banks of 
the Kankakee, in this county, somewhere in the vicinity of Wilmington. He 
merged the remnants of his tribe into that of the Pottawatomies. This region 
was claimed by the Illinois, and a conflict arose between the tribes, especially 
in reference to the right to hunt the buifalo to the west of the Illinois River. 
After fighting over the matter awhile, a council was agreed upon to settle the 
question. This council met at Mound Joliet, in 1769. During a speech which 
Pontiac was making in support of his side of the question, he was treacher- 
ously assassinated by " Kineboo," the head chief of the Illinois. This act of 
treachery led to the bloody war which resulted in the destruction of the great 
Indian city "LaVantam," which stood on the site where the paper city of 
Utica was afterAvard built, and to the tragedy of Starved Rock, and to the ulti- 
mate extinction of the great nation of the Illinois. 

After the visits of Joliet, Marquette, La Salle and Hennepin, there is no record 
of these regions having felt the tread of the white man for nearly one hundred and 
fifty years. But it was no doubt a favorite hunting and fishing gi'ound for the 
Indians ; and many a tale of peace, of the chase and of Avar could be woven from 
the imagination, Avithout doing violence to the facts. The portage from the 
South Branch of the Chicago River to the Des Planes Ava-s easy and short, and 
the canoes of the Indian and of the Indian trader made frequent passages up 
and doAvn the Des Planes. The next Avhite man Avho explored this route, of 
Avhom we have any certain knowledge, Avas Gurdon S. Hubbard, now the oldest 
white settler of Chicago, and who was an Indian trader there, as early as 1824, 
and who entered the employ of the great American Fur Company much earlier. 
He, no doubt, and other Avhite men in their employ, used to convey goods 
along this route and gather up furs in exchange. We have a record of one 
such trip (the first), made in 1818, Mr. Hubbard is still living, and Ave think 
the Avorld might be challenged for another such experience as his. To have 



232 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

seen Chicago, the mere outpost it was, in 1818, and for some years after, and 
then to have lived to see its morasses transformed into a well-built city of half a 
million inhabitants I Old Methuselah, in his nine hundred and sixty-nine 
years, saw nothing like it. 

In high water then, as even now occasionally, the Des Planes emptied through 
Mud Lake a portion of its surplus waters in the Chicago River. Thus the 
practice of the Indians and of the earliest traders seems to have been prophetic 
of that great traffic which it was decreed that future years should open up 
through this beautiful valley, and which, immense as it is, has not yet probably 
reached its acme. No doubt many now living, if not those who are called old 
settlers, will yet see the steamers plying busily up and down an enlarged canal 
and river. 

The peace of Paris, in 1763, terminated the rule of France over the North- 
west, and it passed into English possession, a fact which was destined to secure 
to this region another type of civilization and of Christianity. Of course, many 
of the early explorers, traders and missionaries remained, and of these and 
their descendants it was estimated that two thousand remained within the limits 
of our State when (1818) it was admitted into the Union. Now, however, 
there are only the names of a few localities to remind us that the mercurial 
Frenchman once exercised the right of eminent domain here. By the Revolu- 
tion of 1776 and the treaty with England, the country passed into the domain 
of the United States, and, by the treaty of 1833, at Chicago, with the Potta- 
watomies, the red man surrendered his domain, also. In 1835, the Indians to 
the number of five thousand, Avere assembled at Chicago, received their annuity, 
danced their last war dance in Illinois, and took up their march for new hunt- 
ing grounds on the far Missouri. 

FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENTS. 

We will now proceed to detail such facts in respect to the first settlement of 
Will County as have escaped oblivion, and have been collected from the mem- 
ories of early settlers and from public records. In so doing, we shall of course 
repeat much of what was embodied in "Forty Years Ago." 

At the time of the admission of the State, all that portion lying north of 
Alton and Edwardsville, with slight exceptions, was a wilderness. Occasional 
explorers, soldiers on their marches to the distant outposts, as well as Indian 
traders and trappers, had, however, discovered the beauties of the region and 
given glowing descriptions of its attractions. The project of a canal, which 
was entertained during the war of 1812, as we have said, had also called atten- 
tion particularly to this region and led to its purchase of the Indians in 1816. 
and, as early as 1820 and on, an occasional pioneer had pushed out into the 
great Northwest. The Methodist Church, also, which, if not as early, has been 
as zealous and self-denying, as the Jesuit Society in its efforts to Christianize 
the " poor Indian," and to hold the restraints of religion over the pioneer, had 



UlSTOKV UF WILL COUNTY. 233 

early sent out its missionaries, furnished only with horse and saddle-bags, a 
bible and hymn-book, to establisli missions over the region so soon to become 
the homes of settlers from the East and from the West and South, Avhere Yan- 
kees and Hoosiers, Virginians, Kcntuckians and "Buckeyes" were soon to 
mingle in neighborhood fellowship, in due time to be followed by Irishmen, 
Germans, Englishmen, Swiss, Norwegians, Swedes and " contrabands." 

FATHER WALKER AND WALKER's GROVE. 

It was one of these Methodist missionaries who became the first settler 
within the present bounds of Will County. This was the Rev. Jesse Walker, 
a native of the State of Virginia, born in 176G, twenty-five years before the 
death of Wesley. He joined the church at the age of 20, and entered the 
ministry of the M. E. Church on probation, in 1804. He married the daugh- 
ter of a wealthy planter who was heir to much property in slaves. These she 
manumitted, choosing rather to suifer affliction with the people of God, and as the 
wife of a Methodist minister, than to enjoy the ease and comfort which could be 
secured by the sweat of unpaid toil. Like Moses, she no doubt had respect 
unto the recompense of the reward, and, no doubt, like him, she had entered 
upon that reward and does not regret her choice. In 1806, Walker, accom- 
panied by Wm. McKendree (afterward Bishop), came to Illinois — then included 
in the Territory of Indiana." They were highly pleased with what they saw, 
and at the next meeting of the Conference were appointed to the circuit in 
Illinois. It is characteristic of the times, and shows how loosely the Methodist 
clergy of that day were held by worldly interests, that Walker returned home 
from the Conference about noon, commenced preparations at once for the journey, 
and by 10 o'clock of the next day, he and his family were on the way to their new 
field of labor and self-denial. The state of the country at that time rendered 
only one mode of travel possible — i. e., on horseback — and four horses were re- 
quired for himself, family and possessions — one for himself, one for his wife and 
young daughter, one for his eldest daughter, a girl of sixteen, while the fourth 
carried, not his library, for an itinerant had only a hymn book and bible, but 
a small stock of Methodist books, the sale of which must eke out his slender 
salary. Such a mode of travel would not admit of carrying even a single 
Saratoga trunk, had such arks been at that time invented. Happily they wei'e 
not needed, as the wardrobe of each member of the family consisted of only one 
suit besides the one worn, and these were spun and woven by the mother and 
•daughter, and Avere of linsey-woolsey or jeans ! Think of this, ye Flora Mc- 
Flimseys ! 

Jesse Walker became an able and efficient preacher of Christianity 
in Illinois, although he had received but a very limited education. He was a 
man of strong, native intellect, ready wit and good sense — just the man for the 
place and the time. There are still some living who remember him well. In 
1821, Ave find him reporting his labors to the Conference as a missionary among 



234 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

the Indians; and in this capacity he came to the vicinity of Plainfield in 1826, 
where, and for several subsequent years, there was an Indian vilhige. In 1827, 
he was Superintendent of the Fox River Mission, embracing a large extent of 
territoi-y. He is said to have held the first camp-meeting in the State, and 
also to have preached the first Protestant sermon in St. Louis. In 1829, he 
had charge of the Des Planes Mission, and formed the first class at Walker's 
Grove, where the settlement was made, jusc south of the present village of 
Plainfield. Father Walker's labors as Superintendent of the Mission were not 
of course, confined to Will County. In the history of Livingston County, we 
find mention of his labors among the Kickapoos. The writer speaks of his suc- 
cess among this tribe as being considerable, resulting in many conversions. It 
is related of the converts that they were very scrupulous in the observance of 
the Sabbath, always returning from their hunting excursions on Saturday 
night. In this they were a good example to the whites, many of whom we 
have noticed start out to hunt on Sabbath morning. This writer also describes 
the kind of prayer books made use of, which consisted of black walnut boards 
on which they rudely carved the images and figures which represented their 
ideas, and these, it is said, they never failed to consult before going to rest at 
night. They did not forget their prayers, however sleepy and tired, as white 
Christians often do. To return to Walker's Grove. 

The Pottawatomie Indians had one custom which is worth recording. They 
set apart a certain number of their women as council women, whose duty it was, 
whenever the head men held a council, to sit in an inner circle and silently to 
listen to all that was said, and record, in their memories, the decisions arrived at 
by their lords. They were not allowed to speak in the council, or to gossip about 
it among themselves or with others, and only to speak when called upon officially 
in relation to any matter thus recorded. It is said that'these women were highly 
esteemed by the tribe, and were selected with great care, a fact which we can 
readily believe, for they must have been possessed of rare and admirable qualities. 
Many of these facts we have gathered from Mrs. D. C. Scarles, who is a grand 
daughter of Father Walker and the daughter of James Walker, presently to be 
mentioned. We are also indebted to the book of Father Beggs — another pioneer 
preacher of whom we shall presently make mention — for some of the facts re- 
specting Father Walker. Father Walker died at Plainfield, in 1835, at the ripe 
age of 69. At a meeting of the Rock River Conference, at Plainfield, in 1850, 
his remains were removed from the old cemetery to the new one, and a monu- 
ment placed over them with this inscription : " At the Rock River Conference, 
in 1850, his remains were removed to this place by his sons in the Gospel, who 
erect this stone to transmit his revered name to coming generations." 

It is very much to be regretted that the manuscripts left by Father Walker, 
respecting his life and labors, which must have been of great historic value and 
interest, were burned, a portion of them in the fire which afterward consumed 
the house of James Walker ; and such as were saved from that fire were con- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 235 

sume(i in the burning of D. C. Seavles' liouse a few years since. While on 
the subject of Indians, Ave will relate an incident which occurred a little later. 
During the Black Hawk war, one of the council women of whom we have 
spoken, came to Mrs. James Walker, the daughter of Father Walker, who had 
been a teacher at the mission, and who was highly esteemed by the Indians, 
and left with her her infant boy, to whom she had given the name of Shon-on- 
ise, charging her that if she did not return she must be a mother to him, which 
Mrs. Walker, without much reflection at that time, promised. The council 
woman was then on her way to Milwaukee to attend a council. It so happened 
that she was attacked Avith cholera and died, leaving to Mrs. Walker the charge 
she had accepted. This duty she faitlifully fulfilled, and the Indian boy was 
brought up in the family with Mr. Walker's children, and received the same 
advantages of education as his own, and when he became of age was given a 
generous outfit. But Shon-on-ise at once showed the truth of the adage, " once 
an Indian, always an Indian," for he immediately turned his pony's head 
toward the setting sun and sought out his tribe in the Far West. Having the 
advantages of education, he became an influential chief among the Indian tribes, 
and made frequent visits to Washington in furtherance of their interests. On 
such occasions he always called to see Captain James and his foster-mother. 

In this village, as elsewhere, the Pottawatomies were generally well dis- 
posed toward the settlers, giving them but little annoyance except when under 
the influence of good-na-tosh. This article, Avhich, under another name, plays 
the mischief among white people as well, was a source of great trouble and, 
indeed, of danger to the mission and the early settlers, and it became necessary 
to keep strict watch and to use arbitrary measures to keep it from them. On 
one occasion, Capt. James Walker, finding that by some unaccountable means 
the Indians had access to the contraband article, determined to find out hoAv 
they got it. Being perfectly familiar with Indian customs, and speaking their 
language, he disguised himself in their attire and walking into their encamp- 
ment or village, he seated himself among them, as he found them gathered 
together evidently for some special purpose. Presently a man stole in whom 
he recognized as an Indian trader from Fox River, and began to deal out the 
fire-Avater. He soon came to Capt. Walker, Avho jumped to his feet and called 
out the name of the trader, who exclaimed, " My God, Captain, is this you ! " 
The result was that the traffic ceased, for a time at least. But it is time to tell 
who Capt. Walker Avas. 

Capt. James Walker had married one of the daughters of Jesse Walker. 
Although of the same name, they Avere not related. James Walker Avas a 
native of Tennessee, and came to OttaAva at an early day, where he became 
acquainted with Jesse Walker, and married his daughter, and accompanied him 
in his mission to Walker's Grove. He brought with him a horse-poA\'er mill 
which he set up for temporary use, and proceeded at once to construct a saAV- 
mill and a grist-mill also on the Du Page. These rendered valuable service to 



236 HISTORY OF \YILL COUNTY. 

the early settlers in this region. It is said, and no doubt truly, that the lumber 
for the first frame building erected in Chicago was sawed at this mill. This 
was erected by a Mr. Peck, on the southeast corner of La Salle and South 
Water streets, upon a lot which had cost the enormous sum of $80. We pre- 
sume that the lot is now occupied by a better building, and that it has advanced 
somewhat in price. The lumber was hauled to Chicago by Reuben Flagg, Esq., 
mentioned below. On the organization of Will County, Jas. Walker was 
chosen one of the three County Commissioners without opposition, and soon 
after was chosen to represent the county in the Legislature. He also served 
the county as Commissioner during the years 1845-8. Mr. Jas. Walker died 
in 1850, at the age of 57. He was a man of strong good sense, integrity of 
character, and enterprise and energy, and a consistent member of the Methodist 
Church. 

Another Methodist pioneer preacher is identified with the early history of 
Plainfield and Will County, Rev. Stephen R. Beggs, who is well known 
throughout the county as one of the earliest itinerants through this region. 
He settled his family on the southeast quarter of Section 16 of the township, 
and built a log house, etc. He subsequently obtained the title to the same at 
the sale of the section under the school law. His house became historic, as we 
shall have occasion to mention by and by. Father Beggs still survives in a 
ripe old age, and is still able to put in his strong appeals in behalf of religion, 
temperance and justice. In 1825, a Frenchman of the name of Vetel A^er- 
mette, strayed into the same vicinity. He did not remain long and little is 
known of him. 

In the Summer of 1830, Mr. Reuben Flagg left the State of Ver- 
mont with his family, and after a journey of two months arrived in the 
vicinity of Walker's Grove, on the 9th day of July. He settled on the north- 
east quarter of Section 10 in the township. On his way, he passed through a 
village consisting of about a dozen log cabins, a block-house and stockade. 
Such an obscure point, surrounded by low, wet prairie, barren sand and impass- 
able sloughs, presented no attraction to the emigrant. No prophetic vision of 
the great city which afterward arose from the mud, and more recently from its 
ashes, had then troubled the brain of even the most enthusiastic squatter. Mr. 
Flagg found in the vicinity, besides the families of the Walkers and Vermette, 
two other settlers and their families. These were Timothy B. Clark and 
Thomas Covel, who had emigrated the same Spring from NeAV England. Mr. 
Flagg was accompanied from Detroit by Jedediah Wooley, Sr., who bought out 
the claim of the Frenchman Vermette. It is an interesting incident that in 
1832, Father Beggs, who was then Presiding Elder, held his first quarterly 
meeting in Chicago. The incipient city had by this time grown a little, but it 
had not yet become the greatest hog and corn market of the world, and it was 
thought necessary that some extra provision should be made for the Methodists 
and others that would congregate there upon the occasion. Accordingly, Mr. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 237 

Clark, above mentioned, hauled a load of provisions by ox-tcara express to 
Chicago to meet the emergency. A daughter of Mr. Flagg's (now deceased), 
was perhaps the first white child born within the precincts of Will County, 
although several others claim the honor. To this settlement additions were 
soon made. We give the names, so far as we have been able to gather them, 
up to 1837, with the dates of their arrival, without vouching for their correct- 
ness in all cases. In 1832-3, Wm. Bradford, John Shutliff, David Smith, 
Chester Smith, Ralph Smith and Paul Kingston. Although there are several 
Smith families, we believe that these three were brothers. 

In 1838-4, Alva Culver, Sereno Culver, Miles Royce, Chester Ingersoll, 
Jas. Gilson, Oliver Goss, Deacon Ezra Goodhue, Hardy Metcalf, Benj. Siiut- 
lift", Jason Flanders, John Bill, AV. W. Wattles, Robert W. Chapman, John 
Kellogg, Rev. Alfred Greenwood, Wm. Sanborn, Benj. Highland, Thomas J. 
Lang, James Mather and Andrew Carrier ; in 1835, '36 and '37, Jonathan 
Hagar, Levi C. Aldrich, Fenner Aldrich, Samuel Sergeant, Wm. E. Morgan. 
J. E. Ambrose, Elder R. B. Ashley and sons, Bela Luce, Myron Piersons, S. 
S. Pratt, Dr. A. J. Corbin, Alonzo Ray, Rev. Isaac Foster, Winthrop Wright, 
Cyrus Ashley, David Rossiter, A. J. Hatch, R. D. Hatch, Hugh Alexander, 
George Burrell, Dudley Beckwith, Lorin Burdick and S. B. Tyler. Flanders, 
Lang, Sanborn and Goodhue came together from New Hampshire. 

Mr. Greenwood was the first Pastor of the Congregational Church, which 
had been organized by the pioneer home missionary, Rev. N. C. Clark, in Sep- 
tember, 1834. It was composed of the following members at organization : 
James Mathews and Sarah, his wife ; Ezra Goodhue and Martha, his wife ; An- 
drew Carrier and his wife, and Oliver Goss and Mary, his wife ; Ezra Good- 
hue, Deacon. The first resolution passed by this Church was a strong temper- 
ance one, and the first case of discipline was that of a brother reported to have 
sold whisky to the Indians. Mr. Greenwood was succeeded in 1836 by Isaac 
Foster, who was an able preacher and one of the blackest of " black Abolition- 
ists " (of which we had a good many in Will County in the early days). He 
subsequently removed to California and took up the profession of law, and no 
doubt made a sharp and able lawyer. A characteristic anecdote is told of his 
California life : California, as Avell as other free States, had a fugitive-slave 
law passed in obedience to the slave power, which in those days was well-nigh 
supreme. In this case, however, the statute expired at a certain date by its own 
limitation. A "fugitive" was pursued to California and arrested. Foster, 
being well known there as well as here for his anti-slavery principles, was 
appealed to for the management of the defense. In his investigations, he dis- 
covered that the act under which the claimant had proceeded ^Vould expire in a 
few days. He therefore obtained an adjournment of the case to the day subse- 
quent to the expiration of the act. The other party little dreamed that there 
was any limit to their rights, and came prepared to insist upon their bond, like 
Shylock of old. Foster was ready, and soon surprised the Court and the other 



238 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

party by the information that the bond, under which they claimed not only a 
"pound of flesh" but the whole man, body and soul, was worthless, and 
demanded the discharge of the prisoner. To this demand the Judge was 
obliged to yield. Well knowing that other proceedings would be instituted, the 
friends of the slave had made arrangements by which he was safely conducted 
elsewhere by the underground railroad, and beyond the reach of the man- 
hunter, who, in his rage at being balked of his prey, challenged Foster to 
mortal combat. Foster declined on the score that it was none of his quarrel, 
but offering to get the negro to fight him if he Avished. 

James Mather built the mill at the upper end of the village, afterward 
known as McAllister's. He left Plainfield in 1844, and has died Avithin a feAV 
years in California. Wm. E. Morgan and Samuel S. Pratt, named above, 
started the first cabinet shop in Plainfield, and we think in Will County ; and 
Pratt, with Benj. Richardson, afterward started a cabinet and chair factory in 
Joliet. Oliver Goss and one of the Smiths were merchants. Jonathan Hagar 
was for a long time a merchant in Plainfield. He noAV enjoys the comfortable 
fortune which he has acquired by upright and diligent attention to business ; a 
prominent man in the Congregational Church and in the prosperous town of 
Plainfield. He is one of the stockholders in the First National Bank of this 
city. Jason Flanders was a native of Ncav Hampshire, came to the grove in 
1834, was an industrious, honest man, and a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. He died in 1875, at the age of 6t). Winthrop Wright has been 
a prominent man in the county, and was Supervisor of the town in 1855 and 
1856. A. Culver Avas Supervisor of the toAvn in 1852 and again in 1857.- 

Elder Ambrose organized the Baptist Church at Plainfield, and was suc- 
ceeded by Elder Ashley, Avho organized the original Baptist Church at Joliet, 
of which we shall speak by and by. We are informed by Elder Ashley, who 
still lives in Plainfield, carrying the weight of 79 years, that himself and Elder 
PoAvell held the first protracted meeting in Chicago. Elder Ashley counts up 
more that eighty meetings of that kind which he has conducted. 

Chester Ingersoll kept a hotel, Ave presume in " Mark Beaubien " style, in the 
early days, and laid out the first village plat of Plainfield in August, 1834. 
He Avas an active speculator, and subsequently resided at Lockport, where he 
held the office of Justice of the Peace. He Avas the Justice of the Peace who 
accomplished an official feat Avhich has probably never been equaled. Justices 
of the Peace Avere legally competent to take the acknowledgments of deeds, etc.; 
and the laAV, as is Avell knoAvn, required that the officer should examine the wife 
separate and apart from her husband, in order to relinquish dower. Having 
sold a piece of land, Ingersoll, Avith an eye to thrift or convenience, took Ms 
own acknowledgment, and also that of his wife ^'■separate and a'p art from her 
said husband," and certified to the fact under his own hand and seal, and the 
Avriter hereof put the deed and acknoAvledgment upon the county records. Just 
how he accomplished the feat, history is silent ; but that he did it has long been 







':'"'*«^ ste^afe. 





foECEASto) (^ 



J OLIET 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 241 

a matter of record. There has been considerable litigation in -the Avay of 
widow's claim for dower on score of defective acknowledgment, but we think 
this one would defy the sharpest lawyer. Ingersoll emigrated to California 
just before the discovery of gold, and died there. Several letters from him are 
in the files of the Signal. 

Of these early settlers in Plainfield and vicinity, three have been repre- 
sented in the bar of Joliet by one son each, viz.: Hager, Flanders and Good- 
hue. Thomas Lang furnished us with two brave boys for Company D, One 
Hundredth Regiment — Sergt. George A. Lang, and John C. Lang, who was 
wounded July 22d, before Atlanta. The latter is now on the editorial staff of 
the Republican. James jNIather built the mill at the north end of Plainfield, 
subsequently remodeled by the McAllisters. Later names and facts respecting 
the history of Plainfield are referred to in the town history. We are onlv 
attempting to record the beginnings of its history. One fact, however, of later 
date we will record. Such was the reluctance of the early settlers to 
launch out into the open prairie, that at the land sale in 1835, Judge Caton 
found two sections of land in the town of Plainfield still unclaimed, which he 
entered. These sections, 30 and 31, with a half-section in Kendall, make (next 
to that of C. C. Smith, in Channahon) the largest farm in our county. The 
Judge opened the farm in 1838, and resided upon it until 1842 or 1843, and Avas 
a most vigorous granger during those years, and could often be seen driving his 
long ox-team and breaking-plow, barefooted, over his ample and fertile acres. 
In those years, he used to vary the routine of daily life with occasional petti- 
fogging before Justice Hagar. We do not suppose that Mr. Ilag^r would claim 
that it was this experience which qualified him for Chief Justice of Illinois. 
The Judge still retains the farm, although Will County cannot claim him as a 
citizen. The property was many years in'charge of his brother, Wm. P. Caton, 
who was eight years the Supervisor of the town and Chairman of the Board. 
Let us also note the fact that Plainfield wiis the first town that got a company 
(the old battery) into the late war from our county, and she also furnished the 
greatest number of volunteers, in proportion to her population, of an};^ town, 
and she is also the only town in the county that has erected a monument to the 
memory of those who perished in defense of the Union. This monument cost 
$800. ' 

WHEATLAND. 

Immediately north of Plainfield, lies the town of Wheatland — Township 37, 
Range 9 — the northwestern corner of the county. With slight exceptions, this 
township remained unsettled until after 1840. Two things contributed to delay 
its settlement. Lying mostly outside of the Indian boundary line, it was not 
surveyed until 1837 or 1838, and not brought into market until 1841 ; and 
being entirely prairie (with a trifling exception in the northeast corner), it did 
not so early attract settlers as other portions. But this was also an advantage, as 
it was from these circumstances, kept out of the hands of speculators, and reserved 



2i2 HlcJTORV OF WILL COUNTY. 

for the hardy immigrant. But so fine a section of land could not long remain 
vacant after the discovery had been made that timber was not so indispensable 
as the earlier settlers supposed. 

Isaac Foster, of whom we spoke in the history of Plainfield, settled in the 
south part in 1837 ; Josiah B. Wightman, in 1838 ; L. G. Colgrove and Ches- 
ter Ingersoll, in 1839 ; Simeon B. Tyler, in 1841, and Anthony Freeland in 
1842. These were all on the east side of the Du Page. D. W. Cropsy, the 
first Supervisor of the town, settled on the west side, in 1846, but soon moved 
to the east side ; and S. Simmons, who was also Supervisor of the town five 
years, and our County Judge four years, located there in 1847. 

In 1843, there was a considerable addition to the township. William 
McMicken, and John McMicken — the present Supervisor of the town — who 
were directly from Scotland, settled in the extreme northwestern corner of the 
township. In this year, came, also, Wm. Cotton, A. B. Cotton, James Robins, 
John Robins and Fitzjames Robins, Englishmen, from the Isle of Wight, and 
George W. Brown, from Pennsylvania, and Joseph B. Wait, E. T. Durant War- 
ren W. Boughton, P. Haviland and Asa Canfield, from New York ; and Wm. 
Kinley, from the Isle of Man ; and Julius Piedlau and John Martin, from Canada 

In 1844, Stephen Findlay and sons founded the Scotch settlement, in the 
southwestern part of the town, at and about Tamarack Post Office. In the 
same year came Robert Clow and his five sons, Robert, Jr., Adam, William 
and Thomas, and a little later another son, John H. The Clows were Scotch, 
but had tarried a few years in the State of Ncav York before finally pitching 
their tent in Wheatland, where, the land being still not taken up, they entered 
1,080 acres of its beautiful prairie, embracing Section 15 and parts of 14 and 10. 
We find in the files of the True Democrat an enthusiastic notice of the editor's 
visit to Wheatland in 1850. The editor, H. N. Marsh, Esq., was then taking the 
census of the county. He makes special mention of the Clow plantation, of the 
white school houses, and of D. W. Cropsy 's fat beeves and toothsome cheese. 

The same year (1844), came Mungo Patterson, Daniel Catchpole, Jacob 
Spaulding, George Wheeler and Elias Myers. The Scotch Church Avas organ- 
ized in 1847, by Rev. Mr. Oburn, and the house of worship, which is such a 
conspicuous landmark to the travelers over the prairie, one mile north of Tama- 
rack Post Office, was built a few years after. 

In 1843, the following persons settled in the northwest part of the town- 
ship, and gave the neighborhood the name of the Vermont Settlement : David 
L. Davis, G. Washington Davis and their aged father, Jonathan Davis, and 
Levi Blanchard. In 1844, Laton Rice, also from Vermont, with his five sons, 
Alphonso, John I., Asahel, Philander and Isaac, in company with Rudolph 
Houghton and General Davis and their families, making the journey from Ver- 
mont with their own teams, camping out nights, after a journey of forty-four 
days, reached the same settlement and became a part thereof in October of the 
year named. Let us say, in passing, that Alphonso Rice was one of Wheat- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 243 

land's contributions to the war for the Union, and that he Laid down his life at 
Champion Hills in 18G3, being a member of Company II, One Hundred and 
Twenty-fourth Illinois Infantry; and that John I. is now a resident of 
Peotone, and, in the year 1877, was Supervisor of the town of Will. To 
this Vermont settlement there was added in 1845: Jacob Yaggy (a, German), 
Edwin Lillie (a Vermonter), and in l(S4(i Laban Clark and family, and 
ill 1847, Willard Ilayward, and in 1850 Zidon Edson and Dr. Allen and 
families. All these, together with the Mr. Kinley we named above, settled in 
the same district. To these were added, also, Leland Houghton, Hiram Johnson 
and Sampson Pratt, in 1844 or 1845. 

In 1844 or 1845, the following persons settled east of the Du Pao-e : F. 
Boardman and A. S. Thomas, and Sumner Heminway, on west side. Mr. 
Boardman was Supervisor of the town three years. 

In 1846, and the three or four following years, the population of the town 
increased rapidly, and among the later settlers were many Pennsylvania Dutch 
and Germans, and these now form nearly half of the population of the town- 
ship. They are the same staid and substantial citizens they are elsewhere, and 
have built two neat and substantial churches. 

We have spoken of the absence of timber in Wheatland, and this fact 
reminds us of a little story. In 1846, the first election was held in the town- 
ship, which, by the way, was then known as " Oregon Precinct," for two 
Justices of the Peace. Robert Clow, Sr., did not attend the election, but his 
sons did. When they came back, the old gentleman asked TRobert, Jr., who 
they had put into office. Robert, Jr., replied : " Mr. Lillie." " Varra gude I 
Varra gude ! " says he. " And wha' else ? " " Me," was the modest and hesi- 
tating reply. "You!" says the old man, "you! A-weel, a- weel, timber is 
varra scarce in this country, sure enoo. !" But fathers do not always put the 
most correct estimate upon their own boys. The people of Wheatland seem to 
have thought the timber pretty good, as they have chosen Robert, Jr., for their 
Supervisor seventeen years, while the county has chosen him as its Repre- 
sentative for two terms, and finally made him Circuit Clerk and Recorder. 
Mr. Robert Clow, Sr., died October 5, 1870, at the age of 83 years and 6 
months. His death was hastened by an accidental fall. 

In the digging of a well in Wheatland, on Section 6, in 1870, a bone was 
found forty-four inches long and of the diameter of one foot, supposed to be the 
bone of the lower leg of a mastodon, which must, it is estimated, have been at 
least seventeen feet high. 

Several of the names we have given in this list were residents of other parts 
of the county at an earlier date. 

THE DUPAGE SETTLEMENT. 

In the town of Dupage (Town 37, Range 10), which lies east of Wheatland, 
settlements were early made. This town is beautifully watered by the two 



244 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

branches of the Du Page which unite just before entering Wlicathind. The 
first settler in this township was Stephen J. Scott, a native of Maryland, who 
came into this State in 1826, and made a claim at Grose Point, now known as 
Evanston. He had the year before located on the eastern shore, but was not 
satisfied with the place, and crossed over with his family. There were then but 
few white people north of Peoria, besides the garrison. Only two or three fiunilies 
of Indian agents and traders at Chicago. AVhilo out hunting with his son 
Willard, then a young man of twenty or more (now a resident of Naperville, 
and a banker), he came upon the Du Page River near Plainfield. Struck with 
the beauty of the stream and the adjacent prairies and groves, he followed the 
stream until he came to the forks, or the union of the east and west branches, 
on Section 7. The beauty and evident fertility of the spot led him at once to 
the determination to leave the vicinity of the lake and locate on that spot, and 
make it his future home. He, accordingly, in the Autumn of 1830, made his 
claiui. built a comfortable log house and moved his family to the spot. This is 
the fiirm now occupied by Mrs. Sheldon. 

Willard Scott, who accompanied his father, had acquired a good knowledge 
of the Indian language and character, and had great influence with the Potta- 
watomie Indians, and at a council held at Big Woods in 1832, was largely 
instrumental in preventing the tribe from joining the Sacs in their murderous 
war upon the early settlers. He had been adopted into the tribe and received 
an Indian name — Kish-wash, an Eagle. The sterling honesty and undaunted 
bravery of the young man commanded their respect and confidence. On one 
of his earlv hunting expeditions ho wandered as far as Iloldeman's Grove, and 
there found a wife in the family of Hawley. This family removed to the same 
locality in 1830. These Scotts subsequently removed to Naperville and became 
identified with the history of Du Page County. 

In the years 1830-32, this vicinity was selected as their future home 
by Israel Blodgett, Pierce Hawley (above named), Robert Strong, John 
Dudley, Ralph Stowell, Harry Boardman, Seth Wescott, Isaac Scarrett, 
Lester Peet, Simon Terrill, John Barber and Samuel Goodrich. In 1833-35, 
the settlement was increased by the coming of Andrew Godfrey, Harry 
Lord, Philip Lord, Hiram Warren, Hannibal Ward, Daniel Stewart, 
Peter Stewart, Samuel Whallen, Shubal Swift, Joseph Berry, S. Clifford, 
George Spicer, William Smith and Jonathan Royce and sons. 

Isaac Scarrett, above named, was another Methodist pioneer itinerant, and co- 
laborer with Beggs and Walker, and he succeeded Walker, in 1828, as Super- 
intendent of Fo.x River Mission previous to his settlement in Du Page. His 
son, P. P. Scarrett, was Sheriff of our county in 1854-55. Elder Scarrett 
died at the residence of his son in Joliet, in May, 1861, at the age of 78. Samuel 
Whallen was a County Commissioner in the years 1841, 1842 and 1843, and died 
about five years since at the ripe age of 94. Wm. Smith, commonly known as 
Col. Smith, removed, in a few years, to this city, having been elected Clerk of the 



niSTORV OF WILL COUNTY. 246 

Circuit Court, whicli office he held for seven years. lie was a prominent citizen 
until his death, in November, 1870 ; was 82 years old. His son, R. W. Smith, 
was Supervisor of" Dupage in 185o— "jT, and has also deceased. 

Harry lioardman wa-j one of our most popular and genial citizens and 
Supervisor of the town in 1855 ; a son of Jonathan Iloyce, of same name, 
was Supervisor of the town in 1870-7^. John Barber was the father of our 
well-known citizen, R. E. Barber, Escj., and settled on the south side of the 
east branch, and gave name to Barber's Corners. Robert Strong still lives, 
one of our most worthy citizens and an Elder in the Dupage Presbyterian 
Church, and was Supervisor of the town in 18G2. Judge Blodgett, of Chicago, 
is a son of Israel Blodgett. 

Mrs. Kinzie, wife of John H. Kinzie, one of the earliest Indian Agents of 
the Northwest, and for a long time a resident of Chicago, in a book which 
she wrote about her early experience on the frontier, speaks of stopping at 
Hawley's over night, after a long exposure in traveling from Fort Winnebago 
to Chicago in the Winter of 1831. A brother of Hawley's was killed by the 
Indians near his place in 1832, after cruel torture. So far as known, this 
and the Dunkard preacher, hereafter noticed, were the only persons killed in 
the Sac war within the bounds of Will County, although, as we shall presently 
relate, there were many who were badly scared. 

Lester Peet taught the first school in the Naperville settlement, Du Page 
County, by a contract with the early settlers of that locality, for twelve dollars 
a month. Capt. Jo. Naper heads the list of twelve subscribers, who promised to 
pay in proportion to the number sent. The writer remembers this ancient 
pedagogue well in later years as one who always came to Joliet to attend Anti- 
slavery, Temperance and Bible meetings. The first school in Dupage town is 
said to have been taught by Josiah Giddings, and the first church organized, 
in l-^SS, by Rev. N. C. Clark — we suppose the same church which now exists 
and to which the veteran J. A. Porter now preaches, and who was also its Pastor 
many years ago. * 

The Des Planes River passes through the southeast corner of this town- 
ship in which is a widening of the river, which has received the name of Goose 
Lake. Any man who supposes it to be much of a lake would certainly be a 
goose. Another " Lilly-Cache," which rises near the place where the other 
stream of the same name rises, runs east and empties into the Des Planes. This, 
however, is not a navigable stream. Both have their source in springs. Besides 
the timber along the streams, there is, in the south end of the town, a beautiful 
island of timber, which, together with a noted spring between it and the river 
were all known in early times by the name of Lilly-Cache. The old roads 
from Plainfield to Chicago and from Joliet to Chicago, passed on opposite ^ides 
of this island grove and came together upon the highland near Godfrey's (on 
Section 12j, a famous tavern stand in the early times, where we got our first 
refreshments on the way to Chicago, and the stage-driver "changed horses." 



246 " HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Godfrey and Spicer, and, perhaps, others named above, settled in this part of 
the town. The Illinois & Michigan Canal and C, A. & St. Louis R. R., 
which follow the course of the river Des Planes, run through the 
same corner of the town. Martin's Landing, on the canal (a small city), lies 
on the line of the township, and partly in Dupage and partly in Lockport. 
There is also a Romeo depot on the railroad. In this vicinity one of the paper 
cities of the county was early laid oft" and called Romeo, to match Juliet. It 
was intended, perhaps, as a rival ; but the starting of Lockport by the canal 
ended it. Of course, along the east side of the river are found quarries of lime- 
stone. These will be more particularly described in the township history. 

SETTLEMENTS ON HICKORY CREEK. 

We pass now to the settlements along Hickory Creek. It must be borne 
in mind that Ave are giving the history of early settlements, without strict refer- 
ence to present town lines. The Hickory Creek settlement would now be in- 
cluded in the towns of Joliet, New Lenox, Frankfort, Homer, etc. W. R. Rice, 
in a letter which we find quoted in the combination map of the county, says 
that in June, 1829, he, together with William Rice, his father, and Miller 
Ainsley, left Fountain County, Indiana, to take a look at the Far West. He 
says, " We struck the Iroquois, which we followed to the Kankakee, which, in 
turn, we followed to the Des Planes. We then went up the latter until we 
came to Hickory Creek. Going up this a mile or two, we found a Mr. Brown 
and old Col. Sayre, living in an old Indian bark shant}^ near where Dr. Allen's 
house stands (the old Davidson place) ; and about eighty rods northwest across 
the creek was an old man of the name of Friend, who had a log cabin partly 
built. ' This account is no doubt correct. The Brown he speaks of died soon 
after and was buried on the Davidson place, perhaps the first white burial in 
Will County. As is well known to all old settlers. Col. Sayre built a saw-mill 
on the creek, near where the Red Mill now stands, but on the north side of the 
creek, a little higher up. Mansfield Wheeler, who came to the vicinity in 1833? 
went into partnership with him. This old mill has long since gone to the limbo 
of things that were, but the writer hereof has often seen the saw crashing ruth- 
lessly through huge oaks and black walnuts to supply the needs of new settlers. 
It was at this mill that the lumber was sawed for the first frame houses of Joliet, 
built in 1834. 

To this settlement there also came, in 1830, Lewis Kerchival and son, John 
Gougar, Michael Runyon, Jared Runyon and Jas. Emmett; in 1831 — John Nor- 
man, Jos. Norman, Aaron Ware, Thos. and Abraham Francis, Isaac Pence and 
Samuel Pence. There is a tradition that Jo Smith, the Mormon, once preached 
at the Point, and that Jas. Emmett and others were converts and left the vicinity. 
In 1832, were added Cornelius C. Van Home, John Stitts, Peter Watkins and 
sons, Wm. Gougar and son Nicholas, and Joseph, Alfred and James Johnson. The 
Johnsons located on Spring Creek, in the edge of what was known as Yankee 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 247 

Settlement, most of which is now embraced in the town of Homer. To these 
were added, in 1833, Isaac ReynoMs and liis three sons, Smith, Newton and Milton 
Reynolds, Judge Davidson and Matthew Van llorne; and in 1834, G. S. Green- 
Avood, John Broadie and John Cooper and sons. Later, in 1835 to 1837, came 
John Carl, Abel Bliss, L. A. Cleveland and many others. It will be understood 
that the above list includes settlers on both the north and south sides of the 
creek ; some on what is now known as Maple street. Ohio, Indiana and New 
York furnished most of these settlers. Most of these have passed away. 
Some have left sons that perpetuate their family names and are counted among 
our best citizens. 

A daughter of the elder Pence has the distinction of being the first Joliet 
bride, for a description of whose wedding the reader is referred to " Forty 
Years Ago." Perhaps the most prominent of the persons named above, in our 
history, was C. C. Van Home. He taught the first school in the vicinity in 
the Winter of 1832. His place in the point of timber that makes out into the 
prairie, in which are the Camp Grounds of the Methodist brethren, was known 
in the early days as Van Home's Point. He was a marked character, well and 
extensively known throughout Cook County, of which we then formed a part. 
He was a man of liberal education, great shrewdness, abundant self-esteem and 
tenacity of purpose. He got the appointment of Postmaster and Justice of the 
Peace soon after coming here. The only mail route at that time in the county 
was a weekly horseback one from Danville to Chicago. This passed by the 
cabin of Uncle Billy Gougar. As Van Horne resided some distance to the 
east, the office was kept by one of the Gougar boys. In 1834-5, before a post 
office was established at the city of Joliet, the writer hereof made weekly pil- 
grimages to Uncle Billy's, after the longed-for letters from home. Well can he 
recall the old log house (long since replaced by a comfortable frame farm cot- 
tage), with it? two rooms, in one of which the post office was kept. In what a 
striking contrast to the place where he noAV gets his mail, was that old dry- 
goods box, roughly pigeon-holed, with the letters of the alphabet rudely inked 
on the edges of each partition. With what greed he seized a letter when he 
happened to get one, although it cost a quarter, and had been several weeks on 
its dreary way. He remembers how, on one occasion, he had to pay about a 
dollar for a pamphlet, the margins of which were covered with writing, contrary 
to law. But it was cheap, even at that price ! And the writers of those letters 
— where are they ? Gone ! all gone ! 

But we are sadly digressing. Van Horne was one of our most useful cit- 
izens in those days, transacting the business of the early settlers, aiding them 
in obtaining their claims and land titles. It was the good fortune of the writer 
to make his acquaintance before that of any other settler, having met him some- 
where this side of Niles, when coming into the country, and riding back with 
him to "Van Home's Point." It was, perhaps, owing as much to his influ- 
ence as to the good sense of the settlers, generally, that two years after he was 



248 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

elected as the first Recorder of the county. But we soon forfeited his friend- 
ship by our bad behavior in apostatizing to abolition. But we are anticipating. 
It will be well remembered that Van Home, some years ago, removed to Joliet, 
and was elected the first Mayor under our city charter, and how he " magnified 
his oflSce." It may not be improper to add that one of his sons is now Super- 
intendent of an important Western railroad. C. C. Van Home died of cholera 
in 1854. 

Several members of the Reynolds family still live in our county. J. S. Rey- 
nolds, who was brevetted General near the close of the late war, and who com- 
manded the Sixty-fourth Regiment in the important battle at Bentonville, on 
Sherman's march from Savannah to Washington, is a son of one of them. Hig- 
ginbotham moved to town many years ago, and built a fine house, where his 
widow (now Mrs. Sutphen) still lives, while his sons perpetuate his name. He 
died in March, 1865. 

Many yet living will remember Uncle Billy Gougar, so noted for his strong 
good sense and sterling integrity. He held the important trust of County Com- 
missioner in 1840 and 1841. He died in 1861 at the age 78. Father Beggs 
officiated at his funeral, which was largely attended. Lewis Kerchival was one 
of the best citizens and farmers in the county, and died some years since. His 
son James C, was Supervisor of the town of New Lenox in 1854 and 1855, 
and again in 1858. He died in 1873 at the age of 55, a worthy son of a worthy 
sire. Jarod Runyon was, for some years, a Justice of the Peace of the village 
of Lockport, and now resides in California. We had a visit from him a few 
years since. 

-' FIRST BALL. 

Mrs. Kinzie, in her "Waubun," gives an account of a ball on Hickory 
Creek, in 1831. She does not tell us at whose house it was held, but we have 
ascertained that it was at Mr. Friend's.* Three out of the five single gentlemen, 
then resident at Chicago, came down to this ball on horseback, of course. 
One or two of them were officers from the Fort. Parties of this kind 
were not very frequent, the guests had to be collected from great distances, and 
consequently they were somewhat prolonged. This one opened with a sumptu- 
ous repast at noon, at which every luxury which the country then afforded was 
dispensed in profusion. As the art of printing had not then been introduced 
into this region, we have no menu of the feast, but we know what the possibili- 
ties of the time were. The piece de resistance was undoubtetUy a haunch of 
venison roasted, which might have been supported with fried bacon and prairie 
chickens. The entremets might have been pumpkin pie, crab-apple sauce, or 
stewed wild plums, and the fruit was probably melons and wild grapes. There was, 
also, no doubt, an abundant supply of corn dodgers, saleratus biscuit and wild 

*In "Forty Years Ago," we hazarded the conjecture that it was proliably at Kerchival's. We are glad of this oppor- 
tunity to make tlie correction, not only because we desire to be a correct and reliable historian, but because we wish to do 
justice to both the families named. On tlie one hand, Mrs. Kercliival was, we are glad to say, a very religious woman, 
and would not be likely to encourage a ball ; and, on the other, Mr. Friend and family sliould not be deprived of the honor 
of being the first to plant the institution in Will County. We do not suppose that they ouglit to be held responsible 
for the melancholy dtnouemenl. ♦ 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 249 

honey. The ball opened at 2 o'clock, and was kept up, with a short recess for 
supper, until the next morning. But the gay scene was terminated by a tragedy. 
The Chicago gentlemen, it is presumed, were more stylishly dressed and put on city 
airs, and were so agreeable and forward in their attentions to the country belles 
that the native beaux Avere eclipsed and compelled to take back seats. The 
Chicago bloods were highly elated with the manner in which they carried off 
the favors of the girls. Their !-atisfaction Avas, however, greatly dampened on 
discovering, when they got out their fine horses, in the early dawn, preparatory 
CO their return, that by some strange visitation they (the horses) had lost 
their manes and tails. 

JUDGE DAVIDSON. 

Judge Davidson came to this section in 1830, from the State of Indiana. 
He was originally from the State of New Jersey, where, when a poor young 
man, earning his living at surveying, he found a lot of pine land which had not 
been taken up. He managed to secure it, and immediately took his ax and 
"lifted it up against the big trees." This not only made him " famous," but put 
some money in his purse, with which he came to Indiana and there invested it in 
lands at Government price. This soon made him rich. When he came to Hickory 
Creek, he entered not only the well-known Davidson farm, but several others; 
and he was, while he lived, one of our most prominent and substantial men, 
although of retiring disposition, and never seeking office. When he came here, 
he was still a bachelor, and in the prime of life. He met his fate in the 
daughter of one of his tenants (Mr. More), to whom he was married, and by 
whom he had two daughters, Avell known in Joliet society. His widow has since 
married Dr. B. F. Allen. It is said that the Judge always kept the ax with 
which- he hewed his way to fortune. He acquired his title of Judge in Indiana, 
where he held the office of Probate Judge. He died in March, 1844, at the 
age of 57. 

JOLIET TOAVNSHIP. 

About the same time, another settlement was made, mostly on the south 
side of Hickory, in Joliet Township. Robert Stevens and David Maggard 
made claims in 1830, and brought their families in 1831. Stevens located on 
the Avell-known Stevens' place (on Section 2), a well-chosen selection, which 
made him, in time, the possessor of a valuable property. The first " fair 
grounds" were located on this property in a beautiful grove of oak openings, a 
beautiful and abundant spring supplying water. These grounds, Avith the fair 
buildings, Avere afterward occupied as a soldiers' camp and barracks, when it 
became necessary to subdue the " onpleasantness " of our Southern brethren. 
David Maggard settled on the bluff on the Avest side of the Des Planes about 
opposite the Rolling Mills. His cabin Avas the first one erected in the present 
limits of our city. It stood on the edge of a ravine up which passed the Sac 
trail. This trail, it is perhaps necessary to many readers to explain, Avas the 
trail made by the feet of the Indians and their ponies on their yearly journeys 



• 



250 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

from the Great West to Fort Maiden, in Canada, to receive the annuities which 
it was the cunning policy of the English Government to keep up long after the 
country had passed from their possession. The fruit of this policy was appar- 
ent in the fact that in the war of 1812, the Indians were generally, secretly, if 
not openly, on the side of England, and in the massacre at Chicago, and other 
barbarities. This trail, which was for many years very plain and distinct, and 
which was a well-known guide for the early voyager over the prairie from Niles 
hither, and which is now probably entirely obliterated, divided somewhere near 
the present cemetery, one branch going south to Ottawa, crossed the old ford 
below Joliet, and the other crossed the ford opposite Maggard's cabin and went 
on by Walker's Grove to the Great River. 

In 1831, Philip Scott, William Bilsland, Major Robert Cook and his aged 
father, a Revolutionary soldier, Daniel Robb, Jesse Cook and Reason Zarley, 
were added to the settlement. Seth Scott and Aaron Moore, also John Nor- 
man, came in 1832 ; William Hadsell and John Goodenow, in 1833 ; Joseph 
and Jacob Zumalt, in 1834. We suppose Mr. Goodenow to be the same man 
who settled in Yankee Settlement before the war. He was the father of Mrs. 
Michael Rodgers, and died some years since at Reed's Grove. 

Reason Zarley came here from Ohio, was one of our first Justices of the Peace 
while we were yet a part of Cook County. He died Aug. 30, 1859, aged 68 years 
and six months. He was born in 1791 ; served in the war of 1812, and was one of 
the few survivors that returned from thebloody engagement at Brownstown, where 
one hundred and thirty Americans were assailed by eight hundred Indian and 
four hundred British soldiers. He was in the army at the time of Hull's sur- 
render. He came into the State in 1829, and to this township in 1831, and 
settled upon the well-known Zarley farm, which he had purchased when the 
canal land was in market, under the act of 1829. There were few here then 
except Indians. When the Black Hawk war broke out, he went, with his 
family, to Danville, returning, after it was over, to the same place, where he 
resided until his death. He was a man of sterling character, high moral senti- 
ments, sound mind and strong, good sense and judgment. A large concourse 
of citizens attended his remains to their resting-place. A Chillicothe, Ohio, 
paper, noticing his death, speaks of him as one of the pioneers of that 
country. He was a man of large influence in shaping the early politics of 
Will County. It is hardly necessary to say that he has supplied us in his sons 
with two editors and printers, one of whom has lately deceased, while the 
other, familiarly known as " Cal," still gives shape to- our politics and school 
affairs ; while a third son. sometimes called " Bill," after lonor and useful service 
as City Clerk, has got a comfortable seat as County Clerk in the old Court 
House. Another son, Linton, died in 1850, at the age of 24, having just 
entered upon the practice of law. 

When our county was erected, Robert Stevens was elected Sheriff with 
great unanimity. He was most deservedly popular. But he did not covet 



HISTORY OF WILL COUilTY. 251 

office, and he declined to qualify, and all that Summer we were without a 
Sheriff. We are glad to be able to state that this is the only time we know of 
Bob Stevens (as he was familiarly called) shrinking from his duty, and we 
knew him pretty well. And for the honor of Will County, we are also glad to 
be able to state, and we do it without fear of contradiction, that from that day 
to this there has been no difficulty in getting men to fill the office of ShGriflP, or 
any other county office. Indeed, sometimes there has seemed to be a super- 
abundance of men who were willing to serve the public. We shall, by and by, 
give a list of those who have shown their devotion to our county by actual serv- 
ice. We should be glad to give a list of those who have been willing to do so 
had the county needed them, but this would require more room than our pub- 
lisher could spare. Robert Stevens was a native of Kentucky, and raised in 
Ohio and Indiana. He died in January, 1864. 

William Hadsell, named above, still lingers in our midst, and may often be 
seen upon our streets carrying the weight of 88 years of an industrious and 
honest life. He begins to fail, but says he should have lived to a handred easy 
enough if he had not got caught in a storm on the prairie a few years since and 
had to fight lightning, which was a harder fight than he ever had Avith the 
British, although a soldier in the war 1812. 

John Norman erected the first flouring-mill in Joliet — we wish we had a 
picture of it and the surroundings, as we well remember them. About opposite 
the Penitentiary there was an island in the Des Planes, heavily wooded — a 
romantic spot then, where the writer often went in search of plants and flowers. 
At the head of this island, across one channel, Norman built a brush and gravel 
dam, which threw the current strong upon the other side; near this he built a 
log mill. His wheel was placed in the current, and the shaft running into the 
mill, turned the machinery which ground the corn. A very simple affair, hav- 
ing the capacity of twelve or fifteen bushels of corn in twenty-four hours, but very 
useful in those early days when corn-dodgers formed an important part of the 
daily rations. This old mill Avas not as big a thing as the rolling-mills opposite, 
but it was built without municipal aid. 

In this township, yet farther down on the river, a family settled in 1836 or 
1837, which we must not forget to mention — that of Robert Shoemaker, the 
father of Mrs. Dr. A. W. Bowen and Mrs. Josiah McRoberts (and that's how 
we got the Judge). M. Shoemaker, a partner of J. A. Matteson in the early 
days of the old wooden block on upper Chicago street, and who has been and 
we believe now is a State Senator in Michigan, was his son. 

SETTLEMENTS IN JACKSON, HEED AND OTHER GROVES. 

In the edges of the timber lying along the Des Planes and Jackson Creek, 
and in the groves known as Jackson's Reed's, Starr's, Troutman's, etc., which 
now form parts of Joliet, Jackson and Channahon Townships, settlements were 
early made. In 1831, Charles Reed, Joseph Shoemaker and Wesley Jenkins 



252 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

settled in Reed's Grove, near the present station of Elwood. John and Thos. 
Coon, the two Kirkpatricks, Thomas Underwood, Eli Shoemaker, Charles 
Longmire, James Hemphill, Peter Eib and sons, Archibald Crowl, Henry, 
George and Lewis Linebarger, Daniel Haight, John and Samuel Catron and 
Theopilus and Robert Watkins settled in some one of these groves in 1831-2-3 ; 
and Benj. and Joseph Shanks, Smith Johnson, John Brown, George Young, 
Peter Brown and son and R. J. Boylan, in 1833-4, and William Cotton in 
1835, and, we had almost forgotten him, Peter Doney. Charles Reed is per- 
liaps better entitled than any one else to be called the founder of Joliet, as he 
came up here in 1833, built a log cabin (the old McKee house) and commenced 
preparations to build a mill. These preparations consisted, as his deed of sale 
to McKee in the Spring of 1834 says, " of a dam partly made on the east side 
of the river, a house, some fence, a mill-race and some machinery for a mill, 
both of wood and iron, on the west side of the river." Of this matter, how- 
ever, we will speak more particularly by and by. Joseph Shoemaker, a most 
excellent man, a warm friend and an ardent Methodist, opened a splendid farm 
on the south side of Reed's Grove, which after many years he sold out, and 
which is now known as the Rogers' place. He was Supervisor of Florence 
four years. We are sorry to say he has left the State. Jenkins was a fine 
specimen of a great Hoosier, of whom we have told a pretty good story in 
" Forty Years Ago," which we will not repeat here. But we don't know why 
he should have been named Wesley, unless on the principle of " lucus a non 
lacendo." Hemphill and Eib still have representatives in the county. Joe 
Shanks Avas another specimen of a Hoosier, and was Shanks by name and 
Shanks by nature. The best thing that we remember about Joe is that he was 
the writer's friend when he ran for Recorder, and gave him his vote, although 
it was urged against us that we belonged to a temperance society — not a popu- 
lar thing with " Hoosiers " then or notv. " Wall," said Joe, " I drink right 
smart of likker myself, but I allow we'd better have a sober man to do our 
business.'' We commend Joe's philosophy to all voters, and the Jiigher the 
office, the more important the rule. George Linebarger is still living near 
Elwood, and has been Supervisor of Jackson ten years. R. J. Boylan is still 
one of the well-known residents of Jackson, and he held the office of County 
Surveyor for eight years (1840-48), and what he doesn't know about the sections 
and corners of Will County is not worth knowing. Boylan sometimes tells the 
story of his first arrival at Joliet, in the Fall of 1834. After a long and tire- 
some horseback ride from Chicago, he began to look anxiously for the town of 
*• Juliet," of Avhich he had heard all along the road, and, fearing that he might 
have lost his way, he rode up to a small wooden building, which he found to be 
a store. On entering, a long, lank youth rose up from the counter, on which 
he was stretched out — that is, as much of him as the counter would hold — of 
whom he inquired the way to Juliet. The youth somewhat pompously replied : 
" Sir, if you seek the city of Juliet, look around you." Little did Boylan 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 253 

dream that he was on the corner of BluiF and Oneida streets, and that he was 
addressing the future historian of himself, Joliet and Will County — who would 
some day have his " pictur " in a book I It should be mentioned, to the credit 
of Jackson Grove Precinct, that they built a scliool house as early as 1833 — 
perhaps the first in Will County. Henry Watkins, from the Hickory Creek 
settlement, taught the school. Any one who remembers his little shiny round 
head Mill not doubt that his scholars looked upon him with the same awe and 
wonder as did those in Goldsmith's ''Deserted Village" upon the village 
pedagogue," . . , ..,, ., , , ,.„ ,, , 

ir o n J I. And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, 

That one siuall head could carry all he knew." 

YANKEE SETTLEMENT AND LOCKPORT. 

We have spoken of the Johnsons as settling in Yankee Settlement. These 
were "Hoosiers," but, as will be inferred from the name, most of those who 
settled in that portion of the county embraced in the town of Homer, the north- 
ern part of New Lenox and the eastern part of Lockport, and called "' Yankee 
Settlement," were Yankees. The word meant in that day those who came 
from any State east of Ohio, in distinction from those who were called Hoosiers 
— a term which, though properly applicable only to Indianians, was popularly 
made to cover all others. When more exactly speaking, those from Ohio were 
Buckeyes; those from Kentucky, Corncrackers ; those from Michigan, Wolver- 
ines, etc., etc. This was a famous settlement in the early days, containing many 
fine liimilies of well-to-do farmers, where we could find more pretty girls forty- 
odd years ago than in almost any other locality. How this may be now', 
the writer cannot say ; circumstances have prevented him from keeping posted 
in this regard. Offshoots of Yankee Settlement were known as Gooding's 
Grove and Hadley. 

Of those who came in before the Sac war, we recall the names of James 
Richie (the first settler and still living, although for some years blind), James 
Glover, Abijah Watson, John Pettijohn, Wm. McGaffery, Peter Polly, Joseph 
McCune, Daniel Mack, John Blackstone, Dr. Nathaniel Weeks and sons, 
William Ashing, John Goodenow, Joseph Cox, Dick Boilvin, Uriah Went- 
worth, Calvin Rowdey, Holder Sisson, Selah Lanfear, Orrin Stevens, Armstead 
Runyon, Edward Poor and Benjamin Butterfield. Some of these persons were 
not "Yankees," and some did not return after the stampede occasioned by the 
Sac war, and Goodenow, Polly and McCune, on their return, settled in other 
parts of the county. 

Holder Sisson came in 1831, from Chautauqua County, N. Y. Having pre- 
viously explored the West, he came with his family ; and at the same time 
came Selah Lanfear and Orrin Stevens, with their families, who were from the 
same county. They came around the lakes, in a schooner ; and after a long 
and stormy passage, landed at an outpost called Chicago, in the latter part of 
July. Harry Boardman, who settled in East Dupage, came on the same ves- 



254 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

sel. Mr. Sisson was a prominent man in the early history of the county. He 
was elected one of the first three County Commissioners, and served in that 
capacity five years, fiiithfully and well. He soon moved to the west side of the 
river, in the town of Lockport, on the old Chicago road. He has very re- 
cently deceased, at an advanced age. 

Edward Poor, Armstead Runyon and Benjamin Butterfield were on the 
ground previously, and some others. Edward Poor is the first name as grantee 
upon our county records. Armstead Runyon was a prominent man in the 
early history of Lockport, having been proprietor of a part of the city plat. 
We believe he is now living in California (if not dead). Mrs. C. E. Boyer, 
of Lockport, is his daughter. 

Mrs. Munson, until lately, a resident of Joliet, was a daughter of Selah 
Lanfear. We remember her as one of the pretty girls of Yankee Settlement. 
If you should call upon ex-Collector Weeks, you would find one of Aer daugh- 
ters, who, in her turn, has pretty daughters too. How the years do creep on, 
and what changes they bring ! 

Calvin Rowley came from the State of New York — the first one of the fam- 
ily — traveling all the way with a peddler's cart. He set up a store near Lock- 
port, and traded with the Indians. 

After the Sac war another tidal wave of emigration set toward the West, 
and brought many to Yankee Settlement in the years 1833-4—5. Among these 
were Reuben Beach and sons, Thomas Smith, Chas. M. Grey, George Grey, 
Levi Hartwell, Jireh Rowley and four sons, Wm. H. Frazier*, Alanson Gran- 
ger, Addison Collins, Frederick Collins, Norman and Horace Messenger, John 
Lane, Lucius M. Case, H. S. Mason, Dr. Moses Porter, Abram Snapp, Will- 
iam Williams and three sons, Benjamin Weaver, Dea. Levi Savage, S. C. 
Chamberlin and sons, William Bandle, Samuel Anderson, John Griswold, Com- 
stock Hanford, Nathan Hopkins, Aaron Hopkins, John Fitzsimmons, Benja- 
min Dancer, Cyrus Cross, Andrew Frank, Sylvester Munson, Lyman Cross, 
David Parish, Leander Bump, Jacob Bump, Rev. Mr. Ambrose, John Ross, 
Hiram Olney (now of Manhattan), Rev. Mr. Kirbey, who became Pastor of 
the Hadley Church, — and Isaac Preston, now of Lockport, in 1836. 

The following persons settled in Gooding's Grove, and gave that locality its 
name: Dea. James Gooding and his three sons — James Gooding, Jr., William 
Gooding and Jasper A. Gooding — and his nephew, Charles Gooding, in 1832. 
Dea. James Gooding had been a pioneer in Western New York, and was a na- 
tive of Massachusetts. He resided at Bristol, Ontario Co., until he came West. 
We remember him well — a tall, noble-looking man. He died in 1849, at the 
age of 82. Orange Chauncey settled in the same locality before the war. 

Rev. Jeremiah Porter, the well-known pioneer missionary of the American 
Home Mission Society, early organized a Presbyterian Church at Hadley. We 
believe that this was the first regularly oi'ganized Church in Will County, outside 

* Died in 1873. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 255 

of the "classes" organized by the Methodist itinerants. Dr. Porter, William 
Bandle, Reuben Beach and John C. Williams were Elders or Deacons in this 
Church. Soon after the organization of this Church, a Mr. Freeman organ- 
ized a Baptist Church of sixteen members. Abram Snapp was one of the 
Deacons of this Church. He was the fother of Hon. Henry Snapp, and died in 
October, 1865. He came to the settlement in 1833. Father Beggs had a sta- 
tion here in 1833, and others at Reed's Grove, Hickory Creek, East Dupage 
and Walker's Grove. 

Dr. Weeks was for many years a practitioner in Lockport and Yankee Set- 
tlement. His sons are the well-known Judge Weeks and ex-Collector Weeks 
and Mr. J. H. Weeks, now of Lockport. He was from Western New York. 
Dr. Porter was also a well-known physician in the early history of the county ; 
one of the reliable men, whether in Church or State ; a strong upholder of 
every good enterprise and reform. He moved farther west many years ago, and 
is now deceased. 

Lyman Cross died at Lockport in October, 1876, at the age of 82. His 
death was occasioned by a fall, while at work on a barn. 

Mr. Bandle, who was familiarly known as Deacon, was a stone-mason, and 
had the job of putting up the stone-work of the first stone building in Joliet — 
the old block now known as the Darcey Block, from its present owner, but for- 
merly and long known as the old Demmond Block, from its first proprietor. 
He has been dead some years. 

John Lane was a famous blacksmith, especially known as the maker of prai- 
rie or breaking plows. The settlers all around used to make pilgrimages to his 
smithy. Nobody in all the land could shape and temper a plow like him. He 
might have sat to Longfellow for his picture of the village blacksmith : 

" The smith, a mighty man is he, 
With large and sinewy hands; 
And the muscles of his brawny arms 
Are strong as iron bands." 

On many, many an acre of the virgin prairie of Will County did Lane's 
plows upturn the sod, drawn by from four to eight yoke of oxen and steers, and 
propelled by a ten-foot ox-gad mounted with a lash perhaps as long, the snap of 
which wielded by the hands of the Hoosier driver resounded like the crack of 
a rifle. On, on, over the prairie swells, with steady but ruthless tread, moved 
the long "breaking team," and on, on, came the giant plow, cutting the turf 
with its sharp colter, and turning over with its mold-board the rich earth in long, 
black ribbons ; before it blooming grass and fragrant herb and beautiful flowers ; 
behind it a dreary waste of black, fat humus, inviting the steps and stimulating the 
hopes of the sturdy planter. Ah ! breaking teams, plows, Hoosier drivers, prai- 
ries, and old Lane himself, are now things of the past I Mr. Lane died in 1857. 

Addison Collins was one of our leading county men ; held the ofiice of 
County Surveyor during the first four years of our organization, and served one 



256 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

term, 1842-3, as our Representative in the General Assembly of the State. He 
died in March, 1864. His brother, Frederick Collins, still lives in the old 
locality, one of the staid and substantial citizens of Homer, fast ripening for a 
better country. The brothers were from Tioga County, N. Y., and came to the 
settlement in 1833. 

John Blackstone, generally called Judge Blackstone, was a man of 
property and influence. The grove near which is the Hadley post office 
was known first as Blackstone Grove. James McKee, of whom we shall speak 
by and by, borrowed the money of him wherewith he purchased the Reed claim, 
of which we shall presently speak. He was the first Justice of the Peace in 
Yankee Settlement, when a part of Cook County. Judge Caton has told the 
writer about his coming down from Chicago in 1833, to try a suit before him — 
perhaps the first lawsuit in Will County. He died in 1848. 

Jireh Rowley, commonly know as Capt. Rowley, was also a prominent man 
in our early history. He settled first on Section 19, but afterward 
bought the Butterfield place on Section 34, a beautiful spot embracing 
a little grove, where his youngest son, A. G., now lives. He was an 
old contractor on the Erie Canal, and built the great embankment near 
Rochester. This was a very heavy and difficult work. The Canal there 
crosses a considerable valley and a stream, and passes along the top of 
the embankment which Rowley made. While the work was in progress, 
Gov. Clinton, having great anxiety in respect to its success, made frequent visits 
to note its condition. On one of these occasions, the Governor and his party 
got in the way of the laborers and their teams, when Rowley pretty sharply 
ordered them to get out of the way. Instead of being offended at the brusque 
manner of the Captain, the Governor had the good sense to remark to his friends 
that he should go home with his mind at rest concerning the job, as Capt. Row- 
ley evidently meant business. Three sons still live in the township. The 
younger, A. G., has been a Justice of the Peace since 1850, and three years 
the Supervisor of the town. Capt. Rowley, when he came West, had married 
a Mrs. Grey, and the George and Charles Grey above named were her sons ; 
both of these have since been prominent as railroad officials in Chicago, and 
George is now agent of the Pullman Car Company. Charles has been Mayor 
of the city. Three of her daughters were also included among the " nice girls " 
of the settlement, as some of the "boys" still living remember well. One of 
these is now Mrs. Chamberlin, of Lockport. Her husband is one of the sons 
of Mr. L. C. Chamberlin, and is our well-known undertaker and furniture dealer 
of Joliet and Lockport. We remember seeing, not long ago, the fence which 
surrounds Oakwood placarded with the words, " Chamberlin's Relief cures all 
pain." We do not suppose the sacrilegious painter had any reference to our un- 
dertaker or his business, but unconsciously told a truth, which these placards 
seldom do. Wm. Gooding was the chief engineer of our canal, and we shall 
have something more to say of him in the history of that work. The 




(deceased) **^^ 

JOUET TP. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 259 

school teacher Hanford, so cruelly murdered at Chicago a few years ago, was a 
son of Comstock Ilanford, born in 1834. Deacon Beach (this settlement seems 
to have had a good share of Deacons, and we have noticed tiiat as a rule, it is 
the best men who get this title, and Deacon Beach was not an exception) has 
gone to his reward some time since. He died in 1851. Two of the Demmond 
boys — " Dar " and William — are indebted to him for good wives ; and his son, 
Eben W., was Supervisor of Crete in 18G2, and deceased in October, 1878. 
Levi Savage, another Deacon, still lives, and has given to the town of Homer a 
Supervisor for six years (1867-72), and to our county a Representative in 1872, 
and to the State and nation a brave soldier in his son, Capt. Amos Savage, of 
the Thirty-ninth Regiment, or Yates Phalanx. Of William Williams we re- 
member little ; he died many years ago ; but we know the family was a good 
one — from Massachusetts, we believe, as were others of the Hadley people ; hence 
the name of the locality which was first known as Blackstone's Grove. One 
member of the family was Elder J. C. Williams, for some time a resident of 
Hadley, but afterward of Chicago, one of the old, substantial merchants of that 
city and an Elder in the Second Presbyterian Church ; while another, Charles 
A., was a preacher of the Gospel, once settled in Rockford ; and another is the 
present Judge Erastus S. Williams, of Chicago. Still another Deacon was 
Orange Chauncey, lately deceased (died in 1877), who for a long time, with his 
family, resided in Joliet, but left again for the vicinity where he originally set- 
tled. This Deacon was a " Universalist " onfe, but his wife, who still survives, 
was a Deacon for a long time in the Baptist Church here — or at least she ought 
to have been. Alanson Granger is a name well known in Will Countv, for a 
long time a most successful granger on Section 32 of that town. He is said to 
have run the first reaper in Will County — an old original McCormick made in 
Brockport, N. Y. He was from Cortland County, N. Y., and died in October, 1874, 
nearly 72 years of age. To the list of Deacons in Yankee Settlement, we ought 
to add the name of Comstock Hanford, inasmuch as he was one of the orijxinal 
organizers of the Episcopal Church here. Some of these persons we have 
named would probably be included in the township of Lockport. It is said 
that Butterfield built the first house in the present township (of Lockport), and 
that a Mr. Everden built the first house on the town plat in 1831, little dream- 
ing that he was beginning to found a city. It is also said that Armstead Run- 
yon bought his claim, on which he laid out, in 1836, the town plat now known 
as North Lockport, once known as Runyon's Town. To the list of old settlers 
in Lockport ought to be added those of D. C. Baldwin, 1834 ; A. J. Matthew- 
son and John Fiddyment in 1837; and Dr. J. F. Daggett, 1838. 

Dr. J. F. Daggett represented the county in the State Senate after the res- 
ignation of Hon. Henry Snapp. A. J. Matthewson is our present County 
Survevor, and is one of the blessings for which we are indebted to the canal, 
he having been one of the corps of engineers. West Lockport, where the old 
mill still stands, was laid out by a company consisting of Wm. Rogers, Lyman 



260 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Hawlev, Wm. Gooding and E. S. Prescott. John M. Wilson — Judge Wil- 
son of Cliicai^o — was also interested in the mill, which was built by these 
parties, but whether as one of the original parties to the enterprise or as 
a purchaser afterward, we cannot say. West Lockport was once the most 
flourishino- part of the town. But it seems that in relation to towns, 
Bishop Berkley's saying, '-Westward the star of empires takes its way," does 
not hold good. Mr. Horace Morse built a tavern on one of Runyon's lots in 

1836. 

The site on which the most flourishing part of the city is now located, was 
laid out in 1837 by the Canal Commissioners, and for many years had the 
prestige of being the canal headquarters. It is beautifully located, and Avas well 
laid out under the skillful and careful supervision of the Chief Engineer. 
Canal Commissioners Thornton and Fry took up their residence there, and built 
fine dwellings — fine for that day. We believe it is one of these which has been 
remodeled into a beautiful home by Mrs. Boyer. 

LOCKPORT TOWN WEST OF THE RIVER. 

Across the river on the beautiful blufi" which overlooks the town and the 
valley of the Des Plaines, as we have said. Holder Sisson moved, after selling 
out to Hanford. On this bluff also located Wm. Rogers, Lyman Hawley and 
sons, Justin Taylor, Thomas and Harvey Reed, and that "fine ould Irish gin- 
tleman," Patrick Fitzpatrick, and 0. and L. M. Clayes, and Cyrus Bronson, 
in 1832-5. These farms, which we suppose have mostly passed into other hands, 
are among the most finely located in the county. Lyman Hawley was a sub- 
stantial man from Western New York, the father of our well-known citizens, 
0. L, Hawley (noAV deceased), our County Clerk from 1849 to 1856 (eight 
years), and who also held the ofiice of County Judge four years (1856 to 1860), 
and of Walter B. Hawley, who has also been County Clerk. The writer 
well remembers a notable "raising" we had in 1835 or 1836, when Lyman 
Hawley built his famous barn — a big thing for that day when barns were not 
very plenty, and which we believe is still extant, although it doesn't look as large 
now as when it was the best in all the country. What a lift we had at the big 
timbers of green oak, and how glad the boys were when the last rafter was up. 
and we all went to the feast set on the lawn, the old but comfortable log house 
being altogether too small to hold the guests. What a feast that was, and not 
the least among the attractions to some was the fact that we were waited upon 
by three or four blooming daughters of the host, for Yankee Settlement did not, 
in those days, have a monopoly of the pretty girls. We could name one 
old gray head that was there, and who was "sweet" on one of the girls. 
But we won't for he is married now to somebody else, and it might make a 
fuss. 

There were also a Mr. Webb and Thomas Williams still further up the river, 
and also a Mr. Turner at the Lilly-cache Grove. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 261 

UPPER HICKORY. 

In the Upper Hickory Creek timber, east of Van Home's Point, there 
were early settlers. In 1831, a Mr. Osborn, Wm. Moore, Robert Williams, 
Aaron Ware, John McGoveny and sons, John McDeed, and a Mr. Ghost, and 
a Mr. Berry, who soon turned Mormon, settled there. Daniel Lambert, John 
Duncan, James Troutman and Hiram Wood, in 1882; Allen and Lysander 
Denny, Ambrose Doty, Chester Marshall and sons, Francis Owen and sons, 
Eliphalet Atkins and sons, Samuel Haven, Myron Holmes and sons, Phineas 
H. Holden and sons, a Mr. Dewey, and Peter Clayes, fjither of L. M., Orlando 
Clayes and Charles Clayes, in 1834-5. 

A child of John McGoveny, John W., is another first child born in the 
county. There were quite a number born first ! However this may be, 'Scjuire 
McGoveny, of Mokena, and Thos. G. McGoveny, of Joliet, are his sons. He 
was from Ohio, originally, and came to the region where he settled in 1831, 
and died in March, 1869, aged 61. An addition to Mokena is part of his farm. 
Allen Denny, on the north side of Hickory, and Samuel Haven, on the south 
side, both kept stations on the underground railroad in Antislavery times. The 
writer hereof knows of some who paid midnight visits to both stations. A mid- 
night ride with one or two fugitives was an exciting thing in those days, not 
without danger of being prosecuted, at least. 

ILLINOIS BLACK LAWS AND ABOLITIONISTS. 

For the information of our younger readers, it may, perhaps, be well to 
explain, and here is as good a place as any to do it, that in those days, besides 
the general fugitive slave law of the United States, the State of Illinois had in 
force statutes against the colored man hardly less outrageous and cruel than 
those of the slave States themselves. Many slaves had been brought into this 
State while a Territory, and when the State was admitted into the Union the 
ownership in these was practically confirmed, although the importation of any 
more was prohibited. The southern part of the State was settled by persons 
from the slave States, and it was only by a small majority that the State 
became nominally a free State. Every colored man was presumed to be a 
fugitive from slavery, and, unless he could prove the contrary, was subject to 
arrest and sale, although the sale took the form of a lease or indenture. Now, 
there were, in those days, all over the North, as is well known, many persons 
known as Abolitionists, who had more respect for the God-given right of self- 
ownership than they had for the title which human — or rather inhuman — laws 
gave to one man who happened to be white, over another who happened to be 
black. These human laws, whether State or national, they held to be against 
the law of God, and therefore void "m foro conscientice," however they 
might be enforced by human courts. It was an easy corollary to this belief 
that to help a man who was fleeing from bondage was a duty — that to aid in 



o 



262 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

his capture was a crime against God and man. To aid the fugitives, these 
underf^round railroads — so called because the matter was generally conducted 
secretly and in the night — were established, consisting of relays of well-known 
friends of the slave, who at any time stood ready to harness a team and forward 
the slave to the next station. Of course Canada was the destination of the 
fugitives. Nowhere was he s:ife under the eagle ; only when he got into the 
embrace of the lion could he breathe free. As we have said, Denny and Haven 
both kept stations of this kind. It happened in the course of things that 
Denny, good old Deacon Gushing and Col. Stewart, of whom we shall soon 
speak, were once indicted under the black laws of our State for aiding such 
fugitives. As all know, our brave soldier boys and Father Abraham's proc- 
lamation destroyed the business of the underground railroad. The march of 
enlightened public opinion has long since brought about the repeal of the black 
laws of our State. 

Allen Denny settled in Sheridan, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1811, when 20 
years of age. While there, he engaged in storekeeping, and among other 
goods, wares and merchandise, sold whisky and its congeners. But he went to 
hear a lecture of the agent of the State Temperance Society, and was converted 
to teetotalism. He at once stopped the sale of liquor, and, with five others, one 
of whom was Samuel Haven, he formed a temperance society. In 1835, he 
came with the Holmes families to Hickory Creek, where he lived until his 
death, well known and highly respected. In the war of 1812, he was a soldier, 
and was present at the battle of Black Rock and the burning of Buifalo, and 
could give graphic accounts of the stampede of our militia. The Rock Island 
Railroad run through Mr. Denny's farm, and he laid oft" a part of it into the " 
village of Mokena. We have not the date of Mr. Allen Denny's death. His 
brother Lysander died in March, 1872, at the age of 75. 

0. and L. M. Clayes we have given as early settlers in West Lockport 
Township ; but they soon abandoned their claim there, which was on canal land 
and located on Hickory, where their father, Peter Clayes, and another son, 
Charles, also settled. Previous to the opening of the railroads, there was a 
little village (i. e., a store and post office) in the Clayes neighborhood, named 
Chelsea — L. M. Clayes, Postmaster; but the Cut-Off" Railroad cut off" its pros- 
pects as a city. Peter Clayes died in 1849, at the age of 74. 

Chester Marshall, who, by the way, was also a Deacon of a Baptist Church, 
we believe, was also one of these Abolitionists, and a strong temperance man, 
always on hand at Temperance and Antislavery conventions. He was a tall, 
large, noble-looking man. Our State Senator, A. 0. Marshall, and R. W. 
Marshall, lawyers, in Joliet, are his grandsons. He died in August, 1859, at 
the age of 80 years. He came to Will County with Benjamin Weaver, of 
Yankee Settlement, in 1833, from Onondaga County, N. Y. Phineas H. 
Ilolden was also a prominent man in early times. He was the father of C. C. 
P. Holden, of Chicago ; of Major L. P. Holden, of the Eighty-eighth Illinois 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 263 

Regiment, and of Dr. Holden, of Frankfort. IL^ died in 1872, at the age of ?^0 
years. Of Samuel Haven and the other Havens \\c will speak by and by. 

THORN CREEK AND BEEBE's GROVE. 

Still further east and south, in what is now known as the town of Crete, but 
then having two settlements, known as Beebe's Grove and Thorn Creek, there 
were early settlements. In 1833-4, Major Price, Wm. Osborn and Asa Dade; 
in 1835-6, Minoris Beebe, Shipman Frank, Quartus Marsh and four sons (Jon- 
athan, Edwin, Horatio and Henry), Jas. L. Dean, Wm. Bryant, J. Stalcop, Wm. 
R. Starr, Willard Wood, Dea. Samuel Cushing (of whom we have spoken), Nor- 
man Northrop, John H. Bennett, Moses H. Cook, Henry Milliken, Charles 
Wood, Hazen Adams, John Kyle and son, Enoch Dodge, Henry Ayers, David 
Haner, John E. Hewes, J. W. SaflFord and three sons. 

One of Mr. Saffbrd's sons was afterward well-known in Joliet, as the con- 
fidential clerk of Gov. Matteson, while he carried on business in Joliet. He 
afterward removed to Cairo, and became a prominent business man and banker. 
Another son was the Hon. C. P. K. Safford, Governor of Arizona. Both have 
recently deceased. A daughter of Mr. Safford became justly and honorably 
noted for her efforts in behalf of our soldiers during the war of the rebellion, on 
the battle fields of Belmont and Pittsburg Landing and in the hospital at Cairo. 
Many a soldier yet remembers the " Angel of Cairo." She subsequently became 
a physician, studied in the hospitals of Europe, where she attracted considerable 
notice for her modesty of demeanor and her professional and surgical skill. She 
is now, we believe, married, and resides somewhere in New England. 

Quartus Marsh was from Monroe County, N. Y. He died in 1850. He 
was the first settler in his immediate neighborhood. Jonathan Marsh, who died 
at Matteson, lately, and Edwin, who still resides there, Henry Marsh, for some 
time a cabinet maker in Joliet, and who got one of Deacon Beach's girls for his 
wife, as well as H. N. Marsh, so long known and respected in Joliet and Will 
County, are his sons. 

Deacon Cushing, we mentioned a little back as one -of the indicted. 
We have a little more to say about this indictment. It was obtained when the 
brilliant Pat. Ballingall was State's Attorney for the District, and C. C. Van 
Home was the Foreman of the grand jury and complainant. There were also 
on the jury some who were outspoken friends of the slave; but they felt, justly, 
that their oaths compelled them to find a bill against an infringement of an un- 
just law. When the officer called early Monday morning to arrest the good 
Deacon, he was at his breakfast. The officer allowed him to finish, and also to 
attend to a duty which was as regularly observed as his morning meal — family 
devotions. It so happened that in the morning's regular lesson in course 
occurred these words : '" Whether it be right to obey God, rather than man, 
judge ye.'' When brought into court, he was allowed to give bail for his appear- 
ance at the next term of court. James McKee promptly volunteered to be his 



264 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

bail, and James H. Collins, of Chicago, who was then on his return from Prince- 
ton, where he had been to defend Owen Lovejoy, on a like charge, volunteered 
to defend him, and John M. Wilson also volunteered to assist. But before the 
next term of court, the parties complaining had got thoroughly ashamed of their 
course, and Ballingall entered a nol. pros. The fiery eloquence of the prose- 
cuting attorney and the voice of the complainant have both been long since 
hushed in the grave, while the good old Deacon still lives, fast ripening for that 
world where we may believe feeding the hungry and pouring in oil and wine 
into the wounds inflicted by the driver's lash, are not indictable offenses. 
Blessed be the man against whom no more serious charge can be brought. It 
is some compensation to the Deacon to have lived to see the time when such an 
indictment is impossible in all our land. 

CHANNAHON. 

In that beautiful portion of our county which lies between the Des Plaines 
and Du Page Rivers, and near the meeting of the waters, now included in the 
town of Channahon, some settlers came as early as 1832, while the Indian still 
cultivated corn on the bottom and fished along the streams. This was a favor- 
ite spot with them, and they long lingered here. Their canoes passed up and 
down the rivers, and in the mounds which are still distinguishable they buried 
their dead. Somewhere near Treat's Island an Indian was buried as late as 
1835. He was placed in a sitting posture partly out of the ground, and a pen 
of saplings placed around him. He is supposed to have been a chief, as the 
Indians passing up and down always visited his grave, and left various articles 
upon it as tokens of respect. A little flag was also kept flying over it, which 
was cared for by the Treats. North of Joliet, the writer remembers to have 
seen the grave of an infant in the top of a tree. It consisted of two hollow 
slabs in which the body was placed, being fastened together and to the tree by 
strips of bark. Perhaps it is a misnomer to call this a grave, and why they 
thus disposed of an infant's body we know not, unless it was a dim reflection 
of the Savior's words, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven." Believing that 
the child's spirit had gone straight to the "happy hunting fields," they placed 
the body as near as possible to the sky. Among the earliest settlers in Chan- 
nahon Avere Isaac Jessup, Wm. E. Peck, E. C. Fellows, H. D. Risley, Peter 
McCowan, Capt. Willard, Michael Morehouse, Jedediah, Walter, and E. G. 
Eames, Joseph N. Fryer, Russell Tryon, George Tryon, "Uncle Bont" 
Schermerhorn and his four sons — Peter, Jacob B., Cornelius and Isaac — and 
John Ward. These came in 1832-3-4. In 1835, Dr. Peter Schermerhorn, 
Joseph Lewis, Sam'l Lewis and Dr. Wm. Lewis, Isaac and Burke Van Alstine, 
Wm. Althouse and a colored gentleman for whom we have never heard any name 
but "Dick." Several of these settlers were representatives of the old Dutch 
families on the Hudson, coming from Schodack and vicinity, and, like their 
ancestors, knew good land when they saw it, and then settled down to stay. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY, 265 

Joseph Davis and his sons came in 1830. Isaac Jcssup, long- a prominent citi- 
zen, died in 1853, at the age of 66. He, too, bore the honorable title of Dea- 
con, and was County Treasurer in 1843-6. His sons still perpetuate his 
name. A daugliter of his, Mrs. E. Jessup Eames, had considerable reputation 
as a poetess some years ago; and another, Sarah, who died in 1863, was not 
altogether unknown to local fame. H. D. Risley was from Salina, N. Y., 
and being elected Sherift* of the county in 1840, he removed to the old 
county jail, where he remained four years. He was also a canal contractor in 
canal times. The Van Alstines are still extant and residents of the vicinity. 
and so is their "Nigger Dick," the same old sinner he was forty-odd years ago. 
There seems to be little change in him since the time he came up to attend a 
ball in 1836, when his ox-team got wedged so inexplicably between the old 
Demmond Block and the precipice in its rear, save that he has grown a little 
grayer. Dick has the honor of being the first, and for a long time the only, 
representative of his race in Will County. J. B. Schermerhorn was County 
Commissioner in the years 1848-9, and Supervisor of Channahon 1854-6. 
Dr. Peter Schermerhorn was for some years a practicing physician in Channa- 
hon and vicinity, and afterward removed to Ottawa, where he died. Wm. B. 
Peck, generally known as Judge Peck, having been a County Judge where he 
came from in the county of Columbia, State of New York, was a prominent 
man, something of a politician, and County Commissioner four years — 1839- 
42. He died in the year 1849, in the 71st year of his age. E. C. Fellows, 
the well-known lawyer, and the earliest lawyer in the county, came to Channa- 
hon at the same time and married a daughter of Judge Peck. He came to 
Joliet in 1835. It is but recently that he has deceased. Of his ability as a 
lawyer, especially as a criminal lawyer, everybody in Will County is well 
aware. George Tryon was Supervisor of Channahon for the years 1850-52. 
E. H. Jessup, one of Isaac Jessup's sons, was Supervisor in 1862, and John 
S. Jessup, another son, represented in part our county in the Legislature in the 
year 1872. He was the first victim of minority representation. J. N. Fryer 
has been Supervisor from 1866 down to date, and perhaps will be as long as he 
lives. Michael Morehouse was a native of Connecticut, born in 1791, a good, 
honorable and intelligent man, who died in 1876. 

Dr. Knapp and George Tryon came together from Vermont, and were the 
first settlers in the 'part of the town where they located, now on the beautiful 
''wide water" made by the canal, and the favorite resort of Fourth of July picnics. 
The Indians were dwelling on the bottom of the Des Planes, and at a spot 
across the river, a little lower down, known then as the "sugar bush," in con- 
siderable numbers. They were under the supervision of one of old Bourbon- 
nie's sons, a half-breed. Seymor Treat and son had settled at the island still 
known by his name, in 1833. The Treats were great friends of the Indians, 
never refusing them food or shelter, though their supplies were not very abun- 
dant. The Indians held the family in high regard, and when they received 



266 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

their last annuity, they gave him ^1,000 as a remembrancer, which furnished 
him the means to go on with the mill which he was building. He had a son 
and daughter. The son was known as Dr. Treat. The mill was built at the 
lower end of the island. The Indians were friendly to the early settlers, and 
never troublesome unless they had drunk too much fire-Avater. They called 
this lic^uid good-na-tosh — clearly a misnomer. As the settlers were not familiar 
with the Indian language, they had to resort lai-gely to the natural language of 
signs, at which the Indians are as expert as the deaf-raiites. Dr. Knapp tells 
an amusing story as to how an Indian tried to make him understand what he 
meant when he wanted to sell him some "ho-mo-sis-paw-quet" — that is, bee- 
suo-ar or honey. This is a story that can't be told except in pantomime, and 
nobody can do it justice but the doctor. If you ever see him, get him to tell 
it. It is the best specimen of pantomime we ever saw. 

We must note the fact that in Channahon, on the southeast side of the Des 
Plaines, is the large plantation of Charles C. Smith, one of the sons of our old 
resident and Justice of the Peace, Barton Smith. We gave a little history of 
Charley in " Forty Years Ago." He has been Supervisor of Channahon for 
several years, and we wish we had his note for a thousand or two dollars. The 
village of Channahon was laid out by the Canal Commissioners, and was first 
named Swifton, after one of their number; but Judge Peck got it changed by 
an act of the Legislature to its present name, the significance of which we have 
already given. , 

-' *= TROUTMAN S GROVE. 

On the southeast side of the river, within the present town, but known then 
as Troutman's Grove, there settled, in 1831 or 1832, Joseph McCune and John 
Troutman ; and in 1833, Robert Thornburg and sons, one of whom, John 
Thornburg;, still resides there. 

° TROY. 

Up the Du Page, in the present town of Troy, there were also some settlers 
quite early. The first, perhaps, was Jedediah Woolley, Jr., who came in 1831 
and commenced building a mill. The enterprise was interrupted by the Sac 
war, and completed in 1834. A man of the name of Chipman was engaged 
with him in the enterprise. Two men of the name of Rexford also settled 
there and rented Woolley's mill. John Van Riper and sons also settled there 
early, and a Mr. Fleming. Our well-known citizen, Carey Thornton, also 
settled on the Channahon road, and opened one of the finest farms in the 
county. It used to be a good place to stop at and eat pumpkin pie. 

Josiah R. Holden, a brother of Phineas Holden, of Frankfort Settlement, 
was an early settler in this township, having located on Section 32, just across 
the Du Page, where the old Au Sable road crosses. He came in 1834, and 
was for some years one of our best and most reliable citizens. He now lives in 
Michigan with a son, who is Secretary of State. Mr. Holden and his wife were 
members of the old Plainficld Congregational Church, and they celebrated their 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 267 

golden Avedding about four years since. They were from New Hampshire. 
Mr. H. is now 81. 

The famous Haff farm, at the moutli of Rock Run, is also in the town of 
Troy. This was opened by the well-known Horace Haff, commonly called 
'Squire Haff, in 1836. It was one of the best farms and he was one of the 
best citizens of Will County. Ho resided there many years, but a few years 
before his death, sold it and came to Joliet, where he died in November, 1865. 

Coming still farther north, Andrew and Marshall King and another 
brother settled just west of the mound, in 1833 or 1834. The sons and 
daughters of these Kings are still among us. J. Q. A. King, the well-known 
coal dealer and a member of Barnett's Battery all through the war, is one of 
them. Norman Bradley was also an early settler in the same neighborhood. 
Directly west of Joliet, on the Rock Run, was another early settler, of the 
name of Colvin, from whom the grove was named. 

WILMINGTON AND FORKED CREEK. 

On the Kankakee River and Forked Creek, in localities which are now in- 
cluded in Florence, Wesley and Wilmington, there were early settlers. The 
earliest of these were John Frazier, Hamilton Keeney, John Williams, Robert 
Kilpatrick, James Kelly, James Jordan, John Howell and George Beckwith, 
who came as early as 1834, and perhaps some of them before. Most of these 
were Virginians. Joseph Hadsall and Mr. Goodwin came in 1835. These 
were mostly in Wesley and Florence. On the river, Peter Polly settled in 
1834, at the head of the Island. Thomas Cox went from Joliet, where he was 
one of the earliest settlers, to the Kankakee, and laid out the town of Winches- 
ter, which was afterward changed to Wilmington, in 1836. He had previously 
made an extensive claim, in 1 834, on Sections 25 and 26, including the island. 
He built a saw-mill, and some other mills, we believe. 

In 1835, Peter Stewart, from Amsterdam, N. Y., visited the West, selected 
Wilmington as his location, and moved West Avith his family in 1836. The 
writer well remembers making the acquaintance of the family while they stopped 
overnight at the old American Hotel. This hotel, by the way, stood on the 
ground now occupied by Bush's Block, where he is now Avriting. From that 
day forth our acquaintance with Mr. Stewart continued until his death in 1868, 
at the age of 85. From his first coming to the country, Peter SteAvart was an 
influential and noted man. He was a native of Scotland, having been born in 
1783, at Coilantagle Ford, in the parish of Callender, the spot where Scott 
locates the encounter between Fitz James and Roderick Dhu, when 

"111 fared it then with Roderick Dhu, 
That on the ground his targe he threw." 

In Scotland, he was the steward of one of the great lords of the country. 
On coming to America he became a lord himself He acquired a handsome 
property by contracts upon the Erie Canal, near Albany. He also built the 



268 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Auburn Theological Seminary and the Navy Yard buildings at New York. 
On comincy to Wilmington, he built a large, fine house, far the finest in the 
county at that period, and even now a good one. He laid out an addition to 
"Wilmington, and built a saw-mill on Foi'ked Creek. He was Superintendent 
of Illinois ifc Michigan Canal after its completion. The old Stewart mansion 
was a most hospitable one in the early days. Uncle Peter was a man of exten- 
sive information, acquired by reading and intercourse with public men. He 
had a fine library, and his home was a delightful one, overlooking the beautiful 
Kankakee and Forked Creeks at their junction. Mrs. Stewart was one of the 
most lovely of women, and might have sat for King Lemuel's picture of the 
excellent woman. None who knew her have forgotten her, although she has 
been thirty-two years in heaven. That was a sad day to many hearts when she 
died. The writer has one souvenir of a visit to the Stewart mansion in 1842, 
a feAV years before her death. This is a root of that most beautiful herbaceous 
plant, the rose-colored spirea, which he found growing in native beauty and lux- 
uriance by the spring which wells up beneath the blufi" on which the mansion 
stands. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were mainstays in the Presbyterian Church at 
Wilmington, while they lived, and liberal supporters of all charitable and phil- 
anthropic movements. The Stewart house extended its hospitalities to the 
poor fugitives from Southern bondage, and was one of the stations on the 
underground railroad of which we have spoken. Mr. Stewart himself enjoyed 
the distinction of being called the President of the road. This reminds us of a 
storv which is told of Uncle Peter. Once when in Washino;ton, during the 
Presidency of James Buchanan, he happened to be riding from Washington to 
Baltimore in the same car with the President, and to be seated near him. A 
lady in the car requested Col. Stewart to exchange seats with her, saying that 
she wished to sit near the President. Mr. Stewart, with the bluff and hearty 
manner for which he was noted, says : " Madam, / a'qi the President. 
"Indeed!" says the lady, " Of what are you president?" " Of the under- 
ground railroad, Madam," he replied, as, with great politeness and good humor, 
he complied with her request. Well, he lived to see "his occupation gone ! " 
And men who then were compelled to skulk by night through free Spates, or 
live under the driver's lash, may now vote and hold office, may go to Congi-ess, 
sit in JeflF Davis's seat in the Senate and own his plantation ; and a fugitive 
slave is Marshal of the District of Columbia, where once there were slave pens 
and auction blocks. Verily the world does move ! Mr. Stewart died Sept. 28, 
1868. The veteran preacher, J. G. Porter, who was sometime his Pastor, 
preached his funeral sermon from the appropriate text, 2d Sam., iii, 38, "Know 
ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel ? " 

The settling of Peter Stewart at Wilmington was accompanied by, and 
perhaps the occasion of, the coming of others of his countrymen, until it 
became noted for its Scotch element. Amons; these we recall the names of 
Fred Stewart, his son ; Daniel Stewart, his brother (who died in 1874 — age 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 269 

74), Arch. J. Mclntyre, Peter Mcintosh, John Mcintosh, David Mcintosh, 
David Bell, Daniel Mcintosh, the good old Deacon ; Andrew Whitton, a native 
of the Isle of Man, and his sons, John and James Whitton ; John and David 
Thompson, and Duncan Mclntyre, in 1836—37 ; Peter McFarlin, in 1840. 

Dr. Bowen removed to Wilmington from Joliet, and also Edmund Allen, 
where they still live. 

Wilmington is now well known on account of its water-power, manufactur- 
ing enterprises, adjacent coal mines and Kankakee River improvements — all of 
which will be noticed elsewhere in the town history. There were early settle- 
ments farther up the Kankakee. 

UP THE KANKAKEE. 

Thomas Hatton, afterward a resident of Joliet, and Richard Yates settled 
across the Kankakee, higher up, in the present town of Custer, as early as 
1834 or 1835. Still farther up the^Kankakee, there were early settlements, em- 
bracing some of the old Indian reservations and the French and Indian settle- 
ment known as Bourbonnais Grove. One of our first County Commissioners, 
Thomas Durham, was from Bourbonnais. Dr. Todd, a once well-known and 
influential resident of the county, purchased five sections of land on Rock 
Creek, which empties into the Kankakee, near the county line, and perhaps 
some might have been within the present bounds of the county. The deed was 
the third one on the records of Will County, as transcribed from Cook County, 
and is from Shaw-waw-nas-see to Hiram Todd, dated March 22, 1833, convey- 
ing, for the consideration of $4,000, five sections of land, a reservation, to said 
red gentleman, by Article 2 of a treaty made October 5, 1832, between Jona- 
than Jennings, John W. Davis and Marks Cume, United States Commission- 
ers, and the chiefs and head men of the Pottawatomies, the said land lying at 
the mouth of Rock Creek, and including the little Rock village. This deed 
was Avitnessed by Luther Rice and C. C. Van Home. Mrs. Shaw-waw-nas-see 
did not sign this deed, but another was executed a little later which she signed 
(or made her totem), in token of her relinquishment of the right of dower. 
She rejoiced in the euphonious name of Ke-kit-o-quah. She probably is not 
living to sSt up a claim for dower on the score of defective acknowledgment. 
Cornelius C. Van Home, a Justice of the Peace (then) of Cook County, took 
the acknowledgment. Other deeds of Indian reservations executed by Mr. 
" Lo " are on the county records ; but as this region has passed out of our do- 
main we omit all further notice of its history. 

FIVE-MILE GROVE. 

Some persons settled in what was known as " Five-Mile Grove," now in the 
town of Manhattan, quite early. The first settlers were a Mr. Stevens and 
Ephraim and Edward Perkins, who settled there in 1832 or 1833 ; Mr. Jones, in 
1835, and the Rudds, in 1838. But the town being, with the slight exception 
of the grove, prairie and out of sight of land, did not entice many settlers until 



270 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

a later day. The Bakers, the Lawrances and the Youngs, who made the grove 
such a famous place for excursions, twenty years ago, did not come until 1849 
or 1850; and about this time the township filled up rapidly with good settlers, 
many of whom are now of German nationality. We leave further notice of 
it to the township historian. 

TWELVE-MILE GROVE. 

Twelve-Mile Grove, now a part of Wilton, having two sections of land, mostly 
timber, attracted some squatters at an early day. As early as 1832, Samuel 
Holcomb settled at the northeast end of the grove, and Abram Huyck, in 1835. 
From 1837 to 1840, Frank Chamberlin, James Adams, Horace Fish, Weir 
Leavitt, Jabez and Hiram Harvey settled there, and many others soon after. 
The Kennistons, Nelsons and others were somewhat later. Considerable his- 
torical interest attaches to this grove, on account of the fact that it was orig- 
inally an Indian Reservation consisting of two sections of land, reserved by the 
same ti'eaty of which we have elsewhere spoken, and is generally known as the 
" Se-natch-wine Reservation." One section was reserved to Joseph Laugh ton, 
an Indian who seems to have borrowed a Avhiteman's name, and the other to 
Se-natch-e-wine, which is commonly corrupted to Snatchwine. The man who 
bore this name seems to have been a chief. We find that his name occurs often 
in the Indian history of this region. We find it also in the treaties of 1815-16 
with the Pottawatomies, spelled Sou-nou-che-wome. The name, in its corrupted 
form, is perpetuated in a stream in Bureau County — Snatchwine Creek — and a 
township in Putnam County has the same name. We have not been able to 
find the meaning of the name. It is not given in the treaties referred to. It 
is a great pity that more of these names have not been preserved, as some of 
them would be appropriate now. For instance : 

Pierce-mack-ie — the man who walks crooked. 

Mark-sua-ma-nee — the man who is sick when he walks. 

Oh-ho-shin-ga — the man who cooks little in a small kettle. 

Shou-ga-tong — the horse jockey. 

Now-ja-ming-he — the man who has no heart. 

These names we can readily see would be very convenient to have even now. 

In this grove was once an Indian village, of which Se-natch-e-wine was 
chief. This reservation of two sections was deeded by the chief in question, and 
Joseph Laughton, to James Kibbin, in 1840, and one section was conveyed by 
him to the Nelsons. Of course, while the title was unsettled, there were more 
or less squatter and confiicting claims, the history of which we cannot go into. 
The title was considered defective until confirmed by act of Congress. An old 
chief's grave was still conspicuous when the white settlers came. He was 
buried in the usual way — in a pen of saplings, in a sitting posture, with his 
gun, pipe, kettles, etc., all ready for use in the happy hunting grounds. Mr. 
Nelson once obtained a perfect skeleton, teeth all preserved, from the ground 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 271 

now under cultivation. The plow still turns up Indian relics. Laughton and 
Snatchwine, with other Indians, visited the grove after it had become settled 
and inclosed. Coming to the fences which had been built, they cut a passage 
through them until they reached the site of their old village, where they camped 
for some days. 

" Old Put" was a noted character in the settlement. His notoriety, how- 
ever, was of a kind not likely to attract new-comers, and some of the settlers 
determined to rid the grove of his presence. They did this most effectually. 
The means resorted to was a coat of tar and feathers and shaving his head, 
when he was let go. He stood not upon the order of his going, but went, and 
the grove knew him no more. The Indian name of this grove was Na-be-ne- 
ka-nong. As Capt. Cuttle says : Please make a note of it. The translation 
of the word is "Twelve miles from any other place," hence the name by which 
it used to be known. The stream known as Forked Creek runs through the 
grove. 

*= WASHINGTON AND WILL. 

Some other of the eastern towns of the county are of comparatively recent 
settlement. Being outside the Indian boundary line, and being almost entirely 
prairie and at a considerable distance from timber, they were settled slowly at 
first. The opening of the Illinois Central Road and the Chicago & Danville 
Road, has, however, rendered them accessible, and they have rapidly filled up, 
mostly with Germans. 

The township of Washington, lying directly south of Crete, began to be 
settled about 1850. The earliest settlers Avere Jesse Dutcher, Jacob Barney 
and Charles Fuller, who were soon followed by John Rose, Wm. Strain, Peter 
Abercrombie, Mr. Selvey, and the ubiquitous John Smith, and a little later Joseph 
Maxwell, Clinton Fuller and John Bows were added. The Germans then took 
possession, and have become a power in the county. 

The township of Will, lying east of Washington, was settled about the same 
time. John McKenzie, we believe, was the first settler, in 1849, and in 1853 
J. M. Gridley, Joseph Baldwin, Mr. Lyons and II. N. Ingersoll ; in 1854-5, 
John B. Sollitt, F. P. Lilly, P. McMahon, Robert Patterson, William Consta- 
ble and William Pickard. Rev. S. C. Gilbert, a veteran home missionary, preached 
the first sermon, in 1854. This is also entirely a prairie township. New York, 
New Jersey, Maine, Vermont, Ohio and Virginia, of the States, and England, 
Scotland, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and Prince Edward Island have furnished 
the tillers of its fertile acres. 

PEOTONE, 

Still another prairie township is Peotone, which was also settled from 1849 
down. David B. Booth and James Allen were the earliest on the ground, and 
were soon followed by Samuel Goodspeed, P. Armstrong, Ralph Crawford, J. 
C. Cowing and others. The Illinois Central Railroad passes through the south- 
oast corner, and a flourishing station of the same name as the town has grown 



272 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

up on Section 24. Its population has also been gathered from various States 
and countries. greengarden. 

North of Peotone lies another prairie township, known as Greengarden, and 
before township organization, as Vermont Precinct, and was settled about the 
same time, being commenced in 1847 by M. F. Sanders and George M. Green. 
Levi Blanchard and James Hudson came in 1848, the latter-named being a 
preacher. From 1850 on, the township filled up rapidly, and is now largely 
German. The streams emptying into the Kankakee, known as Forked Creek 
and Prairie Creek, have their rise in this township. 

MONEE. 

In the township of Monee, lying between Greengarden and Crete, there were a 
few settled quite early. In 1834, John S. Dilley ; In 1835, John M. Chase, N. C. 
Tibbitts, S. W. Cooper, Nicholas Young and Ruel Carney ; and in 1836, S. W. 
Gaines, Aaron Bond, Otis Philips, Hollis Newton, and a Mr. Hall. This town- 
ship has about three sections of timber in the northeast corner, which will 
account for its earlier settlement. There is also a little grove in the southeast 
corner of the town. The first school was opened in 1836, by Otis B. Philips. 
It has filled up in later years largely with Germans. It has a flourishing sta- 
tion on the Central Railroad, of the same name. 

We believe we have now noticed the first settlements (except Joliet) in the 
coi^nty, and given the names of most of the settlers down to 1837, and, in some 
instances later. Our aim has only been to relate the beginning of things, leav- 
ing later history and other names, and statistics generally, to the township his- 
tories. Of course the rush of immigrants in the subsequent years was so great 
as to forbid our giving names. It now remains to notice the first settlements 
within the present limits of the city of Joliet. 

JOLIET CITY. 

In 1833, Charles Reed, whose name we have given as one of the first set- 
tlers at Reed's Grove, and which frequently occurs on our earliest records, both 
as grantor and grantee, made a claim on the southeast quarter of Section 9, T. 
35, R. 10 E., and built a log house on the same, and commenced to make a 
dam and other preparations for a mill. Mr. Reed had purchased several tracts 
of canal land from the State, in 1833, as did others of the first settlers, the 
canal land being then in market. He, however, never had any title to this 
quarter, except a squatter's right, which he sold, together with his improve- 
ments, to James McKee, as we have elsewhere noted. James McKee was a Ken- 
tuckian by birth, but came here from Jacksonville, in this State. He was pro- 
vided with a float, or a right to enter any vacant land belonging to the State, 
which right had been granted to Sylvia Hall, on account of her suffering as an 
Indian captive, of which we shall speak by and by. This float, as the assignee 
of said Sylvia and her husband, Mr. McKee laid upon the fractional quar- 



IllSTOUY OF WILL COUNTY. 273 

ter on which Mr. Reed had commenced his preparations for a mill. McKee 
proceeded at once to the erection of a mill on a somewhat larger scale than had 
been planned by Reed. Reed's millstone, we remember, was made from a large 
hard-head, or nigger-head, as they are sometimes called, and for a long time 
lay upon the old mill-yard. The dam was considerably above the present stone one 
built by the Canal Trustees, about where the lock-house now stands. The re- 
mains of it may be seen when the basin is drawn off. A flouring-mill was 
raised in the Fall of 1834. The raising of this mill was a notable event, in 
which the writer participated. The frame was built, of course, of heavy, green 
oak timber, and it required a previous canvass of the surrounding country to 
get together enough men to raise it. The old frame is still standing, being the 
building just above the Jefferson Street Bridge. Of course, the building of the 
present dam below it, rendered it useless as a mill, and it has since been occu- 
pied for various purposes. For a long time. Cook & Stillman had it for a livery ; 
then Charles Ward, for storage ; and it now seems to be chiefly used as a boat 
house for our amateur boat clubs. A saw-mill was also built below and adjoin- 
ing the grist-mill, which used to do a famous business manufacturing oak and 
black walnut lumber. Charles Reed, who, as we have already said, is entitled 
to be called the founder of Joliet, was born in Virginia in ISTl. He was a 
soldier in the war of 1812, and a witness of Hull's cowardly "surrender. He 
came to the grove whichHbears his name in 1830 ; Joseph and Eli Shoemaker 
accompanied him ; we suppose they came immediately from Indiana. When 
the Black Hawk war occurred, he, with the other settlers escaped to Indiana. 
Mr. Reed moved to Joliet in 1833, as we have said ; he afterward removed to 
Winnebago County, where he died in 1863. He was appointed by the Gov- 
ernor one of the appraisers of Canal damages. He wa§ one of the kind of men 
made for pioneers, restless, honest, enterprising, fearless and hospitable. He 
was also sagacious and a good judge of land and locations. It is said that the 
principal thing which made him select this locality, aside from its water-power, 
was the fact that it vras on the old Sac trail, which showed it to be on the short- 
est and best route from Detroit to the Mississippi. It is an unfortunate thing 
for Chicago that it] is so far one side of this great thoroughfare. This is prob- 
ably what has retarded its growth. We are sorry for it, but we can't help it. 
Mr. Reed, after his sale to Mr. McKee, made a claim on the west half of the 
section, and built a log house just under the hill on which W. A. Strong's house 
stands. But as there was to be no recognition of claims on canal lands, under 
the new canal law, he did nor long remain. The house was afterward occupied 
by Judge Piersons and family, and was the scene of a mournful tragedy. Mrs. 
P., in an insane fit hung herself. This gave the old log house the reputation of 
being haunted. But J. C. Van Auken and family afterward occupied it, and, 
we believe, were never disturbed. This is the same place which Mr. Joseph 
Campbell, who came here in 1839, from the land of oaten cakes, bought at the 
sale of canal lands, and is now the beautiful property of W. A. Strong, Esq. 



27 i HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. . 

James B. Campbell, who was Treasurer of the Board of Canal Commis- 
sioners, appointed under the act of 1829, held a float from the State also, by 
virtue of an act of the General Assembly granting preemption rights, etc., 
giving the right to locate any quarter of unsold canal lands. This was the 
float originally given to the other Hall girl. He located his float on the 
opposite side of the river, on the fractional quarter of Section 9, Township 35 
north, Range 10, containing 66.90 acres, receiving for the deficit thirteen acres 
on what is now Eastern avenue. His choice has certainly been justified by 
time. He laid off" the original town of Joliet, and held a public sale of lots in 
June, 1834. Mr. Campbell, however, never took up his residence here, but, 
we think, resided at Ottawa for some time. He was, however, well known all 
over the canal route in an early day. Some of our present property owners 
have heard, in recent years, of his widow — perhaps have interviewed her or 
her lawyers — as she re-appeared very suddenly, a few years since, claiming 
dower in the lots which Campbell, by attorney, had conveyed to various parties. 
Some settled with her by paying diff'erent amounts. They might have saved 
their money, as she soon went where all earthly rights and claims are not of 
much account. At this sale, the lots brought from $19 to $108. The sale 
was held in a building then just put up by the Bailey Brothers, on the lot now 
owned and occupied by Mrs. Kinney, which they had bought before the public 
sale. This was the first frame house put up in the city, and the lumber was 
sawed at Sayer's mill. This sale was a great event. From "Walker's Grove" 
to the "Head of Hickory," fiom " Treat's Mill" to "the Sag," and from 
" Bourbonnais " to "Blue Island," and even from the promising village of 
Chicago, the people gathered to the number of perhaps two hundred. A 
bountiful collation was prepared by the ladies of the neighboring settlements, 
who were present to dispense it. 

Campbell's town was recorded as " Juliet," whether after Shakespeare's 
heroine, or his own daughter, or by mistake for Joliet, the writer cannot deter- 
mine. There are various theories ; take your choice. The name was changed 
afterward, at the suggestion of S. W. Bowen and others, by an act of the Leg- 
islature introduced by D. L. Gregg, Esq. And here we wish to notify all peo- 
ple, both in America and Europe, that the proper way to spell it is — Joliet. 
Please do not waste so many I's and t's and e's when you write it, and although 
we are a jolly people, please do not pronounce it Jolly-ett, but Zho-liet; accent 
on first syllable. If you wish to go to the root of the subject, the primary 
meaning of the word is pretty, which makes it all the more appropriate for our 
city. 

Early in March, 1834, Albert W. Bowen, a physician in pursuit of a loca- 
tion, came to this vicinity and boarded a while with Lewis Kerchival. He had 
the sagacity to foresee that a town would grow up in this locality, and made a 
claim on Section 2, in this township. He also built a small frame house on Section 
10, near where the Union School House now stands, in which he lived after 





-.'=vS^;<^Pj. % 






(deceased) 
JOLJ ET. 



'-^^^^^'-n.^fC^ 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 277 

the arrival of his wife. Dr. Bowen, who had been a practitioner for nine years 
in Herkimer County, N. Y., commenced the practice of his profession, and 
also engaged largely in speculations. He acted as agent for Jas. B. Campbell 
in the sale of lots, and soon added East Joliet and Bowen's Addition to the 
town. Dr. Bowen procured the establishment of a post office at Joliet, and was 
the first Postmaster, holding the office several years, until Taylor's election. 
He was one of the most conspicuous men in our early history. Major Bowen, 
of the One Hundredth, who gave his life for the Union at the battle of Frank- 
lin, Tenn., was his son. Dr. Bowen has for some years resided at Wilmington, 
and bears well his 77 years of busy and useful life. 

In the Fall of 1833, Charles Clement, having some dimes which he thought 
would grow faster somewhere else, left New Hampshire, and, anticipating the 
advice of Horace Greeley, came West. Passing through the swamps of Michi- 
gan Territory, he struck out on horseback from Niles, followed the old Sac trail 
through Northern Indiana and Illinois, and crossed the Des Planes at a ford 
north of the city. Seeing no marks of the coming city except the old log cabin 
of Maggard, he rode on west to Walker's Grove, and from there down to 
Peoria. He returned in the Spring of 1834 to Walker's Grove, where he 
heard of Juliet as a point of promise, and he bent his pilgrim steps hither. 
This time he struck lower down and found James McKee laying the founda- 
tions of McKee's Town, or West Juliet. Convinced that this was the spot for 
his dimes, he planted 1,250 of them at once by purchasing an acre of land of 
James McKee, west of his mill-yard, Avhich acre embraced land which became the 
blocks on the northeast and northwest corners of Bluif and exchange streets, 
and extending west to Broadway. Events have fully justified his choice. From 
that time to the present, Mr. Clement has mostly resided at Joliet, and been 
one of our prominent citizens and property owners, and his dimes have fast 
multiplied. He was the first Treasurer of the county. He has held other 
positions of trust, and been found faithful. He now enjoys the distinction of 
being the " oldest male inhabitant" of the city, and though the writer stands 
next in the succession, he hopes Mr. C. will long enjoy the honor. His first 
enterprise in building consisted in putting up a frame house on the ground now- 
covered by Bush's Block, which became afterward the American House, and 
which was soon occupied by the family of his brother, Daniel Clement, who, 
with a millwright named Clark, came on in May of the same year. It was 
here that the hands, among them " Uncle Dick Hobbs," were boarding when 
the writer came in September. 

In June of the same year, M. H. Demmond from Herkimer Oounty, N. 
Y., and George R. Makepeace explored the West, and finally made a plant in 
the same locality, each purchasing another acre for the same sum of $125, of 
James McKee, Mr. Demmond's acre joining Clement's on the north, and Mr. 
Makepeace's still further north, on the north side of Oneida Street. They 
returned to New York, settled up their affairs and in September came on with 



278 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

their families, following the Sac trail from Niles hither. A sister of Mrs. 
Demmond's, now Mrs. Foltz of Centre street, a hired man of the name of 
Jenny, and a verdant youth subsequently known and described as "Long 
George," and sometimes as "Deacon," and at rare and happy intervals by those 
whose sense of justice is keen, "Judge," accompanied Mr. Demmond. We 
wish we could illustrate this history with a bird's-eye view of Juliet at this 
time, September, 1834. The pen cannot be expected to do it justice. Com- 
ing in through the Hickory Creek timber, crossing the tall grass and weeds of 
Spring Creek bottom, the first building which greeted the eager eyes of the 
traveler, was the palatial mansion of Dr. Bowen, of which we have spoken — 
sixteen or eighteen feet square. Crossing the slough somewhere near the pres- 
ent Cass street, then covered with grass and weeds in which we could almost 
be lost, two other dwellings loomed upon the vision. These were occupied by 
Thomas Cox and Benj. F. Barker. One of these was afterward moved, and 
altered by J. 0. Norton, and is still extant on North Chicago street. Farther 
south there were perhaps three other buildings just erected. One of these 
became historic as the "Juliet Hotel," and stood on the corner north of the Cen- 
tral Presbyterian Church. This was moved a little east a few years since, and has 
been cremated. Another was the Bailey house. On the west side of the river, 
which was then crossed by a ford below the island, was the old log house built 
by Reed, Avith an addition by McKee ; the Clement house of wdiich we have 
spoken ; another which had been built for Mr. Demmond, per contract made by 
him on his first visit; and further north, a log house just above Cross street, 
in which lived a Mr. Campbell, and which soon after and for a long time was 
the home of Barton Smith, Esq., and family. The Maggard house was so far 
to the north as pot to be included in the city limits during its existence. Men 
were busy building McKee's dam, laying the foundation for the mill, digging 
the race, and hewing the timbers. Such were at this time all the indications 
of the future city. To watch the daily progress of the mill, eat Mrs. McKee's 
hot biscuit, and drink her coifee, and explore the suburbs, were the only re- 
sources for driving off the blues for the first few weeks ; and a hard time the 
writer had of it, no mistake. At this time, Deacon Brandon — it is wonderful 
how many Deacons we are able to get into this history — was lying upon his back, 
sick with bilious fever, in the McKee addition, and swallowing unlimited quan- 
tities of calomel, not a cheerful sight for the eyes of a new-comer. He was 
Mr. McKee's mason. We must not forget a block-house and palisades, built 
upon the highest part of the bluft', where H. N. Marsh's house now stands, 
during the Sac war. To this spot the writer often retired to dream of the 
future city — and of the girl he left behind him. In the course of the Fall and 
Winter the mill was erected and also a saw-mill, v/hich was rented and run by 
Dan. Clement and Clark. Mr. Demmond moved into the house he had built, 
and opened a store in one of the rooms, after the arrival of his goods, via the 
lakes, which were "hauled" from Chicago with "prairie schooners." The 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 270 

Kings, who lived near the mound, hauled several loads. The goods were stored 
in Chicago at the old warehouse of Newbury & Dole, on the north side of the 
river. Probably few living remember the first warehouse of Chicago. Mr. 
Demmond had a prosperous trade, owing largely, no doubt, to his young and 
popular clerk ; but the accommodations were limited, and he soon planned 
greater things. He purchased during the Winter the land of McKee, except 
three acres sold, and another acre reserved for McKee, and the water-power, mill- 
yard, etc., and in the Spring commenced the erection of the old Demmond 
block, now owned by John D'Arcy. He laid oft' " West Juliet," and was soon 
busy selling lots, his clerk, who had spent a year in diligently looking at the 
bindings of a large law library, being conveyancer. 

FIRST WINTER. 

The following is probably nearly a correct list of the persons who spent the 
W^inter of 1834-5 within the present city limits: A. W. Bowen and wife, Wm. 
H. Blackburn and wife, Thomas Cox and wife, 0. D. Putnam, Henry Bone 
and wife, the two Baileys, George West and wife, N. H. Cutter, Benj. F. Bar- 
ker and wife, Eri Dodge and Avife, Jay Lyons, Edward Perkins and James C. 
Troutman, on the east side of the river ; and M. H. Demmond and wife, Miss 
Murray, G. H. Woodruff', James McKee and wife, Richard Hobbs, Charles W. 
Brandon, Daniel Clement and wife, Charles Clement, N. H. Clarke, D. Mag- 
gard, Asaph Webster, wife and son, Mr. Campbell and wife, a family named 
Lumereaux, and probably one or two others, on the west side. Mr. Makepeace 
and wife went to Fox River. 

FIRST CHURCUES AND SCHOOLS. 

During the Winter of 1834-5, the Rev. J. H. Prentiss, of Onondaga 
County, X. Y., came on here, under the auspices of the American Home Mis- 
sion Society, and believing that there were already some here who needed 
preaching to, and that there would probably soon be many more, determined to 
locate here, and during the Summer of 1835, came on with his family and es- 
tablished a mission. He first preached in a little stone house that stood on the 
southeast corner of Broadway and W^estern avenue, until a house was built by 
Demmond, E. Haven, McKee and J. Beaumont and others, for school and 
church purposes, on Hickory street, on the edge of Comstock's Pond. The 
house is still extant with considerable revamping, and is occupied as a residence 
by Mr. Tyrrell. It was long used as a school house and meeting house. Here 
the famous pedagogue of the early days, John Watkins, once taught. He has 
been called the first teacher at Chicago and at Joliet. Mr. Watkins was a 
worthy man and teacher, and we are sorry to take from him the honor of being 
first on the ground. But Mrs. Kinzie, in " Waubun," tells of an earlier one 
in Chicago, and a daughter of B. F. Barker says that a Miss Persis Cleveland 
taught the first Juliet school in the old block-house. If this was so, the writer 
protests that he never saw her on his frequent visits to that locality. John Wat- 



280 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

kins now lives in Joliet, almost blind, and is occasionally seen upon our streets. 
If not the first pedagogue in Chicago, he must have been next, as he taught 
school in the same log house where Father Walker preached and lived in the 
days of his early labors in that city. S. W. Stone, a later acquisition to our 
city, taught in the same building, on Hickory street, as early as 1845; and 
some of our young men, who are not so very young, first learned " how to 
shoot" — paper wads under his administration. 

Mr. Prentiss built a shanty on Oneida street, just under the bluff, where he 
lived until he got his house finished — a house which still remains, and is the 
one lately occupied by Mr. Denker, on South Broadway. He was the first set- 
tled minister in the city, and organized a Presbyterian Church in August, 
1835. 

The Episcopal (Christ) Church dates its organization a little ahead. This 
was organized in May of that year, by Bishop Chase, of " Robin's Nest," 
Peoria. Comstock Hanford, John Griswold, Miles Rice, Orlin Westover, A. 
W. Bowen, Julia Ann Hanford and Amorette B. Griswold were the original 
members. Some of these were from Yankee Settlement. All, except Dr. 
Bowen, were outside of Joliet. 

The original members of the Presbyterian Church were : Simon Z. Haven, 
Stephen Hubbard, Josiah Beaumont and his wife Eliza, Daniel Reed and his 
wife Cinda, Elias Haven and his wife Emily N., Eliza Prentiss, Delia Butler 
(Mrs. Prentiss' sister), and others were soon added. Forty-three names are on 
the original record, from August 12, 1835, to March 31, 1838, when Mr. Pren- 
tiss left for another field, and the Church soon ceased to have records, Septem- 
ber 2, 1838, being the last entry. Among these names — the writer will be 
pardoned for mentioning — were an honored father and mother", Theor and Chloe 
Woodruff", and a beloved wife, Hannah B. Woodruff. Rodney House, the good, 
gray old Deacon of the present Central Church, who had settled on the Au 
Sable in 1833, and moved to Joliet in 1835, was also a member. 

Of course, itinerants of the Methodist Episcopal Church were early on the 
ground, and organized classes at Juliet, as elsewhere in the county. As early 
as 1836, the Joliet Circuit was established, of which Stephen R. Beggs was 
first Elder, who at once commenced the work of building the first Methodist 
Church building, and organized the Church in 1837. That old Methodist 
Church was, for several years afterward, the blacksmith shop of the Rock 
Island Railroad. But long, long it had the honor of being the first and only 
church edifice in Joliet. Long, long, its walls resounded to the eloquence of 
the early preachers of the Church, and the shouts, amens and happy songs of 
the brethren, sisters and children. Long, long, quarterly meetings and love 
feasts there gladdened the hearts of tlie^membership. Many, many, precious 
souls were there "born into the kingdom," some of whom still fight the good 
fight of faith ; while many, many, have received the palm of victory, and now 
shout "amen " to the new song. 



HISTORY OF WILL (JOUNTY. 281 

l83r,. 

The season of 1835 made many additions to our embryo city, among whom 
were John L. and Richard L. Wilson, George Iligley and family, Levi Jcnks and 
family, Archibald Crowl, Wm. Walters, 0. F. Rogers, Rev. J. II. Prentiss and 
family, Abel Gilbert, Geo. Squire and wife, Rodney House and family, William A. 
Chatfield and family, S. W. Bowen, Abijah Cagwin and family, a Mr. Roland 
and his two sons, Abner and Andrew, H. N. Marsh and wife, Elias Jlaven 
and sons, David Rattray, James Brodie, Francis Nicholson and wife, W. R, 
Atwell (our first blacksmith) and wife, Allen Pratt, Dr. Curtis Haven, Barton 
Smith and two sons and family, Joel George and wife, Sullivan Demmond, 
Jonathan Barnett, Charles Sayer, J. Beaumont and family, E. M. Daggett, E. 
C. Fellows, Fenner Aldrich, George Howliston, Alonzo Castle, Asa Rowe, 
Elias Hyde, Dr. Daniel Reed, David Crozior, Wm. Shorifi', S. B. Hopkins, 
Walter Seeley, Edson White, 0. W. Stillman, John M. Wilson, and a lawyer 
of the name of Pepper — not a misnomer. 

1836. 

In 1836, the great speculation year, they came in rapidly. It will be 
imposible to recall all. Among the additions were J. A. Matteson, Orange 
Chauncey and wife, Albert Shepard, Uri Osgood, James Stout, Thomas, 
Edward and Bennett Allen, Dr. R. E. W. Adams and family, Mr. De Berard 
and family, John Currey and family, J. J. Garland and wife, Dr. Comstock 
and family, Otis Hardy and family, Edmund Wilcox, Thomas R. Hunter, W. 
J. Heath, David Richards and family, Hugh Henderson, Capt. Amos Fellows, 
J. C. NcAvkirk, Hervey Lowe, Richard Doolittle, Wm. Blair, Rufus Oolton, 
EInathan Bassett, Wm. S. Burgess, Thomas G. Burgess, S. S. Davis, Wm. A. 
Boardman, Stephen Hubbard, Giles Jackson (late of Ottawa, deceased), Dr. 
Scholfield, Wra. G. Hubbard, Dr. Wallace A. Little, Henry Fish, M. Worth- 
ingham, Thomas Culbertson, John Green, Lewis Reed and sons, David L. 
Roberts and family, Isaac H. Palmer, E. E. Bush and family. Dr. Simon Z. 
Havens, Henry G. Brown, David Richards, Theor Woodruff and George 
Woodruff, and our first installment from Germany, George Erhard, John Beltz 
and Mr. Gritzner. 

TWO SIDES TO JULIET. 

Of course, from the Spring of 1835, building progressed rapidly on both 
sides of the river. A brisk rivalry, which sometimes got to be right sharp, 
sprang up between East and West Juliet ; for rivers, like 

"mountains interpos'd 
Make enemies of nations, who lia<l else, 
Like kindred drops, l)een mingled into one." 

No sooner did a stranger make his appearance, than he was seized upon by 
parties interested in selling lots, and the special merits and advantages of the 
East or West Side (as the case might be) were urged with all the earnestness 



282 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

and eloquence of a man running for oflBce. Either side called the other 
" Canada," and to get the start in any enterprise or public improvement was 
an object which enlisted the energies of all. Communication between the two 
sides was difficult and occasionally impossible. For some years, we had to rely 
on the ford or precarious foot-bridges, and on skiffs, ''dug-outs" and rafts. 
After we organized under our town charter, we had a ferry, the boat for which 
was built by Otis Hardy ; and the first pei'manent bridges were built in 1837 
(which lost their permanency the next Spring) by the ingenious device of scrip, 
a kind of " fiat money." 

UNCLE BIGE AND THE DUG-OUT. 

We gave in that authentic history, '• Forty Years Ago," a few incidents 
connected with this bridgeless period, some comic and some tragic ; but we did 
not tell the story of "Uncle Bige's" experience in dug-outs. It ought to be 
placed on record. When " Uncle Bige" first came to this county, in 1835, he 
pursued for a while during that Summer the business of a traveling merchant. 
One time, during a period of high water, he came back to Joliet on the West 
Side. He left his wagon at some safe place and got some one to take him over 
in a boat. The landlord of the tavern Avhere he stayed wanted some tea. 
Uncle Bige had a supply in his wagon, and he thought he saw a good way to 
pay his board bill, and so undertook to go over and get some. When he came 
to the river, he found no means of crossing except a dug-out. He had never 
tried to navigate a dug-out, but he had often seen others — even little Indians 
and squaws — row them about at will, and it seemed an easy thing to do. Most 
people have the same idea, until they try it. So he got into one end of it 
without much trouble — this was forty-odd years ago, before he became one of our 
solid men — pointed the other end toward the place where he wanted to land on 
the West Side, and pushed boldly out. The river was booming from recent 
rains, but the dug-out went all right for a few feet until the prow struck 
the strong current near the center of the river, when its direction was 
suddenly changed from west to south. Uncle Bige did not like the change. 
McKeestown was his destination, and not New Orleans. He at once tried to 
bring about a return to the original direction. He tried to '■'■larboard,'' and 
then he tried to "■starboard,'' but on went the dug-out toward the maelstrom 
made by McKee's dam. The prospect was not cheering to a man who had not 
made his will. He began to get a little excited and to doubt his ability to 
manage a dug-out. To cheer hira, the people who had begun to collect on 
either shore, gave him some very good advice. One cried out, " Put your paddle 
on t'other side ; " and another, " Put your paddle on this side ; " and another, 
" Head her up stream," etc., etc. It is one of our good deeds which affords us 
great satisfaction in the retrospect, that we offered Uncle Bige some very good 
advice on this occasion. It may have been the means of saving a future Judge 
to Will County. Who can tell what great results hang upon the most trifling 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 283 

actions ! Uncle Bige tried to follow all this good advice, and was, no douljt, 
very ranch encouraged by the interest manifested in his welfare. But the 
plaguy dug-out obstinately refused to mind the helm ; whichever side he put 
the paddle seemed to make no difference — on, on she went toward New Orlean«. 
His mind underwent a change in respect to dug-outs. He wished he was on 
shore where he could read up in the art of navigation. He thought about his 
wife and children way back in York State, and, perhaps, of some other things. 
McKee's old dam and the maelstrom seemed to be moving up toward him at a 
fearful rate. He was fully convinced now that he did not know how to manage 
a dug-out, and, seeing not far off, just above the dam, a couple of " staddles" 
that had been left standing, he thought he would rather trust them than it, and 
concluded to go overboard. This was not a difficult thing to do. The dnc^-out 
spilled him easily — as easily as falling off a log, and very much like it. He very 
soon found the bottom of the Des Planes, and partly by his own efforts, a la 
crab, and partly by the force of the current, he succeeded in seizing one of the 
staddles and showing his head above the surface, snorting like a porpoise. The 
dug-out went on, bottom side up. He did not care for the ship, but he did 
want to save the cargo. The staddle was now his only hope ; clinging to that 
with a deathlike grasp, he rested and calmly surveyed the situation. After a 
while relief came to him in the shape of a rope thrown from the East Side. By 
the help of this he at last made port. It was not the one for which he had 
first " bent his venturous prow, " but it gave him real estate security, and that 
was what he most wanted. He did not get the tea, but he had taken a valuable 
lesson in the navigation of dug-outs, with which he has remained content. He 
has never thought he could manage one since. It would take two at least to 
hold him now ! 

JULIET POST OFFICE. 

As we have elsewhere said, when the settlement was first made hei'e, our 
nearest postofiice was at Uncle Billy Gougar's, and this was called the Juliet 
postoffice. The mail route — per Indian pony express — was from Danville to 
Chicago, and passed by Gougar's, through Yankee Settlement. Dr. Bowen, 
who was well known at the Postoffice Department at Washington, not only 
officially (having held the office of Postmaster in the place from which he came), 
but personally, succeeded in getting the route changed to go from Gougar's to 
Plainfield via Juliet, and soon after a stage mail route was established from 
Chicago to Ottawa by way of Plainfield and Joliet, which in a little while was 
run directly from Ottawa to Chicago via Joliet, leaving Plainfield out in the 
cold. He was appointed Postmaster in 1835, as we have elsewhere stated. 

SPECIAL MENTION. 

Now there are a great many of the persons named in the above lists, of whom 
we should like to make special mention, and respecting whom we should like to 
record some incidents. But the amount of paper we are consuming admon- 



28 t HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

ishes us that we must restrain our inclinations in this regard. Some of these 
persons are well known ; they have lived long and still live among us, and how- 
ever pleased we might be to write their obituaries, we cannot do so while they 
persist in keeping hale and hearty. It would not suit our ideas of good taste. 
George West was a Methodist preacher, but out of health for some time, and 
soon left. 

M. H. Demmond, the proprietor of "West Juliet," was originally from 
Massachusetts. For several years he was a merchant in Oneida and Herkimer 
Counties, N. Y., where he accumulated a considerable property by diligent 
attention and fair dealing. In 1834, he thought he would come West, where 
he could invest his gains to better advantage. Circumstances have justified his 
course. He died of cholera in 1854, leaving a handsome property to his wife 
and his wife's niece, afterward Mrs. Bartleson. Mr. Demmond was never a 
member of a church, but he was always the most liberal supporter of such 
religious and educational efforts as secured his confidence and respect. He 
was the first to welcome Mr. Prentiss, and was his most liberal supporter and 
friend. And it is but just to say that in this respect his widow, who still lives 
among us, follows the same course. He was also noted for his honorable and 
upright dealing, and had the confidence of all. 

Abijah Cagwin, "Uncle Bige" — we beg his pardon — Judge Cagwin, be- 
came our County Judge from 1839 to 1842 — four years. "Uncle Bige" still 
flourishes, like one of the sturdy oaks of fifty years ago, which the woodman has 
spared. "Uncle Bige," we mean Judge Cagwin, once built a saw-mill on Hick- 
ory Creek, below the Red mill. He built several dams successively which the 
high water carried away each Spring, until at last he gave the creek a final dam- 
ming (with an n in it) and left it to the Joliet Woolen Factory Company. 

James McKee was a Kentuckian, a marked character, well informed, a 
great reader, a strong temperance man and Abolitionist, honest but stubborn, a 
great man to discuss moral and political questions, and hospitable. He was 
elected a Justice of the Peace and greatly magnified his office. He took the 
view that his official oath required him to take notice of every infringement of 
the statute, and he did not wait for a complaint to be made, but at once ordered 
the arrest of any person whom he saw disorderly. This gave rise to some 
amusing scenes. The lessees of his saAV-mill used to run it on Sunday, and 
McKee would have them arrested on Monday and fine them. 

The name Haven has occurred frequently in the preceding lists, and something 
more ought to be said respecting this family, once so prominent among us. Elias, 
Simon Z., Curtis and Samuel Haven were brothers, who came here about the 
same time from the State of New York. Philo A., Orlando H. and James 
were sons of Elias Haven, of Joliet, and Dr. Rush Haven (now of Chicago), 
Carlos Haven (late of Chicago, deceased) and Dwight Haven, of New Lenox 
(School Commissioner of our county from 1865 of 1868, inclusive), are sons of 
Samuel Haven, of the Hickory Creek settlement. 0. H. Haven, a young man • 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 285 

who was once a well-known and prominent citizen of Joliet, and represented 
this district in the General Assembly of 1849, died of cholera in 1854. In 
1839, he, with Pliilo A., built the saw and grist mill which once stood below town, 
and the dam across the river, which still remains. The California excitement 
took James and Phiio A. from us, and they have never returned to stay. Dr. 
Rush and Carlos also went there, but came back again, with more or less of the 
root of all evil. Simon Z. Haven, a physician, returned to New York, and 
Curtis Haven was many years a physician in Joliet and died here. Elias 
was one of the founders of the First Presbyterian Church, in 1835. Dwight 
Haven is now, we believe, the only male representative of this once large fam- 
ily in Will County. His brother Carlos died in Chicago in 18G2, having taken 
high rank as a lawyer. Mrs. James Goodspeed is a daughter of Samuel 
Haven. He died in March, 1866, at the age of 67. 

Hugh Henderson came from Norway, Herkimer Co., N. Y., in 1835, and was 
one of our best known and ablest lawyers. Hewasamemberof the firm of Hender- 
son & Boardman, and afterward of Wilson & Henderson. He was elected Judge of 
Probate in 1837, and Circuit Judge in 1839. He was also a member of the State 
Constitutional Convention of 1847. He had an eminently judicial mind, and 
his legal opinion always carried great weight. Although he was an ardent poli- 
tician, he numbered many of his political opponents among his warmest friends. 
Frank and courteous in manner, and pure and spotless in character and repu- 
tation, his early death was deeply regretted. He was taken sick while on a 
visit to bis native place, and died there in October, 1854. 

We told one story of Dr. Comstock in " Forty Years Ago," and must put 
another on record, for the Doctor was one of our characters, one of the best of 
the early day. He was an able preacher as well as a good doctor. He was at 
home wherever he went. It was a common thing for a woman on going into 
her parlor to find the Doctor stretched out upon the lounge, reading, or perhaps 
fast asleep. It was the "old Doctor," and nobody thought of taking offense. 
On one occasion, he had visited a patient late in the evening, and, wishing to 
leave an appointment with another doctor (who, for convenience sake, we will 
call Dr. B.) for a council next day, he walked, according to his custom, into 
the house (those were the primitive days when we did not lock every door), and 
and knowing that the Doctor was not in, opened the door of what he supposed 
to be the bedroom occupied by Dr. B.'s wife, and proceeded to make known his 
errand, as he supposed, to her. It happened that the room Avas occupied by a 
(then) unmarried sister of Dr. B.'s wife. She was not a little frightened, at 
first, to see in the dim light a strange man of somewhat singular appearance 
unceremoniously enter her bedroom (the Doctor wore a shawl wrapped around 
his neck and shoulders long before men's shawls came into fashion). But she 
soon discovered that the intruder had no evil intent, and listened quietly to his 
statement, after making which the Doctor withdrew. Dr. Comstock found out, 
the next day, the blunder he had made, and felt that an apology was due 



286 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

the young lady. He accordingly called and made his apology by walking 
through the room where Dr. B.'s wife and her sister were both sitting, and say- 
inf^: '•'In the morninci behold it was Leah ! '' On another occasion, when 
he visited a lady patient whose disease seemed to baffle his remedies, he entered 
her room with the abrupt remark, " Desperate diseases require desperate 
remedies," and forthwith administered a kiss to his astonished patient. 

C. W. Brandon, commonly known as Deacon Brandon, was our first stone 
mason and stone cutter, and built the Wilson store (soon to be mentioned), and 
Barker's stone cottage, long the most costly dwelling in Joliet, now meta- 
morphosed. He was also the proprietor of the city of Palmyra. We do not 
refer to the Palmyra built by Solomon, and known as Tadmor in the desert, 
but the Palmyra of Will County, built in 1836. If the reader does not know 
its history or location, let him look upon the county records, where he will find 
all its noble avenues, its splendid palaces and its grand temples recorded by the 
same skillful hand that is now writing this history — and you will find them 
nowhere else. If you have the curiosity to look upon the ground where it 
stood, and to dig among its ruins, ask Prof. Palmer to point out the spot to 
you. He married one of the Deacon's comely daughters, and lives in the 
vicinity ; and if the city has left any bumps he will know where they are, for he 
is great on bumps. And while searching for ruins, you might also look up 
those of Romeo, Lunenburg, West Lockport, Williamsburg, Middletown, 
Vienna, Carlysle, Chelsea, New Rochester, and New Buffalo, all once flourish- 
ing cities of Will County ; but now the gopher burrows unscared amid their 
ruins. We suggest to the next Fourth of July orator that, instead of asking, 
" Where are Thebes and Babylon ? " etc., he should vary the question and ask, 
" Where are Lunenburg ? " etc. Mr. Brandon died in 1871. 

E. E. Bush was some time mine host of the old '" American," and had the 
honor at one time of feeding J. C. Newkirk, John M. Wilson, Charles 
Clement, and this deponent, and others not equally celebrated. Bush was a 
son-in-law of Lyman Hawley, and consequently the Hawley girls used to be at 
the American a good deal, which did not hurt it any ; did it, Charley ? Bush 
moved to Lockport, and was long Postmaster there, where he died many 
years ago. 

John L. and Richard L., and a younger brother who came a little later, 
Charles L.Wilson, were the sons of Judge Quartus Wilson, of Albany, N. Y. They 
were some time residents here, engaged in merchandising, canal contracting, etc. 
They afterward removed to Chicago. Richard L. was Postmaster there, under . 
Taylor. The Wilsons founded the Chicago Journal. We don't know whether 
Chicago feels it or not, but she is greatly indebted to Will County for men as 
well as for stone and gravel and coal. The list of men we have allowed to go 
there would be a long one, embracing some of her best lawyers, physicians, 
judges, merchants, capitalists, and public men, editors, etc., and thus we have 
helped to raise her out of the mud in more senses than one. 



HlSTOllY OF WILL COUNTY. 287 

Everybody knows David Richards, and liow his fnvni is now one of the 
finest portions of the city, and Kichards street, a fashionable avenue. We do 
not suppose that wlien David set his stakes tliere lie anticipated becoming part 
of the citv. 

Lewis Reed had a blacksmith's shop under the blulV, just north of Exchange 
street, where a bold and frowning blutf, with a lime-kiln below, stood where 
now we make the easy ascent. Could those who want the hill cut down have 
seen it then, they would be forced to own that it had already been cut some. 
One of Mr. Reed's sons is the Rev. Francis Reed, a Methodist preacher, now 
at Mendota. 

W. J. Heath, above named, is the man who has been so long known in Joliet 
as Justice Heath, and sometimes, by way of eminence, as Chief Justice Heath. 
He has worn the justicial ermine many'years ; but he is still extant, and we shall 
not. therefore, write his obituary, but must leave that pleasing task to some 
future historian. But we have a little story to tell of him. Mr. Heath did not 
arrive at the dignity of being Chief Justice of Joliet at one jump, but went 
through the preliminary steps of Constable, Deputy Sheriff, etc. It so hap- 
pened at an early day, when the Kankakee River formed the boundary line 
between Will and Iroquois Counties, that he had given him some papers to serve 
on a couple of men who resided on the Kankakee. So he set out to hunt them 
up. After a long and lonesome ride, he arrived at the banks of that stream, and 
found, living near the ford, one of the men of whom he was in search, on whom 
he served his process in due form.. But here he learned to his chagrin, that the 
other man lived just across the river. Although he was not yet a justice learned 
in the law, he even then knew that a process from a Will County Court would not 
liave any force on the other side of the river. Here was a quandary. He did not 
like to lose his fees and mileage on this paper — it was half of his day's wages 
— and the whole was little enough reward for his long ride. A brilliant idea 
struck him. He had often heard it said that everything was fair in war and in 
love, and he was already enough of a politician to have learned that everything 
was fair in politics. Then why not in law. He at once resolved on a strategic 
. movement. He crossed over, and, riding up to the man's house, found him 
with his horse just ready to go away. Mr. Heath told the man that he was 
happy to find him and with his horse all ready, as he wished very much for a 
man to go over to the other side to witness the execution of a paper. Would 
he be kind enough to take that trouble ? The man readily complied. When 
they had got safely on the Will County side, Mr. Heath asked the man his name. 
The man told him it was Beebee. " Beebee," exclaimed Mr. Heath. " Ah, I 
believe I have got a process to serve on you," and accordingly he proceeded to 
read to the astonished squatter the document with Avhich he was armed. The 
man was so astonished at the cheeky procedure that for a moment he was speech- 
less ; but he soon recovered his voice and proceeded to tell Heath what he 
thought of him, in language more forcible than elegant. But Heath had saved 



288 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

his fees and mileage, and cared little for the man's private opinion. Whether 
in this case the end was large enough to justify the means is a problem in 
casuistry which we submit to the Joliet Philosophical Debating Club. 

BLACK HAWK WAR. 

As will be seen from the preceding pages, there had begun to be a consider- 
able immigration into this and other parts of the Northwest as early as 1830 
and 1831. This immigration was interrupted in the Spring of 1832, by the 
Black Hawk war — so called from the noted chief who was its prominent insti- 
gator. Although the seat of the war was principally to the west and north, on 
Rock River, and, although the Pottawatomie Indians of this region were sup- 
posed to be friendly, yet great alarm was felt by the settlers in this vicinity. 
It was at once feared that the tide of war would sweep this way, and that a 
general war of extermination had been resolved upon by the Indians, and that 
the efforts which it was known Black Hawk was making to draw in all the In- 
dians of the Northwest, would be successful. There was abundant reason to 
justify their fears. On the 21st of May, a frightful massacre had been perpe- 
trated on Indian Creek, about fifteen miles above Ottawa, within thirty 
miles of Joliet, in which fifteen settlers, men — women and children — had been 
suddenly surrounded and massacred, with the usual barbarities of Indian war- 
fare. One boy alone had escaped from the settlement and carried the news to 
Ottawa. Two girls named Sylvia and Rachel Hall, of the ages of 15 and 
17 respectively, had been carried off as prisoners, and held for ransom. As 
we have elsewhere noted, this event is closely connected with the history of 
Joliet. The news of this and other atrocities might well arrest further immi- 
gration and drive out many already here. The settlers at Walker's Grove, with 
some who had fled from Fox River, to the number of 125 in all, collected at 
the house of Father Beggs, on Section 16, which seemed most favorably located 
for defense. This they hastily fortified, by pulling down all the surrounding 
outbuildings and fences, and forming outer barricades of the material. The 
question arose whether they would escape to Ottawa or remain at the fort. Mrs. 
Flagg, the wife of Azariah Flagg, a woman of great decision and judgment, 
threw the weight of her influence in favor of staying, and presented so many 
and so strong arguments for this course that the settlers finally determined to 
stay. It was afterward ascertained that this course saved their lives, and that 
the party who had committed the outrage at Indian Creek were laying in wait, 
expecting them. Indeed, one person, the old Dunkard preacher, of the name 
of Payne, refused to stay, and, trusting to his sacred charactei', put out for 
Ottawa and met his fate a little way from the fort. They chose James Walker 
for their commander, and resolved upon a vigorous defense. They collected all 
the guns, hoes, scjthes, axes, pitchforks, etc., of the neighborhood, and melted 
up their pewter spoons for bullets. Here they waited a few days, and no In- 
dians making their appearance, and, as they had but four guns, they thought 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 289 

the safer course was to go to the fort at Chicago. Tliither, accordingly, they 
made their way, under the protection of the company elsewhere mentioned, 
where they found the fort full of settlers that had fled tliither for protection. 
The crowded state of the fort rendered their stay there exceedingly uncomfort- 
able, and they suffered nearly as much as from their fears of the Indians. The 
settlers in Yankee Settlement also fled to Chicago. The alarm had been car^ 
ried to the Settlement by Hiram Pearson, of Chicago, and Daniel Mack, of 
Hadley, who had started for Danville, and who encountered fugitives from the 
West somewhere near the Des Planes River. They returned at once and gave 
the alarm, and the families were quickly gathered together and went to Chicago. 
While there the I'efugees organized a company of twenty-five, chose Holder 
Sisson, of Yankee Settlement, their Captain, and started out on a scout to 
ascertain, if possible, the whereabouts of the Indians. They stayed the first 
night at an old settler's of the name of Lawton, on the Des Planes, went thence 
on to Naperville, then down to W^alker's Grove, stopping the second night at 
Fort Beggs. They then proceeded on toward Ottawa, and at Holderman's Grove 
they met a party from Ottawa, and both parties went to Indian Creek, where 
they found the mutilated and decaying bodies of fifteen persons, including six 
children. Having buried these, they went on to Ottawa, where they found the 
remnants of a regiment which had skedaddled from the encounter at Stillman's 
Run. They then returned, over the same route, to Chicago. On their return 
they found the body of the Dunkard preacher ; neither his long, reverend 
beard, nor his peaceful character had availed to save him from the treacherous 
savage. After a few weeks' stay at Chicago, the discomforts of the fort were 
so great that the settlers from Yankee Settlement returned, and built a fort on 
the Sisson-Hanford place ; and those from Walker's Grove returned to that 
locality. 

Scott had arrived at Chicago, bringing with him a foe more dreadful 
than the Indians even. This caused a more sudden stampede from than there 
had been to Chicago from the country. Lanfear, and his ox-teara, of the Yankee 
Settlement, were pressed into the service by Scott to take his supplies to Galena. 
At this time there was a Pottawatomie village or encampment between Fraction 
Run and Big Run, Lockport, and remained there a year or two after. A story 
is told of this fort to this effect : Runyon, wishing to put the courage and 
watchfulness of its inmates to the pi'oof, disguised himself as an Indian, and 
with rifle and tomakawk approached with stealthy step. He came near paying 
dearly for his experiment, as the defenders were about to fire upon him, when 
his wife, with the sure instinct of a woman, discovered the disguise and pre- 
vented the catastrophe. The settlers on Hickory Creek, Jackson's Grove and 
Joliet Township, and all down the river, being, many of them, from Indiana, 
sought safety in that direction by a hasty flight. A number having collected 
near Cougar's, they sent Robert Stevens, David Maggard and one of the Nor- 
mans to reconnoiter. They saw some Indians on the prairie near the Lilly- 



290 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Cache, who seemed to be driving off cattle. They returned and reported, 
oriving it as their opinion that they were Pottawatomies. It was afterward 
ascertained that this was so, and that they were on their way to assure the 
settlers that there was no cause for alarm. But the settlers had by this time 
become so excited that they commenced at once to flee, and to notify all the 
region of their danger. Every horse, pony and ox-team was at once brought 
into requisition. The chattels of the settlers were hastily loaded, and women 
and children placed in the wagons, while the men with their guns rode the 
horses as guards. When the settlers gathered together on the prairie, there 
were some seventy or eighty, with twenty teams, mostly drawn by oxen. The 
stampede, as we have heard it described by some of the survivors, was at the 
same time terrible and ludicrous. They tell of one who, hatless and coatless, 
with his supplies of flour, sugar and bacon hastily loaded on his horse before 
and behind him, was too badly scared to wait the tardy movements of the main 
column, and put out at the utmost speed of which his horse was capable, throw- 
mg overboard one article after another of his impedimenta in order to increase 
his speed, never pausing until he reached the Kankakee. Some accounts have 
it that he got on to his horse " hindside afore," and that he did not stop until 
he reached the Wabash. But the narrator, we fear, was given a little to exagger- 
ation, as even historians sometimes are — a thing very much to be deprecated. 
But if true, he no doubt presented the boldest front he had to the enem}'. The 
fugitives met a company of armed men from Indiana, who had come out to aid 
and protect the settlers. Some of the fugitives, having cooled off a little, 
returned with them. It was this company which built the fort, of which we 
have spoken, on the bluft", and which was named "Fort Nonsense" by the 
early settlers. Mr. Jesse Cook, named in the list of early settlers of the town- 
ship, was one of those who returned and who helped build the fort. Mr. Cook 
also relates that, on returning to their homes, they found that the friendly Pot- 
tawatomies had shown their friendship by taking care of the pigs, chickens and 
provisions they had left in their flight — such good care that the settlers never 
had to take care of them any more.* 

Robert Stevens and ,David Maggard also returned and concealed themselves 
for a few days in a cave under the bluff on the west side of the Des Planes. 
Most of the families returned the next Spring. There was also a block-house 
built, which was standing many years after the writer came, in Reed's Grove, 
but whether built before or after the stampede we do not know. 

It will be seen from this record that Will County figured in the Black Hawk 
war. True, no bloody battles occurred on its soil, but there were many races. 

* We find the following etatemont iti a biographical sketch of Gurdon S. Hubbard, which may seem to conflict 
with what w.- have given. We conclmlo, howfviT, tli:it tlui companies referred to are the same : " In the Spring of 
l.s:w, on Sunday morning, news readied Danville of tlie hostilities of Black Hawk's band, and that they were killing 
the settlers on the Des Planes and Du I'age Ilivers. He (Mr. Hubbard) persuaded Col. IMoore, who eutntnaniled the 
Vermilion County Militia, ti call out bis regiment at once, without waiting the orders of the (Jovernor, and t(] march 
for the seat of war. Mr. Hubbard furnished transportation, and bought provisions and ammunition, and the lollow- 
ing Tuesday, the regiment took up its march with ten days' rations. Arriving at Joliet, a rude stockade was built, 
one company left, and another sent to Du Page, where another stockade was (had been) erected, where they left 
another company, and the balance joined Gen. Atkinson. 



IIISTOUV OF WILL COUNTY. 291 

No heroes spilled their blood in defense of their hearths and homes, but they 
took good care that the savages should not spill it for them. At least four, and 
perhapsjmore, forts were built, and their pewter plates and spoons were freely 
sacrificed for the common defense, and Joliet (CampbellstownandMcKeestown), 
are monuments of the bloody slaughter of Indian Creek. 

COUNTY ORGANIZATION. 

After the Black Hawk war, which-was soon brought to a close by the vigor- 
ous movements of Gen. Atkinson, while Gen. Scott was fighting the cholera, 
the tide of immigration set in strong to the West. No region presented a more 
inviting prospect to the farmer than that embraced in Will County. Here, too, 
were mill-sites up and down our streams inviting the manufacturer, and any 
quantity of sites for towns and cities to catch the eye of the speculator. 

The earlier settlements as they were initiated, both before and after the war, 
Ave have pretty fully detailed. By 1835, our population had so greatly in- 
creased that a new county was called for. Chicago was so remote that it Avas 
very inconvenient to be obliged to go there as often as the exigencies of business 
required. Juliet began to be talked of as a county seat. 

During the Winter of 1835— 3G, through the eftbrts of our citizens, especially 
James AValker and Dr. A. W. Bowen, who went to Vandalia as members of the 
Third House, and who were both shrewd and influential men, an act was passed 
creating the county of Will. It received its name from Conrad Will, a member 
of the Legislature who had died just before. Gov. Ford, in his history, says, 
that he was chiefly remarkably for his good nature. We accept the name as a 
just compliment to our people. Dr. Bowen got inserted in the act a provision 
locating the county seat not only in Juliet, but on the public square which Camp- 
bell had had the sagacity to appropriate for that purpose. Thus the East Side 
made a second point on us of the West Side (it had already got the postofiice). 
An election was ordered in March for a Sheriff", three County Commissioners, 
Recorder and Coroner, A convention was called to nominate the county offi- 
cers. This was held in the upper room of the old Demmond Block, which 
had just been erected. And here the West Side made a point. This conven- 
tion was called Avithout regard to party, and was largely attended by the sub- 
stantial settlers throughout the county. Of course they Avould make out a 
good ticket. They nominated Holder Sisson, Thomas Durham and James 
Walker, for Commissioners; Robert Stevens for Sheriff"; George H. Woodrulf 
for Recorder (here is the point), and E. M. Daggett for Coroner. The ticket 
met with some opposition as to Recorder, and Sheriff" especially, but it was tri- 
umphantly elected. In those days we could make a good run, if nothing else. 
The principal tactics we used Avas to keep out of sight, Avhich Ave think Avas sagacious. 
It is worthy of note here that at this election those living on the East Side Avere 
obliged to go to Philip Scott's on Section 23, and those living on the West Side 
to Plainfield, in order to vote. Robert Stevens declined to qualify as Sheriff", and 



292 HISTOEY OF WILL COUNTY. 

in the Fall, at the first regular election, " Uncle Fenner Aldrich," who had lived 
at Plainfield, was chosen in time for the first Circuit Court. 

We need hardly say that the Board of County Commissioners answered to 
our Board of Supervisors, transacting the business of the entire county. Their 
first meeting was held at the "Juliet Hotel," then kept by Thomas H. Black- 
burn, on March 14, 183t). They appointed Levi Jenks, a west sider, County 
Clerk and School Commissioner, and Charles Clement, Treasurer of the county. 
They divided the county into ten election precincts, as follows : 

1. Du Page Precinct — ronsisting of Town 37, in Ranges 9 and 10 (now the towns of Du 
Page and Wheatland). Elections to be held at the house of David K. Clark. Harry Board- 
man, Seth Wescott and Isaac Scarrett to be .ludges of Election. 

2. Plainfield Precinct — Towns 35 and 36, in Range 9 (Troy and Plainfield). Elections at 
house of Chester IngersoU. Oliver Goss, W. W. Wattles and R. W. Chapman, .Judges. 

3. Canal Precinct — Town 36, in Ranges 10 and 11 (Lockport and Homer). Election at 
house of Luther C. Chamberlin. Charles Gray, Selah Lanfear and Comstock Hanford, Judges. 

4. Joliet Precinct — Town 35, Range 10 (Joliet). Elections at the house of Thomas H. 
Blackburn. Isaac Merrill, Thos. H. Blackburn and Alonzo Castle, Judges. 

5. Hickory Creek — Town 35, in Ranges 11 and 12 (New Lenox and Frankfort). Election 
at house of Chester Marshall. Mansfield Wheeler, Lewis Kerchival and John I. Davidson, Judges. 

6. Jackson — Town 31, Ranges 9 and 10 (Channahon and .Jackson). Elections at house of 
Jasper Willson. Henry Watkins, Seymor Treat and Joseph Shoemaker, Judges. 

7. Forked Creek — Towns 32 and 33, in Ranges 9 and 10 (Reed, Wilmington, Florence, 
Westley and Custer). Elections at house of Robert AVatkins. John Kilpatrick, Hamilton Kee- 
ney and Thomas Cox, Judges. 

8. Rock Village- — Towns 32, 33 and 34. in Ranges 11 and 12 (Manhattan, Greengarden, 
Wilson and Peotone, and two townships now in Kankakee County). Elections at house of Sam- 
uel Davis. Archer Caruthers, Samuel Davis and Hugh Carmichael, Judges. 

9. Thorn Creek — Town 34, in Ranges 13 and 14 (Monee and Crete). Election at house of 
Minoris Beebe. Minoris Beebe, , .Judges. 

10. Kankakee — Towns 32 and 33, in Ranges 13 and 14 (Will and Washington, and two 
townships now in Kankakee County). Elections at house of Enoch Sergeant. 

All Election Precincts also to be Magistrate Districts, and elections were 
ordered for Justices and Constables. 

Some of these precincts were soon divided. Canal Precinct was divided the 
next year into Lockport and Spring Creek (now Homer), and Channahon was 
set ofi" into Van Buren Precinct, and other changes soon followed. At this first 
session also, the county was divided into seventeen Road Districts, and Super- 
visors appointed, and all able-bodied men between the ages of 21 and 50 re- 
quired to work five days on the roads. Trustees of School Sections were also ap- 
pointed. Viewers Avere also appointed to lay out the first county road from 
Juliet to Plainfield and on to county line. (The first road projected, and not a 
good road yet I) 

They also ordered a writ of adquod damnum (as the records have it), but 
whom it hit or what it did, we can't say ; perhaps it is lying around loose yet. 
It was something about a cut-off from the Kankakee to the Des Planes. Jenks 
made the two first words into one, but Ave presume it hurt just as badly. 
They also fixed the price of tavern charges at 25 cents a meal, 12^ cents for 











/^Uw 




(OECEASih) 
JOLIET 



FIISTORY OF WILT, nOUNTV. 295 

lodging, and 6} cents for drinks. We regret to say that this is not now in 
force. 

All cities have their golden age, when everything is bright and lovely, when 
the best men are exalted, and the people rejoice. If this period of which we 
write was not the golden age of Will County, pray tell us what period was. 
Think of it ! The best men in office, a good square meal for 25 cents, 
lodging for 12| cents, whisky for 6^ cents, no tramps, no burglars, no 
gas bills or ice bills, no book or map agents, no lightning-rod peddlers, 
no oily-tongued interviewers to persuade you that being a representative man 
and an old settler you ought to have your history and portrait in a book ! But, 
alas, those times are over and gone. 

After finishing the county business, which took them four days, the County 
Commissioners voted themselves $6 each, and adjourned. A dollar and a half 
a day was not a very big salary steal. 

Let us note that at the end of the year Mr. Clement was allowed $16.60, 
being 2 per cent on the money he handled. Having made his pile, he 
retired and gave place to Bennett Allen. 

MORE JOLIET HISTORY. 

The first stone building put up in Joliet was the block of two stores built 
by Demmond, of which we have already spoken. Mr. Demmond moved his 
store into one part as soon as finished, and soon rented the other. It was 
necessary that a building of so much importance should be dedicated. This 
could be done properly only by a ball, and it was determined by the proper 
authorities that there should be one as soon as the floors were laid and before 
the partitions were put up. The boys at once canvassed the county for girls. 
Most of us knew where to find them. The result was an extensive and suc- 
cessful affair. The fame of it reached Chicago, and some couples came down 
to it. Among these were a Mr. and Mrs. Garland, a newly-married couple lately 
from Michigan. Of course the hotel accommodations were limited in those 
days. Mr. and Mrs. G. put up at the Higley House, the chambers of which 
could not properly be spoken of in the plural number, as there were no parti- 
tions. Mrs. G. made herself somewhat unpopular on account of the fastidious- 
ness she exhibited in objecting to inviting "tired nature's sweet restorer" in so 
promiscuous a style, although nature was very tired indeed, having danced till 
4 o'clock. She actually refused to go to bed until a partition had been 
extemporized by means of a sheet suspended from the rafters ! But when 
she afterward came to live among us, and we learned to know her many good 
qualities, we forgot her unpardonable prudery^ and loved her long and well. 

OLD WILSON STORE. 

The next stone building was on the east side, and was put up in 18o6, by 
the Wilson brothers, who had come on here from Albany, and opened a store 
on Chicago street in one of Dr. Bowen's buildings. This is the old stone 



296 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

building next south of the City Hall. Deacon Brandon, as we have said, built 
this store. It is one of the buildings that are historic. The Wilsons opened a 
store there, where they traded some years, and were succeeded by J. A. Matte- 
son, where he kept a store and depot for the cloths Avhich he manufactured, part 
of the time with George Bradner for a partner. There, at one time, Alex- 
ander Mcintosh, now pretty well known in Will County, was his clerk. Major 
Safford was also for a long time his clerk. He has lately died in Cairo, where 
he was a banker. The upper story was rented for a court-room and Clerk's 
office by the County Commissioners, until the old Court House was built — we mean 
the predecessor of the present old Court House, long since taken down, as the 
present one ought to be. Afterward, it was occupied by the Episcopal Church 
for religious worship. Our worthy citizen, S. 0. Simonds, taught a private 
school there. S. W. Stone, and, we think, K. J. Hammond, taught there also. 
We can trace its history no further ; time would fail to tell it all ; for a long 
time, now, it has been occupied for a dwelling. 

Among other experiences of the old store we ought, however, to note the 
fact that in 1851, while occupied as a store house for wool by Matteson, it was 
struck by lightning, and perhaps that is why the northwest corner is now 
tumbling out. We suppose when a stranger visits Joliet and one of our citizens 
wishes to show him the points of interest, he is shown the Opera House Block, 
the new churches, the dwellings of Mr. Fox, George Woodruff, J. E. Henry, 
the Centennial and Aiken Blocks, etc.; but in the mind of the writer, and per- 
haps that of some others, these old buildings, however rusty or decayed, awaken 
far greater interest. They are full of memories ; they are historic. And we 
have often thought, what if their old walls could speak — what if they were all 
phonographs — what if they had anticipated Edison and had recorded every 
word, and every sight and act as well, of the various persons that from time to 
time had acted or spoken within them. And what if, at one's bidding, the walls 
should give out again the sights and sounds which they had absorbed — all the 
scenes of joy and sorrow, all the acts of piety and of sin, all the oaths and 
prayers, all the words that soothe and comfort, and all the words that irritate 
and wound, all the whispers and vows of love, and the pledges of friendship, 
both those that have been kept and those that have been broken — what, we say, 
if some Edison should yet discover the secret of unraveling it all to the listener, 
what revelations there would be, even in the commonest houses, the rooms where 
any one has dwelt even but a few years ! How many haunted houses there 
would be ! Perhaps, reader, there are rooms into which we should not want to 
go. But this is not history. 

The old wooden block on North Chicago street which made such a famous 
bonfire a year or two ago, was built about the same time with the Wilson store, 
and was long the center of business on the East Side. The next stone block was 
the old one on Bluff street, consisting of six stores, and was built in 1837. We 
gave something of its history in "Forty Years Ago," and Avill not repeat it 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 297 

here. There is more unwritten history absorbed by its walls, than perhaps any 
other building in Joliet. What visions come and go through the halls of 
memory when we chance to walk by it ! 

The National A\'as built, at least commenced, in 1838, by J. J. Garland and 
John Curry, two old citizens, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Garland 
died first. He was an active and valuable man here, a member of the old 
Union Church organized by the Foots, and one of the fruits of that revival, and his 
wife also. Col. Curry more recently deceased, is better known to the present 
generation, having been long in business here. He was a brother-in-law of M. 
H. Demmond, and one time a partner. He came in 1836, from Oneida Co., 
N. Y., and died in March, 1872, at the age of seventy. 

r 

OTHER OLD BUILDINGS. 

The next hotel built upon the East Side, after the Juliet Hotel, was the 
Exchange, built in 1837, by Abel Gilbert. The upper story was hurried up 
and finished first, into a ball-room, in order to get ready for a Fourth of July 
ball, with which the boys on the East Side resolved to dedicate it. They were 
spurred on by the happy memories of the one in Demmond's Block, and deter- 
mined that this one should excel it both in numbers and eclat. The West Siders 
were, howevei', permitted "to jine." Some did. An efficient committee was 
appointed to gather in the girls. Every precinct, even away up to " Yellow 
Heads," was explored, and teams sent to bring them. The girls did not need 
much urging, but came right along, as they still do, we suppose. 0. W. Still- 
man, Sul. Demmond, Ed. Wilcox and Allen Pratt, the old "bach" from Bos- 
ton, and others, were among the efficient managers. Of course it was a grand 
success. The ball opened at 4 P. M., and closed at 4 A. M. Allen Pratt was 
especially happy and successful as a general-in-chief. He knew what Boston 
style was. It was on account of his eminent services on this occasion that at a 
sort of adjourned meeting atHigley Hall the next night, some of the West Side 
boys, feeling that he had done them great credit, and that his services should 
have some public recognition, croivned and embalmed him. If you want to 
know how that was done, you must ask Judge John M. Wilson of Chicago, or 
Judge J. C. Newkirk, of Hudson, N. Y. We don't suppose that any one else 
could tell the story, although there are several boys still left who witnessed both 
the ball and the after part ; but not having judicial minds, it is not safe to rely 
on their statements. There are many traditions against which we warn the 
public. Another hotel soon after claimed a share of public patronage, and 
ministered to the pride of the East Siders. This was the " Waving Banner," 
built, we believe, by Matteson, and opened under the happy auspices of mine 
host Jacob Patrick. This was afterward called the Washington, and still stands 
somewhat " depalliated " at the upper end of Chicago street, a monument of 
the enterprise of 1837. We suppose a good many things happened in this 
ancient hostelry which would be very interesting if we could get some Edison 



298 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

to unwind them. It was a great center, though situated on the circumference, 
for political meetings, military displays and Fourth of July demonstrations. But 
perhaps we are spending too much time on these old Joliet buildings. We con- 
fess to a tender regard for them, and feel that like old men, they are too apt to 
be forgotten for what is fresh and new, and it is not without a pang of grief that we 
see one of them take fire and burn up, although we know that it will be replaced 
by something better, and gives friend Page an opportunity to show the efficiency 
of the Fire Department. And yet we must mention one more. King Gambrinus 
would never forgive us if we failed to note the first brewery established in the city 
of Joliet, and we presume in Will County. Have you noticed that old rookery 
of Avooden buildings which stands upon the tow-path, a little way above the 
middle bridge ? That was the first brewery, established in 1838, by Beltz & 
Erhard, two of our earliest German citizens, the advance guard of the great 
host that has since invaded Will County, and who now form so large and valu- 
able a class of our citizens. It was built near, or over, one of the finest of 
natural springs we ever saw. Its waters were cool and pure and sparkling and 
perennial. Whether they were improved after passing through the various proc- 
esses which converted them into lager, we shall let each reader decide for him- 
self. But we are reminded of a little story. It is said that when lager was 
first introduced into the West, which must have been about this time, an old 
toper who had always taken his whisky straight, was induced to try a little by 
way of experiment. He carefully carried the foaming amber to his lips, and 
tasted a little, made a wry and disgusted kind of face, tasted again and deeper, 
and then threw the glass at the head of the astonished Teuton, exclaiming 

"by wormwood and Epsom salts ! " 

There is still another old building that we have not noticed ; we mean the 
stone one just above Hyde's mill, a conspicuous object as you go up to the 
Iron Mills. This was an old agricultural and plow factory, built by Jones 
& Cagwin, in 1854, and for several years in successful operation, and one of 
our most important enterprises. It was subsequently occupied by one of the 
Sangers for similar purposes. But it seems of late years to have been left to 
the moles and the bats, and to have shared the fate of all buildings not occu- 
pied, in losing its windows and everything about it except the walls, a sad 
proof that the millennium has not yet come. 

ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL. 

A condensed history of the canal must not be omitted from this record. It 
is intimately connected with the history and prosperity of the county. It was 
one and a very important cause by which attention was directed hither. 

The project of a ship-canal, to connect the waters of Lake Michigan with 
the navigable waters of the Illinois River, was first suggested during the war of 
1812, by some writer in Niles' Register. The war had shown of what immense 
advantage such a canal would be, both in peace and war. It was one of the 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 299 

compensations of that war in the West, and also of the Sac war, that they were 
the means of directing attention to this part of the Great West. In 1816, the 
title to a strip twenty miles wide was obtained of the Indians, with a view to such 
a work. As we have already stated, this fact explains Avhat is often seen on the 
maps — two lines running diagonally across the townships, and marked "Indian 
Boundary Line." In 1821, an appropriation of |)10,000 was made by Congress 
for a preliminary survey of the canal and for the survey of the twenty-mile 
strip. Shadrack Bond, the first Governor of our State, in his first message, 
had called attention to the feasibility and importance of the work. A survey 
was made under the appropriation of Congress, and the work pronounced prac- 
ticable. In 1826, Congress donated to the State, for the purpose of its con- 
struction, every alternate section in a strip ten miles wide along the route from 
Chicago to La Salle — a magnificent appropriation of 300,000 acres. In 1829. 
the General Assembly of our State passed an act creating a Board of Canal 
Commissioners, and authorized them (not to enter upon the work, but) to sell 
the lands, and giving settlers a pre-emption right on the same. Under this act 
many of the earliest settlers got their titles to lands in this vicinity. Fortu- 
nately, however, the folly of this course was soon seen, and the act was repealed. 
In the session of 1834—5, another act was passed creating a new Canal Board, 
and authorizing the Governor to negotiate bonds for its construction, and pledg- 
ing the Canal lands for their redemption. But even then the immense value of 
these lands was not appreciated by those who had the money to loan. It was 
not until at a special session in 1835, when, through the indefatigable exertion 
of Col. Strode, of Galena, who at that time represented all the region north of 
Peoria, in the State Senate, the act was so amended as to pledge the faith of 
the State for their redemption, that the bonds could be negotiated. This was 
done by Gov. Duncan in 1836, and in the same year preparations were com- 
menced for active work. William B. Archer, Gurdon S. Hubbard and William 
F. Thornton, all Colonels, as public men generally were in those days, were 
the first Commissioners, who very wisely chose Wm. Gooding as Chief Engineer. 
Some changes were subsequently made in the Board, and James B. Fry, another 
Colonel, became a member The first ground was broken at Bridgeport July 
4, 1836. The event was celebrated in grand style. Dr. William B. Egan 
delivered an able address on the occasion. The work was commenced on the 
plan of the "deep cut," that is, feeding it directly from Lake Michigan 
through the South Branch of the Chicairo River, as is now done. At the time 
of letting the first contracts, the mania for speculation was at its height, and 
labor and provisions were extremely high for those times. Labor was $20 to 
$S() per month, Arith board. Pork, $20 to $30 per barrel; fiour, $9 to $12, 
and other things in proportion. The first contracts were predicated upon these 
high prices. To facilitate the construction of the Canal, a road was opened 
from Chicago to Lockport, known as "Archer's Road," from one of the Com- 
missioners, on which $40,000 were expended. The propriety of this expend- 



300 HISTORY OF WILL COUxNTY. 

iture was much questioned at the time, and unfortunately for the reputation of 
Archer for disinterestedness, he was the proprietor of an addition to Lockport. 
But it is certain that supplies for the laborei'S had mainly to be brought from 
abroad, as at this time no great surplus was raised along the line. The work 
was prosecuted by means of the money obtained from the sale of bonds and of 
Canal lands and lots in Chicago, Lockport, Ottawa and La Salle, until 1842, at 
an outlay of over five millions of dollars, when the work was suspended. 

Although the enterprise was commenced when everything had to be done 
in the most expensive way, and when the country was on the eve of a great 
financial crash, yet the State could easily have gone through with it and main- 
tained her credit if other projects had not been connected with it. The central 
and southern portions of the State, with very narrow views, looked upon the 
Canal as entirely for the benefit of the north, and insisted upon compensating 
railroads as the price of their votes for further appropriations to the Canal ; and, 
in 1837, the act was passed, which ultimately swamped the credit of the State 
and brought on our financial ruin. By this act, a loan of eight millions Avas 
authorized, on the faith of the State, for the purpose of gridironing our State 
with railroads, and a four-million loan for the further prosecution of the Canal. 
The sum of $200,000 from the eight-million loan was to be given to those 
counties through which no railroad passed for the construction of roads and 
bridges. And, absurd as was this scheme at that time, loans were made to the 
amount of nearly six millions. As the practical result of all this, a short rail- 
road was built from Springfield to Meredosia, and various others were com- 
menced at either end, as the act required, and great quantities of railroad iron 
were imported, free of duty, by special act of Congress. But before any other 
road was completed the whole scheme came to a disgraceful end. It may not 
be improper to remark, in passing, that it was by the purchase afterward (pay- 
ing in depreciated scrip at par) of this railroad iron of the State and selling to 
Eastern roads that Grov. Matteson laid the foundation of his fortune. The great 
commercial prostration which struck the East in 1837 was, by means of the 
disbursement of these Canal and railroad loans, warded off from us for a year 
or two, and the work of the Canal was kept along, although feebly, until 1842 
by the help of Canal scrip and of the " contractors' loan," as it was called, from 
the fact that the contractors had sent Gen. Thornton to Europe to sell bonds, 
they agreeing to stand the discount, even to 25 per cent, if necessary. This 
they could afford to do, now that the prices of labor and provisions had greatly 
fallen. 

By the Fall of 1840 a debt had been contracted by the State, of $14,237,- 
348, which must be paid by a population of 478,929 — nearly thirty dollars for 
every man, woman and child. And this amount does not include what the 
State had misapplied from the school fund and from the surplus deposits of the 
United States. By great exertion, the interest on the Canal debt was paid up 
to and including 1841 ; but for 1842 no provision could be made, and the work 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 301 

Stopped entirely. An expenditure, as we have alread}' said, of over five mill- 
ions had been made upon it, and the contractors abandoned their jobs, claiming 
heavy damages of the State. An act was passed for a settlement with them, 
limiting the amount to $230,000. 

To the credit of our State, let it be said that the idea of repudiation was 
never seriously entertained by our people to any extent, and subsequent pros- 
perity and wise legislation have long since obliterated the debt. 

But the Canal could not, of course, be allowed to remain long in this condition. 
The bondholders were equally interested with us in devising some means for its 
speedy completion. It was a work of too great and too general importance to 
be abandoned altogether. In the session of 1842-43 an act was passed which 
ultimately succeeded in accomplishing this purpose. By this act, the Canal 
itself and all its unsold lots and lands were transferred to a Board of three 
Trustees — two to be chosen by the bondholders and one by the Governor of the 
State. The bondholders were to advance the further sum of $1,600,000 to 
complete the Canal on another level. The Trustees were to prosecute the work 
and retain possession of the Canal and its revenues until the debt and further 
cost of its construction and interest on the same should be fully paid by the 
tolls and moneys derived from the sale of lands and lots. The Board was 
organized and the work was resumed in 1845, and prosecuted until fully com- 
pleted in 1848. 

The debt of the Canal and all costs of its construction and the interest 
thereon were paid from these resources in the year 1871, and the Canal sur- 
rendered to the State, with a balance on hand of $95,742. 

In 1865 an, arrangement was entered into by the Trustees with the Board 
of Public Works of Chicago, by which the Canal has been completed upon the 
original plan of a deep cut, feeding directly from the Chicago River, thus making 
it the grand sewer of Chicago nastiness, and justifying, at times, to our olfactories 
the theory that the name " Chicago" was originally derived from that animal 
familiarly known as skunk. The Indian who christened it must have had a 
prophetic smell of 1873 ! Let us console ourselves with the fact that we have 
now an abundant water-power, and that our basins are always full, if not 
fragrant ! 

In closing this brief history of the Canal, we wish to pay a tribute to its 
Chief Engineer, William Gooding, who was its firm friend from first to last, its 
efficient Director, and against whom no suspicions of jobbery were ever enter- 
tained. Fully a master of his profession, prepared for all emergencies, urbane 
in his intercourse with all, he is entitled to the grateful remembrance of every 
citizen of this State, to the prosperity of which he has been so lai-gcly instru- 
mental. 

When the above paragraph, copied from " Forty Years Ago," was written, 
Mr. Gooding was still livinj;. He has since died, and we feel that both his 
private character and public usefulness demand some further notice in a history 



302 HlrfTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

of Will County. William Gooding was a native of Ontario County, N. Y., and 
commenced his service as a civil engineer on the Welland Canal. Subsequently, 
he engaged in mercantile business at Lockport, N. Y. He, however, soon re- 
turned to his chosen profession on public works in Ohio, in the valley of the 
Scioto. In the Spring of 1832, he was married in Troy, N. Y., and returned 
to Ohio with the intention of coming West to this region. The breaking-out of 
the Sac war prevented this, and he remained for a time in Roscoe, Ohio. The 
war being over, he fulfilled his intention of coming West, and, on May 1, 1833, 
landed at Chicago, a village then of very small pretensions. He squatted, accord- 
ing to the usage of the day, upon land at what became knoAvn as Gooding's Grove, 
which he afterward purchased, and where his father and brothers had previously 
located. Next year, he engaged with the Commissioners of Public Works of 
Indiana, and was there employed when selected as Chief Engineer of the Illinois 
k Michigan Canal, which position he held until its completion in 1848. He 
was then appointed Secretary and Assistant Treasurer of the Board of Trustees, 
and so continued until the debt being fully paid, the Canal was surrendered to 
the State. During this period he was employed in some special service as 
United States Engineer, and also one of the Board of Public Works of the city 
of Chicago, while the Canal was deepened and made the grand sewer of Chicago. 
He also received the appointment of Surveyor of Oregon, but declined to accept 
the post. Mr. Gooding had been in failing health for several years, and com- 
pelled to spend his Winters in Cuba, Florida, California, Alabama, etc., until the 
last Autumn found him too unwell to leave home again, and he declined gradually 
in strength until the 4th day of March, last, when he closed his earthly career in the 
75th year of his age. A large concourse of neighbors and friends, not only from 
Will County, but from Chicago and the entire length of the Canal met at his late 
hometopay their sincere tribute of respect to one who had filled so important a po- 
sition in the public service, and filled it long and well. Rev. J. Porter, a patriarch in 
the ministry, who had long known and loved him, conducted the funeral services. 
Besides his valuable public service, his purity of life, and his urbanity, Mr. 
Gooding was also noticeable for his general culture and his refined taste, and the 
clear and lucid style of all of his reports and public communications. Mr. 
Gooding was also naturally gifted with a fine imagination and poetic taste, 
although his chosen profession was severe and dry, and 

" The muse but poorly shines 
In cones and cubes and geometric lines." 

His beautiful home in Lockport was richly adorned with fruits and flowers, 
to the cultivation of which he devoted his leisure moments. This home was in 
striking contrast to the one he first occupied at Gooding's Grove, which was a 
log cabin of one room, built by contract for $25, he furnishing the timber and a 
team to haul it with. This Avas covered with "shakes," a kind of roof which 
would shed the rain and snow, if the Avind did not blow, and had its chimney 
outside, according to the style of the times, because if placed inside there would 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 303 

have been no room for anything else. This was built with sticks plastered with 
clay. The furniture was mostly the handiwork of Mr. Gooding, including the 
bedstead, made of poles. Mr. Gooding used to tell an interesting incident 
which occurred at this orio;inal mansion. One bitter cold morning. Col. Wm. B. 
Archer, Canal Commissioner, Chief Justice Wilson, of the Suj)remo Court, and 
Robert Dale Owen, came there before breakfast, having stayed at the Sag over 
nigiit, at a hotel which did not promise much in the way of refreshment. To 
be so suddenly called upon to entertain these notables was somewhat embarrass" 
ing to the young wife. The country did not afford very much variety where- 
with to improvise a breakfast. To add to the difficulty, the guests, except Col. 
Archer, were strangers, and as the one room was kitchen, bedroom, dining- 
room, and parlor, and it was too cold to adjourn to the only other place — out- 
doors — the breakfast must be prepared in their presence. In one all-important 
respect, however, the hostess was happy. Some little time before, Col. Archer, 
whose tastes were somewhat of the '' Hoosier " order, had seen a piece of calico 
in Chicago which he greatly admired. It was of a green ground with large blue 
and yellow flowers and leaves, very pronounced in style. Wishing to make 
Mrs. Gooding some expression of his regard, he had bought five yards of the 
goods which struck his fancy, which he had given to her, with the remark that 
as she was small it would be ample ; and she had on the dress on this memo- 
rable occasion. It is perhaps unnecessary to say that she was not bothered with 
a train, and that crinoline had not then been introduced. 

CANAL OPENING, 

The opening of the Canal, in 1*^48, was a day long to be remembered. 
Boats started simultaneously from either end of the Canal, to pass over the route. 
The one from Chicago arrived here about noon, with all the Canal officials and 
Chicago celebrities, bands of music, and supplies, both solid and liquid, in un- 
limited quantities. Of course we had some notables here, who were present to 
welcome the arrival ; and all the population — men, women and children — 
turned out to see the first boat from Chicaoro, a si";ht for which our eves had 
longed so many years. Cannon were fired and the welkin rang with cheers. 
Speeches were made by the Chicago notables, and speeches were made by the 
Joliet notables. Only one of these, so far as we know, has been preserved. 
After various persons had been called out and made their spread-eagle eflbrts, 
our popular citizen, J. A. Matteson, was called upon for a speech, to which 
he responded in the following glowing words : " Mr. President, ladies and 
gentlemen — I concur." 

ANOTHER CELEBRATION. 

When the Canal was completed on the original plan of the deep cut, in 
1871, there was, of course, another celebration, which may as well be noticed 
here. Great preparations were made for this at Chicago, by the Board of Pub- 
lic Works and other notables. There was poetry in the occasion. It was the 



304 HISTOEY OF WILL COUNTY. 

"meeting of the waters" — the union of the blue waters of Lake Michigan 
with those of the sparkling tributary of the Mississippi, the classic Des Planes 
— the marriage of Michigan and Mississippi — and our valley, our beautiful 
bluff-bound valley, was the vale in whose bosom the bright waters were to meet. 
True, the poetry and the brightness and the fragrance, were somewhat abated 
by the odors and the mud of the South Branch, after passing through which 
those of the lake were hardly fit for the bridal. Tuesday, the 25th of July, 
was fixed upon for the day, and four large canal-boats were chartered and put 
into holiday trim. On these, a crowd of ten or twelve hundred persons, the 
solid men of Chicago, officials and notables, including Gov. Palmer and Gen. 
Sheridan, and Members of Congress, Legislature, etc., and, no doubt, a due 
admixture of bummers and Bohemians. Of course they did not set sail with- 
out a well-stocked commissariat. At 9 A. M. they started, bound for the port 
of Lockport. But the first part of the voyage, except for its associations, had 
little to interest. It Avas through the heavy clay and rock of the excavation of 
the summit, which lay in huge piles upon the banks, shutting out entirely all 
view of the surrounding scenery. The excursionists were forced, as it were, to 
turn their attention to the resources on board. These were ample, and were 
liberally dispensed by the persons in charge. But, from causes which we have 
never heard explained, the progress of the fleet was slow, although a full head 
of steam was kept on, and every sheet spread to the wind. They did not 
arrive at Lemont until 5 o'clock. It is said that there had been, owing to 
head winds, a great amount of seasickness aboard. At any rate, the greater 
share of the excursionists went ashore at Lemont, determined to take the 
evening train for Chicago. A few, however, went on in the Governor's 
steamer. 

Meanwhile, great preparations had been made at Lockport for their recep- 
tion. Those who went up from Joliet to participate, found the city gay with 
bunting, and the streets filled with the beauty and fashion of the place. The 
Canal office was filled with the celebrities of Lockport, and on the west side of 
it were long tables, spread with spotless linen and loaded Avith eatables, and 
awaiting the arrival of the fleet. Great was the disappointment Avhen, at 6 
o'clock, news was received of the shipwreck at Lemont. But soon the little 
steamer arrived, having on board Gov. Palmer and Gen. Sheridan, Mayor 
Mason, Senator Judd, and others ; and, although the crowd Avas not as large as 
expected, it Avas select, and with this, and the Joliet notables, Lockport had to 
be content. Gov. Palmer Avas led to the stand in front of the Canal office, and 
introduced to the people. He was full of the inspiration of the occasion, and 
said many bright and humorous and clever things, in as happy a manner as 
could be expected from one who had just come off" a sea voyage and had not 
yet found his land legs. Gen. Sheridan and Hayes and Judd folloAved in a 
similar strain, and all were happy. The collation was then devoured by the 
croAvd, and darkness closed the scene. It Avas said that, judging from Gen. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUiNTY. 305 

Sheridan's own statement and his appearance, his ride to Winchester was noth- 
ing to the one to Lockport. 

One of our local poets, H. R., broke out into poetry on this occasion, 
which we would like to give, but can find room for a single stanza only : 

"The waters now have met again — 
Lake Michigan meets the Des Planes; 
The Illinois joins its refrain, 

With onward flow ; 
Old Mississippi takes the bride, 
Escorts her to the ocean tide, 
Joining the groom in wedding ride, 

To sea they go." 

During the Avar and at other times, the question of enlarging the Canal to 
the dimensions of a ship-canal has been agitated, both in our State Legislature 
and in Congress. But all efforts have so far failed. This was the original 
idea, and may yet be accomplished. Mr. Gooding was enthusiastic in the 
belief that it would be done, and that from the first lock to the head of Joliet 
Lake there would be a continuous manufacturing city. In this distance is 
nearly half the fall between Lake Michigan and the mouth of the Illinois. 

As the Canal neared completion, the citizens of Lockport and Joliet com- 
menced to build boats wherewith to navigate its waters. Lockport had the first 
boat launched, which was named the Gen. Fry, and the citizens of that place 
made Joliet a visit as soon as the water was let into the level. On this occa- 
sion, Judge Parks, then the Lockport orator, made Joliet a speech in his usual 
happy style ; and Joliet replied by the eloquent lips of William A. Little, and 
all were happy. Warehouses, also, went up in both towns. Henry Fish — who 
is none of your small fry — Abijah Cagwin and George Woodruff built the three 
warehouses which stand upon the east side of the Canal basin, and M. H. Dem- 
mond built the large stone one whose walls yet stand, below the bridge, the 
most substantial of them all, and yet the first one to become useless — a 
prey to the fire-fiend. Otis Hardy built the first Joliet boat and established 
the first lumber-yard, and for many years kept it in full blast, with happy re- 
suits to himself and the community as well ; for the piles of lumber which he 
sold increased, by steady gains, his pile of bank deposits, and this he now dis- 
penses, with liberal hand, to all enterprises and charities that command his 
confidence and sympathies. 

HIRAM NORTON. 

Among other benefits which accrued to Will County from the construction 
of the Canal, we must not forget to reckon the bringing-in of so many men of 
means and enterprise and character. Conspicuous among them was Hiram 

Norton, of Lockport. 

He was born in Skaneateles, N. Y., February 26, 1799. An orphan at the 
age of 14, he went to Canada in search of employment, which he found with 
the Canada Stage Company. At 18, having saved a little money, he went to 



306 HISTORY OF AVILL COUNTY. 

Lowville, N. Y., and invested it in acquiring an education at the famous acad- 
emy of that place, where he remained two years. He then returned to Pres- 
cott, Canada, and entered the service of the Stage Company again. He soon 
became pecuniarily interested in the Company, and ultimately its proprietor. 
He was elected to the Canadian Parliament, and twice re-elected, making his 
term of service fourteen years. He also served on Government Commission 
for the improvement of the St. Lawrence River and Canal. In 1838, he came 
to Illinois with the Consulting Engineer of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and 
was so well pleased with the beauty of the country, and its prospective growth 
and importance, that he resolved to make it his future home. Lock port was 
peculiarly fortunate in being chosen as the spot where he pitched his tent. 
Being already possessed of large means, he at once built a fine residence on 
one of its beautiful streets, which he soon adorned with exquisite taste. He 
aided in the completion of the Canal, and when it was finished, rented the val- 
uable water power created by it, and established the mills, which have become 
famous for their products all over the region. He established, Avith his sons, 
the house of Norton & Company, whose name and reputation are well known 
and command unlimited confidence. Mr. Norton was sent by this county to 
the Legislature, in 1858. He was elected almost without opposition. One of 
the most public-spirited and enterprising of our citizens, he was also one of the 
best and purest, and died, sustained by a Christian hope, April 1, 1875. 

Mr. Norton paid the highest income tax in 1867 of any one in Will 
County — on $35,000. The benefits of his enterprise still continue to be felt 
by Lockport and Will County, in the continuance of the manufacturing and 
mercantile enterprises he initiated, by his sons. 

JOEL MANNING. 

Another valuable addition to our population, for which we were indebted to 
the Canal, was Joel Manning, who was appointed Secretary of the Canal Board 
at its organization in 1836. He was at the time a practicing lawyer nt Browns- 
ville, 111., having come into the State some years before. He was born in 
October, 1793, and was a graduate of Union College, of the class of 1818. On 
the opening of the Canal office at Lockport, he removed to that place, where 
he continued to reside until the few last years of his life, when he came to Joliet 
to reside with his son-in-law, Henry Fish, Esq. Mr. Manning was a prominent 
and active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Avarm-hearted and 
consistent Christian, Avhose sympathies were not confined to his OAvn denomina- 
tion. He passed through all the trials of the hard times which followed the 
suspension of the Canal, and when Canal scrip Avas at a low ebb, and would 
hardly support his family with the most rigid economy, he invested some of it 
in Canal lots in Chicago, which in time became very valuable. He Avas 
called to pass through "great tribulation " in the loss of children, and finally 
in that of his wife. He died January 8, 1869, universally respected, and 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 307 

leaving behind him the odor of a consistent, active Christian life and ex- 
ample. 

^ CHARLES E. BOYER. 

We suppose it was also the Canal which first brought another citizen to 
Lockport, a young man of great enterprise and energy, who engaged as a con- 
tractor in its construction, and in this and in other like enterprises accumulated 
a comfortable fortune. We refer to Charles E. Boyer. He was elected to the 
Legislature in 1862, and was a candidate for the State Senate at the time of 
his death, which occurred September 21, 1868, of typhoid fever. Mr. Boyer 
married a daughter of Armstead Runyon, who still survives him. 

JOHN B. PRESTON. 

Still another valuable citizen of Lockport and Will County was brought 
here by the Canal, John B. Preston, a son of the venerable Isaac Preston, who 
settled in Hadley in 1836, and now resides in Lockport. He was born in 
Washington County, N. Y., in 1817, and was educated for the profession of 
civil engineer. He came to Will County, in 1837, and took the position of 
Assistant Engineer on the Canal, and served in that capacity until the work 
stopped. On its resumption, he took the position of Resident Engineer, in charge 
of the south half of the work, and continued until its completion. In 1850, at the 
age of 33, he was appointed Surveyor General of Oregon, where he resided 
four years in prosecuting the work of that State's survey. In 1854, he took 
the position of Superintendent of the Canal, and took up his residence again at 
Lockport, remaining in this position ten years. He was afterward Secretary 
of the Chicago & Joliet Railroad (now a part of the Chicago, Alton & St. 
Louis), and secured for the road the right of way between Joliet and Chicago. 
In 1864, he became a member of the firm of Matteson & Preston, in the whole- 
sale commission business at St. Louis, and it was while on a visit from there to 
his parents at Lockport that he met with his accidental death, in the prime of 
life, at the age of 48. Mr. Preston was a man of rare qualities and powers, of 
strict integrity, and foremost in every good enterprise. He was an enthusiastic 
supporter of the Government during the war, and of every measure for the 
enlisting of men and the relief of the disabled. The beautiful public school 
house cff Lockport might almost be called his monument, as he was one of the 
most active in its erection. The writer well remembers the 15th of April, 
when the first intelligence which reached Joliet in the morning was that of his 
sudden death, intelligence which would have sobered and saddened the com- 
munity for more than a day, had it not been almost immediately overshadowed 
by news which sobered and saddened the nation. 

LORENZO P. SANGER. 

Another valuable citizen (now deceased) must be credited to the Canal, 
Lorenzo P. Sanger, who was one of the old 1836 contractors, and also subse- 
quently one of the firm of Sanger & Casey, who built the Penitentiary, and 



308 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

of the firm of Sanger & Steele, who so largely developed our stone in- 
dustry. He was one of the most driving, energetic, enterprising men we have 
ever had. During the war, he threw all the weight of his political influence, 
which was not small, on the side of the Union, and would himself have par- 
ticipated actively in it had not the weight of years been too much to allow it. 
He died in Oakland, Cal., whither he had gone for his health, in March, 1875. 
His body was brought home for burial, and rests in Oakwood, beside his wife, 
who died some few years before him. 

CHANGES WROUGHT BY THE CANAL. 

The construction of the Canal of course destroyed McKee's water-power, 
and made his mill useless for the purpose for which it was intended, and being 
adjacent to the Canal was taken possession of by the State. McKee recovered 
damages for the loss of his watei'-power to the amount of $17,655 and costs. 
The Haven boys bought the machinery, and set it up in their mill below. The 
construction and opening of the Canal also wrought great changes in the phys- 
ical aspect of the region along the route. The west bank of the Des Planes, 
which, before its construction, was beautifully bordered with trees and shrubs, 
all through Joliet and below, was now denuded, and a stone wall and a rubble 
bank given us instead. Our compensation was found in the increased facilities 
for business, and in the increased population of the towns and country. The 
Canal also brought into our county great numbers of men whose boast it was 
that they were from the Emerald Isle, without whose assistance it seemed to be 
conceded no canal or railroad could be constructed. Many of these laborers 
became permanent citizens, both in town and country. These have acquired 
property as mechanics, merchants and farmers. Some have even consented to 
hold office and positions of responsibility. The town of Troy is largely settled 
by Irishmen and their descendants, and this nationality furnished its fair pro- 
portion of volunteers in the late war. 

BACK TO EARLY TIMES AGAIN, 

The history of the Canal has carried us a little forward in our annals, and we 
return to note some things of an earlier date. And first, let us correct a correction 
which was made in " Forty Years Ago" in relation to an important event — the 
first Fourth of July celebration. We have ascertained since, that beyond any 
question this was held in 1835. In order not to get two great events on the 
same day, and to render our statement credible that Dr. Bowen read the Decla- 
ration and attended the first wedding, we shall leave that first wedding entirely 
out of this history. It probably will not invalidate the marriage. We are 
satisfied, also, that we did not do justice to the military display. Maj. Cook 
was the Chief Marshal, and was dressed in full regimentals, and Judge Jonathan 
Barnett was Assistant Marshal, and wore a red sash, and both had real swords. 
Both rode Indian ponies, and experienced great difficulty in keeping near the 
procession on account of the music. This evil was remedied in a measure by 



IIISTOKV OF WILL COUNTY. 309 

the fact that " Uncle Dick" Ilobbs also commanded, on foot, using instead of a 
sword a crooked stick, which probably answered just as well. These points 
are settled beyond controversy by S. W. Bowen, our ex-Mayor, who was then 
a boy, and, I am sorry to say, such a graceless youth, that he, with Cal Zarley 
and others, lay on the ground and laughed at the cavorting of the Marshals, 
or, rather, their horses. The writer is also satisfied that he did not do justice 
to the oration. Cal Zarley says that he well remembers that when the neigh- 
bors gathered together at his father's to talk over the celebration, they were 
enthusiastic in their praises of the effort. All agreed that it was a big thing. 
The only dispute was as to whether the young orator was a preacher or a lawyer. 
Mrs. Hadsall, the good old Methodist sister, was sure nobody but a Methodist 
preacher could talk so good ! Our own private opinion, however, is that 
the only merit the production had was the fact that it was the first in Will 
County. It ought also to be noted that we had one Revolutionary soldier 
present. This was the father of Maj. Cook, who was re-interred on the last 
Decoration Day, over whose remains our gifted citizen, Capt. Phelps, uttered 
some of his finest periods. 

We have an interesting contribution to our history from the veteran Hopkins 
Rowell, which we will bring in here. We do so with especial satisfaction, as 
it also indorses our Fourth of July effort — a matter on which we are very 
sensitive. 

Geohoe H. Woodruff, Esq.: 

Perhaps I can contribute an item to your early reminiscences of Will County. You might 
properly include among the early pioneers of Joliet the late Judge Barnett, H. A. Cagwin, Sr., 
and myself. In the Autumn of 1834, we together journeyed from Clarkson, N. Y., and explored 
on horseback much of the West and Northwest as far as Dubuque. We passed twice through 
Joliet, which then had a name, but not many habitations. A few miles east of this prospective 
city, at Van Home's Point, we found Cornelius Van Home, subsequently a Joliet magistrate and 
its first Mayor. He was at this time drawing fence-stuff with an ox-team and " Sucker wagon." 
as he called it. This wagon was the product of his own hand, from the rough forest timber. 
The wheels were sawed oft' from a round oak log. They were about three feet in diameter, being 
smoothly beveled fi-oiu ihe rim to the hub, where they were about one foot through. It did good 
service (or answered a good purpose). On the well-known " Linden Heights," just southeast of 
the city, we visited Maj. 11. G. Cook and his faiher, John Cook, an old Revolutionary soldier, 
formerly from Clarkson. The old veteran occasionally indulged in a little of the " ardent," 
which invariably led him to " fight his battles over again" in so grotesque a manner as greatly 
to amuse the by-standers. The remains of both him and his son, the Major, are interred in 
Oak wood Cemetery. 

All three of our exploring party made purchases at this time in Joliet. Cagwin and 
Barnett remained in this vicinity, while I returned to Clarkson, N. Y. The next Summer (1836), 
I returned to Joliet, attended the public land sales at Chicago, and through Mr. Van Home, who 
■'bid in" the lands of all the settlers, secured the three eighties, just east of the city, that 1 
still retain. The " claim" to the gravel-mound eighty I had previously purchased of the " veteran" 
.John Cook. 

I give a little episode of the land sales. Many moneyed speculators were present, threatening 
to bid against the claims of settlers. Hundreds of the latter, with sleeves rolled up and faces 
frowning defiance dark as a thunder-cloud, surrounded the oflBcers' stand on all sides, ready to 
visit summary vengeance upon any presumptuous speculators. All of these were intimidated 



310 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

save one. A powerful, gigantic Scotchman, about seven feet high, dared to bid against a settler, 
wlien in an instant lightmng struck him in at least twenty places, and he gladly escaped with 

"'^ "^^- A OHAKGF, OF EPISODE SOME KED-SKINS. 

At that time there were about three thousand Pottawatomie Indians in two encampments — one 
upon the Des Planes Iliver, and the other upon the Kankakee, a few miles above their junction — 
awaiting removal by the Government to Western reservations. After the land sales, I had some 
business requiring a horse-back journey to the Mazon River. My route lay through the wild 
and trackless region between these two encampments. Before this I had seen many Indians, 
but 3,000 wilder, more uncouth and repulsive human beings can hardly be imagined. Their 
weird, unkempt hair, and nudity, save a frontal patch tied on, more diminutive than the fig-leaf 
aprons of Adam and Eve, formed a scene never to be forgotten. It is not surprising that I got 
lost en route to the Mazon, in the midst of such a wilderness of Indians and trackless prairie 
combined. Neither is it strange that I was somewhat nervous at occasionally meeting detached 
squads of these villainous fellows during my embarrassed efforts to regain my course, especially 
when I knew they had occasionally gobbled up solitary white men. Finally I resolved to steer 
for the forks of the rivers and get a white settler there to pilot me on my way. Having a 
pocket compass, I wa§ enabled to take my bearings and ' ' strike a bee-line." Two or three miles' 
travel on this course, brought me in contact with three Indians ; two of them passed me civilly 
enough, but the third being fuller of bad whisky, which they had obtained At "the forks," 
sprang like a tiger to seize my bridle-reins, brandishing a huge knife in the air and shouting 
like a hoarse demon, "Money! money!'' Being on the alert, I instantly spurred my spirited 
steed Blackhawk, and "by the skin of my teeth ' cleared him at a single bound, and then 
(wheeling) facing him, with my effective peace-r/iaArer leveled at his head, exclaimed, "Take this 
money, you devil!" He slunk away like a sneaking prairie wolf, but every hair of my head 
seemed stiff as a Russian bristle. Permit me to add that the first season in 1834, I assisted in 
raising the frame of the first house in Joliet, and when a bent fell, one man getting his scalp 
peeled and Dr. Bowen dressed the wound. The first Joliet Fourth of July celebration was 
had in 1835, on the then open prairie near the jail. You were orator of the day, and though 
young, a very good one, while Dr. Bowen and myself had the honor of presenting the follow- 
ing toasts : 

By Dr. Bowen — "Illinois — The prospective Empire State, as her great and varied 
resources will one day demonstrate." 

By H. Rowell — "Joliet — In July, 1834, not known ; in July, 1835, a city in embryo." 

In 1847, I introduced here the first McCormick reaper, Messrs. Stephens, Wheeler and 
Higginbottom being the purchasers. And although I did not move my family to Joliet until 
1857, I was frequently back and forth, and had' sent two different parties with teams and outfit 
to make improvements on my Joliet property. As to Judge Barnett, he died ten or twelve yeai-s 
ago at Kankakee, while Cagwin is or was in California. H. ROWELL. 

Joliet, October 8, 1878. 

When elected Recorder, the writer was a clerk for Mr. Demmond, and 
opened the office in the Demmond Block. But, as illustrative of the strife be- 
tween sides, of which we have already spoken, we would say that the boys over 
the river soon began to complain that the Recorder's office was not kept at the 
county seat, as the law required. The point was well taken. Demmond had laid 
oiF his town as " West Juliet." He scorned the idea of being an addition to 
" that slough over yonder." West Juliet was not then, part of the county seat. 
But an escape from the dilemma was quickly found. The school section ad- 
joined the town on the south, lying on both sides of the river, and this had been 
recorded as an addition to Juliet. A little building about 16x16 was pur- 
chased on the school section at no great distance, a little below Porter's brew- 



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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 313 

ery, (N. B. — The brewery wns not built then, and therefore had no influence 
in tlie selection.) Here the office was opened and kept until a better one was 
built. Jenks, who had been appointed County Clerk, also made that his office 
until the Commissioners rented the upper story of the Wilson store. 

The first Circuit Court was held in this room (the Wilson store) in October, 
183G, by Hon. Thomas Ford, afterward Governor. The entrance to the second 
story was by a staircase on the south side. The door has been since walled up. 
The Court was constituted by appointing Levi Jenks, Clerk, and Uri Osgood, 
State's Attorney. Fenner Aldrich had just been elected Sheriff, having hero- 
ically stepped forward to fill the gap caused by Bob Stevens' refusal, and 
he rang out the " 0-yez, o-yez, the honorable Circuit Court of Will County 
is now in session," for the first time in our history, and with a rhythm and a 
roar which I do not believe have been surpassed during the succeeding ages. 
Impressed with a sense of the importance and gravity of the occasion, his voice 
trembled a little and his chin quivered. But this only made the scene more im- 
pressive. But this was not all the Court. A grand jury had been summoned and 
were now called. The following was the original panel : 

Armstead Runyon, Thomas Reed, Edwai'd Poor, Thomas H. Rickey, Ralph 
Smith, Reason Zarley, Isaiah Treat, Joseph Cox, Peter McCarty, Wm. Sheriff, 
Justin Taylor, Charles Goodwin, John I. Davidson, Harry Boardman, Ezra 
Goodhue, Richard L. Wilson, Samuel Holcomb, George Beckwith, Joseph 
Shoemaker, Elias Brown, Aaron Moore. 

Five of these did not put in their appearance, and the Sheriff, as is usual 
now, we believe, was ordered to fill up the vacancies from the loafers hanginor 
around. George H. Woodruff, William Gougar, Richard Hobbs, Jonathan 
Barnett and E. S. Sill were scooped up. Reason Zarley was chosen Foreman. 
We offer this (as finally constituted) as a sample grand jury. They indicted 
one man for keeping a gaming-house, two others for selling an estray, and 
three for a riot. As to the petit jury, that being, as the name implies, a com- 
paratively small affair, we shall not record their names, although our present 
worthy citizens, Rodney House and H. N. Marsh, formed a part. J. C. New- 
kirk, Esq., now one of the most prominent and substantial citizens of Hudson, 
N. Y., and a Judge, defended the rioters and got them acquitted. C. C. Van 
Home and Abram Van Home and another were the rioters. It was a claim 
dispute and no riot. 

Among the early and valuable acquisitions to the West Side, in 1835-36, 
were John M. Wilson and Allen Pratt. Thev came together and were both 
from Massachusetts. They had some money and they invested in West Juliet. 
Both Avere long and well known here. Pratt built many buildings. He died 
in 1856. Wilson has become known as Judge Wilson, long a practicing lawyer 
here, and later a Chicago Judge. Wilson and Charles Clement initiated the 
grain trade of Joliet. Their warehouse was an old barn which stood where the 
brick block on Bluff street now stands. We have not the figures of the number 



31-4 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

of bushels they handled, but the profits of one year's operations, when the firm 
dissolved, were $9. Probably the number of bushels was something less than are 
now handled by Carpenter & Marsh, who in one day this season shipped 100 
cars of "-rain. 0. W. Stillman was, we believe, the first Justice of the Peace on 
the East Side, and we need not say he was a good one, although the boys used to 
say that he had no Bible, and was in the habit of swearing the witnesses on a copy 
of " Volney's Ruins." The Universalist Church is largely indebted to his efforts 
for the fine church edifice they have. He is now a granger on Maple street. 

William Blair was our first tinsmith and stove and hardware dealer. He 
ultimately moved to Chicago, where he has long been known as an extensive 
wholesale dealer, and one of the wealthiest and most honorable of her citizens. 
Deacon Rodney House, of the East Side, opened the first wagon-shop, and Deacon 
Beaumont soon followed on the West Side with another. Deacon Beaumont built 
the house now occupied by Edward Aiken, since re-habilitated (we mean the 
house), and in this the good, old Deacon lived, using the front room for a shop 
during the week, and, every Saturday night, cleaning it up and holding meet- 
ings there on the Sabbath, in which he was joined by the good Deacon on the 
East Side. We remember to have heard one of the Beechers (Edward) preach 
there. The old Deacon had his peculiarities — some of them perhaps were 
faults, as who has not — but there never lived a kinder neighbor, and Joliet has 
not had many more earnest and sincere Christians. He always showed his 
colors, and was always on the side of justice and temperance and revivals. 
He could have no better epitaph than what was said of him by a simple child, 
who, when she Avanted to designate him and did not know or had forgotten his 
name, described him as "the man Avho lived in the church." She had never 
been to church or prayer meeting or Sabbath school, that she had not found the 
Deacon there before her, and she supposed that he literally "dwelt there in the 
house of the Lord all the days of his life." Our readers will all remember how 
suddenly he went home in June, 1876, at the age of 73 years and 9 months. 

George Woodruft', we need not say, is our present well-known banker, one of 
the men who have stuck to Joliet through thick and thin — and we have had 
some pretty thin times — and now enjoys the competence he has acquired. Our 
names still get mixed occasionally as they used to do in early days. The most 
ludicrous mistake is when parties go to George H. to borrow money. Only 
strangers do this. 

The first public building of the county, which was a Jail and Court House 
combined, was built in 1837. Blackburn and Wilson were the contractors at the 
price of ^2,000. This stood a little north of the present Jail, and was used not only 
for holding courts but for other public purposes. The first Baptist Church held 
their meetings there under the pastorate of Elder Solomon Knapp and others. 
A very powerful revival was enjoyed by this Church during Elder Knapp's 
pastorate, in which he was assisted by Elder Powell, an evangelist of much 
ability. This revival was the year subsequent to the one spoken of in "Forty 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 315 

Years Ago," under the labors of the Footes. This church was organised by Elder 
Ashley, of Plainfield, who preached to it every alternate Sabbath until the 
coming of Elder Knapp. It consisted of seven original members as follows: 
Elijah Johnson, Deacon Green and wife, Mrs. Higginbotham, Mrs. Chauncey, 
Mrs, Cagwin, and Elder R. B. Ashley. The first baptized convert was the 
Hon. Henry Snapp. The place used for baptisms was the deep hole below the 
island. It is hardly necessary to say that this was before the river had been 
converted into a sewer, while it still bore some little resemblance to the Jordan. 
How many and how varied the scenes which transpired within those old Court 
House walls — County and Circuit Courts, temperance and political meetings, 
the pleadings both of lawyers and preachers, thrilling trials and solemn charges 
of Judges, the weeping of the condemned and the rejoicings of the acquitted, 
the groans of sinners and the shouts of the redeemed, all have been heard there — 
but all are silent noAv. The voices of Newkirk and Wilson, of Henderson and 
Boariman, of Fellows, of Osgood and Little are heard there no more. Save 
the first two, all are silent in death. The building has been razed to its founda- 

" We build with what we deem eternal rock, 
A distant age asks where the fabric stood, 
And in the dust sifted and searched in vain, 
The undiscoverable secret sleeps."' 

Perhaps the reader thinks that a pretty large quotation for so small a build- 
ing as the old Court House of forty years ago. We think so, too, but it came 
handy, and we wanted something that sounded well in this history. The 
present Court House was commenced in 1847, and strange as it may seem, this 
is what the Signal said of it in 1848 : " The new Court House makes a magnifi- 
cent appearance and when completed will be an honor to the county." The 
True Democrat (from which the Mepublican developed) took down its vignette 
of the American bird and substituted a cut of the Court House as an ornament. 
It must be remembered that there were then none of the present surroundings, 
the Centennial Block and the Aiken Block, with its classic statuary. 

JOLIET INCORPORATED. 

In 1837, we had reached such magnificent proportions that it became necessary 
to obtain an act of incorporation. We could get along pretty well in every other 
respect but the matter of taxes. These continued to be ridiculously insignificant, 
and it was felt by those who had the prosperity of the place most at heart, that a 
just self-respect demanded that we should have more taxes. Accordingly, a 
public meeting was called in March, at "Uncle Fenncr's," at which it was 
decided by a unanimous vote that we would incorporate. And so we did, by 
calling an election under the provisions of the general law, for the election of 
five Trustees, two of whom were to be on each side (or in each Ward.) And 
now came the opportunity for one of the fiercest contests between the two sides. 
To gain the odd Trustee was an object of transcendent importance. The act 



316 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

required that all voters should own real estate within the corporate limits. This 
simplified and narrowed the field. The town was thoroughly canvassed, and it 
was ascertained that the West Side had the most property-owners. We think 
that from the first and all through our earlier history, the West Side had the 
most money, but the East Side had the most shrewdness and diplomacy. So it 
was on this occasion. An expedient was found by which the West Side majority 
was overcome. Even in those early days that great moral institution known as 
the circus, made us an occasional visit. One happened to be here at that time. 
The men were invited to become real estate owners and voters. Impressed 
with a sense of the high honor, they accepted, and thirty-six voters were added 
to the East Side, by the gift of a lot from Charley Sayer. It was a piece of 
strategy which has not been surpassed even in modern times. The West Side 
had no lots to throw away, and no circus handy, and was defeated. The first 
Board were J. A. Matteson, J. J. Garland, Daniel Reed, Fenner Aldrich and 
R. C. Duncan ; Dr. William Scholfield, Clerk. But the next year we laid out 
the East Side, and without a circus, too. It was generally supposed that Dick 
W^ilsons was the fertile brain where this scheme was devised. Dick Wilson ! 
What old settler does not remember him. " Alas, poor Yorick ! where be your 
gibes now ? your gambols, your songs ? your flashes of merriment, that were 
wont to set the table in a roar ? " This Board of Trustees built bridges, which 
with the act of incorporation made us one town. The bridges went ofi" the 
next spring, and the " fiat " money with which they were built underwent a 
slight change — the "i" was lengthened into an "1," that was all. If we were 
not fully determined not to admit any politics into this history, we should here 
drop a suggestion that such might be the change that would come over all "fiat 
money." After playing city two or three years longer, the people concluded 
that taxes were no great luxury after all ; at least, we ceased to hanker after them. 
The corporation was dissolved by act of Legislature. The era of hard times 
had come on, and we were willing to dispense with luxuries. 

The city was organized under the present charter, in June, 1852, with C. 
C. Van Home, Mayor. Aldermen — First Ward — N. H. Cutter, D. Cassidy; 
Second Ward— Joel George, Michael Shields; Third Ward— E. Wilcox, T. J. 
Kinney; Fourth Ward— F. L. Cagwin, S. W. Bowen; Fifth Ward— P. O'Con- 
nor, Uri Osgood. But this is modern history and we go back to older times. 

FORGOTTEN RIVALRIES. 

We have spoken, a little back and elsewhere, of the rivalry between the 
sides of the river. This was especially conspicuous when the Canal was being 
surveyed and located. The great question of the day was, would it go down 
the river through town, or Avould it go around through the slough ? Slough 
stock and river stock rose and fell alternately from day to day until the matter 
was finally decided in a way which made the west siders happy. Demmond 
used to tell how Abel Gilbert took the level of the slough with a tin dipper and 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 317 

a shingle, in order to convince the verdant inquirer after lots, that the Canal was 
bound to take that route. 

But we had a common enemy — Lockport — and, like the Jews during the 
siege of Jerusalem, we used, temporarily, to forget our domestic quarrels, and 
combine to fight the common foe. The Su/nal and the True Democrat let 
each other alone occasionally, and both pitched into the Lockport Telegraph. 
The Canal authorities seemed, at least to our jaundiced eyes, to throw all their 
influence to favor and build up a rival city. We used to dilate largely against 
the Archer road and the Canal basin and the Canal office, etc., etc. One thing 
which specially galled us was a map, which was reported to be drawn and exhib- 
ited to speculators and persons seeking a location, displaying the Canal route 
from Chicago to Ottawa, on which all the villages were noted, with one excep- 
tion. There were Romeo and Athens, Kepotaw and Scotchtown, Lockport and 
Channahon, etc., etc.; but the only thing to indicate the whereabouts of Juliet 
was a spot marked McKee's Dam. That was a good joke ; and if we did not 
meet it with something equally foolish, it was not for want of disposition. 

We were also foolish enough at one time to be jealous of Chicago, especially 
when she tried to defeat our cut-off. But we have got so big now that we do 
not cherish any vindictive feelings, even against her ; and, indeed, all these old 
rivalries and jealousies, whether political or personal or between sides of the 
river or rival towns, we have long since outgrown, and they only call up a smile 
when remembered. For men are like apples. While some are crabs, and no 
culture can ever make them anything else, and while, when green, all are more 
or less acrid, yet the really good fruit grows mellow with age, the sour juices 
of the Spring time are converted into sugar in the heats of Summer and 
Autumn, and the fruit becomes pleasant to the eye and grateful to the taste. 
So it is with men — those who are men. They, too, mellow as they ripen and 
lose a large share of their acidity as they pass through the discipline of life and 
ripen for the husbandman's use. 

Do you question this ? Just watch when you see some of these old fellows 
that were at loggerheads forty years ago over town-lots or schemes of specula- 
tion or politics ; watch, when you see them meet, and see how they grip each 
others' hands and laugh over the rivalries and contests and jealousies that once 
made them mad, as the best of jokes. 

matteson's factory, et al. 

There are some other buildings in Joliet beside those noticed in the preced- 
ing pages that have become historic, and may, without impropriety, come into 
our general history. One of these is the old factory which stands just below 
the lower bridge, and which is now occupied as a foundry and machine-shop by 
Mr. Sandiford. This building was erected by Joel A. Matteson, in 1845, and 
in 1849 manufactured 2,000 yards of cloth per week. It was for several years 
a most prosperous enterprise, furnishing a market for the wool raised by our 



318 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

farmers, and employment for many persons. The business was, part of the time, 
carried on under the firm of Matteson & Bradner, and the old Wilson store, 
of which we have spoken, was the depot for buying wool and sale of cloths. 
This factory was seriously attacked by fire in 1849 (the same Summer in which 
the old steam mill was burned). This fire occurred when we had no fire depart- 
ment, and for some time its destruction seemed inevitable. Great crowds col- 
lected on the bridge and elsewhere to see it burn. It had taken fire in the roof, 
and was making a fine bonfire. There was plenty of water close by, and the 
idea seems to have struck the minds of 0. W. Stillman and some others that it 
would be a good idea to put it out, although it seemed a pity to spoil the fun of 
the spectators who, at such great inconvenience, had left their beds and gathered 
there to see it. Stillman, Avith some assistance, succeeded in getting men 
enough of his own way of thinking to organize a line for passing pails back 
and forth ; and, after a hard fight to keep the men in the ranks, and with the 
devouring element, the building was saved, except the roof and attic. Like 
many other seeming calamities, this soon had its compensation, as it led, first, 
to organizing a fire company, and, secondly, to its being rebuilt with an additional 
story, and cupola as well ; and, under the vigorous exertions of Matteson, it 
was soon in full blast, with greatly enlarged capacity. But, in time, a change 
came over the old factory. Matteson was made Governor in 1852, and our 
city lost his enterprise, and the old factory, after a few more years, ceased to 
manufacture cloth, etc. While, however, the factory was still in successful 
operation, Matteson built the brick store opposite, and occupied it for the sale of 
goods, cloths, etc., and in the second story opened the first bank in Joliet — the 
old Merchants' and Drovers', William Smith, President, and R. E. Goodell, 
Cashier, and that is how Ave got Goodell, who married the Governor's eldest 
daughter. 

*= J. A. MATTESON. 

We have probably never had a citizen in Will County to whom we have 
been more indebted for his energy and enterprise, than to Joel A. Matteson. 
He was born in 1808, in Jefferson Co., N. Y., received the common school 
education of the times, and, after a varied experience as teacher, farmer, mer- 
chant and contractor in various places, came to Illinois, in 1833, with a wife 
and one child. He first settled on the Au Sable, in the present Kendall 
County, when there were but two neighbors within ten miles. He made a claim 
and opened a farm, but when the speculative mania of 1836 struck the country, 
he sold out and came to Joliet. From that time to his removal to Springfield, 
on his election as Governor, he was the most energetic and enterprising of our 
citizens. The monuments of his enterprise still stand in our midst. Among 
these are the old factory and the brick store near the Jefferson Street Bridge, of 
which we have spoken. He also built what was then the finest residence in the 
city, on the corner of Jefferson and Chicago streets, Avhich were surrounded 
with beautiful grounds, extending over the lots now covered by the Monroe, 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 319 

Simonds and Werner Hall Blocks ; and for a long time the light of a liappy 
and hospitable home shone out from its windows. It was some years since 
removed further north, and now another kind of light shines forth there — they 
call it the Sun. Mr. Matteson was soon called into public service, first as 
Justice of the Peace, then as State Senator for four years. His well-known 
executive and financial ability secured his nomination and election to the office 
of Governor. His nomination was received with great satisfaction in his 
own county and elsewhere, by men of the opposite political party. A great 
jubilee was held at Joliet — speeches and firing of cannon showed the satisfac- 
tion of our citizens. One of our present police force will always carry a sou- 
venir of that demonstration — an empty sleeve. Mr. Matteson's administration 
as Governor was eminently successful. His messages were characterized by 
large views and enlightened liberality and foresight. During the four years of 
his administration, the State made great advances in wealth and general pros- 
perity. The debt of the State was reduced $7,000,000, and at the same time 
time the taxes were reduced. The 400 miles of constructed railroad were in- 
creased to 3,000 miles. Gov. Matteson retired from office with a reputation 
and with prospects that seemed enviable, and a fortune that made him a million- 
aire, and the owner of a house at Springfield that was palatial. How all this 
was reversed is a matter of so recent a date as to render its recital unnecessary, 
even if it came within the scope of our history. Gov. Matteson died in the 
Winter of 1872-73, at Chicago, and his remains sleep in the family ground at 
Oak wood. 

GOLD FEVER. 

In 1849, 1850 and 1851, chiefly in 1850, occurred a great hegira from Will 
County. The discovery of a little gold by Capt. Sutter in 1848, changed the des- 
tiny of the whole Pacific Slope, and of thousands upon thousands of men and fam- 
ilies all over the States as Avell. Those who are old enough will recall the wonder- 
ful excitement which took place all over the land, pre-eminently throughout the 
West. Gold, gold, gold, was the word upon every lip, the theme of every news- 
paper, and of everybody's waking or sleeping dreams. The county papers 
were filled with advice showing the folly of leaving a comfortable home and an 
honest livelihood for the uncertain venture. The Lockport Telegraph thus 
humorously speaks of the matter in 1849 : " The world-wide malady has at last 
extended to our midst ; symptoms about the same as elsewhere — violent itching 
of palms, a sensation of nausea at the mere thought of common business, a 
great relaxation and debility of the mechanical muscles, frequent giddiness of 
the head, optical illusions in Avhich everything is seen in a yellow light, raging 
appetite for maps, reports, dispatches, yarns, etc., terminating in a frantic effort 
to sell out and settle up, at which stage the disease is considered incurable." 
The editor then falls into a more serious strain, and advises the people to be 
content with Will County and steady gains. Our other papers spoke in a sim- 
ilar strain. But advice had but little effect. Quite a number from our county 



320 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

went in the Spring of 1849. Some of these came back the next Winter and 
Spring, having been successful. Carlos Haven came back with $5,000, which 
he had dug with his own hands in seven weeks. J. A. Gooding and Calvin 
Rowley also returned successful. This added fury to the flames, and in 1850 
and 1851, the number which went from our county was large. We have tried 
to form an estimate of the amount, but have no reliable data. The True Dem- 
ocrat, in 1850, gives a list of nearly four hundred that had left that Spring 
from Will County. The list embraces many of our best and well-known citi- 
zens (then and since). The greatest emigration was in 1850, although it was 
kept up in 1851. Most went the overland route. The business of the county 
was, of course, greatly affected. Merchants made a point to furnish those 
articles needed for an outfit. The papers of the day were filled with advertise- 
ments of parties who wanted to sell out, and of emigrant supplies, and with 
letters from those who were on the way or had reached the Eldorado. Prom- 
inent among the correspondents of the True Democrat, was our friend Alex- 
ander Mcintosh, now of the Phoenix. We need not say that his letters are 
interesting reading now. It was an interesting sight for those who remained 
to watch the teams as they passed through, and note their diflferent rigs and 
general appearance. From ten to twenty teams a day passed along Jefferson 
street during the Spring. There were some curious outfits. We recall an 
instance in which two men had an old crow-bait of a horse between them which 
carried their slender supplies, and on which they sometimes rode by turns. 
Another man was on foot, having a knapsack and rifle, intending when he got 
to the frontier to buy a cow to carry his supplies and furnish him with milk, 
with which, and his rifle, he expected to subsist. But most went with good 
outfits — some with cattle and some with horses. Of those who went from our 
county, some few became permanent settlers there. The large majority, however, 
returned in a year or two, some with pockets full, and some glad to get back with 
empty pockets. Our county, no doubt, received back much more than she invested. 
We remember one who died en route — Benard Ingoldsby — who was out of 
health when he left. One company lost their way and wandered off, and lost 
all they had, and lived upon their teams ; were six days without water, and four 
of the company died. Others had a pretty hard time, and were often hungry 
and sick. Many now among us could many a tale unfold, some harrowing and 
some ludicrous. Two of our boys, one a son of Deacon Brandon, and the 
other named Middleinass, met with a frightful accident, the result of their own 
carelessness. They came across a keg of powder which had been thrown over- 
board by some previous voyager, probably to lighten his ship, and they thought 
they would enliven the solitude with an explosion. They adjusted a slow 
match and retired to a safe distance. With eager expectation they waited the 
result. After waiting what seemed to them a long time, twice as long as neces- 
sary, they concluded that the match had gone out. We have always noticed 
that persons on such occasions make great mistakes in their estimate of time. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. . 321 

They both approached the keg to lay another train. Just as they got to it, it 
had got ready to explode, and did, tearing and burning the poor boys fright- 
fully, and almost beyond recognition. Persons who saw them say it was the 
worst sight they ever saw. None of those who saw them expected they could 
recover, but cared for them as well as they could. But they ultimately did 

recover. 

SOME ANCIENT DOCTORS AND DRUGGISTS. 

We have spoken of Dr. Bowen and Dr. Comstock, but those were by no 
means the only doctors in the early days. Dr. R. E, W. Adams came to Joliet 
in 1836, and was for many years one of our leading physicians. He was an 
active member and one of the organizers of the old Union Church, and was 
zealous in all moral reforms. He was soon followed by his brother, M. L. 
Adams, the builder of the first foundry, who still resides here, and by William 
Adams, so long known as mine host of the National, now a resident of Chicago, 
and also Peter Adams, now of Galesburg. Dr. Adams removed to Springfield 
some years ago, and has since deceased. We once rode to Chicago with the 
Doctor at an early day, before the canal was opened, when we went by private 
conveyance. In those days we used to stop at Flag Creek for dinner. The 
Doctor was a zealous temperance man. The place where we stopped for dinner 
was kept by a temperance man, too ; but the story had got about that he kept 
a little of the "'critter" on the slv, for the accommodation of such of his 
guests as could not get along without it. While the landlord was out taking 
care of our horse, the Doctor mentioned the rumor and suggested the propriety 
of making a search to see if any evidence could be found of its truth. In one 
corner of the room was a little closet which was locked, but the Doctor had a 
key which turned the bolt, and on opening the door, behold there was a decan- 
ter well filled with a liquid, the smell of which left no doubt on the mind that 
it was whisky. The Doctor took his medicine case from his pocket and took 
therefrom a little vial marked "antim. et pot. tart.," and empted its contents 
into the decanter, shook it thoroughly and replaced it, locking the door again, 
and sat down to dinner as coolly as if he had done a good thing. It relieves 
our conscience a little to remember that though accessory after the fact, we 
uttered a mild protest at the time. Now the subsequent history of that decan- 
ter we are unable to give, and must leave it to the reader's imagination ; it was 
no doubt interesting, and, perhaps, cured several persons of a love for whisky, 
and thus, on the principle that the end justifies the means, vindicated the act 
of the Doctor. While the Doctor was in practice here, he started the first drug 
store, in the old wooden store of Demmond's on the corner of the lot now 
owned by Mrs. Curry. He afterward moved up into the old wooden block 
which stood opposite the old stone block (now burned down), and there he took 
into partnership, both in practice and selling drugs, a young doctor of the name, 
of J. S. Glover, who resided here until his death some years after. Drs. 
Adams and Glover were both lame in the same manner and from similar causes 



322 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

an affection of the hip joint, and being of the same size were often mistaken 

the one for the other. The writer bought out the drug store of Adams & 
Glover in 1842, they having before bought out another establishment in the 
upper end of the stone block (Haven & Rood), and there, where Page bottles 
pop, and some other things, we commenced the brilliant career of an apothecary. 
Dr. M. K. Brownson was another of our early physicians, who settled on the 
ChicacTo road in 1835, and came to Joliet in 1836 or 1837. Dr. Brownson 
was our Postmaster under Fillmore, and also held the office of Public Adminis- 
trator. The Doctor now lives in California. Another early physician was Dr. 
Scliolfield, who was also City Clerk under the first organization. He left for 
the West soon after the city scrip which he executed, went the way of all " fiat " 
money, and has been some years dead. Still another of our early physicians, 
was Dr. Wallace A. Little,^who also left many years ago, and went to Jo Daviess 
County, which he has represented in the Legislature, and it is also said that he 
has got rich in mining operations. Schofield & Little were in partnership, both 
in the practice of medicine and also in running a small drug store for a while. 
Another of these benevolent institutions was started in 1846 by Mr. Brown, 
the father of our present druggists of that name. This was started on Chicago 
street, opposite the old wooden block. 

Having spoken of the doctors and druggists of the ancient times, it is proper 
that something should be said of the 

HEALTH OF THE COUNTY. 

In the early settlement of the county, it, in common with the West gener- 
ally, suffered more or less from malarial diseases, and it acquired the reputation 
of being unhealthy. During the digging of the canal, too, there were two or 
three seasons in which there was an unusual amount of sickness, and many 
died, especially among the laborers — a good many of them, no doubt, as much 
from the treatment they redfeived as from the disease. But since the county has 
been generally settled and cultivated, and the people and the physicians have 
learned better how to treat these diseases, they have ceased to be formidable. 

In common with most parts of the country, this county was visited with epi- 
demic cholera in the years 1848 to 1854, and we lost many valuable citizens, 
among others C. C. Van Home, 0. H. Haven, M. H. Demmond, Dr. Comstock 
and others ; but since the last-named year there has been no recurrence of the 
epidemic. In the census of the county taken in 1850 by Mr. Marsh, the pop- 
ulation of the county is given at 16,709, and the number of deaths for the year 
previous at 232, being 1,38 per cent. This was a cholera year, and no doubt 
a large portion of the deaths were due to cholera, although the exact number 
cannot be ascertained. Our papers of the time told very definitely how many 
died of cholera elsewhere, but were sadly ignorant of its devastations at home 
" — not an unusual thing, we believe. We confidently assert that at present no 
part of the Union is more uniformly healthy than Will County. We used to 



HISTORY OF WILL COUIITY. 323 

boast at an early Jay, when the question as to the health of the West came up, 
and we were cliarged with being sickly, that there was one disease of which 
people never died at the West, to wit, old age. But we cannot make this boast 
any longer. A large number of the oldest settlers have recently deceased at 
an advanced age, while others still linger, who must ere long swell the list. 
Quite a number of persons have deceased within a few years at Joliet, who 
have crowded hard upon a hundred years, and we have heard of others who 
exceeded that age. We have many now who, by reason of strength, exceed the 
allotted limit of fourscore. But inasmuch as Ponce de Leon did not, in 1512, 
find in Florida the fountain which would restore to old age the vigor of youth, 
and as no subsequent explorer has found it there, or elsewhere, not even in Min- 
nesota, and as it is " appointed unto all men once to die " — here, as everywhere, 

" Pale death, with equal step, knocks at the cottage sf the poor 
And the palace of the king." 

We have spoken of the diseases of the county at the early day. The most 
common of these, although not the most formidable, was the one known in com- 
mon parlance as the '' ague," or the "fever and ague." This has become al- 
most obsolete (at least in the original form), but it used to be a common expe- 
rience. True, we never could boast of such a prevalence of it as they could in 
Michigan, where, it was said, the church bells used to be rung in order that the 
people might know when to take their quinine. But it used to be considered 
one of the things that was necessary to constitute a man a settler, the other 
being the prairie itch. The writer well remembers his first hug at the ague. 
He had been in the country some three or four years, and had often laughed at 
the exhibition which others made while undergoing " the shakes," and felt him- 
self proof against it. He had gone through various other stages of Western 
experience ; he had had the prairie itch : had come to the age of citizenship, 
if not of discretion ; had bought a city lot and paid taxes ; had run for oflBce, 
and got elected ; had gone back East and got a wife ; and yet had never had 
the " ager !" 

One beautiful September morning, in the year 1838, he thought he would 
show the little woman he had persuaded to come back with him, some of the 
beauties of the country. This could be done in no better way than by a ride 
to Channahon, or the "mouth of the Du Page," as we then called that locality. 
Accordingly, in the early morning, with a horse and buggy, we set out. We 
could say we now with propriety, and we were not a little proud of it, and that 
\Tas one reason why we were going, to show our cousin Minerva — Mrs. Risley 
— who we were. The morning was fine and bracing. We anticipated much 
pleasure. For what is more delightful than a drive into the country when the 
roads are good, the horse fast and sure, the air balmy and cool, and the dearest 
little woman in all the world by your side ! We have said that the morning 
was cool and bracing. It soon began to feel quite cool, and so the writer re- 
marked to his wife. She said she was warm enough. We rode a little farther? 



324 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

and, though the sun got higher, it seemed to grow increasingly cold. In short, 
it grew colder and colder, as the sun got higher and higher, a phenomenon that 
seemed inexplicable. Presently, he felt an irresistible desire to yawn and 
stretch both his upper and lower extremities. There was hardly room to do 
this; out went his legs over the dashboard, while his arms went over the seat 
and around his wife, and pushed out right and left, promiscously. And still it 
cold and colder grew. He put on the heavy blanket coat, which, fortunately, 
he had brought along, and his wife's shawl, which she said she did not really 
need. But it all did no good ; the stretching and gaping continued, and even 
his teeth began to chatter, and to crown all, he shook — yes, shook ; oh, how he 
did shake ! and, incredible as it may seem, he shook all over and to the re- 
motest extremities, and, like great Caesar's, "his coward lips did from their 
color fly." And all the while, the little wife said she was warm enough. If 
she had not been the dearest little woman in all the world, he would have been 
provoked to see her sit there as warm and comfortable as in July, while he was 
experiencing January and February condensed. But by this time she began 
to wear a look of anxiety at the strange contortions of her husband. One more 
resource remained. Giving the reins to his wife, he got out to try what exer- 
cise would do, and told her to whip up, Avhile he traveled on behind, with his 
hands hold of the end of the buggy. He followed this up until too leg-weary 
to continue it, and it seemed to do little good. He could not get warm, and 
still he gaped and stretched, and chattered and shook, and all the time he had 
not the least suspicion what the matter was. 

After riding on a while longer, his sensations gradually underwent a change. 
Hot streaks seemed to alternate with the cold ones. The gaping and stretch- 
ing seemed to moderate, and other sensations took their place. A slight head- 
ache came on, and he felt a suspicion of nausea. The pallid and puckered ap- 
pearance of the countenance gave place to flushes. The weather seemed to 
undergo a change. It grew suddenly warm. Ofi" goes the shawl and blanket 
overcoat. He asked his wife, presently, if it was not getting hot, and was 
almost provoked at her cool reply that she did not see much change. But it 
certairdy was getting hot, he knew it was, and off" goes his undercoat. He 
became thirsty, and longed, oh, how he longed, for water. Strange ideas and 
fancies were passing through his mind, and he began to talk strangely and lo- 
quaciously, almost incoherently. The little wife looked more troubled and 
anxious than ever, and wondered what had come over her sedate and usually 
silent husband. Presently he began to feel strangely tired, listless and uneasy, 
and to long for a good bed and rest and sleep. And now, fortunately, the com- 
fortable log house of Risley appears in sight. Oh, how welcome ! With no 
little exertion he gets out, leaves his wife to look after the horse, and soon occu- 
pied the whole of Mrs. Risley 's lounge, and one or two chairs besides. When 
he and his wife between them had given an intelligent account of what had 
been happening on the way, Mrs. Risley says, " Why Hen ! you have got the 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 325 

ague I " Great guns ! here was a revelation indeed. After all his boasted im- 
munity from the ague, his defiance of it, the enemy had stolen the march upon 
him, and here he was, lying prostrate and humbled before it. And even yet 
he was not done with it ; .another stage of the disease comes on, the nastiest of 
the three. The half-delirious fever passes off, and he begins to perspire. Per- 
spire ! that is no name for it ; let us use the more homely but expressive word — 
he begins to sweat. Ah, how he sweats ! It seemed as if all the water in his 
body — and physiologists say every man has two or three buckets in him, 
(although we have seen some men we don't believe have a gill of water in 
them) — it seemed, we say, as if all the water in his body was coming to the 
surface, and not much sweeter than the Chicago River. And so he continued 
to sweat, sweat, sweat, for a good hour, saturating towel after towel, until ex- 
haustion closed the scene and he slept. When the afternoon was well-nigh 
spent, he awoke, refreshed, and was able to do some little justice to Mrs. Ris- 
ley's fricasseed chickens and doughnuts, and to start home, an humbler if not 
a wiser man ; subdued in tone and spirit, a little the worse for the encounter, and 
with the cheering prospect of a recurrence of the experience in one, or at most, 
two days. But he invested $1.50 in a box of Sappington's Pills, and thus 
headed off the fever. This is not an advertisement. 

A MURDER STORY. 

We are sensible that our history is getting dull, and it is high time that we 
should enliven it with a murder story. The readers of " Forty Years Ago " 
will remember that we recorded one there. We were afraid that we could not 
find one for this history, but, by the aid of the Signal, we are able to record 
one for the present occasion equally as tragic as that one. 

On Thursday, April 30, of the year 1858, some boys, ranging about 
Hickory Creek near where it enters the Des Planes, came upon the body of a 
female, partly covered with dirt and stones, lying in a gully about one mile 
south of the city. It was so much decayed that the features were unrecogniza- 
ble. The boys gave the authorities notice of what they had found, and the 
proper oflScers and many citizens went to the spot. The unanimous conclusion 
of all who saw the body was that she had been murdered. There was a deep 
wound in the temple and another in the breast. The hands and feet had been 
cut entirely off, and were found near the body. An inquest was called, and a 
verdict was found, in which the public belief was expressed that a foul murder 
had been committed. Who could it be? and by whom had the deed been done? 
were the questions on everybody's lips. The public were not long held in 
suspense. On Saturday, a woman residing in the outskirts of the city, having 
heard of the discovery, came forward (after the inquest) and informed the Mar- 
shal, J. C. Van Auken, that her daughter — a girl of sixteen — had mysteriously 
disappeared some three weeks previous. The body was taken up again and 
another inquest was held, at which the woman testified positively that the body 



326 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

was that of her daughter, Mary Cook. Other persons expressed the same 
belief. The mother also stated that, at the time of her daughter's disappearance, 
she was enceinte, having fallen a prey to the wiles of a man named David Rich- 
ardson. One of the physicians who examined the body gave a professional state- 
ment in respect to it which confirmed that of the mother. The mystery was npade 
plain. Our city had been made the theater of a most foul murder, perpetrated to 
conceal a crime hardly less diabolical. The public voice was unanimous that the 
foul perpetrator must be found and brought to justice. Richardson was found 
and arrested on Sunday morning. He had not been long a resident of the city, 
but, so far as any one here knew, he had borne a good character, and every one 
was surprised to find that he was guilty of so foul a crime. But that a crime 
had been committed, there was no room for doubt, and it seemed equally clear 
that he was the perpetrator. The Signal said, in its issue of the same week : 
" We will not prejudge the case ; but a young and unprotected girl has been 
seduced and ruined by a demon in human shape, and murdered to hide her 
betrayer's guilt. If there is any virtue in law, let it be applied now." The 
Signal spoke the voice of the public, which was almost ready to string Rich- 
ardson up to a lamp-post. Indeed, it seemed at one time as though our city 
would be disgraced by an application of lynch law. 

Two days were consumed by the examination of Richardson. The Court 
House was crowded. State's Attorney Bartleson, assisted by Streeter, con- 
ducted on the part of the people, with E. C. Fellows for the prisoner. The 
former testimony of Mrs. Cook and others was brought forward, and the same 
facts reproduced. The old woman swore positively as to the body being that 
of her daughter, and the doctor repeated his professional statement. Mean- 
while the sharp counsel of the prisoner had adopted a theory for the defense. 
The body had been again examined by four other physicians who came into 
court and swore positively that the body was that of a woman, and that it had 
been used to promote the purposes of science, and Avas partially dissected. 
They affirmed that the body was that of a much older and larger person than 
the missing Mary Cook. This testimony produced a ripple in the current of 
public opinion which had been flowing so strongly in one direction. Was this 
so, or was this a cunningly devised scheme of Fellows' to get the villain clear ? 
For a little the question hung in great doubt, each side having earnest advo- 
cates. When this suspense was at its height and had become truly painful, 
relief came. In walked Constable John Roberts with a veiled lady upon his 
arm. The whisper ran around the court-room, '' Another witness." She drew 
aside her veil, and it was indeed another witness, and no less a person than 
the murdered girl herself — the young and interesting Mary Cook, alive and 
well! 

It only remains to say that it was soon discovered that the body was that 
of a Mrs. Schemmcrhorn, a woman about twice the size of Mary Cook, Avho had 
died a few weeks before, and who was the wife of a man who tended the lower 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 327 

lock. The body had been resurrected by some one for the purposes of dissec- 
tion, as had been alleged by some of the medical gentlemen at the examination ; 
some of whom well knew that they were speaking the truth. Old Mrs. Cook 
had trumped up her story to get black-mail out of Richardson. The affair 
furnished one more warning against hasty judgments founded on circumstances 
alone. The doctor who gave the professional opinion has never been called to 
fill the chair of anatomy in Rush Medical College. The parties connected with 
the case have generally gone elsewhere, although one lingers about here still 
who is supposed to have hud a hand in it. 

If any of our readers hanker after a real murder case, we might relate that of 
Benjamin Pickle, the old blacksmith, who was shot through his shop window 
on the night of December 6, 1861. Circumstantial evidence fixed the crime 
upon his brother-in-law, William Zeph. The paper wad found in the ear of 
Pickle's body was a piece of a German newspaper, the rest of which was found 
in Zeph's house ; the parts exactly fitted each other. He had a trial, was con- 
victed ; his lawyers got him two new trials, and he was convicted the third 
time ; then they got a supersedeas, and while the matter was still pending, he 
escaped jail and was never found. 

The first execution in our county was that of George Chase for the murder 
of Joseph Clark, Deputy Warden at the Penitentiary, in April, 1864. This 
occurred during the Sheriffalty of John Reid. 

OUR WAR RECORD. 

We have given some account of the figure our county made in the Black 
Hawk war, and, in " Forty Years Ago," we related what was done in the Canal- 
Irish war. As to what Will County did in the Mexican war, there is not 
much to be told. This is not on account of the politics of our citizens at the 
time, for the county then, by a considerable majority, sustained the Adminis- 
tration, and adopted the motto — " Our country, when she is right ; aye, and 
when she is wrong, too ! " As is well known, under the earlier calls for volun- 
teers, our State furnished five regiments. For one of these regiments, a com- 
pany was organized in Joliet, under the captaincy of Robert Stevens, which 
reported at Springfield just one day too late to get in, so quickly had the quota 
of the State been filled. What these men would have done to add luster to 
the already glorious military record of our county, must be left to conjecture. 
That their career would have been a brilliant one we may safely conclude, if 
the men were worthy of their Captain. We are able only to name one of them 
with certainty, as no muster-roll of the company has been preserved. This 
one now wears a star, not a general's but a policeman's, and is known as Frank 
Fellows. He was a mere boy at the time, and had to steal his chance to enlist, 
as the old Captain, his father, although himself a hero of the Irish war, as we 
have elsewhere related (see "Forty Years Ago"), was the very embodiment of 



328 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Whifff^ery, and did not take much stock in the Mexican war. Many public 
meeting's were held, and considerable excitement existed from time to time dur- 
ing the progress of tlie war. Companies from other counties passed through 
Joliet, and the martial spirit was more or less waked up, and, it is believed 
that some joined these companies. One from Kane County is particularly 
remembered, which marched up and down Bluff street one Sunday, with fife 
and drum, not a little disturbing the worshipers in the old stone block. The 
ladies of Joliet presented this company with a handsome flag, and quite a time 
was had over it, eloquent speeches being made on both sides. This flag was 
returned in 1849, twenty months after presentation, by P. R. Norton, Captain 
of the company, who assured the ladies that it had waved in triumph over the 
battered walls of Puebla, Tampico Alta, Sierra Madre, Convent of St. Domingo 
and the Halls of the Montezumas. Uri Osgood received the flag in behalf of 
the ladies and made an eloquent reply. So we at least had some bunting in the 
war. Toward the end of the war, our State furnished another (the Sixth) regi- 
ment, and we find a statement in the history of the State that one company 
was from Will and Iroquois Counties. Whether the regiment reached the seat 
of war, and who of our citizens belonged to it, we have not been able to learn. 
If any one from Will County fought, bled or died, we should have been glad to 
record his name. 

In the late war of the rebellion, our county has a proud record. First 
and last, between three and four thousand of our citizens went to the war; and 
more than five hundred sacrified their lives to preserve the Government and 
the Union. 

Having already, as we think, pretty fully and faithfully told the story of 
what our county did in this war, we do not think it necessary even to give a 
summary here. If any of our readers have not a copy of "Fifteen Years Ago, 
or the Patriotism of Will County," he can easily obtain one either of the author 
or publisher, for the trifling sum of ^4. It ought to be in every man's library, 
and in every school district in the county. This is not an advertisement, but 
a piece of disinterested and sound advice — as disinterested as a patent medicine 
advertisement ! 

THE PRESS, ETC. 

We gave in "Forty Years Ago" some account of the first newspaper 
started in Joliet, in 1839. This was the premonitory symptom of the well- 
known Signal. We understand that the township historian, by whom we are 
to be followed, will "write up" the press, and therefore we shall have little to 
say on the subject. We wish, however to leave on record our impression of 
the immense value of the files of county papers as sources of history. If we 
were to have the privilege of living over the past, we would keep files of each 
county paper ; not by any means for the sake of reading over the old editorials, 
but because their pages would give a picture from week to week of both national 



^rfi 



-■;< 



■ A 





Z 



(deceased) 

JOLIET 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 331 

and local events, which could be found nowhere else. Even the advertisements 
give much of history. There ought to be provision for keeping such files in 
our county and city offices ; for the files at the printing offices are liable to be 
destroyed by fire, as some have been in Joliet, and as all have been in Chicago. 
And we here record our thanks to the proprietors of our papers for the free 
access given us to such files as have been preserved. They liave affiarded us 
both amusement and instruction, as well as aided us in our efforts to recall per- 
sons and events. We have noticed that editors are not very reliable as prophets ; 
for previous to every election we have been told tliat the fate of the country 
hung upon the result, and that if the opposite party triumphed, the country 
would go to universal smash ; and yet the other party often did succeed, and 
the country went on all the same ! Another thing is very noticeable, and that 
is that it was always the other party that did all the mean and dishonest things ; 
and, also, that no sooner did a man who had all along been respectable and 
reliable, change his way of voting, than he became at once a vagabond and 
a scoundrel. Perhaps one of the punishments that will be awarded editors 
in the future world, will be to read ever their old editorials ! At any rate, that 
is the worst we would inflict upon them. We will give a resume of one number 
of the Signal of the year 1846, twelve years after our city was born, omitting 
the editorials. It gives a picture of the early times. 

In the way of news, we have Gen. Taylor's early dispatches from Mexico, 
when he was on the Rio Grande and skirmishing with Gen. Ampudia. We 
have also accounts of the negotiations with England, when we backed down 
from the " 54° 40' or fight " position, and took up a more tenable one on °49, 
and the Strait of San Juan de Fuca. As an interesting item of home news, we 
are informed that an opposition line of stages has just been put upon the route 
from Chicago via Joliet to Ottawa. By the way, we have in Joliet a souvenir 
of those old stage times, in the person of our friend Kipp, now a citizen of 
Joliet, who in those days held the ribbons for Frink & Walker with a skill and 
ability that was never surpassed. We have also, in the way of news, the proc- 
lamation of Gov. Ford against the Mormons, who were threatening to cut up 
at Nauvoo, and the announcement that a line of telegraph was soon to be 
opened from Buffalo to Detroit. The citizens of Joliet village were notified, 
also, to meet at the Court House and organize a wolf-hunt. If you want to 
know how this was done, read " Forty Years Ago." (We are referring to that 
great work pretty often, but we can't help it.) By way of advertisements, J. 
A. Matteson tells the public that he is ready to card the wool and weave the 
cloth of the people of Will and adjoining counties, and to buy their wool and 
sell them cloth and other goods. Major Safford announces that he has con- 
cluded to stop with Matteson another year, and Avill try to please evervbody, 
especially the ladies. Uncle Billy Hadsall advertises as the administrator of 
the estate of Philip Scott, deceased. (Uncle Billy's own estate will have to be 
administered on soon.) Francis J. Xicholson tells the public where he keeps 



332 HISTORY OF WILL, COUNTY. 

the " Emporium of Fashion," and is ready to give the gents the latest styles 
just received from Paris, London and Philadelphia. (The fashions have changed 
with '"Nick" since that day, and will change still more ere many years.) 
Alex. Mcintosh advertises a select school, in which he proposes to teach on 
common sense principles — not to cram ; and " Cal." indorses him, and advises 
parents to send their children to him. (Mack's wife now beats him — we mean 
at keeping school.) Charles Clement says he has lots of goods that the people 
can have cheap by calling at his store, opposite Merchants' Row. J. H. Brown 
offers pure and reliable drugs and medicines, which can be found in the store 
opposite the old wooden block on Upper Chicago street ; and G. H. Woodruff 
offers pills and powders to the West Siders at his store, in the old National. 
Hervy Lowe says he has seventy-five packages of summer goods he wants to 
get rid of at a very small advance above cost, on the corner of Chicago and 
Cass streets. M. L. Adams offers to cast anything you want at his steam 
foundry, on North Bluff street. Norton & Blackstone, of Lockport, advertise 
large and splendid stocks of everything ; and Lane & Weeks, of Lockport, 
manufacture steel plows. A. W. Bowen, Postmaster, tells who has letters in 
Joliet Post Office, that have not been called for ; among others, Sam Ander- 
son and Col. Curry. (If they have not been called for before this time, they 
never will be.) H. N. Marsh says he is ready to sell or manufacture anything you 
want in the furniture line. (We have got one of his tables, and it's good and 
strong yet.) A good cook is wanted at the National Hotel. (That's what the 
boarders thought, too.) Dr. Brownson advertises Sappington pills. Daniel 
Curtis offers to deal out justice as wanted, and E. C. Fellows and Osgood & 
Little to superintend its administration. Demmond & Wood advertise dry 
goods and groceries cheap at the City Cash Store. (That piece of Wood is our 
old reliable insurance man, and we are glad to get him into this history, for he 
is a pretty well seasoned piece of timber, although he has lately got more 
young.) Richard Doolittle says he keeps an auction and commission store. 
(Dick does a little in the way of administering justice now.) P. Filer adver- 
tises Jew David's plaster, and tells the p<^ople that they can find it both at 
Brown's and at Woodruff's. (That's the plaster the people used to put on the 
barn-doors to draw the cows home at night, and it will do it yet.) Etc., etc., 
etc., etc. 

METEOROLOGICAL. 

Early settlers in the Northwest used to speak of a great fall of snow which 
occurred in the Winter of 1830-31, which must have been very remarkable. 
It is said to have killed off the native game animals to such an extent as to 
have made them very scarce for several years, and to have been a serious loss 
to the Indians. It is said to have been four feet deep on a level. We have 
met with some mention of this remarkable snow in the history of Livingston 
County. We remember to have heard Mr. Kerchival speak of it when we 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 338 

first came. He warned us wlio had settled under the bluff on the West Side, 
that we would some day get snowed in, saying that he had seen the snow one 
gentle slope from the top of the bluff across the river, completely concealing 
the river. But we have never had any such visitation up to this day. There 
was a deep snow which blocked the railroads, as we shall relate further on, a 
few years ago. We have never been visited in this county by devastating 
cyclones, although we not unfrequently have had storms of wind and rain and 
hail, which have been somewhat destructive in limited sections. All our 
streams are subject to heavy floods, especially upon the breaking-up of Spring, 
when snow and ice are abundant, and much loss has been experienced at times 
in mills and bridges, etc. In January, 1849, there was a big flood, especially 
in the Kankakee. Many families in Wilmington were compelled to leave their 
houses, and the upper mill was partly carried away by ice, and also the woolen- 
factory and a saw-mill, and the bridge over Forked Ci-eek. The feeder was 
also damaged seriously. Another flood in 1867, carried off the railroad bridge 
landing it within a mile of Morris, and during the ice-gorge below, the water 
rose several feet in the main street of the city. The damage at this time was 
estimated as high as $100,000. 

Thunder and lightning are often very severe, especially along tlie rivers, 
and occasionally both animals and men have been killed. Such a thun- 
der-storm once struck the city of Wilmington, and produced effects which 
were startling in the extreme, and at the same time had a ludicrous side. 
It occurred during a political meeting held at the hall, in Avhich Judtre 
Parks was making a political speech, able, and of course on the ricrht 
side, for that is where the Judge always means to be, even if he has to 
take the back track or go across lots to get there. He had just reached one 
of his sublimest flights of fancy and patriotism, holding out the American 
eagle with outstretched wings over his attentive audience, who, spell-bound by 
his eloquence, had taken little note of the approaching storm, until a thunder- 
bolt struck the building and passing into the crowd, struck about twenty of 
them to the floor, killing one of the number, and knocking the Judge's spread- 
eagle into smithereens, closed his speech with a climax which astonished the 
speaker no less than the auditors. The Judge was accustomed to seeint^ his 
audiences electrified, but never before or since in so startling and literal a man- 
ner. He yielded the floor, and acknowledged himself vanquished with his 
own weapons. 

The most terrific storm of this kind occurred on Sunday, the 31st day of 
July, 1864. During the morning service at the German Catholic Church in 
the north part of the city (the small stone church which has since been replaced 
by the present large and fine one) the steeple was struck by a thunder-bolt, which 
startled the entire city. The fluid passed down to the gallery immediately 
under the steeple, where it separated and passed down to the earth in two cur- 
rents. For a moment the whole congregation was paralyzed. When conscious- 



334 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

ness returned, the scene was beyond description, and without a parallel in "Will 
County. The smoke or vapor of some sort which followed the report, gave the 
impression that the church was on fire, and an insane rush was made for the 
doors and windoAvs, which were broken out and torn from their hinges, and but 
for the presence of mind of the Pastor, a still more frightful loss of life must 
have resulted. When the terror of the crowd had been calmed, and the fact 
ascertained that the church was not on fire, the killed and wounded were looked 
after. They were carried out into the open air, and those who were not fatally 
injured recovered consciousness in the falling rain. The following persons were 
found to be dead: Mrs. Hartman, a young mother, 85 years old, leaving three 
children, one a babe; Mrs. Ingles, age 56; Nicholas Young, a lad of 15; 
Matthias Engle of the age of 17, and Samuel Weyman of 18 years. About 
twenty more were seriously, but not dangerously injured. The entire congre- 
gation were more or less affected. The scene was heart-rending — the moans and 
cries of the injured and the frightened as well — and the lamentations over the 
dead, no one who witnessed it Avill ever forget. 

We have had many floods in Joliet, more or less damaging to property, 
especially to bridges, but the one which Avas the largest, and which will live 
longest in the memory of our citizens, occurred on Wednesday, the 9th of 
August, 1865. On that day, which was a rainy one, there occurred during 
the afternoon, and again in the evening, two showers, which all who wit- 
nessed them will say were the heaviest they ever knew. They seemed to 
be like the cloud-breaks we have read of as occurring in some of the canons 
of the mountains of the West. Every one, however, went to bed serene, 
not anticipating that there was to be anything serious, although conscious 
that it was a big shower and the river had commenced to rise considerably. 
About midnight, the city was alarmed by the ringing of the bells and 
the shouts and cries of the people, and a scene of terror was presented in 
the dim light of the stars, which baffles description. The moving about of 
people with lanterns and the reflection in the waters, gave a strange and weird 
.aspect to the city, as seen from the bluff. A river of no mean volume was 
pouring down the R. I. R. R. track from Spring Creek, which was now a mighty 
stream, covering all the bottom lands in its vicinity. The wall of the upper 
basin had given way and a Niagara was pouring out, carrying off" King's pian- 
ino-mill and other buildings, and greatly endangering Howk & Hyde's mill. 
All that part of town known anciently as "the slough," was a second Missis- 
sippi, the houses were surrounded by water from Scott street to the eastern 
bluff, and the people were being rescued by boats. Furniture and fences were 
afloat, and men and women imploring help from the windows of the upper 
stories of the beleaguered houses. The basements on the east side of Scott 
street were converted into cisterns, and the provisions and utensils necessary for 
the morning's breakfast were afloat. The old Des Planes which had often been 
on the rampage before, outdid all former exploits, and was full to the top of the 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 335 

tow-path, and poured over the lock without any regard to canal regulations. It 
was easy to believe the theory that all this beautiful valley from bluff to bluff 
was oncb a mighty Mississippi. Great feats of energy and daring were per- 
formed in rescuinor the inmates from the houses in the slouchs and on the bottom 
below the 11. I. R. R. which was also all afloat. The scenes of that night, 
both harrowing and ludicrous, will not soon be forgotten by those who witnessed 
them. Man}' families had a tight race to get from the lower floors into the 
chambers, and some who had no chambers to flee to, found refuge on the roofs. 
The family of James Congden, on Cmss street, reached the second story barely 
in time, and in the morning, on taking a peep into the ])arlor which had been so 
neat and cheerful the night before, they found two pigs had floated in and 
quartered themselves on the piano, where they were waiting patiently for the 
waters to assuage. A hired man of M. 0. Cagwin's, on the same street, was 
not aroused until the waters came over his bed. Without taking very much 
time to make his toilet, he jumped for the door and on stepping out found the 
steps had gone, and when he planted his feet where they had been he went in 
all over. He swam for the barn, cut loose his team and saved them fiom 
drowning. The lumber-yards were all afloat and many thousand feet of lumber 
sought a Southern market without a shipping bill or clearance. Bluft" stock rose 
suddenly; many fled thither for refuge. W. S. Brooks said his beautiful place 
on Scott street was for sale, but he still stays there, and we presume does not 
lie awake nights for fear of a recurrence of the scene. Many felt for a time 
that they would like to go up higher; but as the floods subsided we suppose they 
concluded it was not much of a shower after all. The excitement and damage 
was by no means confined to Joliet. The railroads leading to the city were 
flooded and greatly damaged, bridges swept away, culverts destroyed,;tracks torn 
up and embankments torn away, and the bridges on all the county roads were 
in like condition, and a virtual blockade wass established for a few days. Farm- 
ers were also great sufferers, stacks of grain and hay were destroyed, and few 
escaped some damage. 

RAILROADS. 

The opening of the canal made a great change in our mode of travel to 
Chicago. We had been wont to go by stage, a long and tedious ride — hot and 
dusty in Summer, and cold and uncomfortable in Winter. Or, we could drive 
our own conveyance, occupying from three-fourths of a day to a day and a half, 
according to the weather. Sometimes it required a day to get across the nine 
miles lying between "Widow Berry's Point" and the Chicago River, a low, 
wet, prairie then, although much of it is now included in West Chicago. It 
consumed three days, generally, to go, do business and return. But now the 
canal being open, we could go aboard a packet at night and wake up (if we were 
lucky enough to sleep) in Bridgeport, transact our business and return at night, 



336 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

thus losiniT only one day. This was a great improvement, and for a while we 
were happy and content. But after a few years, we began to sigh for some- 
thin<y better and swifter. Canals were slow. They were safe, to be sure; but 
who would not rather risk his life than to be all day or all night going forty 
miles, when he could do it in a couple of hours ? We must have railroads. 
The principal towns in the county became agitated with railroad projects ; pub- 
lic meetings were held, and the county papers were filled with the reports, and 
with discussions and projects. 

The Chicago & Rock Island Railroad Company was chartered in 1850-51, 
and organized in 1851. One of our citizens, N. D. Elwood, Esq., was one of 
the Directors, and Secretary of the Board. The road was opened from Joliet 
to Chicago in October, 1852. Matteson was a large contractor, and the 
work was driven with his usual energy. The President of the road gave 
Joliet and vicinity a free ride. The packet-boat business soon dwindled 
and expired. Capt. Connett, the famous canal captain, had to get meta- 
morphosed into a railroad conductor. Now we could go from Joliet in the 
morning, buy half the city (if we had the dimes), and return at night. Lock- 
port was left out in the cold, and she was welcome to her old canal office, over 
which Jolietians had growled so many years. 

The Rock Island Railroad was opened to the Mississippi in 1854. The 
builders of the road (Farnham & Sheffield) chartered some steamboats, and gave 
the people a big excursion to St. Paul. Happy the man who was important 
enough to get a ticket. Pleasant memories of that excursion still linger in the 
minds of many of our citizens. Some interesting stories are told of the aifair. 
Some strong temperance men at home were said to have been very much afraid 
of Mississippi water in its undiluted state. Preachers, on their return, made 
the country and the Great West the theme of their discourses. It was not known 
then that the writer would be a historian, and everybody had forgotten that he was 
Judge, and consequently he got no ticket, and therefore cannot expand the subject. 
That was a great oversight in Messrs. Farnham & Sheffield. But there was a 
compensation — we did not have to drink INIississippi water ! There was an in- 
cident, however, connected with this road, which occurred soon after it was 
in full operation, about which we know something and will relate a little. 

On Wednesday night, November 1, 1854, a most appalling accident 
occurred on the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad, a few miles below 
our city, near Rock Run. The engine of the down passenger train was thrown 
from the track by running over a horse, and upon it the two forward passenger 
cars were thrown. One of the steam-pipes of the engine was severed, and the 
escaping steam was poured through the cars, terribly scalding sixty-two of the pas- 
sengers, literally cooking some of them alive. Twelve of this number died within 
a few minutes. The train was brought back to the city about 8 o'clock in the 
morning, and the scenes of suffering presented at the depot were indescribable 
and sickened the heart of every beholder. N. D. Elwood, Esq., and other 



HISTOllY OF WILL. COUNTY. 337 

oflficers of the road were indefatigable in their efforts to relieve the sufferings of 
those Avho survived. The stone house on IScott street, next to the present resi- 
dence of W. A. Steele, was appropriated as a hospital, and thither the survivors 
were taken. Our physicians, Drs. llarwood, Danforth and McArthur, were 
in attendance by order of the railroad company, and nobly acquitted themselves. 
The citizens of Joliet, especially the ladies, were untiring in their attention, 
and everything possible was done to alleviate the sufferings of the survivors. 
Among the number of the dead was a man from Gettysburg, Pa., his mothei*, 
wife and two children — five of one family ; their name was Laughlin. A niece 
of Mr. Laughlin was also supposed to be fatally wounded, and four others. 
Seven others were dangerously scalded, and eleven scalded more or less severely. 
Four of these died subsequently, making sixteen deaths in all. The hospital 
was established with Dr. McArthur as Director, and Drs. Bailey, Davis, and 
others beside the three previously named were called into the service. For 
many Aveeks the attention of these doctors, and of our ladies as nurses, was 
demanded. Some of those who survived were seriously injured for life, losing 
an eye or an ear, and will carry the marks of the terrible burns to their graves. 
They will not forget the gratuitous and unremitting services of our men and 
women as volunteer nurses. 

Two villages have been built up by this road in our county — New Lenox 
and Mokena. 

N. D. ELWOOD. 

The Secretary of this road, Nelson D. Elwood, was so long identified with 
Lockport, Joliet and Will County, that a brief mention of the part he played 
in our history is called for. He came to this county in 1837, and settled at 
Lockport, where he obtained employment in the engineer department of the 
canal. Having the misfortune to lose his father at eight years of age, his 
opportunities for acquiring an .education were limited; but he was possessed of 
so quick and inquiring turn of mind that he readily acquired the elements of a 
substantial business education, and was an accomplished penman, accountant 
and surveyor. In 1843, he was elected County Clerk, and held the oflSce six 
years. During this time he studied law, and was admitted to the bar of Will 
County and of the Supreme Court of this State in 1847. On leaving the 
oflSce of County Clerk, he formed a partnership with Judge Parks, which contin- 
ued through his life. He was one of the original directors of the Chicago, Rock 
Island & Pacific Railroad, and for five years Secretary to the Board, as above re- 
lated, and mainly instrumental in obtaining the right of way. With Gov. Matte- 
son, he built the Joliet & Northern Indiana Railroad, commonly known as the " cut- 
off," and now a branch of the Michigan Central, and was its President until it 
was sold to the Central. Mr. Elwood was also closely identified with the pros- 
perity of the city of Joliet. He was Mayor during the years 1855 and 185G, 
and an Alderman from 1857 until his death. He was also placed upon the 
first Board of Penitentiary Commissioners, and continued until his death. He 



338 HISTOIU' OF WILL COUNTY. 

was re-appointed when laid upon what proved to be his death-bed, and this 
appointment was made by an administration adverse to him in politics. Mr. 
Elwood was long an official member of the Episcopal society, and also eminent 
as a Mason, holding many important offices in all the grand bodies of the State, 
He died February 24, 1861, leaving one son, James G. Elwood, present Mayor 
of Joliet, and a widow now residing in Chicago. 

THE C, A. & ST. L. R. R. 

The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad was chartered and organized in 
1851-52. The work was commenced in 1852, and the road opened to this city 
in August, 1854, and from this city to Chicago in 1857. This road added 
greatly to our commercial facilities. Passing through Wilmington, Joliet and 
Lockport, it gave Joliet another route to Chicago and access to the coal-fields 
of our county ; also to Wilmington and Lockport, the railroad communication 
they had so long desired. The daily " bus " between Lockport and Joliet was 
useless, and that city was happy. 

During the Winter of 1854-55, occurred a great snowstorm, which is, no doubt, 
yet remembered by many. The train which left Joliet at noon on the 25tli 
day of January, with 350 passengers, 22 of whom were members of the Illinois 
Legislature, was brought to a full stop when near Dwight. The weather had 
grown cold and the engines had frozen up, and they were utterly unable to pro- 
ceed. They were held in this condition for six days and nights,, during which 
it was excessively cold, and there was much discomfort, to use no stronger ex- 
pression. It was several miles to timber, and the stock of fuel carried by the 
train was soon exhausted. The seats of the cars and also the second-class cars 
were cut up for fuel. They had no provisions the first day excepting a few 
cans of oysters and a few boxes of crackers, which were in the freight car. 
Relief, to some extent, was brought in sleigh sfrom the surrounding farmhouses 
and the nearest villages ; and on the seventh day, an engine from Joliet suc- 
ceeded in forcing its way through and bringing the shipwrecked train back to 
Joliet. Some of the Legislature, among them Messrs. Parks and Osgood, went 
forward from Dwight in sleighs. 

We wish that this was the only disaster that we were called upon to record 
in the history of this road. But on Saturday evening of August 16, 1873, 
there was one which was indeed frightful, and exceeded, in the number lost, 
that of the R. I. R. R., as there were twenty-three persons killed and thirty- 
one wounded. The accident occurred about one-half a mile this side of the Sag 
bridge, in Cook County. The train which left Chicago at 9.40 was well 
crowded with passengers. Although about ten minutes behind at Willow 
Springs, it had the right of way to Lemont, and the conductor ordered the 
engineer to make up the time. There was a heavy fog in the valley, and as 
the train passed around a curve at the feeder, the engineer saw the fiash of a 
headlight. He instantly reversed his engine, opened the valve and leaped for 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 339 

life. An instant collision occurred with a coal train, coming on at full speed, 
and with much the heaviest locomotive. The passenger engine was thrown 
into the ditch, and that of the freight train went on like a mad bull, and, toss- 
ing the express and baggage cars one side, like a loaf in the wind, plunged, 
with terrible force, into and under the smoking-car, which had been raised up 
by the collision. The passengers were thrown in a heap to the rear end of the 
cars, and some tossed, with the seats on which they sat, into the air, and fell, 
bruised and scalded, into the swamps on either side. The smoke-stack of the 
locomotive was broken off at the first collision, and the end of the smoking-car 
was pushed over the boiler and rested on the top of it, and the escaping steam 
filled the car. Only two men in the car escaped injury, and they were in the 
first seat and were thrown into the air, while one who sat by their side was 
severely scalded. The concussion of the collision was so great that the pas- 
sengers in the other cars were stunned for the moment and did not realize what 
had happened, and that many of their fellow-passengers were d^'ing around 
them and being scalded alive. Indeed, the only effective assistance came from 
the neighboring houses, after the citizens had been aroused. The scene which 
met them was heart-rending in the extreme ; the cries of the suffering pierced 
the night air, and the crash of the collision and the roar and hissing of the 
steam were heard at Leraont, and aid dispatched to the scene. Dispatches 
were sent from Lemont to Chicago, and a relief train, with physicians, nurses 
and supplies, reached the scene at 2 o'clock A. M. In the mean time, the 
wounded and scalded had been removed to the uninjured cars, and were 
attended by those who had come to their rescue from the vicinit}'. Their con- 
dition was indescribably horrid. Six were found already dead, and forty 
wounded, who were enduring the most intense sufferings. They were taken to 
Chicago hospitals ; two died on the way and fifteen afterward. Among the 
latter were J. W. Smith, the recently-appointed Warden of the Penitentiary; 
J. "VV. Fluerey, the Purchasing Agent of the same; James O'Neil, a crockery 
merchant on Bluff street, Joliet, son-in-law of Dr. Leavy, and two other resi- 
dents of Joliet — Jacob Lauser and John Metzgar, a brakeman. The engineer 
of the coal train was arrested and put in jail. The conductor was a resident 
of Joliet and had been some time in the employ of the company here, and was 
regarded as a sober and reliable man. He was the son of one of our most an- 
cient Irishmen (who died soon after). He was not to be found for some time, 
but was afterward arrested at Monee. He could give no explanation, except 
that of forgetfulness. 

There is still another incident of great interest touching this road. In 
October, 1862, the road was sold at the Court House in Joliet on the third 
mortgage, for the benefit of the first and second mortgages as well, all repre- 
senting the trifling sum of $6,500,000. It was bought in at this sale by Sam- 
uel J. Tilden and partner, for the sum of $1,600,000. We are happy to have 
this opportunity of getting Samuel and his "barrel" into the history of Will 



340 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

County. This he will no doubt feel to be some compensation for having been 
swindled (?) out of the Presidency. And as matters have turned out, we are 
very glad we did not bid against him. We hardly know why we did not, but 
perhaps the following circumstance, which occurred a little before and which 
we take from the files of the Signal, will account for it. " The residence of G. 
H. Woodruff, of this city, was entered last night by some miscreant and about 
§1100 taken from Mr. W.'s pants." Now this "miscreant" is the only man 
Ave have not forgiven, but we promise to forgive him if he will return the prin- 
cipal, and we will say nothing about the interest and ask no questions. This 
is certainly a liberal offer as the interest would now exceed the principal. 
Anyhow we give him due notice that he can't do it again ! There ! we have 
succeeded in getting into this history, and in such company, too ! 

Another railroad, the Chicago, Joliet & Peoria Railroad, has been opened from 
Joliet to Streator. This passes from Joliet along the east bank of the Des Planes, 
through the towns of Joliet and Channahon, crossing the Kankakee near its 
mouth, and so on through Grundy, Livingston, Woodford and Tazewell Counties, 
to Peoria, connecting with Streator by a cross-road. We thus have access to 
vast coal-fields, and our coal dealers supply those who wish with Streator coal. 
Yet another railroad — the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes — has been opened, 
which passes through the townships of Crete, Washington, the ancient village 
of Crete and the modern ones of Goodenow and Beecher, giving the extreme 
eastern part of our county all needed facilities. 

The Joliet & Northern Indiana Railroad, commonly called the cut-off, and now 
owned and controlled by the Michigan Central, is becoming one of the most impor- 
tant railroad connections, furnishing as it does a direct communication with the 
Eastern markets, and it is making Joliet one of the most important centers of the 
grain and pork trade, as will appear from statistics elsewhere given. The opening 
of this road was strenuftusly opposed by Chicago, she being unwilling to lose any 
part of her immense trade. A fierce paper war was waged during its incuba- 
tion, but the project was so important and so obviously just that it was bound to 
carry in time. This road was built in 1855, and among the benefits which 
accrued to us from it, we must not forget, was the coming here of Calvin 
Knowlton, long time its Superintendent. His given name, we think, another 
case of lucus a non lucendo. It has also built up two stations — the villages of 
Spencer and Frankfort. 

The Chicago branch of the Illinois Central road, which was part of 
the grand scheme of 1837, but had no vitality until Congress made 
the magnificent donation of 3,000,000 acres of public lands to the State 
for its construction, passes through the towns of Peotone, Will and Monee, 
having created the two fiourishing villages of Peotone and Monee. Sev- 
eral other roads have been projected and surveyed through our county, and will, 
perhaps, sometime become fixed facts ; but as they are still in the future, we 
leave them for some future historian. 



HISTORY OF iVILL COUNTY. 341 

PLANKROADS. 

The Oswego & Indiana Plankroad was chartered in 1849-50, and the sub- 
scription books opened in 1851, and the stock soon taken. Directors were 
chosen in May, 1851. Tliese were J. A. Matteson, M. H. Demniond, H. D. 
Risley, Isaac Cook and Uri Osgood. The Directors organized by choosing H. 
D. Risley, President ; Uri Osgood, Treasurer, and H. E. Streeter, Secretary. 
Under the energetic superintendency of the President, the road was soon 
opened to Plainfield. Work was also done beyond. This road was in use for 
several years until worn out, when the road was abandoned. It was under its 
charter, which was a liberal one, that considerable railroading was done. A 
plankroad was also constructed for a few miles south of the city. Lockport 
also rejoiced in a plankroad, chartered under the name of the Lockport, Plain- 
field & Yorkville Plankroad, organized in June, 1855, at Plainfield. Hiram 
Norton, John F. Daggett, George Gaylord, D. C. Norton and S. Hamlin were 
Directors. Hiram Norton, President ; J. F. Daggett, Treasurer and Secretary ; 
A. J. Mathewson, Surveyor. They built a road to Plainfield, which has also 
ceased to be a plankroad. Plankroads, like many other things, seem to be obsolete. 

There are several persons who have been prominent in our early history, 
but who have now passed from the scene of their earthly activities, about whom 
it is proper that something more should be said than we have found it conven- 
ient to do in the progress of our narrative. Some of these we will now briefly 
notice. We begin with 

.JESSE 0. NORTON. 

He was born in Bennington, Vt., in December, 1812. His father, Col^ 
Martin Norton, was a soldier, serving his country at the time of his birth. He 
pursued the usual preparatory course and entered Williams College in 1831, 
and graduated with honor in 1835. Having no means, and entirely depend- 
ent upon his own exertions, he immediately commenced teaching, first at Wheel- 
ing, Penn., and afterward in Potosi, Mo. While here, he formed the acquaint- 
ance of the lady he soon married. Miss Phebe A. Sheldon. In about one year 
after their marriage they came to Joliet — in 1839. The writer well remembers 
his first meeting with Mr. Norton, soon after his arrival, and how greatly pre- 
possessed he was by his courteous and winning manner, and he soon formed an 
intimate acquaintance with him and his wife. His genial manners soon made 
him popular and beloved by the community where he had settled, while his 
ability and integrity soon won a way for him in professional and political life. 
In 1846, he was elected County Judge, and re-elected in 1848. He was chosen 
to represent our county in the State Constitutional Convention of 1848. In 
1850, he was elected to the State Legislature, and, in 1852, was chosen to rep- 
resent this District in Congress, and was re-elected in 1854. In 1857, he 
was elected Circuit Judge, and discharged the duties of the position with 
ability. In 1862, he was again elected to Congress. In 1866, he received the 



342 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

appointment of District Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and 
removed to Chicago. He discharged the duties of this office with ability until 
April, 1869, when he became associated with Judge J. R. Doolittle in the 
practice of law, and kept up this connection until the great fire of 1871, which 
destroyed their library and papers. He subsequently received the appointment 
of Counsel to the City of Chicago. He died August 3, 1875, and his remains 
were brought to Joliet, where the greatest portion of his active life had been 
passed, and they rest in Oakwood. Mr. Norton was an able and effective 
speaker, both at the bar and on the "stump," and in the legislative hall. Dur- 
ing his residence in Joliet, he was a member of the Congregational Church 
(now the Central Presbyterian). Mrs. Norton and four children survive him. 

URI OSGOOD 

was one of our first lawyers — first in point of time and also of ability. He 
came here the same year in which our county was organized (1836) and from 
that day to that of his death was one of our most prominent men. He was 
gifted with more than ordinary mental powers, and took a high position at the 
bar. He also filled offices of trust and responsibility. He was elected to the 
State Senate in 1852, and was the Democratic candidate for Congress in 1858, 
and made a strong canvass in a Republican district and against a most popular 
opponent. Mr. Osgood accumulated a considerable property, and established a 
private bank. He was a man of strictly temperate habits and pure life. His 
death was remarkably sudden. He had partaken of his breakfast as usual, and 
risen to go down tOAvn to attend Court, when he complained of a pain in his 
chest. His family at once sent for Dr. Casey, who arrived in a few moments, but 
found Mr. 0. in a dying condition. He did not live half an hour after getting 
up from his breakfast. Mr. Osgood was a native of Chenango County, N. Y., 
and 62 years of age at the time of his death, which occurred February 8, 1871. 

W. C. GOODHUE, 

another Joliet lawyer, died October 19, 1870. He was the son of Deacon 
Ezra Goodhue, one of the early settlers of Plainfield, and a graduate of Knox 
College, Galesburg. He came to Joliet and commenced the practice of law in 
1857. He was comparatively a young man at the time of his death, and his 
friends anticipated for him a useful and successful career. He had just served 
as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1870, participating actively 
in its debates and serving on important committees. He was one of the Com- 
mittee that prepared the address of the Convention to the people. Mr. Good- 
hue was a member of the Congregational Church in Plainfield. He died Oct. 
19, 1870, in the 39th year of his age. 

W, E. LITTLE. 

In the year 1840, one of the most brilliant and promising young men we 
have ever had came to Joliet. This was William E. Little. He was born in 



HISTUllY OF WILL COUNTY. 343 

the State of New York, but while quite young his parents moved to Pennsyl- 
vania. He acquired a good education, chiefly by his own exertions. One year 
he spent in Oberlin College, Ohio. After leaving Oberlin, he, at the age of 
19, entered the law office of his brother, at Montrose, Penn., and afterward 
pursued his professional studies at Wilkesbarre, where he was admitted to the 
bar at 21 years of age. He w^as then married to Miss Mary J. Curtis, 
and immediately (1840) removed to Joliet. Young as he was in years and in 
his profession, he at once took high rank at the Will County bar, which then 
numbered in its ranks such men as Newkirk, Wilson, Boardman, Henderson, 
Osgood, Fellows, Parks and others, and where he also encountered such men as 
Caton, Collins, Spring, Butterfield, Dickey, Goodrich and others from Chicago. 
In such a bar and in such a circuit, young Little commanded the respect and 
admiration of his older brethren, and was justly regarded as a young man of 
great promise. He also soon entered the political arena, and was as ready and as 
popular on the stump as at the bar. He was elected, in 1848, by the Demo- 
cratic party to represent this district, then embracing Will, Du Page, Iroquois 
and Kendall Counties in the General Assembly. While in the Legislature, he 
was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and prepared able reports on the 
subjects committed to it. It is an interesting incident that, at the same time, 
his brother was Chairman of the like committee in the Legislature of Pennsyl- 
vania. 

In the canvass for the Democratic nomination to Congress in 1850, his 
friends brought him out as a candidate for the nomination, and he received as 
high as 38 votes. Richard S. Malony, however, received the nomina- 
tion. All who knew him believed that his election to Congress was only post- 
poned a little, and that a brilliant political career was before him. He was a 
graceful and effective speaker, and while he lived he divided the honors of Fourth 
of July oratory with Judge Parks. But all his own aspirations and the hopes 
and expectations of his many friends were blighted by his early death, which 
occurred September 30, 1851, at the age of thirty-four. The members of the 
bar of this and adjoining counties, the societies of Masons and Odd Fellows 
from Lockport and Joliet testified their respect by full attendance at his funeral, 
and numerous testimonials of respect filled the papers at the time. 

Mr. Little left a widow and four daughters, who have long been known to 
the people of Joliet, and loved and honored on their own account as well as 
that of the husband and ftither. A beautiful tribute to his memory was given 
in the True Democrat, from the pen of the assistant editor, Mrs. E. A. W. 
Hopkins. 

^ DAVID L. GREGG 

must be added to the list of brilliant yourig lawyers who have once shone at 
the Will County bar, and who have now gone to a Higher Court. Of his early 
history, we are not informed. He caifte here at an early day, was some time 
editor of the first paper — the Courier, the predecessor of the Signal — was 



344 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

elected to the Legislature in 1840, was appointed Secretary of State by Gov. 
French in 1851, came within two votes of Gov. Matteson for the nomination 
for Governor ; was appointed Commissioner to the Sandwich Islands by Presi- 
dent Pierce, and after his return received an appointment to a Nevada land 
oflBce, where he died in 1869. He was first admitted to the bar in Joliet. He 
was an accomplished scholar, a brilliant orator and a warm politician. 
We must mention the name, also, of 

WILLIAM A. BOARDMAN, 

once a prominent lawyer in the early day, a partner of Judge Henderson and 
a brother-in-law of Joel A. Matteson and Henry Fish. He was a man of strong 
reasoning powers and able in argument, although so quaint or odd in his man- 
ner of expression as often to make it difficult to suppress a smile. He went from 
here to Lake County, where he became County Judge. He died when visiting 
some friends in this county, in October, 1872. His death was very sudden. 

E. C. FELLOWS. 

As appears, from the foregoing pages, Mr. Fellows first came to Channahon 
in 1834, and soon after took up his residence and hung out his shingle in Joliet, 
and from that time until failing health prevented, he was one of our busiest 
and most successful lawyers. He was a man of keen and penetrating mind, 
and especially noted as a criminal lawyer, generally employed on the side of 
the defense, and no client ever suffered from his neglect. He was a native of 
Columbia County, N. Y., and died at Lockport in August, 1876. 

J. E. STREETER, 

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Nebraska, was still another Joliet 
lawyer for several years, and figured somewhat in our politics. He had many 
friends here who justly esteemed him for his many fine qualities of head andheart. 
He always labored under the disadvantage of poor health and a feeble physique, 
and his ambition always outran his strength. He was a fine speaker, and at the 
commencement of our war era, as well as in political campaigns, was often 
heard in eloquent advocacy of Avhat he believed to be the cause of justice and 
the Union. He enjoyed political excitement, and if his health had been equal 
to his ambition, would have made, no doubt, a brilliant career. But consump- 
tion had early marked him as her prey, and he died February 20, 1863. 



FIRMAN MACK, 



was for many years one of our most active and reliable business men. He re- 
sided in Chicago a few years, and came here about 1837. He commenced here 
at his trade as a shoemaker, and gradually increased his business from year to 
year, growing with the place until he became a wholesale dealer and manufact- 
urer of boots, shoes and leather, employing largely, at one time, convict labor. 
He built several stores, not less than six in all, and two fine residences, one on 



IIISTOllY OK \VIIJ> COUIITV. 345 

Broadway and another on Richard street. He served the city as School Di- 
rector, Alderman and Mayor, lie was a member and a liberal supporter of the 
Methodist Church, and aided liberally all other church and benevolent enter- 
prises. He was a man of few words, but he led an active, busy, useful life. 
Many will remember his mysterious death, and how startled the community 
was by the intelligence that his body had been found in the Chicago River. 
Various theories and conjectures have been entertained in respect to his untimely 
taking off; but the facts are still wrapt in mystery and will probably never be 
known until the great day when all things shall be revealed. His death oc- 
curred August 10, 18T2, at the age of 55. 

J. T. m'dougall 

was born in Schenectady, N. Y., came to Joliet in 1845, and was for a long time 
a prominent business man here. He received the appointment of Postmaster 
under Taylor, which he resigned in 1852, to take the position of Cashier in the 
Merchants' & Drovers' Bank, established by Matteson — the first bank of issue 
in Will County. While on the Tennessee River, in the Spring of 1862, upon 
matters of business connected with the array, he was taken sick and reached St. 
Louis only to die May 19, 1862. 

REV. EDWARD SAVAGE, 

for some time Pastor of the Baptist Church, bookseller, School Commissioner 
in 1859 and 1860 ; highly respected as a Christian and an able preacher; died 
of consumption April 27, 1863. He left one son, on whom his mantle has fallen. 
He "was 46 years of age. 

•^ ^ H. D. RISLEY, 

one of the early settlers of Channahon, afterward Sheriff of our county for four 
years — 1840-43, President of the Joliet & Oswego Plankroad, and long and 
well known in business circles here and at Wilmington, where he some time 
resided; was born in Oneida County, N. Y., and came west from Onondaga 
County in 1833. He died in December, 1862. 

JOHN MILLER, 

one of the earliest settlers of Du Page, and the first Supervisor of the town, 
and also our Representative to the State Legislature in 1846 and in 1848, was a 
fine specimen of a Will County yeoman, physically, intellectually and morally. 
He died, greatly regretted, in March, 1851. 

AGRICULTURE, AND AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL ASSOCIATION. 

There have been several county agricultural associations in our past history, 
and two places, besides the one now occupied, have been fitted up for their use. 
The first was located on the well-known Stevens Farm, in a beautiful grove hav- 
ing a beautiful and abundant spring, and buildings w^ere erected, and consider- 
able improvements made. When the war came on, it was changed into a mili- 
tary camp and barracks, and afterward reverted to Mr. Stevens. A place was 



346 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

also fitted up on the hill above the Penitentiary, on the Lockport road, and 
considerable money expended. This was, however, more of a hippodrome, we 
believe, than an agricultural association. The present Agricultural and Me- 
chanical Association is now (Sept. 12) holding its ninth annual fair. It has 
beautiful grounds in the southeastern part of the city, near the termination of 
the street railway, which have been beautifully fitted up with the necessary 
halls and stock pens, and all the usual conveniences of such establishments. 
There is a fine spring on the grounds which furnishes all the water necessary. 
The programme for the fair now being held, offers a large and liberal list of 
premiums, which are open to all competitors. The Association was organized 
in 1869, under the general act of the Legislature, and has a capital of $26,000. 
The Board of officers is as follows : President, Charles Snoad, of New Lenox ; 
Vice Presidents, William E. Henry, of Joliet ; C. A. Westgate, of Peotone ; 
B. F. Carter, of Troy ; R. J. Boylan, of Elwood ; Frank Searles, of New 
Lenox ; Secretary, William T. Nelson, of Wilmington ; Treasurer, E. H. Aikin, 
of Joliet ; with a Board of nine Directors, and eighteen Superintendents under 
the General Superintendent, L. E. Ingalls. 

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS. 

In no way can we so well give an idea of the kind and amount of produc- 
tions of the county as by the following condensed abstract from the Assessor's 
returns : 

PRODUCTS. tCRES. BUSHELS. 

Corn 182,332 4,324,432 

Winter wheat 112^ 2,330 

Spring wheat I,t;84i 23,069 

Oats 60,796 2,415,712 

Rye 1,438 28,732 

Barley 43^^ 826 

Buckwheat 226^ 2,567i 

Castor beans 1^ 22 

Beans ^^i%% 427 

Pease 2^ 106 

Irish potatoes 2,650^55^ 189,506 

Sweet potatoes 2 125 

Apple orchard 4,025J " 1,639 

Peach orchard 276 

Pear orchard 10 

POUNDS. 

Tobacco 5,1 6,765 

Broom corn 3 10,500 

TONS. 

Timothy meadow 43,615 56,96oi 

Clover meadow 4,481 7,474 

Prairie meadow 30,180y''595 36,650 

Millet and Hungarian 605J 428 

GALLONS. 

Sorghum 33 1,385 

Vineyards 123. 240 




^ 




(deceased) 
JOLI ET 



f 



rilSTOKV OF WILL COUNTY'. 349 

VALUB. 

Turnip and other root crops 82} JS90635 

Other fruit and berries not included above 22 23(53 

Other crops not named above 9,148^*^5 3239 

Pasture (not including woodland) 88, "(52 

Woodland (not including pasture) 17,830 

Uncultivated land not included above 17,279A 

Area of city and town real estate not included above 1 ,807-^^ 

SHEEl'. 

No. killed by dogs 252 

.Vverage value of number killed by dogs $3 30 

No. of pounds of wool shorn 30,582 

No. of fat sheep sold 961 

Average weight per head 108 

DAIRY. 

No. of cows kept 17,36<> 

Pounds of butter sold 787,012 

Pounds of cheese sold 67,860 

Gallons of cream sold 10,000 

Gallons of milk sold 1,322,646 

CATTLE. 

No. of fat cattle sold 9,352 

Average gross weight per head of fat cattle 942 

HOGS. 

No of fat hogs sold 37,500 

Average gross weight of fat hogs 254 

No. of hogs and pigs died of cholera 2,064 

Average gross weight 87 

CROPS. 

No. of bushels of timothy-seed in 1877 9,513 

No. of bushels of clover-seed in 1877 1,898 

No. of bushels of Hungarian and millet seed in 1877 4,744 

No. of bushels of flaxseed in 1877 13,111 

Pounds of grapes 15,815 

Number. V.\iue. 

Horses... 14,547 !?571,362 00 

Cattle 40,514 402,532 00 

Mules and asses 501 10.529 00 

Sheep ti,586 7,389 00 

Hogs 37,954 39,306 00 

Assessed value of land exclusive of city lots 9,271,860 00 

THE SORGHUM FEVER AND OTHER THINGS. 

From the above it will be seen that sorghum makes but a small figure in 
our present agricultural productions ; but, in common with many other counties, 
Will County took its turn at the sorghum fever. This raged along between 
1855 and 1865. The farmers generally, at one time or another, raised 
sorghum. They made their own molasses, and tried to make their own sugar. 
Merchants sold sorghum-seed, and the sorghum-mills ornamented the farmers' 
door-yards, and the tall and handsome canes grew in lu.xuriant beauty in his 
fields. The war added stimulus to its production, as it seemed for a time as 

H 



350 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

though we should be cut off from our Southern supply of sugar altogether. 
Sorghum conventions Avere held, at which samples were displayed and the 
modes of cultivation discussed. 

Among the most enthusiastic believers in sorghum was the Rev. Royal 
Reed, for some time a Congregational preacher here and elsewhere. He be- 
lieved that it was going to prove a bonanza to the farmers and the country ; 
that it would supply sirup and sugar from its juice, a beautiful dye, outvying 
the famous Tyrian, from its seed, the best and cheapest fiber for paper in its 
stalk, and last but not least, a spirit could be distilled from the pomace which 
would put New England and Jamaica to shame. The dominie had a little planta- 
tion on which he raised the cane, and he set up a mill in his yard, and the steam 
of his evaporating-pan went up, day after day, a sweet incense to Ceres. He 
tried to make sugar, but the product was small. But his rum was a success. 
The libations he poured out to Bacchus were the admiration of the neighbor- 
hood. Many were permitted to taste just enough to see what could be done 
with sorghum, but only in medicinal doses. Not much was heard about the 
dominie's sugar, but the praises of his rum were on the lips of not a few. But 
the sorghum fever passed away, like many another. It did not prove a success ; 
its sirup always had an unpleasant twang, and refused to granulate, and soon 
the farmers stopped raising it, and the sorghum-mills rotted and no longer orna- 
mented the landscape. This mention of sorghum has given us an opportunity 
to tell a pretty good story of its enthusiastic disciple. He is still living, but 
just over the county line in Grundy County, so we think it will be safe. It 
illustrates the manner in which so many people blunder when they attempt to 
(iuote Scripture, and thus it has a good moral. If it were not for the good moral 
we should not tell it. While Pastor of the old Congregational Church here, 
he boarded awhile in the family of some ladies who kept a female boarding- 
school. They had quite a large family of teachers and boarding scholars. 
These ladies had a rule that, as each one, teachers and boarders, took their seats 
at the table they should repeat a text of Scripture — a very pleasant and com- 
mendable practice, in favor of which much might be said. On one occasion, 
one of the ladies gave as her text: " Duty is ours, consequences are God's." 
It was the dominie's turn next, and he matched her quotation with another 
equally scriptural, if not equally beautiful : "Let every tub stand on its own 
bottom." The Dominie had to hunt another boarding-place. 

How many fevers we have survived ! The bilious fever, the gold fever, the land 
fever, the oil fever, the superheated steam fever, the war fever, the sorghum fever, 
the woolen-factory fever, the rolling-mill fever, the Linden Heights fever, the horse- 
railway fever, the " Dolly Varden " fever — and yet we still live! And then 
the dress-reform fever, which raged in 1850-51-52. We had thought seriously 
of writing up its history, but we feel incapable of doing the subject justice, and 
it is a delicate theme. It was a brave and heroic attempt on the part of a few 
to bring about a change in female costume ; but it failed, notwithstanding it 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 351 

had the zealous support of both the Signal and True Democrat, and those who 
were its zealous advocates and exemplars now wear dresses longer than ever I 

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL MATTERS. 

The donation by the General Government of the sixteenth section of each 
township of the public lands — one-thirty-sixth — was made by the same act 
which provided for their survey. This was a most generous donation on the 
part of our parental Government, and was designed to furnish a nucleus, at 
least, of a general system of education ; and, although many of these sections 
were prematurely sold, and the avails of such sales have, in many instances, 
been squandered, still the fund derived from this and other sources lightens to 
some extent the taxes raised for school purposes. There is besides this, a school, 
college and seminary fund, being 3 per cent of the net proceeds of the sale of 
public lands, which is distributed by the State to each county in proportion to 
the number of scholars. Our county receives nearly ^1,000 annually. Cer- 
tain fines inflicted for misdemeanors are assigned to the school fund. The 
amount varies from $200 to $800, according to behavior of the citizens. In 
1877, it was $510.63. There is also a general tax levied by the State for school 
purposes, which is distributed to counties according to population under 21 
years. The amount received by our county, for 1877. was $16,432.53. In 
addition, each school district has the power, within certain limits, to raise the 
amount needed for keeping up the respective schools, and also special taxes for 
building schoolhouses. In incorporated cities, the city schools come under the 
city control, and the corporation has power to assess the needed tax. During 
the earlier years of our history, of cjourse, schools were left chiefly to the volun- 
tary eiforts of neighborhoods. Some of them we have already noticed. 

The present system of schools assumed substantially its present shape 
somewhere about the year 1850. The duties of School Commissioners were pre- 
viously confined to the charge of the funds, and the duties of the School Trustees, 
in each township, to the sixteenth section and care of the township fund. It is 
greatly to be regretted that the people have been so careless in their selection 
of school officers. These should be selected with the greatest care and from 
the best, wisest and most responsible citizens, without regard to politics. Some 
townships have paid dearly for their carelessness in this regard, and still, what 
ought to elicit the most interest is really treated as of little importance. The 
last published report of the County Superintendent, Mrs. Mcintosh, gives : 

The total number of persons between 6 and 21 years 17,602 

The total number enrolled in public schools 12,814 

The total number enrolled in private schools 1,276 

The total number not attending any school 3,515 

Number of teachers in public schools 419 

Number of teachers in private schools 28 

Total number of schoolhouses 207 

Total number of volumes in school libraries 85'J 

Total amount paid teachers for year ending September, 187G $'.t0,596 03 



352 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Total amount paid male teachers for the year ending September, 187G.. 29 057 48 
Total amount paid female teachers for the year ending September, 1876, 62,538 55 

Number of male teachers 124 

Number of female teachers 295 

Average monthly wages to males |46 84 

Average monthly wages to females 30 00 

Total amount of receipts for the year S177,778 69 

Total amount of expenditures for the year 137,865 72 

Balance on hand 39,912 97 

Matters specially relating to the different towns, are left to the township 
historian. Private schools have been taught, from time to time, in the principal 
towns of the county. In Joliet, by Alexander Mcintosh, S. W. Stone, S. 0. 
Simends, K. J. Hammond, Miss C. C. McDonald, and Mrs. Grover. An acad- 
emy was once organized by the efforts, principally, of Rev. L. H. Loss, and 
flourished awhile under the administration of Samuel Emerson. There was 
once a young lady's boarding and select school, which flourished some years, 
and was managed by Mrs. Crowley and her sister and daughter. S. 0. Simonds 
taught a normal school at one time. Commercial schools have also been in operation 
much of the time, by Prof. Russell and others. There have been and still are 
several parochial schools, and Mrs. Mcintosh has at present a select school. 
These will come under the notice of the township historian. Mr. K. J. Ham- 
mond had, at one time, a flourishing academy at Plainfield, and there was once 
a college, called the Northwestern, in operation there, but which has now been 
removed to another county. After its removal, the building was occupied by 
an academy under the auspices of the Fox River Union. We wish we could 
place upon record a flourishing college or even a high school or academy ; but, 
after all, the people's colleges are the most important to our well-being, and 
should be looked after in all their interests much more closely and wisely by 
our voters and tax-payers, and especially by parents. 

LITERARY. 

We had intended to devote a page or two to the literary history of Will 
County, but we have found the work too vast as well as too delicate. Although 
we should know well where to begin — with that first fourth of July oration — we 
should not know when or where to stop. We have already spoken of Mrs. E. 
Jessup Eames, of Channahon, our first poetess in point of time, and, perhaps, 
in point of ability. She published a volume in her lifetime which contains 
some beautiful pieces. Mrs. E. A. W. Hopkins, a long-time resident of Joliet 
in its earlier days, also has published a volume or two. Of these we could 
safely speak ; but when we should undertake to go into a full list of writers, 
both in poetry and prose, who have flourished during the forty-odd years of the 
county's existence, we should be lost in the multitude of names and in the 
eff'ort to select those most worthy of notice ; and we should be sure to leave out 
some one who would be entitled to have his or her name handed down to future 
fame on the pages of this history. We therefore forbear to undertake the work. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 353 

and leave it to another. Even wliile we write, we have heard that one of our 
well-known citizens has a poetical work in the press ; and it is but a day or two 
since, a grave Judge, while sitting upon the bench, broke out into verse at the 
sight of a brother lawyer's new overcoat I 

PENITENTIARY. 

In 1857, the Legislature authorized the building of a new Penitentiary, to 
be located at Joliet. Commissioners were appointed to superintend the work. 
They purchased a tract of land on Section 3 of this township, of 72 19-100 
acres, with a front on the Canal of 55 rods. No better selection could probably 
have been made. The ground is underlaid by our limestone strata to such a 
depth as to render all tunneling out an impossibility. There was a fine natural 
spring on the property, and considerable stone, valuable for its construction, and 
large quarries in the vicinity. The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad passes 
between it and the Canal. 

Boyington & Wheelock, of Chicago, were selected as the architects, and a 
most extensive and beautiful plan was projected. John B. Preston was ap- 
pointed Superintendent of construction and engineer, but served only a short 
time, as his duties as Superintendent of the Canal required his time. On his 
resignation, George R. McGregor was appointed to fill the place. Work was 
commenced in August, 1857, and by January 1, 1858, ^125,000 of work was 
under contract with Sanger & Casey. Sixteen acres were inclosed by a wall 
six feet thick and twenty-five feet high. A beautiful AVarden's house occupying 
the center of the south front, with wings which contain the cells, was com- 
menced on the plan drawn by the architects we have named, furnishing 900 con- 
gregate cells and 100 solitary and 100 female. In May, 1859, prisoners began 
to be removed from Alton, and by June, 1860, all were removed. 

At the start, the prison was leased, but in June, 1867, the State assumed 
control, and three Commissioners were temporarily appointed. They were 
subsequently elected by the people. 

A Warden, Deputy Warden, Chaplain, Matron and Pliysician were chosen, 
and the work has been completed on the original plan. Within the walls, also, 
many buildings, sheds, etc., necessary for the mechanical operations carried on, 
have been from time to time erected, and at present the walls inclose an im- 
mense amount of mechanical and manufacturing establishments, and is a vast 
hive of industries, where those who have forfeited their right to freedom are 
required to serve the State, and earn their own support. 

The original estimate of the cost was $550,000. The sum of $300,000 
was originally appropriated to operate it. In 1869, $350,000 more were appro- 
priated, and in 1871, $175,000. In 1871, the law was revised for its govern- 
ment, and the appointment of Commissioners vested in the Governor and sub- 
ject to his removal. The Commissioners were also authorized to lease the labor 
of the convicts, and this is the plan now pursued as far as possible. During the 



854 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

last year of Gov. Palmer's administration the institution became self-sus- 
taining. 

The prison has passed through various changes in its administration and 
policy, both during its construction and since, and has been a source of much 
discussion, which it is not important to record. It seems now to be wisely and 
carefully managed, and has been as prosperous during the era of hard times as 
any other establishment. The prisoners are under good and kind discipline, 
and no efforts seemed to be spared, consistent with their safe-keeping and the 
ends of justice, to secure their physical, moral and religious comfort and im- 
provement. A chapel with regular religious services, a hospital and well-stocked 
dispensary, and the necessary attendants, with a skillful physician outside who 
visits the prison daily, a library of 6,000 volumes for reading, and a school and 
over 1,000 books for instruction — these are some of the provisions made for 
their benefit. Each cell is also supplied with a Bible. When the prison was 
first planned, it was thought to be on so large a scale that it would answer the 
needs of the State for many years ; but it has already been found insufficient, 
and a new one is being constructed. 

Efforts for the spiritual good of the convicts were made by a former Chap- 
lain, Rev. Mr. Lathrop, who is entitled to the grateful remembrance of the 
community ; and these are continued by the present Chaplain, A. T. Briscoe, 
who resigned the post of Commissioner to take his present one, and is devoted 
to his work. 

The number of inmates at present (October 12, 1878) is 1,646. Of these, 
1,621 are males and 25 females. There are leased 1,244, and employed by 
State, 402. 

The present Government is as follows : 

Board of Com^nissioners. — Robert L. Dulaney, President ; A. M. Jones, 
Secretary ; S. H. Jones. 

Officials. — Robert W. McClaughry, Warden ; Benjamin L. Mayhew, Deputy 
Warden ; D. C. Sleeper, Assistant Deputy Warden ; A. T. Briscoe, Chaplain ; 
A. W. Heise, M. D., Physician ; Gallus Mueller, Clerk; John D. Leland, Stew- 
ard ; Mrs. J. E. Judson, Matron ; C. F. Gross, Usher. 

There has been much discussion at times as to the effects of the Prison upon 
the prosperity of the city and county, and it is often the theme of partisan 
denunciation. One thing seems plain, that the State must either keep its convicts 
in idleness and tax the people for their support, or employ them in such work as 
is remunerative ; and while it may in some cases interfere somewhat with the 
wages of mechanics outside, yet the same objection is urged against labor-saving 
machinery. The disadvantages in this respect we think have been trifling and 
temporary, while the benefits to the place have been many and permanent. The 
Penitentiary gives employment to a great many men besides the convicts, as 
guards and keepers, foreman and engineers, and also brings in men to reside 
here (who employ their labor) with their families. It makes a ready market 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 355 

for the products of farmers in the vicinity, as will appear from the following 
estimate which we have seen of an ordinary dinner : 30 pounds of butter, 1,700 
pounds of beef, 1,300 pounds of pork, 10 bushels of beans, 300 poun<ls of hom- 
iny, 300 pounds of rice, 10 bushels of peas, 24 bushels of potatoes, 2,<S00 pounds 
of cabbage, 10 barrels of krout, 1,200 jiounds of bread, 250 pounds of coffee, etc. 

Not the least among the benefits which the city and county have derived from 
the location of the prison must be reckoned the valuable and enterprising men it 
has from time to time added to our population. Among the earlier of these we 
must reckon the genial, large-hearted Samuel K. Casey (now deceased) ; Dr. John 
R. Casey, his brother, who was several years the Physician in Charge, and still 
resides among us ; and our enterprising citizen, William A. Steele, who was Clerk 
for the original contractors, Sanger k Casey, and who has since done so much to 
develop the stone business here* The list might be extended through the years, 
and would be found to include many valuable citizens, some still residents here. 

The amount of supplies purchased from Will County farmers and merchants 
for the use of the prison cannot be less than $100,000 annually ; while the 
amount paid out by the State and by contractors for salaries and wages to 
officers, employes and foremen who, with their families, live in Joliet, will at 
least reach the same figure. 

We give the statistics of the prison at the date of October 12, 1878 : 

CONTRACTS. 
., X. rt .. i Number Con- Number 

^ame of Contractors. tracted for. Employed. 

Cigar shop National Cig:ar Company 190 

Harness shop Kisser & Reitz 100 98 

Boot and shoe shop... Selz, Schwab & Co - 425 424 

Wire fence shop Joliet Wire Fenc? Company 30 to 60 47 

Cooper shop J. H. Winterhotham & Sons 160 171 

Butt shop Ohio Butt Company 90 88 

Brush shop Ohio Brush Works 65 66 

Marble shop.. Burlington Manufacturing Co... 65 69 

Granite shop G. A. Haley & Co 40 22 

Tailor shop A. V. Hutchins 50 36 

Knitting shop H. C. CuUom 25 to 50 38 

Total on contracts 1,244 

STATE WORK. 

State runners in contract shops 35 

Stone department 88 

State shops 56 

Stables 16 

Yard gang 44 

Store and farm 17 

Convict kitchen 1 ' 

Wash-room and clothing department 26 

Cell houses 37 

Hospital nurses 5 

Warden house 36 

Female prison 25 

Total on State work 402 

Total 1,646 



356 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Of the 402 men employed for State work, 88 men iu stone department, 56 men in State 
shops, and 10 men in store and farm are absolutely productive. The balance are mostly 
employed for the service and at the expense of the institution. 

Citizens' pay-roll of Illinois State Penitentiary, lOS men. Contractors' employes at Illinois 
State Penitentiary, about 75 men. 

Wishing to get some idea of the religious efforts which are made for the 
benefit of the inmates of the Penitentiary, we availed ourselves of the kind 
permission of the Warden to attend the Sabbath service on the beautiful 
Autumn morning which greeted lis the 20th of October, 1878. A short walk 
brought us to the gate which opens on the graveled serpentine path leading up 
from the Lockport road, through a beautiful, well-kept lawn of brightest green, 
dotted with flower-beds, to the handsome stone porch which commands the 
entrance to the main hall. Pausing here a moment to look at the lawn, con- 
sisting of two terraces, the upper one, over which we had just come, in front 
of the east wing, and the lower one, running along the west wing to the Chi- 
cago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, with a beautiful, well-filled greenhouse at 
the dividing wall, we push open the door and find ourselves in the marble-paved 
hall, from which we enter the reception-room. Here we find quite a com- 
pany, largely composed of ladies, who have come on a similar errand. After a 
few moments, the Chaplain and the Warden enter, and invite us to accompany 
them. We pass through the iron-grated door in the iron grated partition, 
which turns noiselessly upon its hinges at the bidding of a turnkey, and find 
ourselves in another hall ; but now we are separated from the outside world, 
and can only return by the permission of the turnkey who has admitted us. 
But we pass on through another similar door into the prison-yard, where we 
catch a glimpse of many work-shops of various kinds, and find the building for 
which we are bound, in the second story of which is the chapel. This con- 
tains, on the first floor, the kitchen and other rooms, and is bordered all along 
the west front by a narrow terrace of green turf, which affords a grateful relief 
to the glare of stone walls and well-beaten thoroughfares. At the south end of 
this building, we pass up an outside stairway, through a door in the southwest 
corner, which admits us to the chapel, a large, rectangular room, well lighted 
and ventilated, and plainly seated, with a capacity, we judge, of ten or twelve 
hundred. At the further end is a door, through which the striped audience is 
filing in, taking their seats in squads as directed by guards. At the end by 
which we have entered, is an elevated platform, filled with the comfortable 
rustic chairs of the prison manufacture. These are being filled with that por- 
tion of the audience which are not in uniform. In the center of the platform, is 
a neat desk, on which lies a large Bible, and a cottage- organ is on the eastern 
end. As soon as all the audience — consisting, on the main floor, as we judge, 
of about eight hundred men, uniformed, and a dozen guards who occupy chairs 
on raised platforms on either wall, and on the platform at the south end, of a 
company of thirty or forty well-dressed gentlemen and ladies — are seated, the 
choir of nine young men in the prevalent uniform, assisted by Miss Cleghorn, 



HISTOUV OF WILL COUNTY. 357 

of Joliet, at the organ, commence the singing of a familiar hymn, in which 
many of the audience join. The services then proceed very much as in any of 
our churches — prayer, reading of Scripture, singing, etc., after which the 
Chaplain delivers a plain, practical and pungent discourse from the text, 
Romans, viii, -34. 

After the discourse, the Chaplain invited Mr. Jones, one of the Commis- 
sioners, who happened to be present, to make an address, who did so in an 
earnest appeal to the hearers to resolve to lead a better life. 

During those exercises, the audience was quiet and attentive, and apparently 
as deeply interested as any we have ever seen. How much of this was due to 
the watchful eyes of the guards, we cannot tell. Although the attendance is 
not voluntary (except upon the class meeting), many, we presume, attend also 
from choice. If they do not do so for moral reasons, it must afford an agree- 
able diversion from the labors and thoughts of the week ; and if they are 
greeted every Sabbath with such an array of youth and beauty as met them 
upon the occasion of which we write, we should think they would look forward 
to it with eager anticipation. But to be thus reminded of the sisters, wives, 
mothers and children, whose hearts they have broken and whose names they 
have dishonored and whose prayers and entreaties they have disregarded, may 
not be a cheerful sight ! 

As the chapel is not large enough to accommodate all the inmates, the east 
and west wing attend on alternate Sabbaths. 

We scrutinized the audience closely to see if there was any marked differ- 
ence in the apparent intellectual and moral development of the striped audience 
and the people we meet every day, and were forced to admit that no such differ- 
ence was visible. We noticed, also, that many seemed to be deeply interested 
in the services. 

After the service was over and the benediction pronounced, the largest por- 
tion of the uniformed audience withdrew at the north door, in charge of the guards. 
A part, however — about 200, as we judged — remained, and were seated in the 
front seats, when the Chaplain commenced a class meeting, opening it with sing- 
ing, after which he called upon a brother to pray, when a young convict (who 
is the prison librarian) led in a fervent and well-worded prayer — every one in 
the seats kneeling. The brethren were then permitted to speak briefly, and ten 
or twelve responded, one after another, the Chaplain occasionally putting in a 
word of instruction or encouragement, and passing around in his audience and 
shaking them by the hand. It was a deeply interesting and affecting sight. 
Some alluded to their situation, spoke of the causes that had placed them where 
they were, and avowed their purpose to persevere, with the help of God. One 
or two thanked God that they had been put where they were, as it had been 
the means of their conversion. Among the number who spoke were three col- 
ored brethren, and one was especially fervent and happy. His face shone like 
that of Moses when he came down from the mount, and we have no doubt that 



358 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

the brother had himself been upon the mount and held communion with his 
Maker. He avowed his love for Christ and his happiness since he had found 
Him. Nothing noAV, he said, gave him any trouble ; all was joy and peace. 
He was full of the spiritual elan of his mercurial race, and spoke on with volu- 
ble earnestness, with his eyes rolled up to the ceiling, increasing, each moment, 
in fervor, his spiritual Pegasus mounting higher and higher, until he seemed 
just ready to go up in a chariot of fire, when he was brought back to earth by 
a judicious word or two from the Chaplain and the starting of a hymn, which 
brought the dark-skinned brother to his seat, seemingly, we thought, a little 
disappointed in being thus brought back to earth. The whole service was most 
admirably conducted by the Chaplain, who seemed to have his flock under per- 
fect control. About one-third of those who remained seemed to belong to the 
class, or society. An opportunity was given to any of the rest to join. On 
this occasion, one did so, and was called out in front and greeted by the Chap- 
lain with a hearty hand-shake and a word or two of advice. 

The service was closed at half past 11 by the distribution of religious papers 
and the singing of the doxology, and thus we had spent two and a half hours 
in a most interesting manner and without weariness. 

We were impressed with the conviction that the Chaplain is doing a good 
work in his chosen field ; that he is the right man in the right place, and that 
he has, perhaps, as much evidence of his success as falls to the lot of most 
Pastors. 

We understand that one of the Catholic Pastors of our city also holds a 
religious service at the prison, at which the inmates of that faith are permitted 
to attend, and that the Chaplain has an afternoon service for the women. 



OFFICIAL RECORD. 

COUNTY OFFICERS. 

Previous to the adoption of township organization in 1850, the county had 

been divided into precincts for the purpose of election, with precinct Justices of 

the Peace and Constables, the county legislation and general business being 

transacted by County Commissioners. The list of County Commissioners from 

the organization of the county to 1850, is as follows : 

Holder Sisson, 183G-39, 4 years, deceased; Thomas Durham, 1836-38, 3 years, deceased; 
James Walker, 1830, 1 year, deceased ; R. L. Wilson, 1837-38, 2 years, deceased ; J. Blackstone, 
1839, ] year, deceased ; Thomas Oox, parts of 1830-40 ; W. B. Peck, 1839-42, 4 years, deceased; 
William Gougar, part of 1840-41, 2 years, deceased ; H. Sisson, 1840, 1 year, deceased ; Samuel 
Whalon, 1841-43, 3 years, deceased ; N. Hawley, 1842-44, 3 years, deceased ; F. Mitchell, 
1844-46, 3 years; Willard Wood, 1843-44, 2 years ; Robert Stevens, 1845-47, 3 years, deceased ; 
James Walker, 1846-19, 4 years, deceased ; J. B. Schemerhorn, 1848-49, 2 years : F. Worcester, 
1847-49, 3 years. 

On the first organization of the county, there was included a tier of four town- 
ships on the south, lying east of Wesley, and also that part of the townships south of 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 359 

them and north of the Kankakee River, which were lost to us on the organiza- 
tion of Kankakee County in 1853, and it was from this part of the county tliat 
Thomas Durham and F. Worcester were chosen. On the organization of Du 
Page County in 1839, we came very near losing half the townships of Wheat- 
land and Dupage. It was left by the act to the voters residing on the half 
townships to decide by vote in August to which county they would belong. 
They very wisely decided to remain in Will County. But they had not much 
wisdom to spare, as the matter was decided by a majority of one vote. 

We shall now close our historical sketch by giving a list of all the other 
county officers from the erection of the county to the present time, and follow 
it with a list of those who have filled State and other offices from the county. 
Tliis will be more cheerful reading, and will get many good men into history : 

County Clerks. — Levi Jenks, 1836-42, 7 years ; N. D. Elwood, 1843-48, 6 years, decea-ged ; 
0. L. Hawley, 1849-56, 8 years, deceased ; William Tonner, 1857-64, 8 years ; Henry Logan, 1865- 
68, 4 years ; J. C. Williams, 1869-73, 5 years ; W. B. Hawley, 1874-77, 4 years; W^ H. Zarley, 
1878, now in office. 

Recorders.— G. H. Woodruff, 1836-42, 7 years ; R. C. Duncan, 1843-47, 5 years, died in 1874. 
^ Circuit Clerks. — Levi Jenks, 1836-40, 5 years ; William Smith, 1841-37, 7 years, deceased. 

Circuit Clerks and Recorders {offices united). — M. McEvoy, 1848-51, 4 yet'rs, died in 1861 ; R. 
E. Barber, 1852-55, 4 years; Alex. Mcintosh, 1856-59, 4 years ; B. F. Russell, 1860 67, 8 years, 
deceased ; Conrad Tatge, 1868-75, 8 years ; Robert Clow, 1876, 4 years; now in office. 

Treasurers. — C. Clement, 1836, 1 year; Bennett Allen, 1837, 1 year, deceased ; Samuel Anderson, 
1838, 1 year, deceased ; William Adams, 1839-42, 4 years; Isaac Jessup, 1843-46, 4 years, deceased; 
H. N. Stoddard, 1847-50, 4 years, deceased ; Benjamin Richardson, 1851-54, 4 years, died in 
August, 1869; C. H. Weeks. 1855-58,4 years; F. D. S. Stewart, 1859-60, 2 years ; Benjamin 
Richardson, 1861-62, 2 years, deceased ; Fred. Schring, 18P3-66, 4 years ; A. J. Fries, 1867-68, 2 
years ; R. F. Barber, 1869-70, 2 years ; A. J. Fries, 1871-73, 3 years ; James W. Martin, 1873-76, 
4 years ; John T. Donahue, 1877 ; now in office. 

Sheriffs.— ¥. Aldrich, 1836-39,4 years; H. D. Risley, 1840-43, 4 years, deceased ; James 
Broadie, 1844-47, 4 years, deceased ; Alonzo Leach, 1848-49, 2 years ; K. J. Cunningham, 1850- 
51, 2 years, deceased; Alonzo Leach, 1852-53, 2 years; P. P. Scarritt, 1854-55, 2 years; 
George R. Dyer, 1856-57, 2 years ; Alonzo Leach, 1858-59, 2 years ; W^ W. Bartlett, 1860-61, 2 
years ; George Monroe, 1862-63, 2 years ; John Reid, 1864-65, 2 years ; George Strathdie, 
1866-67, 2 years; H. Johnson, 1868-69, 2 years; R. W. Marshall, 1870-71, 2 years; G. M. 
Arnold, 1872-75, 4 years; Warren S. Noble, 1876-78, resigned; Henry S. Piepenbrink, 
1878. 

County Judges.— Hugh. Henderson, 1837, 1 year, deceased; G. H. AVoodrufiF, 1838, 1 year; 
A. Cagwin, 1839-42, 4 years; J. 0. Norton, 1843-1848, 6 years, deceased; G. D. A. Parks, 
1849-52, 4 years; S. Simmons, 1853-56, 4 years; O. L. Hawley, 1857-60, 4 years, deceased; 
C. H. Weeks, 1861-64, 4 years; David Willard, 1865-73, 9 years; Benjamin Olin, 1874, still 
in office. 

School Commissioners.— Lay'i Jenks,*^ 1836-40, 5 years ; James Stout, 1841-44, 4 years, de- 
ceased ; Thomas Allen, 1845, part of year; G. S. Fake, 1845-46, two years; H. N. Marsh, 
1847-48, two years; K. J. Hammond, 1849-62, 4 years; S. W. Stone, 1853-54, two years; S. 
0. Simonds, 1855-56, 2 years; B. F. Allen, 1857-58,2 years; Edward Savage, 1859-60, 2 
years, deceased; S. O. Simonds, 1861-62, 2 years; Charles McReading, 1863-64, 2 years, de- 
ceased ; Dwight Haven, 1865-68, 4 years; S. 0. Simonds, 1869-73, 5 years; Mrs. S. C. Mcin- 
tosh, 1874-77, 4 years ; Joseph F. Perry, 1878, still in office. 

County Surveyors. — Addison Collins, 1836-39, 4 years, deceased; R. J. Boylan, 1840-48, 9 
years ; J. Woolley, 1849-52, 4 years, deceased ; A. J. Matthewson, 1853-60, 8 years ; Adam 



360 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Comstock, 1861-64, 4 years : N. D. Ingrahani, 1865-66, 2 years ; Adam Comstock, 1867-74, 8 
years; A. J. Matthewson, 1875, 4 years, still in ofBce. 

Coroners — E. M. Daggett, 1836-37, 2 years; Joel George, 1838-43, 6 years; C. White, 
1844, 1 year; Benjamin Richardson, 1845-51, 7 years, deceased ; A. B. Mead, 1852-53, 2years: 
J. II. Reece, 1854-57, 4 years ; Charles Demmond, 1858-61, 4 years, died in 1867 ; E. E. Daly, 
1862-63, 2 years; J. H. Reece. 1864-65, 2 years; A. J. Fries, 1866-67, 2 years; J. H. Reece, 
1868-69, 2 years; Charles Richards, 1870-74, 5 years; M. B. Campbell, 1875-76,2 years; ^ 
Thomas McBride, 1877, still in ofiBce. 

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. 

Town of Channnhon. — George Tryon, 1850-52, 3 years ; H. Henderson, 1853, 1 year, de- 
ceased; J. J. Schemmerhorn, 1854-56, 3 years; Charles C. Smith, 1857-01, 5 years; E. H. 
Jessup, 1862, 1 year; John T. Randall, 1863-65, 3 years; J. N. Fryer, 1860-77-78, 13 years, 
still in office. 

Town of Crete.— ^. Brown, 1850, 1 year ; A. Wilder, 1851-58, 3 years ; Willard Wood, 1854, 
1 year; Z. Henderson, 1855, 1 year. 

The town of Washington was then set off. 

Crete {continued).— yfiWurd Wood, 1856, 1 year; M. Kile, 1857, 1 year; H. H. Mynard, 
1858, 1 year ; W. Hewes, 1859, 1 year ; C. Tatge, 1860, 1 year ; N. Brown, 1861, 1 year ; E. W. 
Beach, 1862, 1 year; H. A. Dean, 1863, 1 year; C. Tatge, 1864, 1 year; W. Hewes, 1865, 1 
year; C. Tatge. 1866-7, 2 years; C. Horn, 1868, 1 year; J. O'Meier, 1869-71, 3 years; C. 
Horn, 1872, 1 year; J. O'Meier, 1873-74, 2 years; D. S. Bordwell, 1875-70, 2 years; J. 
O'Meier, 1877-78, 2 years, now in office. 

Town of Btipaye —John Miller, 1850, 1 year; A. C. Paxton, 1851-52, 2 years; R. W. 
Smith, 1853-54, 2 years, died January 2, 1869 ; H. Boardman, 1855, 1 year ; E. D. Eaton, 1856, 
1 year; A. C. Paxton, 1857, 1 year ; T. H. Abbott, 1858-59, 2 years; B. B. Clark, 1860, 1 year; 
J. P. King, 1861, 1 year; Robert Strong, 1862, 1 year; B. B. Clark, 1863, 1 year; E. Virgil, 
1864, lyear; R. W. Smith, 1865-67, 3 years; A. Godfrey, 1868, 1 year; J. B. King, 1869, 1 
year; John Royce, 1870-73, 4 years ; Thomas Williams, 1874-78, 4 years, now in office. 

Town of Frankfort.— \\ . B. Cleveland, 1850-52, 3 years ; M. Van Home, 1853-50, 4 years ; 
0. McGovney, 1857, 1 year ; H. S. Higgins, 1858, 1 year ; 0. McGovney, 1859-60, 2 years ; 
John Reid, 1861-63, 3 years; J. B. Etz, 1864, 1 year; Josiah Carpenter, 1865, 1 year; George 
Bez, 1866, 1 year ; 0. McGovney, 1867-68, 2 years ; J. Hunter, 1809-70, 2 years ; S. Shuberth, 
1871-72, 2 years ; H. R. Wood, 1873, 1 year ; John Baumgartner, 1874-75, 2 years ; John Mc- 
Donald, 1876-78, still in office. 

Town of Florence.— \N. W. Monteith, 1851, 1 year; £. H. Strong, 1852, 1 year; J. Linebar- 
ger, 1853, 1 year ; S. Morey, 1854, 1 year; J. Kahler, 1855, 1 year ; J. Shoemaker, 1850, 1 year ; 
M. Tuttle, 1857-58, 2 years; J. Shoemaker, 1859-61, 3 years; J. Kahler, 3862, 1 year; J. 
Linebarger, 1863, 1 year; J. M. White, 1864, 1 year; C. Hazard, 1805-69, 5 years; S. Morey, 
1870, 1 year; J. Shirk, 1871-73, 3 years; Thomas Maher, 1874-70, 3 years; Royal S. Corbin, 
1877-78, now in office. 

Town of Qreengarden. — J. A. Bemiss, 1853, 1 year ; N. Johnson, 1854-55, 2 years; G. M. 
Green, 1856-57, 2 years; B. K. Hutchinson, 1858, 1 year; J. W. Young, 1859-1860, 2 years; 
M. F. Sanders, 1861-62, 2 years ; A. A. Angel, 1863, 1 year; G. M. Green, 1804, 1 year; M. F. 
Sanders, 1865, 1 year; L. J. Burditt, 1806-67, 2 years; G. B. Wood, 1868-70, 3 years; H. 
Eisenbrandt, 1871-72, 2 years ; H. H. Stasson, Jr., 1873-78, 5 years, now in office. 

Town of Homer. — Samuel Blount, 1850, 1 year ; Ira Austin, 1851, 1 year; Addison Collins, 
1852-53, 2 years; Ira Austin, 1854-59, 6 years; Alanson Granger, 1860, 1 year; Amos Savage, 
elected in 1801 ; resigned to go to the war ; J. D. Frazer, 1861, 1 year ; S. Knapp, 1862, 1 year; 
Alanson Granger, 1863, 1 year; A. G. Rowley, 1804-05, 2 years ; Levi Hartwell, 1800, 1 year; 
Amos Savage, 1867-72, 6 years ; J. H. Randle, 1873, 1 year ; J. D. Frazer, 1874, 1 year ; 
Amos Savage, 1875-70, 2 years; A. G. Rowley, 1877, 1 year, J. D. Frazer, 1878, now in 
office. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 3(31 

Town of Jackson. — S. Johnson, 18r)0, 1 yenr ; George Linebarger, 1851— '")3, 3 years ; K. B. 
Crafts, 1854-55,2 years; S. Johnson, 1856, 1 year; George Linebarger, 1857, 1 year; E. 15. 
Crafts, 1858, 1 year; George Linebarger, 1850, 1 year; 1). D. Powless, 18GU, 1 year; S. John- 
son, 18G1, 1 year; S. Young, 18(12, 1 year: George Linebarger, 1803, 1 year; H. Spangler, 1804, 
1 year ; George Linebarger, 1805-1807, 3 years ; Thoinas Tail, 1808, 1 year; 11. Spangler, 180'J- 
75, 7 years ; W. V. Keith, 1870-77, 2 years ; Henry Spangler, 1878, now in office. 

Totun of Joliet. — Charles Clement, 1850-52, 3 years ; A. Cagwin, 1853, 1 year ; F. Aldricli, 
1854, 1 year; Joel George, 1855, 1 year; Edmund Wilcox, 1856, 1 year; E. Wilcox and 11. Stev- 
en.s, 1857. 1 year; S. W. Bowen and J. Shiitts, 1858, 1 year; R. E. Goo.lell and E.Wilcox, 185'.», 
1 year; R. E. Goodell and H. B. Goddard, 180U, 1 year; R. E. Goodell and George Woodrulf, 
1801, 1 year; George WoodruflF and J. C. Zarley, 1862, one year; S. K. Casey and J. Shutts, 
1803, 1 year; AV. S. Brooks and John Shutts, 1864-06, 3 years; W. S. Brooks and E. Daly, 
1807-08, 2 years ; W. S. Brooks and A. Schiedt, 1800-70, 2 years; William Werner and D. 1*. 
Hendricks, 1871, 1 year; Williiim Werner and W. A. Strong, Jr., 1872,1 year; William Werner 
and R. Walsh, 1873, 1 year; William Werner, A. 0. Marshall, James Boland and N. D. Tighe, 
1874, 1 year; W. S. Brooks, John Ryan, James Boland and Nathaniel Barnes, 1875, 1 year; W. 
S. Brooks, John Ryan, Antony Schiedt and William Werner, 1876, 1 year ; F. J. Rapple, William 
Werner, John Ryan and Mansfield Young, 1877, 1 year ; F. J. Rapple, John Schiedt, William 
Gleason, John Lyons, 1878, 1 year ; now in office. 

Toim of Lockport.—.!. W. Paddock, 1850, 1 year; Joel C. Mills, 1851-52, 2 years; Henry 
Torrey, 1853, 1 year; C. Dowd, 1854, 1 year; J. C. Mills, 1855, 1 year; R B. Harrington, 
1856, 1 year; A. S. Anderson, 1857, 1 year; C. E. Boyer, 1858, 1 year; William Hanley, 1850, 
1 year; S. Sly, 1860-61, 2 years; S. Lonergan, 1862, 1 year; W. H. Baker, 1863-65, 3 years; 
J. Fiddyment, 1860-08, 3 years; P. Fitzpatrick, 1809-70, 2 years; J. F. Daggett, 1871, 1 year; 
J. H. Arnold, 1872, 1 year; W. W. Marcy, 1873-74, 2 years; Julius Scheibe, 1875, 1 year; J. 
A. Boyer, 1876, 1 year; George M. Arnold, 1877-78, 2 years; now in office. 

TVenton. — William Nelson, 1850, 1 year; M. Baily, 1851-52, 2 years. 

The town was then divided into Manhattan and Greengarden. 

Town of Manhattan. — John Young, 1853, 1 year; Clark Baker, 1854-55, 2 years; John 
Young, 1856-60, 5 years: Clark Baker, 1861-62, 2 years; G. A. Buck, 1863-64, 2 years; J. E. 
Baker, 186.5-09, 5 years; G. A. Buck, 1870-73, 3 years; Stephen Robinson, 1873-74, 2 years; 
Clark Baker, 1875, 1877-78, 4 years; now in office. 

Town of Carei/.-^S. W. Cooper, 1850, 1 year; John S. Holland, 1851-53, 3 years; George 
Baker, 1854-55, 2 years; B. Sheridan, 1856, 1 year; I). Milliken, 1857-58, 2 years; now 
in office. 

The town of Carey was then divided into Will and Monee. 

Monee.—O. Kahler, 1859-62, 4 years; A. Herbert, 180.3-64. 2 years; E. C. Howard, 1805. 
1 year; A. Vass, 1806-68, 3 years; S. W. Cooper, 1809, 1 year; J. Griffith, 187(»-72, 3 years ; 
J. Kolstedt, 1873-74, 2 years; Leubbe Albers, 1875-77, 3 years; John Koldstedt, 1877, now in 
office. 

New Lenox. — J. Van Duzer, 1850, 1 year; A. McDonald, 1851, 1 year: B. F. Allen, 1852, 

1 year ; G. McDonald, 1853, 1 year ; J. C. Kerchival, 1854-55, 2 years ; Dwight Haven, 1856-57, 

2 years ; J. C. Kerchival, 1858, 1 year ; Dwight Haven, 1859-00, 2 years ; A. Frank, 1801-63, 

3 years; T. Doig, 1804, 1 year; Dwight Haven, 1805, 1 year; T. Doig. 1806-67, 2 years; 
Dwight Haven, 1868, 1 year; T. Doig, 1809, 1 year; C. Snoad, 1870-71, 2'years; J. Francis, 
1872, 1 year; P. Cavanaugh, 1873, 1 year: Thomas Doig, 1874, 1 year; John Francis, 1875, 
1877-78, 4 years ; now in office. 

Town of riainJicld.—L. Hamlin, 1850, 1 year; J. Ballard, 1851. 1 year; A. Culver, 1852, 
1 year; L. Hamlin, 1853, 1 year; Cyrus Ashley, 1854, 1 year; Winthrop Wright, 1855-50, 2 
years; A. Culver, 1857, 1 year; D. Vandersoll, 1858, 1 year; A. Culver, 1859, 1 year; Winthrop 
Wright, 1800, 1 year; W. P. Caton, 1801-08, 8 years ; A. McClaskey, 1869-76, 8years; Hervey 
Stratton, 1877-7t<, 2 years ; now in office. 



362 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Peotone.—M. AVright, 1858, 1 year; S. Goodspeed, 1859-60, 2 years; J. P. Dean, 1801-62, 
2 years ; F. Fahs, 1863-1)4, 2 years; S. C. Guion, 1805-67, 3 years ; S. Goodspeed, 1868-09, 2 
years; T. Gilkerson, 1870, 1 year; R. Crawford, 1871-72, 2 years ; David L. Christian, 1873, 1 
year; R. Crawford, 1874, 1 year; Michael Collins, 1875-76, 2 years; J. B. Sollitt, Sr., 1877, 1 
year; Michael Collins, 1878, now in office. 

Town of Reed. — John Kilpatrick, 1850, 1 year; T. T. Tilden, 1851-53, 3 years; A. Yates, 
1854, 1 year; R. S. Nobles, 1855, 1 year; R. Warner, 1856-57, 2 years; J. Martin, 1858, 1 
year ; F. D. S. Stewart, 1859, 1 year ; T. T. Tilden, 1860-61, 2 years ; F. D. S. Stewart, 1862-63, 
2 years; M. Stewart, 1864-1865, 2 years ; S. P. Stewart, 1866-67, 2 years ; E. Gano, 1868-69, 
2 years ; William Conner, 1870-72, 3 years ; Thomas Hennebry, 1873, 1 year ; William Mooney, 
1874, 1 year; H. Le Caron, 1875, 1 year; J. R. Marsh, 1876, 1 year; John Young, 1877-78, 2 
years, still in office. 

Toiimof Troy. — J. H. Robinson, 1850-51, 2 years ; John McEvoy, 1852, 1 year; John T. 
Randall, 1853-54, 2 years ; P. Rowan, 1855, 1 year ; G. Kinsella, 1856-58, 3 years ; J. Dillon, 
1859-60, 2 years, died in 1867 ; N. Hull, 1861-62, 2 years ; H. W. Searles, 1863-64, 2 years ; 
J. Dempsey, 1805-1867, 8 years ; D. C. Searles, 1868, 1 year; William McEvoy, 1809-71,3 
years; David Murphy, 1872-73, 2 years ; James McDonald, 1874-75, 2 years ; D. C. Searles, 
1876-78, 3 years ; now in office. 

Town of Wilmington. — John Frazier, 1850, 1 year. 

The town was then divided into Wilmington, Florence and Wesley. 

Toiim of Wilmington — A. J. Mclntyre, 1851-52, 2 years ; H. 11. Whipple, 1853-55, 3 years; 
J. J. Camp, 1856-57, 2 years; R. S. Nobles, 1858, 1 year; J. D. Henderson, 1859-60, 2 years; 

D. U. Cobb, 1861-62, 2 years; A. J. Mclntyre, 1863-64, 2 years; F. Mitchell, 1865, 1 year; 

E. R. Willard, 1866-67, 2 years; J. H. Daniels, 1868-70, 3 years; S. C. Camp, 1871-73, 3 
years; R. C. Thompson, 1874-70, 3 years; S. Silliman, 1877-78, 2 years; still in office. 

Town of Wheatland.— D. W. Cropsey, 1850-51, 2 years ; S. Simmons, 1852-53, 2 years; F. 
Boardman, 1854-50, 3 years; Robert Clow, 1857, 1 year; S. Simmons, 1858-60, 3 years; Rob- 
ert Clow, 1861-76, 16 years; J. M. McMicken, 1877-78, 2 years, still in office. 

Town of Wesley. — John Frazier, 1851, 1 year; H. Warner, 1852-55, 4 years; David Wil- 
lard, 1856-61, 6 years; John Frazier, 1862, 1 year; D. Willard, 1863, 1 year; S. S. Case, 1864, 
1 year; David Willard, 1865-69, 5 years; Sylvester Jones, 1870-73, 4 years; Guy M. Beck- 
with, 1874, 1 year; H. Warner, 1875-78, 4 years; still in office. 

Town of Wilton. — William Dancer, 1850, 1 year ; James Kibben, 1851, 1 year; H. Hervey, 
1852-55, 4 years: W. T. Nelson, 1856, 1 year; William Mills, 1857, 1 year. 

The town of Peotone was then set off. 

Town of Wilton, continued. — William Mills, 1858, 1 year; A. Warner, 1859, 1 year; M. O. 
Cagwin, 1800-63, 4 years; M. Dennis, 1864, 1 year; W. B. Bass, 1865-67, 3 years; J. Kenis- 
ton, 1868-70, 3 years; S. Smith, 1871-73, 3 years; Samuel G. Nelson, 1874-78, 5 years, still in 
office. 

Tovm of Will.— a. Storer, 1859-61, 3 years ; H. N. Ingersoll, 1862-63, 2 years; F. P. Lilley, 
1864, 1 year; H. N. Ingersoll, 1865, I year; F. P. Lilley, 1860-67, 2 years; James Maxwell, 
1868, 1 year; F. P. Lilley, 1869-73, 5 years; J. B. Sollitt, Jr., 1874-76, 3 years; John I. Rice, 
1877, 1 year; R. Patterson, 1878 ; still in office. 

At the July session of the Board, all that part of the town of Reed lying 
east of the section line dividing ToAvns 3 and 4, and running south, through 
the township, was set off into a new town, and named Custer — thus making it 
sure that the name of the hero of a late Indian battle should be preserved ; and 
at the September session of the Board, there was a new Supervisor for the 
town of Custer — George W. Petro, 1876-78, 3 years. 



HISTOKV OF WILL COUNTY. 363 

Town of Wasftinfftnn. — R. Riclmnls, 185fi, 1 yeiir ; J. Wliilp, 1857, 1 year; E. C. Ricliards, 
1858, 1 year ; Z. Dewey, 185',)-(J0, li years ; H. Biililuian, 18()l-t)2, 2 years ; K. Dunbar, lJ<(;:]-64, 
2 years; F. Kouka, 1865, 1 year; K. DnnV)ar, 1800-08, 3 years ; II. Mathias, 1869-70, 2 years: 
F. VVilkie, LS71-78, years ; now in office. 

Besides the county officers Avhose names are given in the preceding lists, 
Will County has furnished men to the Legislature, Senatorial and Congressional 
Districts of which she has formed a part, and to the State and United States 
service, as follows : 

Governor. — J. A. Matteson, 1852. 

Secretary of State. — David L. Gregg, 18-')1, also Commissioner to Sandwich Islands. 

Members of Congress. — J. 0. Norton, 1852, 1854, 1862; Henry Snapp, 1871, to fill vacancy. 

State Senate. — John Pearson, 1843, resigned ; Joel A. Matteson, special, 1848 and 1848 ; Uri 
Osgood, 1852; G. D. A. Parks, 1850; Henry Snapp, 1808, resigned; J. F. Daggett, 1871, to 
fill vacancy ; William S. Brooks, 1872 ; A. 0. Marshall, 1874 and 1878. 

General Assembly. — James Walker (town of Plainfield), 1886 ; David L. Gregg, Joliet, 
1840; Addison Collins, Homer, 1842 ; William E. Little, Joliet, 1846 and 1848; John Miller, 
Dupage, 1840 and 1848; O. H. Haven, Joliet, 1849, to till vacancy; J. O. Norton, Joliet, 1850; 
S. W. Randall, Joliet, 1850; G. D. A. Parks, Joliet, LS54 ; Hiram Norton, Lockport, 1858; 
Charles E. Boyer, Lockport, 1862 ; A. J. Mclntyre, Wilmington, 1864 ; Robert Clow, Wheatland, 
1866 and 1870; George Gaylord, Lockport, 1868 ; William S. Brooks, Joliet, 1870; John H. 
Daniels, Wilmington, 1870 ; Jabez Harvey, Wilton, 1872 ; Amos Savage, Homer, 1872; John S. 
Jessup, Wilmington, 1872 ; H. H. Stassen, Greengarden, 1874; William Mooney, Reed, 1874; 
Frederick Kouka, Washington, 1876; L. H. Goodrich, Reed, 1874 and 1876; D. H. Pinney, 
Joliet, 1876. 

United States District Attorney for Northern Illinois. — Jesse 0. Norton ; appointed by 
Johnson. 

Circuit Judges. — John Pearson, 1857 ; Hugh Henderson, 1849 ; S. W. Randall, 1854 ; J. 0. 
Norton, 1857 ; Josiah McRoberts, 1800, still in office: Francis Goodspeed, 1877, still in office; 

J. E. Streeter, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Nebraska. 

District Attorneys. — Uri Osgood, 1830; William A. Boardman, 1845; S. W^. Bowen, 1851 ; 
F. A. Bartleson, 1857; Henry Logan, 1861 ; S. W. Munn, 1864; C. A. Hill, 1868; E. C. Hager. 
1872 ; J. R. Flanders, 1876. 

Canal Trustee for State. — Josiah McRoberts ; appointed in 1853. 

Surveyor General of Oregon. — John B. Preston, of Lockport ; appointed in 1850. 

Delegates to Constitutional Convention, 1847-4^. — J. 0. Norton, of Joliet ; Hugh Henderson, 
of Joliet. 

Delegate to Constitutional Convention of 1861-62. — Francis Goodspeed, of Joliet. 

Delegate to Constitutional Convention of 1870. — William C. Goodhue, of Joliet. 

Penitentiary Commissioners. — N. D. Elwood, of Joliet, on first Board; G. D. \. Parks, of 
Joliet, 1864 ; John Reid, 1867. 

State Board of Equalization. — William P. Caton, of Plainfield, 1807 ; Amos Savage, of Homer, 
1876. 

United States Assessors. — Henry Snapp, H. B. Goddard. 

United States Collectors. — Charles M. Hammond. 1867; Horace Weeks, 1872; W. H. Penning- 
ton, Deputy. 

Joliet Postmasters. — A. W. Bowen, from the establishment of the office, in 1835, to the 
administration of Taylor ; J. T. McDougall, 1850, Taylor's administration ; M. K. Brownson, 
1853, Fillmore's administration; Calneh Zarley, 1^54, Pierce's administration ; Calneh Zarley, 
1858, Buchanan's administration ; J. L. Braden, 1861, Lincoln's administration ; H. N. Marsh, 
Lincoln's administration; Alonzo Leach, 1865, Johnson's administration; Anson Patterson, 
first term of Grant's administration; James Goodspeed, second term of Grant's administration; 
James Goodspeed, Hayes' administration. 



364 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

AN OMISSION. 

We have already discovered one omission Avhich was made in the list of 
early settlers on Hickory Creek, to wit : Asher Holmes, who came in the 
Spring of 1835, from Chautauqua Co., N. Y. He has been dead twenty years or 
more, but left a widow who still lives, and sons who perpetuate his name. 

No doubt we have made other omissions ; if so, it has been involuntary, and 
no one will regret it more than the writer. 

PARTING WORDS. 

The writer has now probably appeared in the role of a historian for the last 
time. Without feeling that he had any special fitness for the work, he has been 
led to undertake it by a desire to preserve the names and memory of the 
original settlers of Will County, and also of the brave boys, their sons, and the 
sons of the later comers, as well, who hazarded, and in many cases lost, their 
lives to save the Union. While the record may be somewhat imperfect, it is 
believed to be in both cases substantially correct. That he has been permitted 
to discharge this duty affords him no little satisfaction, although it has greatly 
interfered with his legitimate calling. 

It is no small satisfaction, also, that he was permitted to see the region we 
now call Will County, when it was yet in its pristine beauty ; its prairies, fresh 
from the Creator's hand, still the lair of the wolf and the wild deer, while the 
canoe of the Indian still shot along its streams, and the solitudes of its forests 
echoed the crack of his rifle, and the paths worn by his moccasined feet were 
still the guiding trail of the emigrant ; and then to have lived to see those ver- 
dant wastes clothed with flocks and herds, with waving harvest-fields, and the vast 
forests of rustling corn, in whose depths armies might ambush ; to see its soli- 
tudes become peopled with 50,000 civilized and intelligent human beings ; its 
streams forced to subserve the ends of manufacture and commerce ; to see the 
trail of the Indian obliterated by the railway track, and the ox-team and prairie 
schooner displaced by the locomotive and the rushing train ; to see the land- 
scape dotted with happy homes, churches and schoolhouses, and the silence of 
its wastes broken by 

'* The laugh of children, the soft voice 
Of maidens, and the sweet and solemn hymn, 
Of Sabbath worshipers;" 

to have been permitted to witness all this change during the years that have 
come and gone in quick succession while the panorama has been unfolding be- 
fore him — this he counts one of his chiefest satisfactions. And while the mem- 
ory delights to linger over the past, and the imagination to recall the lovely 
pictures presented to his eye forty-four years ago, he is not of the number of 
those who say or feel that "the former times were better than these." 







„ Nsr*-' 



/^,^- 




(deceased) 
JOLIET. 



TOWNSHIP HISTORIES. 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 

The interest which attaches itself to all that is connected with the explora- 
tions and discoveries of the early French travelers in the Northwest increases as 
time rolls on. That history read in the blazing sunlight of the present day, 
has all the fascination of a romance, and, after more than two centuries gone by, 
the names of many courageous and devoted men rise up in peerless grandeur. 
Penetrated with enthusiasm, and bearing high the cross, Marquette, La Salle, 
De Frontenac, Joliet, Hennepin, De Charlevoix, the Chevalier de Trull, and so 
many others, made their way into unknown lands, and through perils, and in 
the midst of savages, in the face of sickness and privation, desolation and 
danger, they planted the flag of civilization" in this great section of country, 
known as the Northwest. In this beautiful valley of the Des Planes, some 
of these early French explorers wandered a hundred years before the oldest of 
us were born. But in our attempt to write a full and complete history of Joliet 
Township, we do not propose to go back to the days of Marquette and La Salle, 
and of Joliet and Hennepin, but shall commence at a period still green in the 
memory of some who are yet living, and whose minds run back with much dis- 
tinctness to the early settlements in the Des Planes Valley. But few more 
beautiful localities are to be found in the State of Illinois than this valley, and 
the country generally, as embraced in the township of Joliet. Its hills and 
bluffs and picturesque grottoes, its fine rolling plains, and its timber-bordered 
streams, present a variety of scenery of which the great prairies are wholly des- 
titute. The town is watered by the Des Planes River, which enters its borders 
from the north, and, passing through the city of Joliet, runs in a southwesterly 
direction to its confluence with the Kankakee. Hickory Creek flows in from 
the east, and empties into the Des Planes at Joliet City ; while several smaller 
brooks, together Avith the Illinois and Michigan Canal, pass through the town- 
ship, so that no section could be better watered or better drained. L'nderly- 
ing the surface of a great portion of the town, perhaps the whole of it, are 
beds of stone, which for building purposes is almost without equal in this or 
any other country ; and the numerous quarries, more particularly referred to in 
the chapter devoted to the city of Joliet, give employment to hundreds of men, 
and are, perhaps, the most extensive business carried on in the city, or even in 



368 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

the township. The railroad facilities of Joliet are excellent. The Chicago, 
Rock Island & Pacific ; the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis ; the Chicago, Pekin 
& Southwestern, and the "Joliet Cut-off"" of the Michigan Central, center in 
the city of Joliet, and traverse the township in every direction, aff'ording 
means of transportation and of travel. The canal, too, is a valuable auxiliary, 
as well as a competitor, in moving the large quantities of freight from this sec- 
tion. The township is bounded on the north by Lockport, on the east by 
New Lenox, on the south by Jackson, on the west by Troy, and is known as 
Town 35 north. Range 10 east of the Third Principal Meridian, with a popula- 
tion, in 1870, aside from the city of Joliet, of 2,940 inhabitants. It is about 
one-half or, perhaps, two-thirds fine rolling prairie, while the remainder, prin- 
cipally along the Des Planes River and Hickory Creek, is well timbered — or 
was at the time of the early settlement of the country — and is, in places, rather 

hilly. 

In the early settlement of Joliet Township and City, the Empire State con- 
tributed much of the population, both of city and township. So far as we have 
been able to collect the names of early settlers, and the localities from whence 
they came, up to and including 1835, together with the date of settlement, we 
give them in the following tabulated statement, which we have taken consider- 
able care in preparing : 

Major Robert G. Cook New York 1831 

John B. Cook (his father) New York 1831 

Philip Scott New York 1831 

Reason Zarley Ohio 1831 

Robert Stevens Indiana 1831 

David Maggard Indiana 1831 

Benjamin Maggard Indiana 1831 

Jesse Cook Indiana 183] 

Darfiel Robb 1831 

William Billsland Indiana 1831- 

\ Aaron Moore Ohio 1832 

-\R. E. Barber Vermont 1832 

Col. Sayre New Jersey 1832 

Seth Scott New York 1832 

Charles Clement New Hampshire v 1833 

Rev. George West M. E. Minister 1833 

Rodney House Connecticut 1833 

Charles Reed Indiana 1833 

William Hadsell New York 1833 

Dr. A. W. Bowen New York 1834 

Elias Haven New York 1834 

Philo A. Haven New York 1834 

Orlando H. Haven New York 1834 

James Haven New York 1834 

Dr. David Reed New York 1834 

M. H. Demmond New York 1834 

Wm. B. Hawley New York 1834 

Benj. F. Barker New York 1834 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 369 

Benjamin Richardson From the East 1834 

James Rockwell Connecticut 1834 

Abner Cox Indiana 1834 

I. r. Kinj^ Indiana 1834 

Joseph Zinnalt Indiana 1834 

Jacob Zunialt Indiana 1834 

Charles Sayre New Jersey 1834 

James McKee : Kentucky 1834 

Daniel Clement New Hampshire 1834 

Richard Hobbs Indiana 1834 

N. H. Clarke 1834 

Thomas H. Blackburn 1834 

O. D. Putnam 1834 

Harlow Webster 1834 

Geo. II. Woodruff. New York 1834 

N. H. Cutter Massachusetts 1834 

Jay Lyons I834 

Chas. W. Brandon New York 1834 

James C. Trout man Ohio 1834 

Edward Perkins New York 18.34 

Fenner Aldrich 1835 

Hervey Lowe New York 1835 

F. Collins Hoosier 1835 

Oliver W. Stillman Massachusetts 1835 

Robert Duncan Detroit 1835 

Thomas Culbertson Delaware 1835 

Charles W. Hopkins New Jersey 1835 

S. W. Bowen New York 1835 

Dr. Zelotus Haven New York 1835 

Hugh Henderson New York 1835 

Wm. A. Boardman New York 1835 

Russell Frary New York 1835 

Michael Shoemaker New York 1835 

John L. Wilson New York 1835 

Richard L. Wilson New York 1835 

Charles L. Wilson New York 1H35 

Abijah Cagwin New York 1835 

H. N. Marsh New York 1835 

J. Beaumont New York 1835 

George Higley Ohio 1835 

-Levi Jenks New York _ 1835 

William Walters Indiana 1835 

0. F. Rogers New York 1835 

Rev. J. H. Prentiss New York 1835 

George Squire 1835 

Wm. A. Chatfiekl Indiana 1835 

C. C. Pepper New York 1835 

Francis Nicholson New York 1835 

W. R. Atwell New York 1835 

John M. Wilson New York 1835 

Allen Pratt Massachusetts 1835 

Barton Smith Indiana 1835 

Jonathan Barnett New York 1835 

E. M. Daggett Indiana 1835 



370 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

George Howlitson Scotland 1835 

Asa Rowe 1835 

Elias Hyde New York 1835 

S. B. Hopkins New Jersey 1835 

In 1836 we may notice among the arrivals in the new settlement, George 
Woodruff, Joel A. Matteson, R. Doolittle, Edmund Wilcox, Uri Osgood, 
Thomas R. Hunter, E, C. Fellows and Francis L. Cagwin, from New York, 
and Otis Hardy and H. Hartshorn, from Vermont ; Orange Chauncey, Albert 
Shepard, James Stout, Thomas, Edward and Bennett Allen, John Curry, J. J. 
Garland, W. J. Heath, J. C. Newkirk, William Blair, Rufus Calton, Stephen 
Hubbard, Dr. Little, Henry Fish, M. Worthingham, David L. Roberts, Isaac 
H. Palmer, E. E. Bush, Theodore \^oodruff, H. K. Stevens, David Richards, 
G. W. Cassedy, and a great many others, whose native States we have not 
learned. A number of these, together with others mentioned, will receive 
additional notice in the history of the city of Joliet, as well as in the 
general history. But immigrants were coming in so fast that it* is impossible, 
after this long lapse of time, to keep trace of them. A confusion of dates 
occurs in the attempt, something like that of tongues at the Tower of Babel. 
We have enumerated, in the foregoing table, the settlers both in the city 
and township of Joliet, and as already mentioned, a preponderance of them 
were from New York. Among the first from that State were Major Robert G. 
Cook and his father, John B. Cook, and Philip Scott, who settled in the town- 
ship in the latter part of 1831. The elder Cook was a Revolutionary soldier, 
and was old and feeble when he came to the settlement. A few of the early 
settlers who still survive remember to have seen him carried in the first Fourth 
of July procession had in the infant city. He died about 1833-4, and was one 
of the first deaths to occur in the town. Robert Stevens was born in Kentucky, 
but mostly reared in Ohio, and emigrated to Indiana, where he remained some 
years, removing to Illinois and to this township in 1831. He settled just east of 
the present city of Joliet, where his widow still lives. He arrived in the 
Spring of that year in time to raise a crop of corn. During the fright that 
prevailed in the scattered settlement incident to the Black Hawk war, Mr. 
Stevens took his family to Danville, and sent them under safe escort to Indiana, 
while he returned and "put in a crop." David and Benjamin Maggard and 
Jesse Cook were also from the Hoosier State, otherwise Indiana, and made set- 
tlements in 1831. Jesse Cook made a settlement in what was called Trout- 
man's Grove, and now lives in the southern part of the State, and is quite an 
old man, but full of energy for one of his years. David Maggard, who is 
noted for having built the first house in the present city limits, as elsewhere 
mentioned, and Stevens, after he returned from seeing his wife safe beyond 
Indian outrages, worked their farms together, as a matter of safety and protec- 
tion a»aint surprise from the Indians. As a further means of safety, instead of 
occupying their cabins at night, would sleep in a cavern on the west side of the 
river, which they would always leave before daylight, that no lurking savage 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 371 

might discover their phicc of refuge. Maggard's settlement was on the west 
side of the river, nearly opposite the Rolling Mills, while Stevens', as already 
stated, was on the east side. Usually at evening they would retire to the west 
side, and while Stevens cooked supper Maggard would stand guard, or rather 
sit guard in a tree-top. One evening he had mounted guard in a tree, and be 
ing tired from his day's labor, Avent to sleep and dropped his gun. The Mag- 
gards were related to Stevens' first wife, who survived the hardships of a fron- 
tier settlement but a few years. Robert Stevens was the first elected Sheriff of 
Will County, after it was detached from Cook, and with an utter indifference to 
the honors pertaining to office unknown at the present day, he declined to qual- 
ify and left the office to those more anxious to serve the dear people. William 
Billsland and Daniel Robb were likewise Hoosiers and came to the neighbor- 
hood in 1831. 

Reason Zarley, to whom is generally attributed the honor of making the first 
permanent settlement in Joliet Township, came to Illinois in 1829, from Ohio, and 
to this neighborhood in the Springof 1831, where hemade a permanent settlement. 
He was a soldier in the last struggle of the United States with Johnny Bull, and 
was one of the few survivors of the bloody affair of Brownstown, Avhere 100 
American soldiers were attacked by 800 savages and 400 English, but little less 
savage than their red allies, and from which few of the former escaped to tell 
the tale of carnage. He was in the army, also, at the time of Hull's disgrace- 
ful surrender. Mr. Zarley is mentioned as a prominent and influential man, 
foremost in every enterprise calculated to promote the interest of the city and 
country. WHien he died, a Chillicothe (Ohio) paper noticed his death, as one 
of the pioneers of that section of the country. So far as can be obtained with 
any degree of reliability, this comprises all who came to the township during 
the first year of its settlement. And the next year (1832), but few additions 
were made to the little community, doubtless owing to the fact that the Black 
Hawk or Sac war was raging in all its terror, and the mutterings of the storm 
extended to this locality, x\aron Moore, a brother-in-law of Jesse Cook, came 
from Ohio ; R. E. Barber, from Vermont ; Seth Scott, a brother of Philip Scott, 
from New York. These are all that we have any account of settling here this year. 
But in 1833, the colony was augmented by the arrival from New York, William 
Hadsell ; from Connecticut, Rodney House ; from Indiana, Charles Reed ; from 
New Hampshire, diaries Clement and Rev. Geo. West, a Methodist preacher. 
Where Rev. Mr. West came from, we have been unable to ascertain. Reed, one 
of the very first settlers of the city, and Charles Clement, generally acknowledged 
as the "oldest living inhabitant," will be noticed further in the city's history. 
William Hadsell is living, but old and infirm, both mentally and physically, and 
his memory is too feeble to give any information of special interest in this his- 
tory. The year 1834, witnessed the greatest influx of new-comers of any 
year since the pale-fiices had first "broke ground " in this section. During the 
year, the Empire State sent out to the new settlement Dr. A. W, Bowen, Geo. 



372 HISTORY OF will county. 

H. Woodruff", Elias Haven and three sons, Philo A., Orlando H., and James 
Haven, Charles W. Brandon, Dr. David Reed, M. H. Demmond, Edward Per- 
kins, William B. Hawley and Benjamin F. Barker. Benjamin Richardson 
was from the East, probably from New York ; from Indiana, Abner Cox, 
Richard Hobbs, J. P. King, Joseph and Jacob Zumalt ; from Connecticut, 
James Rockwell ; from New Jersey, Charles Sayre ; from Kentucky, James 
McKee ; from New Hampshire, Daniel Clement, a brother to Charles Clement, 
who had come out the year before ; from Massachusetts, N. H. Cutter : from 
Ohio, James C. Troutman ; and Jay Lyons, N. H. Clarke, Thomas H. Black- 
burn, 0. D. Putnam, Harlow Webster, whose native States cannot now be as- 
certained. Dr. Bowen was from Herkimer County, N. Y., and is noticed else- 
where as the first physician in the town. He arrived in March and made a 
claim on what was afterward known as the " Luther Woodruff' Place, ' and dur- 
ing the early part of the Summer, built a cabin near where the Union School 
House now stands. Soon after his settlement, he opened a store, which he after- 
ward sold to Frary, He lives at present in Wilmington, and receives an extended 
notice in the general history. Hon. George H. Woodruff", to whose able pen we 
are indebted for our general county history, is one of the few old landmarks 
still left in Joliet. The Havens came in the Fall of this year, and Philo 
and James went to California during the gold excitement, where the}' still 
live. The old gentleman died several years ago. Dr. Zelotus Haven was 
a brother of Elias, but came to the settlement the next year. Dr. David 
Reed also came in the Fall, and was the next physician after Dr. Bowen, and 
located on the west side of the river. Benjamin F. Barker came soon after 
Dr. Bowen, and built the first dwelling on the east side of the river, in the 
present city of Joliet. Charles Sayre, a nephew of Col. Sayre, was a tailor by 
trade, and the first in the town. Brandon came during the Summer. He was a 
stone mason, and built a house one mile below the present city. Martin H. 
Demmond arrived in June, and was one of the first merchants of the place. 
Perkins settled in Five-Mile Grove, in the southern part of the township, as 
the plabe was then called. Hawley settled during the Summer. Benjamin 
Richardson settled first in the Plainfield neighborhood, and came here in 1830. 
He was a chair maker, the first of that craft in the township. Abner Cox, 
Richard Hobbs, J. P. King and the Zumalts all made settlements during the 
year. Hobbs was, for many years, a Justice of the Peace, and his courts, in 
those primitive times, furnished the legal fraternity with numerous anecdotes, 
illustrative of the pioneer days. James McKee is mentioned in the general 
history of the county in another part of this work, as one of the enterprising 
men of that early day. He bought a claim from Charles Reed, and upon it 
erected a mill, the frame of which, is yet standing, but devoted to other purposes. 
Though not the first mill in Will County, it was built on a far more pretentious 
scale than had ever been attempted in this part of the State. McKee was the 
first Justice of the Peace on the west side of the river. Daniel Clement came 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 373 

in May of this year. There were probably other settlers than those mentioned, who 
came this year, but if so, their names are forgotten by the few who still survive. 
During the year 1835, the settlement grew rapidly. Among tliose who 
came this year were the following : Hervey Lowe, S. W. Bowen, Hugh Hender- 
son, Wm. A. Boardman, Russell Frarv, Michael Shoemaker, John L. Wilson, 
Richard L. Wilsoiij Charles L. Wilson, Abijah Cagwin, H. N. Marsh, J. Beau- 
mont, Levi Jenks, 0. F. Rogers, Rev, J. H. Prentiss, C. C. Pepper, Francis 
Nicholson, W. R. Atwell, Jonathan Barnett, John M. Wilson, Elias Hyde, 
from New York ; Oliver W. Stillman and Allen Pratt, from the old Bay State ; 
S. B. Hopkins and Charles W. Hopkins, from New Jersey ; E. M. Daggett, 
Barton Smith, Wm. A. Chatfield, William Walters, F. Collins, from the 
Hoosier State of Indiana; Thos. Culbertson, from Delaware; Robert Duncan,' 
from Detroit ; George Higley, from Ohio ; and J. Lyons, Asa Rowe, George 
Squire, whose native place we could not learn. Hugh Henderson came in the 
Fall of this year, and was the first lawyer in Joliet Township or City. Boai'd- 
raan came soon after, and was his partner in the law business. Russell Frary 
bought Dr. Bowen's stock of goods, who had opened a store soon after he set- 
tled in the town. Frary remained in the mercantile business several years, but 
finally sold out and returned to New York. Michael Shoemaker was a brother 
to Dr. Bowen's wife, and lived in Joliet till 1840. He formed a copartnership 
-with Dr. Bowen, which continued from 1836 to 1838, when Bowen sold to J. 
A. Matteson, and the firm changed to Matteson & Shoemaker. The latter 
finally closed up his business and went to Jackson, Mich., and is at present a 
member of the Senate of that State. Hervey Lowe was a brother-in-law of 
Gov. Matteson, and now lives in Chicago. John L., Richard L. and Charles 
L. Wilson were brothers, and the middle initial of each name was the same, and 
was for the mothers family. They were from Albany, and came in March. 
Charles died within the present year ; Richard died several years ago, and John 
is in Chicago — one of the proprietors of the Evening Journal. Abijah Cagwin 
settled on Section 12, of this township, and is still living. H. N. Marsh, whose 
father first settled in Crete Township, was a cabinet maker, a business he fol- 
lowed until 1847, when he purchased the True Democrat, as noticed in the 
history of the city of Joliet. Rev. J. H. Prentiss was a Presbyterian preacher, 
and the first resident minister in the city or township. Chas. Hopkins settled 
here during the Fall. His wife was a literary lady, and a writer of consider- 
able merit. Robert Duncan was at one time Recorder, and for many years an 
active merchant. Oliver W. Stillman was the first Justice of the Peace on the 
East Side, and was elected in 1830, while McKee was the first on the West 
Side, as already noticed. John M. Wilson is the well-known Judge Wilson, of 
Chicas:o. Collins came this Summer, and lived for a while in Robert Stevens' 
house, whose wife had died just before Collins came to the settlement. Levi ^ 
Jenks was for some time Clerk of the County Court, and at last accounts of him 
was in California. Wm. AValters settled on the West Side, and now lives in 



374 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Grundy County. Chatfield was another West Sider, and one of the early 
Justices of the Peace. Allen Pratt was an old bachelor or widower, and was a 
little near-sighted. " The girls used to have a deal of fun with him," as an old 
lady expressed it to us. One evening, he had been with a party of young ladies, 
and returning home by moonshine saw what he thought was a black place in 
the road, and upon stepping on it found it to be a cow lying down. It sprang 
to its feet, bringing him astride its back, and dashed away at full speed, treat- 
ing him to a kind of John Gilpin ride. C. C. Pepper was one of the early 
disciples of Blackstone. L. B, Hopkins was a merchant, on the East Side, 
and Hyde was a carriage maker on the East Side. Atwell was a blacksmith, 
and one of the first in the settlement. Of the others mentioned, not much 
information can now be obtained. Thus we have endeavored to briefly notice 
the early settlers of Joliet Township. It may be that the names of many of 
those who settled here in the years named have been omitted from the list given, 
but we have taken much pains and trouble to obtain them so far as possible, and 
in doing so have drawn pretty freely on the memories of the few early settlers 
still living and within our reach. 

When the first white man came to Joliet Township in 1831, there were 
plenty of Indians in the present limits of Will County, and, though of the 
friendly Pottawatomies, yet the very fact that they were surrounded by savages, 
whose ferocity, when aroused, is scarcely equaled by wild beasts, coupled with 
the fact that low mutterings were now and then borne to them on the gale, of the 
threatening troubles with the Sacs, then on the verge of taking the war path, 
all conspired to divest the wilderness of its romance, and render their every-day 
life, to say the least, unpleasant. The Pottawatomies, though friendly as already 
stated, were looked upon with much suspicion at times, and required a good deal 
of watching to prevent their petty thieving, a penchant for which is a native 
characteristic of the red man. While the Black Hawk war was raging in 1832, 
the few settlers who remained upon their claims built a fort in the present city 
limits of Joliet, which they called " Fort Nonsense," but as it is graphically 
described in the general history, we pass it with this slight allusion. Nearly half 
a century has passed since Black Hawk led his painted warriors over the prai- 
ries of Illinois, and the wilderness where a few hardy pioneers braving danger, 
planted a feeble settlement, has " flourished and blossomed like the rose." The 
Indians have long since taken up their line of march toward the " land of the 
setting sun "; their council fires burn far away in the " untrodden West," and 
the little settlement on the Des Planes River, which had its birth, as it were, 
in the midst of an Indian war, has grown into a prosperous community, with a 
prosperous city in its midst. The half dozen families that settled in Joliet 
Township in 1831, have increased in numbers, and, including city and township, 
aggregate several thousand. 

In all new communities^ one of the first things thought of is a mill. This 
branch of enterprise engaged the attention of the people of Joliet Town- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUIITY. 375 

ship at a very early period of its settlement. When we look around us at the 
magnificent mills of to-day and the unbounded facilities for procuring our sup- 
plies of meal and ilour, it seems almost impossible to realize the limited means 
of obtaining bread by the pioneers of fifty years ago. What would we think 
at the present day, of having to go to Peoria to mill, with a wagon and team, 
and a rainy season coming on, of being detained six weeks ? And yet there are 
those living within sound of the church bells of Joliet, who remember such an 
experience. The first attempt at a mill in Joliet Township was made by one 
John Norman, in 1833-4. It was built at the head of an island nearly oppo- 
site the penitentiary and was rather a primitive affair. lie built a dam across 
one branch of the river, and thus turned the current in the other. In this his 
wheel was placed, the shaft communicating with the machinery of the mill. It 
was a small log structure, and its caj)acity for grinding rather limited, as we 
have been told that fifteen bushels of grain in twenty-four hours was good work 
for it. The next mill was McKee's, built on the west side of the river, just 
above Jefferson street, the frame of Avhich is still standing, a monument to 
pioneer enterprise. Several saw-mills were built in the town. A. Cagwin built 
one on Hickory Creek, near where the Reed Mills now stand. Col. Sayre 
and Mansfield Wheeler had a saAV-mill also on Hickory Creek, in which was 
sawed the lumber for the first frame house in Joliet. Clement & Clark, and the 
Haven Bros, built mills in the early times, as noticed in the general his- 
tory of the county. But the day of usefulness of these original mills has 
long since passed, and the more modern inventions and improvements fill their 
place. 

The first roads through Joliet Township were the old Indian trails and emi- 
grant trails, the latter made by the settlers' wagons passing through the swamps 
and prairie grass. When a man in those days started to a certain place he took 
the most direct route and turned aside for no surmountable object The stage 
route from Chicaga to Ottawa was the first effort at a public highway, and was 
opened for travel as early as 1834, Coaches were put on this route, which ran 
along on the west bluff of the Des Planes River, and was considered a grand im- 
provement on the mode of transit, to the " ox-team express" hitherto in use be- 
tween the settlement and Chicago. But for a number of years, there were no 
bridges over the water-courses and sloughs, and, as a consequence, travel on this 
was sometimes prolonged beyond the specified periods laid down in its time 
tables. The first post office was established through the instrumentality of Dr. 
Bowen, in February, 1835, who was appointed Postmaster, a position he held until 
the election of Gen. Taylor as Pre?ident in 1848. The mail came by a cross 
line from Plainfield where it connected with the Chicago and Ottawa stage line, 
that being the nearest station of the line to this settlement, at that time. A 
man of the name of McDougall succeeded Dr. Bowen as Postmaster. The first 
store in Joliet Township was in the present limits of the city of Joliet, where it 
will be noticed. The church history of the township is so closely identified. 



376 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

with the city that it also will be noticed in that connection, as well as some other 
points usually given in the township histories. 

The first birth in Joliet Township cannot, at this distant period, be given 
Avith any degree of correctness. Mr. Woodruff, in his " Forty Years Ago," in 
speaking of this matter, says : " My own impressions would be in favor of a 
McKee, as, according to my recollection, such an event was a yearly one at the 
McKee mansion." This is as definite as " Forty Years Ago" is on the subject, 
and our own inquiries have failed to elicit any further information ; so, with Mr. 
Woodruff, we will accord the honor to McKee, in absence of authority to the 
contrary. The first death in the settlement is likewise involved in some uncer- 
tainty. Some are of the opinion that Mr. John B. Cook, mentioned elsewhere 
as a Revolutionary soldier, was the first to cross over the " Dark River." He 
was verging on to his fourscore when he came to this township with his son, 
Major Cook, and, it is said, died in a few years after he came. Others there 
are who think that the first wife of Robert Stevens Avas probably the first death. 
She was a lady of delicate constitution, and survived wilderness life but a few 
years, at furthest. The first marriage occurring in this township, was Thomas 
Ellis to Miss Anne Pence, of the Hickory Creek settlement, and the matrimonial 
knot was tied for them by Benjamin F. Barker, a Justice of the Peace. The mar- 
riage took place on the 4th of July, 1835, and was a part of the exercises — not on 
the programme — of the first Fourth of July celebration ever held in Joliet 
Towsnhip. This celebration of our National Birthday consisted of music, a pro- 
cession, reader, orator, dinner,, etc., and was held in a little grove of timber 
near the present round-house of the C. A. & St. L. R. R., and enjoyed by 
the crowd as such free entertainments usually are. Rev. J. H. Prentiss was 
Chaplain of the occasion, Jonathan Barnett, Marshal of the procession, Dr. 
Bowen read the Declaration of Independence, but the name of the orator of the 
day has been suffered to sink into oblivion. It was doubtless interesting, and 
did honor to the day they celebrated. 

The first practicing physician in the town, as already noted, was Dr. A. W. 
Bowen, who settled here in 1834, and is at present living in Wilmington, enjoy- 
ing in his old age the competence obtained through a life of honest toil and 
square dealing with his fellow-men. Dr. Cliarles Reed was the next physician 
after Dr. Bowen, and came in the following Autumn. The first lawyers are 
more particularly noticed in the history of the city, where legal talent usually 
congregates, and where it is mostly employed. The first Justices of the Peace 
of Joliet Township were Oliver W. Stillman, on the east side of the river, and 
James McKee on the west side, and were elected in 1836, the first year of the 
formation of the county. The courts of these early Justices afforded many 
ludicrous and humorous incidents characteristic of the backwoods. One of these 

dispensers of justice, named Lawler, usually held his courts in a building, 

the front room of which was occupied as a saloon. A case was tried before him 
one day in which two well-known attorneys were engaged — Messrs. D. L. Gregg 



IIISTOIIV OF WILL COUNTY. 377 

and E. C. Fellows. It seemed rather a plain case, but the Justice decided it 
adversely to what the majority really expected, which so exasperated Mr. Gregg, 
whose case had thus been defeated, that he jumped to his feet with the compli- 
mentary remark, ''You are a — old jackass !" Fellows arose, and with much 
dignity said, "May it please your Honor, the Court has been insulted, and 
should fine the offender $1,000 and impri.son him for life." " Oh," said the 
'Squire, " Mr. Gregg and I understand each other. Boys, lets all go and take 
something to drink." William R. AtAvell was the first blacksmith, and had a 
shop on the west side of the river as early as 1834. The first school house was 
built about 1836-7, and was in the present city limits, and is further noticed on 
another page. A man named John Watkins taught the first school in this 
primitive temple of learning, and is still living (in New Lenox Township), 
though old and feeble and nearly blind. This was not, however, the first school 
in the township, or settlement it was then ; but the honor of teaching the first 
school is awarded to a Miss Cleveland, who, it is said, taught in the " old fort," 
which has been frequently mentioned in this work. She lived in California, 
the last known of her. Of the early schools of the township but little can now 
be learned. The first records are mislaid or destroyed, and hence no informa- 
tion can be obtained through that source. Through the courtesy of Mr. Fay, 
the School Treasurer, we have examined all the books in his possession, which 
consist mostly of loan, cash and account books, but no early records beyond 
these account books. The school facilities have increased somewhat since Miss 
Cleveland taught in " Fort Nonsense," and Watkins in the little school house, 
as we find in the report of 1872 that there were eleven school districts, with 
pupils enrolled to the number of 3,589. Forty-five teachers were emplo^^ed, 
and there were in the town seventeen school houses. The special tax of town- 
ship was §2,140.12, and city school tax §4,419.70. Mr. Fay's last report to 
the County Superintendent of Schools shows the following : 

Number of males in township under 21 years of age S,125 

Number of females in township under 21 years of age 3,101 

Total 6,226 

Number of males attending school in township 1,107 

Number of females attending school in township 1,043 

Total 2,150 

Number of male teachers employed 5 

Number of female teachers employed 45 

Number of graded schools in township 2 

Number of ungraded schools in township 10 

Number of public high schools in township 1 

Number of private schools in township •. 

Number of male pupils in private schools 247 

Number of female pupils in private schools 357 

Number of teachers employed in private schools 14 

Estimated value of school property $GG,400 00 

Estimated value of school libraries 250 00 

Estimated value of school apparatus 405 00 

Principal of township fund 6,881 80 

Amount of district tax levy, etc 22,192 00 



378 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

There are in the town eighteen comfortable and commodious school 
houses, five of which are built of stone, and the others are substantial frame 
buildings. The first bridge in the township of which we have any account was 
built over the Des Planes River in the latter part of 1837. At that time, 
two substantial wooden bridges were built about where the lower and middle 
bridges now are. They were both washed away, however, in the next Spring, 
which was a season of unprecedented high water, and many a day passed before 
they were rebuilt, or other accommodations provided for crossing the river 
than a " dug-out," or ferry boat, when it was too high to ford. But at the 
present day, the town is well supplied with excellent bridges, wherever those 
useful and convenient inventions are needed. 

In the early settlement of this section of the country, claims were usually 
made by "squatting " wherever the new-comer found land or a situation that 
suited him, provided there was no prior claim. Building a cabin and enclosing 
and cultivating a patch of ground established a pre-emption right to their claim 
— that is, a right to purchase it, when it should come into market, at the Gov- 
ernment price of $1.25 per acre ; and at the land sales, though there might 
be ever so many speculators present, they dare not bid against a settler, unless 
they chose to risk rousing their vengeance. They (the settlers) had organized 
a regular court to protect and settle their claims, which was a kind of " Higher 
Law," and woe unto him who trespassed upon the rights of this court or 
the settlers. A compromise was finally efi"ected between the settlers and specu- 
lators, whereby the latter paid for the land and the settlers gave them half, and 
thus securing to themselves a reasonable amount of land for nothing. The 
land sale of 1835 caused a great rush of immigration to this section and a rage 
for land speculation, and soon all the most valuable and available lands were 
taken up or secured by the speculators. In 1850, the county adopted township 
organization, and this further added to the convenience of laying claims and 
locating lands. Upon the organization of townships, this one received the 
name of Joliet — a name conspicuous in the early history of Illinois as that of 
one of the early French explorers, Louis Joliet. The first Supervisor of 
Joliet Township was Charles Clement, Avho held the position for three years 
successively. The present township officers are as follows, viz.: Frederick 
Rappell, Supervisor, and John Scheidt, John Lyon, William Gleason, Assistant 

Supervisors ; Kelly, Township Clerk ; W. D. Fay, School Treasurer ; J. 

T. Millspaugh, Police Magistrate ; R. Doolittle, Edmund Wilcox, J. P. Mur- 
phy, Patrick Shanahan and William P. Webber, Justices of the Peace. 

Joliet Township, including the city, politically is Democratic ; and has 
always, we believe, been of that color in politics wherein party lines were 
closely drawn. As now, so it was in the days of Whigs and Democrats ; and 
upon all important occasions, the latter usually carried the day with case, par- 
ticularly during "canal times," when they used to bring the sons of the " Ould 
Sod" to the rescue. As to the township's record in the late Avar, it has been 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 379 

SO ably and truly given in the "Patriotism of Will County " that we make no 
mention of it here other than to refer the reader to that excellent work. Per- 
haps the history of Joliet Township would not be complete without some notice 
of Joliet Mound, notwithstanding it is referred to in the general county history. 
It attracted a good deal of attention in the early explorations of the country, 
and was believed by many to have been the labor of the Mound Builders, the 
remains of whose works constitute the most interesting class of antiquities found 
within the limits of the United States. But more modei'n theories and investi- 
gations have exploded that idea, and it is generally conceded to once have been an 
'* island in the ocean," or in the mighty river which is supposed to have flowed 
through this valley ages and ages ago, as the southern outlet of Lake Michi- 
gan. That it wa^ formed by the action of water there can be little doubt, since 
the mound has been dug into a considerable depth and found to be composed of 
sand and gravel, deposited upon a bed of clay. Being something of a natural 
curiosity, it seems to be a pity to have it destroyed, as is being done at present 
by the Mound Tile Factory. It would be an eligible site and a most beautiful 
place for a park. Should the city buy it for that purpose and convert it into a 
park, a very fine one could be made of it, and the outlay would be well and 
judiciously made. 

Having traced the history of the township through its early settlement and 
down to its organization, touching upon the main points of interest, we come 
now to the history of 

THE CITY OF JOLIET. ' 

Joliet, or as sometimes styled, and ver}^ appropriately, too, the " Stone City," 
is situated on both sides of the Des Planes River, in a beautiful valley, with its 
suburbs extending back on to the bluffs like the wings of a great army. It is 
thirty-eight miles from Chicago, and connected with that suburban retreat by 
two of the greatest railroads in the State of Illinois, and has also water com- 
munication with Chicago via the Illinois & Michigan Canal. If Joliet is not a 
" city set on a hill," it is certainly " founded on a rock," for the entire surface 
upon which it is situated is stone. It is well laid out, the streets broad, with 
excellent sidewalks, and bordered with handsome trees. Many fine residences 
and business houses, built of stone — products of its own enterprise — are to be 
found here which would adorn any city. Its railroad facilities are excellent ; 
having the advantage of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific to the West ; the 
Chicago, Alton & St. Louis to the South ; the Chicago, Pekin & Southwestern 
to the Southwest ; and the Michigan Central to the East. These roads have 
been of much advantage in building up Joliet ; and their machine shops located 
here give employment to a large number of men. A full sketch of the rail- 
roads aud of the canal is given in the general histox'y, and so will not be 
repeated here. 

The names of many of the early settlers of the city have already been given 
in the settlement of the township, but no mention made of them beyond the 



380 HISTORY OF AVILL COUNTY, 

date of their coming to the county, their works and their deeds being left for 
this chapter. As common in townships containing county seats, most of the 
important history of Joliet centers in the city of the same name. Here many 
of the more stirring events of the times transpired, and here, as just stated, 
much of the important history has occurred. Charles Reed is generally re- 
garded as the first settler in the city of Joliet, or was, at least, the first to lay 
claim to any portion of the land in the original city. He had made a claim on 
the southeast quarter of Section 9, upon which, in 1833, he built a small log 
house, west of the river, and very near where the National Hotel now stands. 
Reed was from Indiana, and had settled in Reed's Grove about 1831, but, 
attracted by the water power, came to this place, as already noted, and com- 
menced preparations for building a mill. In the Fall of 1833; James B. Camp- 
bell and James McKee purchased the " floats " granted by the State to Silvia 
and Rachel Hall, two girls who had been captured by the Indians, as narrated 
in the general history. Campbell located his float in the early part of 1834, on 
the east side of the river, embracing a part of the present city of Joliet. On 
the 13th day of May, the Surveyor's certificate was filed, and on the 10th of 
June, 1834, the plat was recorded and the town christened to "Juliet," for 
Campbell's daughter, it is said ; a name it bore until 1845, when it was changed 
by act of the Legislature. President Van Buren and his Secretary of the 
Navy, Mr. Paulding, while on a tour through the West, stopped at "Juliet," 
and, noticing the difierence in the name of the city and of Joliet Mound, urged 
the people to have the former changed to correspond with the latter, which was 
done as above stated, by act of the Legislature, and approved February 26, 
1845. The act further provided that all additions subsequently laid out " shall 
be known as additions to Joliet." In January, 1834, McKee, after purchas- 
ing the claim of Reed, located his float on the west side of the river, and laid 
it out into one-acre lots. In April, 1834, Charles Clement bought one acre 
from McKee, for which he paid him $125, and on which he erected a story and 
a half building, the first frame house in West Joliet. Bailey Brothers had some- 
time previously built a frame house on the East Side. 

As already stated, Charles Reed is regarded as the first permanent settler 
in the original town of Joliet, or "Juliet." David Maggard, however, settled 
in what is at present the city of Joliet, some three years before Reed. But at 
the time Maggard built his house, which was nearly opposite the Rolling Mill, 
there was no city of Joliet. and it was years after the birth of the city before 
it extended its limits to include Maggard's original cabin. Charles Reed, the 
pioneer of Joliet, finally went to Winnebago County, where he died a few years 
ago. Charles Clement, who is considered the oldest living resident of the city, 
settled permanently in the Spring of 1834. He commenced merchandising after 
he had been here some time, a business he continued for many years. In 
1839, he with others started the first newspaper in Joliet, which is more partic- 
ularly referred to in the history of the city press. In late years, he has retired 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 381 

from active business life, and is enjoying liis well-earned possessions. Hon. 
Goerge H. Woodruff, perhaps the next "oldest iiiliabitant," also came to Joliet 
in 1834. lie is still an active business man of the West Side, and entertains 
the warmest feelings for the "country beyond the river," and it may be, some 
prejudice for that side of the city. His able pen Tias furnished some valuable 
history to the county, in his lectures of "Forty Years Ago" and the "Patriot- 
ism of Will County," a book every soldier of the late war should have. His 
last literary effort, and perhaps one of his best, is the writing of the General 
County History of this work. Otis Hardy settled here in 1836. His father 
died when he was but 10 years old, leaving the care of the family to him, a 
duty he faithfully performed. He began business in Joliet as a carpenter, but 
finally drifted into the lumber business, which he followed for twenty years. 
Mr. Hardy has been a member of the M. E. Church since 22 years of age, a 
member of the Quarterly Conference since 1887. and President of the Will 
County Bible Society for forty years. He is a man of large benevolence and 
exalted charity, and built at his own expense the Richards Street Methodist 
Church and parsonage at a cost of over $5,000, besides liberal contributions to 
the other Methodist churches of the city. He had little when he came to 
Joliet except a strong arm and willing hand, and here he has accumulated his 
wealth. George Woodruff, one of the successful merchants and bankers of the 
city, came here in 1836. He first commenced in the grocery and commission 
business, which he continued a number of years. In 1852, he built a grain 
elevator and engaged in the grain business until 1864, in which year the First 
National Bank was organized, with him as President — a business he is still 
engaged in. Edmund Wilcox is another of the old settlers of 1836. He was 
for a time engaged in merchandising in partnership with Charles Clement. In 
1858, sold out and became one of the originators of the Joliet Gaslight Com- 
pany, was its first President, and superintended the erection of the works of 
the company. He is at present one of the Justices of the Peace of the city 
and township. In 1852, he was on the Legislative Committee for laying off the 
city into wards, and also member of a committee to confer with Eastern capital- 
ists as to the expediency of building a railroad, the final result of which was 
the building by the Michigan Southern, the Rock Island Railroad, one of the 
best appointed roads in the State of Illinois. Another of the business men of 
the city still surviving, is R. Doolittle. He came in 1837, and was elected 
Justice of the Peace a few years later, an office he held for twelve years ; was 
also Assignee in Bankruptcy during the existence of the old bankrupt act of 
the United States years ago. In 1852, he resumed business as a merchant, 
which he had formerly been engaged in, and the firm of Doolittle k, Stone 
erected the thiee-story brick building on the south side of Jefferson street, 
which was the second building west of Ottawa street. He sold to his partner 
in 1864, and engaged in railroad contracting, and, in 1871, was again elected 
Justice of the Peace, which office he now holds. Uri Osgood came from New 



382 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

York in 1836, and was a leading lawyer and prominent business man and 
banker of Joliet. It is said that he once bought all the land on Jefferson 
street from Ottawa street to the river, for two black horses and $50 in money. 
It would take a national bank or two to buy the same district now. H. N. 
Marsh settled here in 1835, and engaged in cabinet making. In 1848, he 
purchased the True Democrat, which, on the organization of the Republican 
party, was merged into the Joliet Republican. He continued in the newspa- 
per business until the completion of the Rock Island Railroad, in 1852, when 
he took charge of the oflfices here, a position he has ever since held, with the 
exception of three years from 1864 to 1867, when he served as Postmaster of 
Joliet. Joel A. Matteson is another of the earlv business men, to whom Joliet, 
as well as the State of Illinois, owes much of its prosperity. He set- 
tled in the city of Joliet in 1836, and the woolen mill was one of the menu- . 
ments of his enterprise. His public life commenced as a Justice of the Peace, 
and ended as Governor of the State, and was characterized throughout by wise 
and able judgment in promoting the interests of the country. His business life, 
however, did not remain unspotted to the end. His connection with the canal 
scrip is familiar to most of our readers, and without a wish to revive painful 
and disao-reeable reflections, we leave it to them to draw their own conclusions. 
The Cagwins, prominent business men of Joliet, came here when the city was not. 
H. A. Cagwin came in 1834, Abijah in 1835; Francis L. and 0. D. came in 
1838. Abijah Cagwin first settled one and a half miles from the city, where 
he remained until 1840, when, having been elected "Judge of Probate" he 
moved into Joliet, where he has lived ever since. He and Francis L. engaged 
in merchandising, produce, lumber, etc., which they continued some time. 
The latter is now in the banking business, and the former is dealing in grain. 
H. A. Cagwin clerked for Cox, the first merchant of the place, when he first 
came to Joliet ; lives now in California, and 0. D. Cagwin lives in Lockport. 
He made a trip to California during the gold excitement in 1849-50, and was 
gone three years. Rodney House is another of the early settlers of the city. 
He came from New York in 1835, and settled on the east side of the river, and 
was the first carriage maker on this side, while J. Beaumont was the first on 
the west side, and had come to the new city a short time before House came. 
Francis Nicholson came from New York, and settled on the west side in 1836. 
He has been living in the house he now occupies, for thirty-four years. 
Dr. A. W. Bowen first settled outside of the city, but moved into it in a short 
time, and was among the first merchants, as well as the first Postmaster and 
the first practicing physician. We have, so far as possible to obtain them, 
given the names of early settlers. If any who are entitled to rank as old 
settlers have been overlooked, it is unintentional, and is owing to their names 
having escaped the memory of the few still living. 

The first merchant in Joliet was a man named Cox, who commenced the 
mercantile business, in a very limited way, about 1833-4. It was for this man 




\^¥ 



^ (dec^sed) 



(i 

JO.L/ET 



HISTORY OF \VII,L COUNTY. 385 

Cox, that H. A. Cagwin clerked when he first came to the pLace. Furtlier than 
this, we know little of tiiis first store and first mercliant. The next store was 
opened by M. 11. Demmond, who used one room of his residence for a store- 
house, as soon as it was finished. In the mean time, while waiting for the com- 
pletion of his house, his goods were stored in Chicago, in the first warehouse 
ever built in that city. In January, 1835, Demmond bought McKee's claim, 
except his mill property, and laid it off into town lots — McKee having pre- 
viously divided it into acre lots only — the plat being recorded in June, 1830. 
Soon after laying out the West Side, Clement built a saw-mill, and under the 
firm name of Clement & Clark, a brisk lumber trade was at once inaugurated. 
This year, Demmond set the example, since so extensively followed in Joliet, by 
putting up the first stone building. It is the block of business houses on the 
West Side, opposite the National Hotel, and upon its completion was appropri- 
ately celebrated by a ball, at which all the young people for miles around con- 
gregated. By way of embellishment, we draw on '• Forty Years Ago," for 
the following anecdote, which occurred while Demmond & Curry kept a store 
in this stone block. Dr. Adams had a fancy hog, one of the long-nosed kind, 
that are said to stick the snout through a fence and pick off the third row of 
corn. In those days, all stock was permitted to run at large in the street. 
This hog of Adams' seemed to know in a moments when Demmond & Currv's 
cellar door was open, and no matter in what part of the town he might be wan- 
dering, he instantly appeared upon the scene and slipped in. As they did a 
large barter business, they of course took in a great deal of butter, and thus 
many a jar was rendered unfit for anything but a Chicago restaurant, by the 
hog, and the merchants swore vengeance against him. One rainy night, as they 
were closing up, they heard him enter the cellar, and, instead of driving him 
out. closed the door and held him prisoner. They caught him, and after sat- 
urating him thoroughly with spirits of turpentine, took him to the door, touched 
the candle to him and bade him go. He went. With an unearthly yell he 
tore through the streets, lightening up the darkness with the lurid blaze, and 
terribly frightening the canal people, men and women, who verily believed it 
was the " divil himself," and they called upon all the saints in the calendar for 
protection. On, on he went, putting straiglit for the river, like the swine of 
old, plunged in the stream and silence and darkness reigned. With this little 
digression, parenthetically, we will resume our subject. The next stone build- 
ing was erected by John L. and Richard L. Wilson, in 1836, on the East Side, 
just south of the City Hall, in which they opened a store. In 1837, the stone 
block known as "Merchant's Row," was built. These, with a number of 
wooden buildings that had been put up in the mean time, were filled with stores 
of different kinds, and Joliet was becoming a place of considerable business. 
The first blacksmith of whom we have anv account, was W. R. Atwell, who 
opened a shop on the West Side, in 1835. The first tinsmith was William 
Blair, who settled on the West Side, in 1836, and opened a tin-shop, where he 



386 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

remained several years, then removed to Chicago. Charles Sayre was the first 
tailor, and as elsewhere noted, settled in Joliet in 1834. J. Beaumont, Rod- 
ney House and Elias Hyde were the first carriage makers. Beaumont was 
on the West Side, while the other two settled on the East Side. Hugh 
Henderson is credited as the first lawyer in the city of Joliet. William A. 
Boardman and E. C. Fellows came soon after Henderson ; Boardman and 
Henderson were partners in the law for a time. Fellows Avas from New 
York, and settled first in Channahon Township, where he married a daughter 
of Judge Peck. Benjamin Richardson, who settled in Plainfield Township, in 
1834, and in 1836 came to Joliet, was a chairmaker, and followed the business 
for some time in this city. Many of these men, noted as beginning business 
here more than forty years ago, are still at their post, and it is a theme of re- 
mark that Joliet has a larger number of aged business men than any other city in 
Northern Illinois. To this fact is attributable, perhaps, the energy and enter- 
prise and solid business qualities which are so strongly characteristic of the 
" Stone City," for men usually, as they grow older, lose some of the wild spec- 
ulative recklessness of youth, and weigh all new projects well before taking 
hold, and younger men will make a fortune — and sometimes lose one — while 
they look at a proposition and debate the practicability of investing in it. 

The grain trade, which is one of the most important branches of business 
in Joliet, was begun in an early day. John M. Wilson and Charles Clement 
were the first grain merchants of the place, and used an old barn on Block 16 
for storage purposes. Their net profits for the first year, and the only one, in 
which they handled grain, are said to have amounted to the immense sum of nine 
dollars. They made a corner in the market and retired from the business at 
the end of the first year. But without attempting to follow the grain trade 
through all its stages, from Wilson & Clement's "corner" to the vast propor- 
tions it has since assumed, we will endeavor to give something of its present 
status. There are now five able firms engaged in grain, viz.: Carpenter & 
Marsh, A. Cagwin & Co., E. R. Knowlton, H. C. Teed, Wheeler & Co. and 
J. E. Bush. Carpenter & Marsh are the heaviest dealers. As an illustration, 
we give their shipments for one week, taken from a newspaper publication of 
1874 : 

Monday 48 car loads. 

Tuesday 44 

Wednesday '21 " 

Thursday -Yi 

Friday aO 

Saturday 42 

Total for the week 218 

They handle annually not far short of three and a half million bushels of grain, 
and all of which is shipped direct to Eastern markets. Their elevator capacity 
is about thirty thousand bushels, and twelve to fifteen men are employed in 
loading and unloading grain. Last year, this firm alone handled 3,750,000 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 387 

bushels of grain, most of wliich was corn and oats, but a little wheat and 
barley. A. Cagwin & Co. handle annually about five hundred thousand 
bushels of corn and oats, most of which is shipped direct to the East. The 
elevator used by this firm was built by Carpenter & Marsh, and will store 
from fifteen thousand to twenty thousand bushels of grain. It is owned bv 
M. 0. Cagwin. H. C. Teed, Wheeler k Co. handle about five hundred thou- 
sand bushels annually, and have storage room for about thirty thousand bushels 
in Michigan Central Elevator. They also handle pressed hay, mill feed and 
wool, which, together with grain, they ship East, viz.: to Canada, New Eno-land 
and Pennsylvania. E. R. Knowlton handles about three hundred thousand 
bushels of corn and oats, which are shipped East. He has two elevators, one of 
which was built by Cagwin, in an early stage of the grain business, and will 
store about eighteen thousand bushels of shelled corn, and the other about 
twelve thousand bushels of oats. His cribbing capacity is about five thousand 
bushels of ear-corn. J. E. Bush, whose Avarehouse and elevator stand near 
the Jefferson street bridge, handles about six hundred thousand bushels of corn 
and oats annually, and ships both to the East and to Chicago — to the latter 
place by canal. He has storage room for about forty thousand bushels. As 
will be seen, most of the grain handled in Joliet is shipped direct to Eastern 
markets. This is done by the "Cut-off"" division of the Michigan Central 
Railroad, a very important road for the business of Joliet, as it avoids the 
delay and expense of shipping by Chicago. Much of the grain and stock 
going East over the Chicago & Rock Island and Chicago & Alton Railroads 
are here transferred to the " Cut-off"" Railroad, and do not go to Chicago at 
all, which, added to that bought at this point, makes Joliet quite a center of 
trade. 

Next to the grain interest, and perhaps even surpassing it in importance and 
as a source of actual wealth to the city, is stone quarrying. Joliet stone is 
known throughout the State, and to a considerable extent in many other States. 
From the inexhaustible supply of the finest building and flag stone, the large 
number of stone buildings and most excellent sidewalks, the city has justly 
received the pseudonym of the " Stone City." The neighborhood of Joliet is 
as prolific of stone as some neighboring sections of coal. Indeed, from a ramble 
among the quarries, we should judge the supply to be sufficient almost to build 
a " Chinese Wall" around the entire State. So far, it has been impossible to 
form any accurate idea of the extent or quantity of stone in this vicinitv as 
the number of quarries now in successful operation required no labor to open 
them other than the scraping off" of the trash from the surface, and no cause 
exists for going to any great depth for superior qualities of the " raw material." 
As pertinent to the subject, we quote from the Geological Survey of Illinois : 
" Only from twelve to fifteen feet of beds furnishing ' dimension stone ' are now 
quarried, as the bottom of this brings the quarryman down to the water-level 
and the supply has thus far been so abundant as to make deeper explorations 



388 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

unnecessary. . . . The stone itself is a very compact, fine-grained, clink- 
ing, magnesian limestone, but thin seams of greenish clay run irregularly 
through the whole mass, which, upon long exposure in situations alternately 
wet and dry, must ultimately cause the most solid layers to split up. The 
separation in the quarry into ' ledges,' often twenty-four, thirty and forty inches 
in thickness, simply results from the presence of somewhat thicker partings of 
this same greenish, shaly clay. These beds were formerly described as com- 
posed of light buff stone, while the deeper portions of the quarries now furnish 
'blue stone.' The difference results from the difference in amount of oxidation 
of the small portion of iron disseminated through the whole mass, the change 
having resulted from atmospheric influence. The same change must ultimately 
take place in all the ' blue stone ' which is brought to the surface." 

Who was first to engage in quarrying, as a regular business, we have been 
unable to ascertain, but are of the opinion that as the city grew and developed, 
enterprising individuals gradually and mechanically, as it were, drifted into it 
to supply the increasing demand for building stone. M. H. Demmond, who is 
mentioned on another page as having built the first stone house in 1835, must 
have been the first quarryman, though it does not appear that he extended the 
business beyond his own immediate wants. From that insignificant beginning 
the stone business has continued to increase until it has reached vast proportions, 
and the quarries in and around Joliet, in ordinary times, give employment to 
more than five hundred men. One of the large quarries here in operation is 
that of W. A. Steel, who employs a large number of men, and ships immense 
quantities of stone to almost every part of the country, and commands a large 
trade throughout this State, having shipped some sixty thousand car loads to 
the Government works at Rock Island alone. The Custom Houses at Des 
Moines, Iowa, and Madison, Wisconsin, and the Capitol of Michigan were built 
principally from his quarries. But our space forbids a more extended notice of 
Mr. Steel's well-known quarries. Bruce & Co. have one of the oldest quarries 
in the vicinity and employ a large number of men. From having been long in 
the business, they command a large trade and ship extensively to other sections 
of the country. The Joliet Stone Company's quarries are among the largest 
and best in operation. The Company Avas organized in 1877, under the State 
law, Avith G. H. Munroe, President ; G. M. Campbell, Secretary and Treasu- 
rer, and D. C. Hays, Superintendent. So recently organized, they have not 
yet fully developed their quarries, but furnish a superior quality of limestone, 
and the bottom layers of the quarries are cement stone. They employ from 
twenty-five to one hundred men, and have the most complete steam machinery 
for sawing and rubbing stone in use. The Company has recently purchased 
and opened a quarry in Alabama, which they are now working extensively. 
The AVerners are largely engaged in the stone business. Charles, William and 
Adam Werner operate separate quarries, of which Charles, oerhaps, does the 
largest business. William Davidson & Bro. opened their quarries in 1845, and 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. ' 389 

ship largely to different parts of the country. Their quarries are on the Rock 
Island Railroad and the canal, thus affording them excellent facilities for ship- 
ping. Rannon and Kronmeyer both own and operate large quarries, the 
former on the west side of the river and the latter on the canal, just south of 
the prison, and have a large trade both at home and abroad. There are other 
quarries around the city, perhaps, some of which we believe are doing but little 
business, while others are standing wholly idle. In this brief glance at the 
stone interests of Joliet, it will be seen that the business is one of immense 
volume and value. Concluding our brief sketch, we would note the fact that 
the United States Government has subjectjpd this stone to new and critical 
tests, as compared with the stone from all the important quarries in the coun- 
try, and both the War and Treasuiy Departments for years past have recog- 
nized its superiority and drawn on Joliet for immense quantities of it for the 
erection of public buildings throughout the country. 

The history of the press dates back almost to the beginning of Joliet. The 
first newspaper, a copy of which we have before us, was issued on the 20th day 
of April, 1 839, and was called the Juliet Courier. It presents a very attractive 
appearance, for a country village of forty years ago, and we extract from its 
well-filled columns, the following dedicatory poem, by M. N. H., whom many 
of our readers will doubtless recognize : 

FOR THE JULIET COURIER. 

(Jo, Courier, forth ! and, heedless of all 

The thorny paths thou may'st be called to tread, 
Press onward ! breaking from the Lethean thrall 

That dark discouragements may round thee spread. 
Press onward I and thy baaner undismayed 

Spread to the breeze that sweeps the sunny West — 
Our Country's banner I while beneath its shade, 

The birds of .Jove amid her stars at rest. 

Protection all may find, and be with freedom blest ! 

Press onward! and with fearless heart proclaim 

Rest to the weary 'neath the tyrant's yoke; 
Freedom to all who groan beneath a chain; 

Joy to the heart by stern oppression broke! 
Then fearless of repulse may'st thou invoke 

The sons of freedom to cheer on thy way ; 
And feudal serfs from their long dream awoke, 

Led by thy high report, shall hither stray, 

And find beneatli our happier skies a more auspicious day. 
Yet shall the watchfires on our hills decay. 

And factions wrangle round our sacred flame ; 
The stars of L^^nion from their orbit stray, 

Like the "lost pleiad." ne'er to shine again 
In our proud standard over earth and main : 

Cease not to raise thy voice until its tone 
Shall rouse the Patriot to shake off the chain 

That fatal luxury has round him thrown ; 

For his whole country's good to toil, and that alone. 



390 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

And as thy weekly message thou dost bring, 

The cause of virtue ne'er forget or slight; 
Nor fear to strip from vice its covering, 

Before their gaze who look to thee for light ! 
Nor in thine intercourse with othei'S slight 

Their faith which may to thee like error seem ; 
But thine untiring zeal for truth unite 

With charity for those who strangely deem 

Their cause the cause of truth, and thine an idle dream. 

Go forth ! and ever round thine onward course 

May flowers of intellect unnumbered spring ; 
And Genius taught by thee her own resource, 

To thee her joyous tribute gladly bring ; 
And Poesy her bright imagining, 

Entwine into a garland for thy brow ; 
While lofty honor bears with tireless wing 

Above all dalliance with the mean and low ; 

And public favor, all thou dost deserve, bestow. 

The paper was started by thirteen of the enterprising citizens of Joliet, or 
Juliet, of whom were the Allen brothers, Charles Clement, R. Doolittle, Judge 
Henderson and E. Wilcox. The press had been shipped to Ottawa, but not 
being wanted there, was offered on favorable terms, and was bought by Joliet. 
After considerable search they found a man of the name of 0. H. Balch who 
had edited a paper in Michigan, and was also a practical printer, and him they 
secured as editor and publisher. It was a true-blue Democratic paper, and in 
his salutatory the editor promulgated this sensible doctrine : * * * u jjg 
will only state in general terms that he intends to publish a newspaper in which 
the principles of Democracy shall be enforced and vindicated, and in which the 
National Constitution shall be held up to view as the foundation of our Repub- 
lican institutions and the bond of our Union and as the safeguard of our civil 
liberties." In its columns we find this item of news, which was probably quite 
an achievement in its day, but when compared to present improvements, is 
dwarfed into insignificance : '• Rapid Traveling. — It is stated in the Wilming- 
ton (N. C.) Jouryial, that the mail is now carried from New York to Charleston 
(by way of the Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad) in eighty-four hours." It ex- 
perienced the usual struggle for a foot-hold in the newspaper field, and, after 
many changes, passed into the hands of D. L. Gregg, a bi'illiant young lawyer, 
and afterward a member of the Legislature, then Secretary of State, and after- 
ward United States Consul to the Sandwich Islands. In 1843 it was pur- 
chased by Hon. Wm. E. Tattle, who changed its name to that of Joliet Signal, 
which name it still retains. He, in a year or two, sold it to Hon. S. W. Randall, 
and he sold it to A. 0. Stillman, who in May, 1846, sold it to C. & C. Zarley, 
sons of Reason Zarley, the first settler of Joliet Township. Calvin Zarley, before 
his death, disposed of his interest to P. Shuts, the other Zarley still retaining his 
interest. The firm is Zarley & Co., and their paper has ever remained Democratic, 
carrying out the principles heralded to the world on the day of its birth. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 391 

The Jt)liet Repuhlican is the next oldest paper to the Signal. It was 
originally established by A. Mcintosh in 1847, as the True Democrat. In 
1848 he sold it to II. N. Marsh who owned and edited it until 1852, when 
Mr. Mcintosh bought it back, and, in 1857, sold it to Joseph L. Braden, at one 
time Postmaster of Joliet, who, in 1864, changed its -name to Joliet Repuhlican. 
In 1806, Bruden died, and the paper being sold, was bought by James Good- 
speed, Esq., the present owner, and the present Postmaster of Joliet. The 
Republican is a semi-weekly paper and quite readable. 

The Joliet Record was established in 1870, as a Democratic journal, and is 
a live, free, outspoken newspaper. It is an able defender of the " true faith," 
and death on political stealings and unprincipled doings generally. A large 
quarto paper, it is well filled with chaste reading matter, and a good fireside 
journal. D. C. Henderson, the proprietor, is a man of considerable journalistic 
experience, and understands making a readable newspaper. 

The Phoenix is a weekly paper. In January, 1877, a consolidation was 
effected of the Will County Courier., Lockport Phoeniv, Lemont Eagle and 
Plainfield Ueho, and two other publications were added, one at Wilmington and 
the other at Braidwood. An editor was stationed at each of these towns ; the 
type set up by them and shipped to Joliet on publication day. The matter was 
then assorted in such a manner that the reader obtained the local news of ail 
these points. This plan gives more home news than is usually contained in 
ordinary country newspapers. Each editor has more time to devote to news- 
gathering, and therefore a better paper can be published at each point and sold 
cheaper than by the old plan. The issues at present, together with the editors 
and proprietors, are as follows: Joliet Phoenix, J. S. McDonald, editor and 
proprietor ; Lockport Phoenix, J. S. McDonald, proprietor, and Leon Mc- 
Donald, editor ; Wilmington Phoenix, J. S. McDonald, proprietor, and C. H. 
Duck and F. H. Hall, editors ; Lemont Phoenix, J. S. McDonald and W. P. 
Haughey, proprietoi's, and W. P. Haughey, editor. 

The Joliet Sun was established July 12, 1872, by C. B. Hayward, as a Re- 
publican newspaper. In October, 1874, the proprietor issued the first copy of 
the daily Sun, and since then a daily and weekly paper has been issued, the 
daily being an evening paper, and the largest daily issued in the Seventh Con- 
gressional District. The Sun is a live newspaper, and a true exponent of Re- 
publican principles. 

The Joliet News was established in April, 1877, as a morning paper, three 
columns, by Charles F. Dutcher, as editor and proprietor, and was Independent 
in politics. In October, of same year, it was bought b}^ Nelson, Ferris & Co., 
and a weekly Greenback paper added. It is still owned by these parties, and pub- 
lished daily and weekly in the interests of the Greenback party. It is in a 
flourishing condition, and rapidly increasing in importance. 

The first hotel of which we have any account was the " Juliet Hotel," and 
was erected in 1834. It was kept by William H. Blackburn in 1836, but 



392 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

whether or not he built it, deponent testifieth not. The "Old American House " 
was another of the ancient hostelries, and could it have been imbued with the 
power of speech for a little while, doubtless it could " a-tale unfold," and have 
detailed an interesting history of early times and events. But these landmarks 
have passed away, with their cramped capacity for accommodating " man and 
beast," and no city of its size can boast of better or more commodious hotel ar- 
rangements than Joliet at the present day. The •' Robertson House," the " St. 
Nicholas," and the "National " (when in operation), are models of comfort and 
elegance. And a number of others, such as the " Atkinson," " Mansion," 
" Auburn," " City," etc., though making less pretensions, are comfortable 
houses of entertainment. 

We mentioned in the history of Joliet Township, the erection of the first 
school house in 1836, which was likewise the first in the city of Joliet, as it 
was built within the present city limits on Hickory street, and is or was recently 
occupied as a residence by Wm. Terrell. It was built by Demmond, McKee, 
Beaumont and some others for school purposes, and was also used for a temple 
of worship. As previously noticed, John Watkins taught the first school in this 
house — the pioneer teacher, who had taught one of the very first schools in 
Chicago. As the demand for school facilities increased, other edifices were erected, 
and to-day the city is well supplied with substantial school buildings. The 
High School, or graded school buildings on the East and West Side, are built of 
stone, though not presenting as attractive outward appearance as some other 
school buildings in the county. The schools of Joliet are divided into three 
classes, viz., primary, intermediate and high school, and the city into two school 
districts by the river. Each district has a high or graded school, under the su- 
pervision of six inspectors — three to each school, and all subject to the control 
of the city government. Then of the ward or primary schools there are six, 
viz.; The Rolling Mill, Third Ward, Fourth Ward, Fifth Ward, Sixth Ward 
and Seventh Ward. Pupils are required to attend the primary schools in their 
respective wards until far enough advanced to enter the high schools. In addi- 
tion to the common schools, there are a number of private and Catholic schools. 
Mrs. Sarah C. Mcintosh, formerly County Superintendent of Schools, and 
whose term of office expired in 1877, has since opened a kind of academy, 
which is rapidly increasing in popularity. She at present occupies the second 
story of the National Hotel building on the West Side, and has a large and 
flourishing school. Mrs. Judge Olin also conducts a private school, but more of 
a primary than the one just mentioned. The Convent of St. Francis, in 
charge of Mother Francis, Lady Superior, is a kind of boarding-school or 
academy of a high order. The first building was put up in 1858, and a large 
three-story addition made to it in 1870, at a total cost of about $13,000. It is 
built of stone ; is beautifully situated on the \\cst Side bluif, overlooking the 
city, and will accommodate sixty or seventy pupils. There are about ninety 
Sisters connected with the order here, but most of them travel over the country 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 393 

and teach wherever their services may be needed, and only about fifteen are 
here permanently. In addition to the Convent of St. Francis, there are three 
good schools, aside from the common schools and the Monastery of St. Francis, 
conducted under the charge of the Franciscan Fathers of the German Catholic 
Church of St. John the Baptist, and are supj)orted exclusively by the members 
of this Church, without any aid from the public money. These schools are 
attended by about 300 children. Thus, it will be seen from these observations, 
that the stranger locating in Joliet is blessed with abundant school privileges, 
and can have his choice of public, private or Catholic schools. 

It is supposed by some that the first sermon preached in "Juliet" was by 
Rev. George West, a Methodist preacher, whose arrival in the settlement is 
noticed as being in 1833 ; while others think that Rev. J. 11. Prentiss, a Pres- 
byterian, was the first to proclaim the Word of God. It is pretty generally 
conceded, however, that the first church was built under the auspices of the 
Methodists, while the first regular church society was organized by the Episco- 
palians. This pioneer was, as it is still, known as Christ's Episcopal Church, 
and was organized by Bishop Chase, the first Episcopal Bishop of Illinois, on 
the 16th day of M?iy, 1835. (Bishop Chase was the founder of Jubilee Col- 
lege, near Peoria.) The following Avere the original members : Comstock Han- 
ford, John Griswold, Miles Rice, Orlen Westover, A. W. Bowen and wife, 
Julia Ann Hanford and Amorette B. Griswold, all of whom, except Dr. Bowen 
and wife, resided in the adjacent country. Rev. Andrew Cornish was the first 
settled Rector of this Church. Before his advent, Rev. Mr. Hallam, Rector of 
St. James' Church, Chicago, used to come down at times and oflSciate. The 
church edifice was built in 1857, under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Locke, now 
Rector of Grace Church, Chicago. It is a frame building, cost about ^6,000, 
and was dedicated by Bishop Whitehouse, the second Bishop of Illinois. Be- 
fore the building of this church, the society worshiped in the school house or 
wherever convenience dictated. The present membership is about 160, and the 
parish is without a regular Rector. The ministers who have been in charge since 
its organization to the present time are as follows: Rev. Andrew Cornish, Rev. 
Wm. Bostwick (who died in 1845), Rev. Mr. Brown (his brother-in-law), Rev. Mr. 
Todd, Rev. Mr. Pulford, Rev. Wm. Bostwick, Jr., Rev. Mr. Locke, Rev. Mr. 
Wilkerson, Rev. Mr. Gilbert, Rev. Mr. Green, Rev. Mr. Tays and Rev. Mr. Mor- 
rill. A flourishing Sunday school is connected with this Church, under the 
superintendence of Henry Knowlton, with an average attendance of about 
seventy-five children. An Episcopal Mission has been organized at the Rolling 
Mills, which is in a very prosperous condition. It was established by Rev. Mr. 
Gilbert, and is usually attended by the Rector of Christ Church. It also 
maintains an interesting Sunday school. 

As before stated, the first church edifice in Joliet Avas built by the Method- 
ists, in 1838, and cost $2,500. The Rock Island Railroad when built, in 
1852, struck the house and bought it, allowing the society $800 for it. There 



394 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

are, we believe, several claimants for the honor of preaching the fii'st Methodist 
sermon in this settlement. Father Beggs and a local preacher named Isaac 
Scarritt both contend for it, while others accredit a local Methodist preacher, 
Rev. Mr. West, as having preached the first sermon. Father Scarritt claimed 
to have also preached the first sermon in Chicago, and to have done so bare- 
footed, having been in a shipwreck the day previous, and lost his shoes. A 
class was formed in the settlement in 183:2, the bounds of the mission extend- 
ing from Chicago to Peoria and from State line to Fox River, and from 1832 
to 1835, was known as Des Planes Mission ; from 1835 to 1837, as Des Planes 
Circuit, which extended from Blue Island to Ottawa, when it became Joliet 
Station, and the first church edifice commenced and finished, as above stated, 
in 1838. In 1852, after disposing of their first church to the Rock Island 
Railroad Company, who converted it into a blacksmith shop, the society built a 
brick church, at a cost of $10,000, including a parsonage. This church was 
burned in 1859, and was without insurance. The same year, their present 
stone church was built, at a cost of $8,000, and afterAvard remodeled, with 
$2,000 additional cost, and was dedicated by Bishop Simpson. It has now a 
membership of about two hundred and fifty, under the pastoral charge of Rev. 
Mr. Axtell, and an excellent Sunday school, of which Elijah Hunter is Super- 
intendent. The Richards Street Methodist Church, an offshoot of this, was 
built in 1877, at a cost, including parsonage, of $5,500, and was dedicated by 
Rev. Mr. Caldwell. Mr. Otis Hardy bore the entire expense of building this 
church, except $500. The membership^ including the Rolling Mills Mission, 
is about one hundred and fifty. It has a flourishing Sunday school, with Miss 
Kate Swarthouse as Superintendent. The Rolling Mill Chapel was built in 
1874, and cost about $2,200. Its membership is included in the Richards 
Street Church. It has a large Sunday school, and Mr. Webb is Superintend- 
ent. The three Methodist Sunday schools have a regular average attendance 
of about four hundred children. 

St. John's Universalist Church was organized as a church society in 1836, 
by Rev. Aaron Kinney. Until they erected a church they used the Court 
House for a time, and then fitted up a room in " Merchants' Row," on Chicago 
street, in which they worshiped. The first church edifice was built about 
1840, and dedicated by Rev. W. W. Dean. It was a frame building, and cost 
about $1,800. Their present elegant stone church was built in 1856, at a cost 
of $20,000, and was dedicated by Rev. Henry Walworth. It has a large and 
increasing membership, and is under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Laing. Its 
Sunday school has an average attendance of about eighty children, is in a 
flourishing state, and Mrs. C. A. Dean is Superintendent. 

First German Evangelical Lutheran, of Joliet and vicinity, is an offshoot, 
or, rather, a parb of the German Evangelical Church on the West Side, of which 
Rev. Christian Sans became the Pastor in 1860. In 1871, a separation took 
place, and the more liberal of the members, with Rev. Mr. Sans, organized a 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 305 

church on the East Side, with the above title. They have erected a very 
elegant church, but have only the basement completed, owing to a failure 
to receive money subscribed by people in Chicago just before the great 
fire. They are making efforts, however, to finish it oft" by next June, in order 
to have it dedicated under the auspices of the Wartburg Evangelical Synod, of 
Central and Southern Illinois, to the jurisdiction of which this Church belongs. 
So far the building has cost about ^6,000, and it will require $2,500 more to 
complete it. Rev. Christian Sans is still Pastor of the flock he has so faith- 
fully served for eighteen years, and the services of his Church are conducted 
in German. He is also Superintendent of the large Sunday school, which is 
attended by from seventy-five to eighty children. A Young Men's Christian 
Association and a Ladies' Sewing Society have been organized in connection 
with the Church. 

The first religious effort of the Presbyterians was inaugurated by the Rev. 
J. H. Prentiss, in the Winter of 1834-5. Under the auspices of the Amei*i- 
can Home Mission Society, he visited "Juliet," and " finding that there were 
even then heathen enough to justify the step," says Mr. Woodruff" in his " Forty 
Years Ago," "came on the next Summer with his family, established preaching, 
and soon after organized a Presbyterian Church, some time in 1835." He 
preached in a little stone building that' stood on Broadway until the building 
of the first school house, when services were held in it. This Church had its 
ups and downs, and finally died out, comparatively speaking, but was revived 
under the ministerial labors of the Revs. Hiram and Lucius Foote. The 
remnants of Mr. Prentiss' old church, some old professors and new 
converts, were organized into a Congregational Church, under the name of 
the "Union Church," and the Rev. Hiram Foote chosen Pastor. Some 
years later, when it had again become somewhat lukewarm, there came a 
Second Adventist, who, as an old member informed us, " turned things topsy- 
turvy for a few weeks." John M. Wilson (noAv of Chicago) turned preacher, 
and proclaimed "the end at hand" to his excited hearers, who were so 
thoroughly convinced of the fact as to have their "long white robes in readi- 
ness." C. E. Fellows, a popular lawyer of the time, was another of their leaders 
and preachers, and took the ground that whoever provided worldly comforts for 
the future would certainly be lost, and so would only buy food enough for one 
meal at a time. But when the appointed time came, and this rolling world con- 
tinued to revolve upon its axis in the usual way, Fellows became disgusted, and for- 
swore belief in all religious sects, "and," says the old member referred to, " went 
to the devil as fast as possible." Indirectly, from this old original Presbyterian 
Church and upon the remains of those that followed, has arisen the Central Presby- 
terian Church of the present day. As such, it was organized in 1844, by Rev. 
Benj. W. Dwight, with twenty-two members, and for a time they hired a room 
on the West Side, but afterward moved across the river and occupied the Court 
House, and still later, the Universalist Church. In 1852, they erected their 



396 HISTORY OF WILL COUNir. 

present building, at a cost of $3,000, and, in 1871, enlarged it at an additional 
cost of $3,000. It is a frame building with stone basement, and was dedicated 
by Rev. R. W. Patterson and Rev. A. H. Dean, Pastor at the time. It has 
now about 250 members. A Sunday school was organized cotemporaneously 
with the Church. George H. Woodruff, Superintendent. E. L. Spangler is the 
present Superintendent, with an avei'age attendance of 164 children. The fol- 
lowino; are the names of the Pastors of this Church since organized as the Cen- 
tral Presbyterian : Rev. M. Strong, called from Rochester, N. Y., preached 
one Sabbath and was then taken sick and died. The next, Rev. B. W. Dwight, 
Rev. R. Reed, Rev. Mr. De Loss, who built the church, Rev. J. Kidd, Rev. 
Mr. Hubbard, Rev. H. D. Jenkins and Rev. A. H. Dean, the present Pastor. 

The First Presbyterian Church was organized August 3, 1866, with fourteen 
original members. The church, which is of stone, was built in 1867, at a cost 
of $9,000, and what is strangest of all in this age of stupendous church debts, 
it is free from all pecuniary incumbrances. It was dedicated by Rev. 0. A. 
Kingsbury, and at present has 101 members. The following are the Pastors 
from its organization to the present time : Rev. 0. A. Kingsbury, 1866-1869 ; 
Rev. C. R. Burdick, 1869-1873 ; Rev. James McLeod, 1873-1876 ; Rev. Mr. 
Knott, 1876-1877 ; Rev. Thomas M. Gunn, 1877, and still occupies the posi- 
tion. The Sunday school was organized in 1863, several years previous to the 
Church, and has an attendance of about 125, under the superintendence of D. 
W. Pond. 

The Baptists organized a society as early, almost, as any other religious 
denomination. Their first meetings were held and their first church organized 
in the building on the West Side, on Broadway, at present used as a school 
house ; and one of the first Pastors of this society was Rev. S. Knapp, who is yet 
living in Jolie". This Church seems to have become for a while extinct, and 
that the present one on the East Side grew out of it. The latter was fully or- 
ganized February 16, 1853, a council having been called for that purpose, which 
was presided over by Rev. R. B. Ashley, of Plainfield. The following are the 
original members : Prudence Burdick, J. B. Wait, Jesse Kyrk, Michael Tate, 
Margaret Tate, Thos.Tate, Eliza Henry, F. Crouch, Eliza Crouch, Henry Watkins, 
J. C.Williams and Sarah Williams. Their meetings were held in the Court House 
and other places until July, 1858, when it was resolved to build a church, not 
to cost more than $8,000, This section of the country being poor, and in its 
infancy, comparatively speaking, it was determined to send a representative 
East to solicit aid, and accordingly Mrs. S. F. Savage was chosen. She was 
gone six months, and during that time sent to the Building Society an average 
of $500 per month. In this manner, together with what was obtained at home, 
their present elegant church building was erected, and dedicated to God in 1859. 
The following are the Pastors of this Church since its organization : Rev. J. 
F. Childs, 1853-1854 ; Rev. W. J. Clarke, 18^4-1856 ; Rev. A. B. Foskett, 
1856-1857; Rev. E. P. Savage, 1859 (supply); Rev. E. Button, 1859-1862; 



HISTORY OF AVILL COUNTY. 397 

Rev. W. p. Patterson, 1862-18G4 ; Rev. C. H. Remington, 1864-1868 ; Rev. 
A. G. Eberhart, 1868-1871 ; Rev. R. Leslie, 1871-1874 ; Rev. J. P. Phillips, 
1874-1877, and Rev. A. H. Stote, the present Pastor. A large and flourish- 
ing Sunday school is carried on in connection with this Church. 

St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church is one of the oldest Catholic churches 
in the diocese of Chicago.* The Society of St. Patrick was organized in 1838, 
under Rev. Father Pluiikett, who commenced the buildinj: of the church that 
year, and continued on as money could be obtained until their zeal and perse- 
verance have resulted in the magnificent stone church on Broadway, which has 
cost altogether over thirty thousand dollars. Between two hundred and three 
hundred families worship at this sanctuary, and there is also a well-attended 
Sunday school. The sad death of Father Plunkett is I'emembered still by many 
of the old members. He had been out on a collecting mission for his church, 
and was returning home in the midst of a March snow-storm, riding very fast 
against the wind, with his head bowed low to protect his face from the storm, 
when his head struck the limb of a tree extended over the road, killing him 
almost instantly. After the death of Father Plunkett, Rev. Father Du Pout- 
davis, a Frenchman, became the Pastor, and remained about four years and 
was succeeded by Father Ingoldsby. He remained also about four years, 
when Father Hamilton took charge, remaining about four years, and was 
followed by two other clergymen, whose names are forgotten, neither of whom 
remained long Father Farley then»came and remained in charge for fourteen 
years, when he was succeeded by Father Power, the present Pastor. In 1868, 
the parish was divided, and another formed on the east side of the river, known 
as St. Mary's Parish. 

St. Mary's Catholic Church, of Joliet, was separated from the original 
parish in 1868, and the new parish formed under the pastorate of Rev. P. W. 
Riordan, now Pastor of St. James Church, Chicago. He had been preceded by 
Rev. Father Flanagan, who remained about a year, and built a small wooden 
church near the Alton depot, which still belongs to the parish. Father Rior- 
dan remained about two years and was succeeded by Father Mackin, who re- 
mained in charge for five years. Father Murphy was the next Pastor and in 
about one year was succeeded by Rev. Maurice F. Burke, the present Pastor, 
w^ho took charge in April, 1878. The corner stone of the present magnificent 
church, which, when completed will be the finest church edifice in the city, was 
laid by Father Murphy in August, 1877, and the work pushed forward with 
so much rapidity as to have the basement ready for occupancy in one year, and 
on the 11th of August, 1878, it was dedicated by Bishop Foley and Rev. Dr. 
McMullin, of Chicagc^, It is built of Joliet limestone ; is 70x132 feet, and 
112 to the top of the tower. The spire will extend 90 feet above the tower, 
and the entire structure, when completed, will cost about fifty-five thousand 
dollars. The supervising architect is P. C. Keeley, of Brooklyn, N. Y., the 

Mr. Keegan informs us tbat when he came here, in 1840, there was but one little Catholic Church in Chicago. 



398 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

stone contractors, Charles and William Werner, and wood contractor, Francis 
Devine. A Sunday school is connected with the Churchy taught by the ladies 
of the parish, and under the superintendence of the Pastor. 

The German Catholic Church was organized in 1852, on the West Side, 
and the building commenced at the time was erected of stone, at a cost of 
about twelve thousand dollars. In 1866, having become too small for the grow- 
ing society, it was pulled down and a fine stone edifice erected upon the site, 
costing nearly fifty thousand dollars, with a parsonage in connection, also of 
stone, and which cost between three and four thousand dollar^. The first offi- 
ciating priest was Father Regel, a Frenchman, but who spoke the German 
language. Since then, the Church has been supplied as follows : Father Cas- 
par Mueller, Father Rauch, Father Charles Kumin ; then the Benedictine 
Fathers had charge of it about one year, and were succeeded by Father Algeir, 
and he by Father F. X. Nolte, who remained for nine years. In 1876, the 
Francisc'in Monks, with Father Gerard Becher as Superior, took charge of it, 
and still continue to administer its affairs. About three hundred families (all 
German) woi^hip in this sanctuary. 

There are two other German churches in the city, viz.: the Evangelical 
Church and the German Lutheran. The latter is located on the West Side, 
and is under the jurisdiction of the Missouri Synod, and is the Church to which 
Rev. Christian Sans was called in 1860, and of which he remained the Pastor 
until 1871, when a separation took place;^ as narrated elsewhere. The Evan- 
gelical Church is on Herkimer and Cass streets, is quite a handsome frame build- 
ing and in a flourishing condition. 

Having given the first settlement of Joliet, and traced it through its differ- 
ent sources of enterprise to its present commercial importance, we return to its 
early organization as a village. In March, 1837, a meeting of the legal citizens 
of the village of "Juliet" was held, pursuant to ten days' notice, under pro- 
vision of the General Act of Incorporation. Joel A. Matteson was President 
and George H. Woodruff Clerk of the meeting. The question voted upon was 
whether the village should be incorporated, and was decided unanimously by 
seventy-eight votes in the affirmative. An election was held at the old Ameri- 
can Hotel on the 31st of March for five Trustees, which resulted in the election 
of Joel A. Matteson, J. J. Garland, Daniel Reed, Fenner Aldrich and R. C. 
Duncan. On the 4th day of April, 1837, the Board organized for business 
and appointed Dr. William Scolfield Clerk, and thus the village of "Juliet" 
was duly incorporated. In 1841, the Trustees resigned on account of the 
repeal by the Legislature of the Act of Incorporation, and from that time until 
1852 it Avas without any form of government other than township organization. 
In these early days, there was a good deal of rivalry between the east and 
west sides of the river, in illustration of which we make the following extract 
from "Forty Years Ago" : "The town was divided into two wards by the 
river. The point contested was to get the odd Trustee, as by the charter each 



IIISTOUV OF WILI, COUNTY. 390 

ward had two. It was necessary to own real estate in the town to be a voter. 
The boys on each side counted noses, and it was found that the West AVard had 
a small majority. There were some then on the East Side who were not will- 
ing to be fairly beaten. A plan Avas accordingly devised to overcome this 
majority. There hap|)ened to be a circus in town, and Charley Sayre executed 
to thirty-six of the circus employes a deed of a lot, supposed to be somewhere 
in Bowen's Addition, and they were allowed to swear in their votes ! This 
gave the victory to the East Side. But although the concocters of the scheme 
Avere so elated at their success that they had a big drunk over it, I don't think 
they ever reaped any material advantage from it. One good thing, however, 
came out of the aflair. Of course the circus boys did not stay to look after 
their lot and pay the taxes, and Charley Sayre wouldn't, so our worthy citi- 
zen, N. H. Cutter, bid it off at a tax sale for a poor Avidow, Margaret McGinnis, 
who built a little house on it, and so got a home very cheap, which she occupied 
many years." But these little contests are long past. The magnificent bridges 
which span the river have united the rival sections, and no cause now exists for 
jealousy or ill-feeling. In 1839, during the great financial depression which 
followed the crisis of 1837, work was suspended on the canal, and from that 
time until 1841 the town experienced hai'd times, as did all other cities, towns 
and villages. Eggs sold in Joliet for 3 cents a dozen, venison for 1^ cents a 
pound, and other things in proportion. But with the resumption of work on the 
canal, in 1845, the prosperity of the place revived and the people awoke to 
renewed life. Since then, it has grown and developed into what it is now — a 
prosperous city. 

Joliet was incorporated as a city June 19, 1852, and laid oflF into five wards 
by legislative act. The following officers were the first elected under city 
organization: C. C. Van Horn, Mayor; Aldermen — N. 11. Cutter and D. 
Cassedy, First Ward ; Jacob George and M. Shields. Second Ward ; E. Wilcox 
and T. J. Kinney, Third Ward; F. L. Cagwin and S. W. Bowman, Fourth 
Ward; P. O'Conner and Uri Osgood, Fifth Ward. We give below the names 
of Mayor and City Clerk, from organization down to the present time : 

3Iayor. City Clerk. Terms. 

C. C. Van Horn S. W. Stone 1852 

" 1853 

.]. E. Streeter " ,1854 

W. D. Elwood " 1855 

Charles Snoad 1856 

Firman Mack S. S. BuflFum 1857 

" 1858 

Frank Goodspeed Samuel D. Smith 1859 

" 18G0 

S. W. Bowen " 1861 

<< 1862 

W. A. Strong, .Ir W. H. Zarley 1863 

Edwin Porter " 1864 

" _ 18G5 



400 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Mayor. City Clerk. Terms. 

S. W. Bowen W. H. Zarley 1866 

Elvis Harwood " 1867 

" 1868 

W. A. Steel " 1869 

- " 1870 

Edwin Porter W. 11. Zarley 1871 

W. A. Steel " 187'2 

W. E. Henry " 1873 

A. Scheidt " 1874 

W. A. Steel " 1875 

R E. Barber " 1876 

Jas. G. Elwood " 1877 

William Tonner 1878 

The folloAving are the present Board of Aldermen : M. G. Demmond and F. 

E. Freeman, First Ward; F. W. WoodruflF and Wm. Gleason, Second Ward; 

F. Sehring and M. Moran, Third Ward ; T. A. Mason and H. N. Marsh, 
Fourth Ward; Peter Collins and P. C. Haley, Fifth Ward; H. Fanning and 
Henry Schoettes, Sixth Ward ; Dorrence Dibell and J. P. King, Seventh 
Ward. Other city officers are : Charles Werner, Collector ; John Gorges, 
Treasurer, and Thomas O'Brien, Chief of Police. The police force consists of 
one policeman in each ward, and in good discipline under Chief O'Brien. 
While touching upon the affairs of the city government, we notice in the 
highest terms the eflScient and well-equipped fire department. It was organ- 
ized on its present basis in 1877, prior to which time it was a voluntary depart- 
ment. The department consists of two engines, hook and ladder, with twenty- 
one men — nine men to each engine, and three to the hook and ladder, all under 
charge of J. D. Paige, Chief Engineer. Recently, the new fire alarm has been 
introduced, with seven boxes and two 16-inch gongs, one in each engine house. 
The horses belong to the department, are well trained, and the engines are of 
the very best in use. In a word, the department, under Chief Paige, is as 
perfect as in any of the large cities, as a proof of which is the fact that it 
captured three of the prizes at the late Firemen's Tournament, in Chicago, viz.: 
First national prize, for putting out fire, $350, gold, and a silver water service 
valued at $160 ; third national prize, from throwing water a distance, $100, 
gold ; and third State prize, for throwing water a distance, $75 in greenbacks. 

In the older countries and the larger cities of the world, there is usually 
some peculiar characteristic to be observed, either in the style of architecture, 
the grandeur of public works or buildings, of magnificent ruins, manners and 
customs, etc., but always something to distinguish each city or people from the 
rest of the world. Hence, Egypt was noted for its colossal pyramids ; Pompeii 
is still famous for its stupendous ruins, and Jerusalem, the mighty city of the 
plain and the Mecca of the Israelites, is famed wherever civilization has ex- 
tended, for Solomon's Temple, the glory of which has never been equaled by 
man. Coming down to modern times, London is characterized by St. Paul's 
Cathedral, one of the most magnificent churches in the world, and Paris is 



.-s;-**" 





HISTORV OF WILL COUNTY. 403 

noted for the Tuileries. In our own great country, New York has her Crystal 
Palace ; Boston, old Faneuil ; Philadelphia, Independence Hall, and Joliet— 
has her Court House. This huge pile of cream-colored granite, looming up 
above the surrounding buildings, as the giant oak of the forest towers above the 
insignificant willow, with its lofty cupola piercing the clouds, surmounted with 
an illuminated clock, was built in 1846, at a cost of seven thousand dol- 
lars (!), and is a building of which any city might feel proud. But as this 
magnificent temple of justice is more particularly referred to in the general his- 
tory, we pass it with this merited compliment. It is an old historical landmark 
and should be highly appreciated by the citizens of Joliet. 

We have alluded to the first mills of Joliet in other parts of this history— 
of McKee's, the Haven Brothers, and of Cagwin's and Clement & Clark's saw- 
mills. The operations of these primitive establishments have ceased ; the days 
of their usefulness have long passed, and more pretentious enterprises of like 
character have taken their place. The City Mills were built by William Adam, 
on the site of the Havens' Mills, mentioned elsewhere, and originally had five 
runs of buhrs. They were remodeled in 1867, and two additional runs put in, 
for grinding feed principally. This is the oldest water-power on the river ; the 
dam used Avas. built before the State dams and produces a 200-horse power, 
which remains about the same during the entire year, and which it is intended 
to lease out to other manufactories, thus making this a manufiicturing district. 
These Aills were burned July 22, 1877— loss about $30,000— and have 
never been rebuilt ; but a wire fence manufactory has been erected on the site, 
as noticed on another page. Before they were burned, the firm, as William 
Adam & Co., did a large business in addition to milling, in meal, feed, etc., 
with lumbermen, and their trade extended up among the pineries. The Joliet 
Mills were built in 1856, by Houck & Preston, near the upper bridge, cost about 
$35,000, and have six runs of buhrs. They are now owned by G. W. Hyde, 
who, in 1866, built a grain elevator in connection, at a cost of |12,000, with a 
capacity of about 25,000 bushels. The Joliet Woolen-Mills were quite an en- 
terprise in their day, and were one of the works of Hon. J. A. Matteson, who 
was the prime mover in the affair of their erection. The building was 45x100 
feet, and cost about $63,000. After running about two years, it was sold to 
Woodruff, Aiken, Hyde and others, who operated it two years longer, when it 
stopped work and remained idle until 1873. It was then sold to W. E. Henry, 
but for several years has not been running, and is at present a useless enter- 
prise. A paper-mill has been erected near where the City Mills were burned. 
It was begun in July, 1877, and finished and commenced to work about the 
last of October of the same year. The mill was built by Young & Rieblintr, 
but is owned by F. H. Riebling, operated by Riebling k Kramer and run by 
the power of the Adam Manufacturing Co. It cost about $12,000, and has a 
capacity of from two to two and a half tons a day. Rag wrapping and hard- 
ware paper are specialties, with sometimes small lots of Manila No. 2. The 



404 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

mill employs usually about sixteen hands, and has its largest trade in Chicago, 
■which is mostly wholesale and shipped in car-load lots. 

The Rolling Mills of Joliet are among the largest works of the kind, not 
only in the United States but in the world. This immense concern, known 
and entitled the Joliet Iron and Steel Company, is located on the Chicago, 
Alton k St. Louis Railroad, just north of the city limits of Joliet, with a 
switch connecting with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. The 
corner stone of the Iron Works was laid in March, 1870, and the Steel Works 
built in 1873, and to their location at this point Joliet owes much of her pres- 
ent prosperity. To give a full and complete history of this gigantic establish- 
ment would require more space than we can devote to the subject in these 
pages. A few points Avill be given, however, showing their extent and capacity, 
labor employed, etc., from information received from H. S. Smith, Esq., Gen- 
eral Superintendent. The Company's works comprise 100 acres of level 
ground with solid rock bottom a few inches below the surface, upon which have 
been erected the following structures : Two blast furnaces, coke and coal wash- 
ing works, fire-brick works, the Bessemer works, the steel rail mills, the iron 
rail mills, the puddle mill, the shops and water works. The walls of all the 
buildings are of Joliet limestone, which, considering its cheapness and 
the size and shape in which it is quarried, renders it perhaps the best 
building stone in the world. The engine and train foundations are of dimen- 
sion stone of great size and thickness, laid with but little trimming, yet nearly 
with the accuracy of ashlar work, on a flat rock, the upper layer of which is 
480 feet thick. The character of the masonry and the size of the stones in 
the buildings are first-class throughout. To give some idea of these vast 
works, the "blast furnaces," with the different buildings pertaining to this 
department, comprise extreme ground dimensions of 420x240 feet ; the extreme 
dimensions of the Bessemer works' buildings are 215x157 feet ; the new steel 
rail mill is 445x105 feet, and 25 feet high ; the iron rail mill is 230x80 feet, 
and 20 feet high ; the puddle mill building is 190x75 feet ; the buildings of 
the fire brick works are 400x50 feet. The shops belonging to the works are of 
themselves no inconsiderable establishment. The machine shop is 120x70 feet, 
and 20 feet high, with slate roof; the foundry is 100x60 feet, 25 feet 
high, with slate roof; the smith shop is 70x60 feet, 18 feet high; the 
boiler shop is a wooden extension of the smith shop 75x60 feet ; the pat- 
tern and carpenter shop is a 2-story building 70x38 feet, with slate roof; the 
office and drawing room is a 2-story stone building 45x24 feet. The entire 
force required in the steel works when running at full capacity is about 800 
men, and 400 for a "single turn." The capacity is as foUoAvs : Bessemer 
plant, ingots per week, 1,700 tons ; new rail mill, rails per week, 1,400 tons. 
The iron and puddle mills are not now in operation, nor have they been for 
some time, but other departments are running regularly. That these improve- 
ments are very substantial, may be gathered from the fact that eight or ten 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 405 

years ago, 1,000 tons a month ^vas tlie maximum capacity of the best Bessemer 
works in America, and that the average production of the best English works 
of the same nominal size, five years ago, was 1,600 tons per month. At pres- 
ent the Joliet Works have attained a capacity of from 6,500 to 7,000 tons per 
month. But it is impossible to transfer to paper in our limited space, the full 
magnitude of these Avorks, and will pass the subject with this meager notice. 

The Solar Stove Works are located but a short distance south of the Roll- 
ing Mills. They were established in 1871, by the late Wm. N. Moore, and at 
his death passed into the hands of the present proprietors, known as the Solar 
Stove Works — A. Cochran, President ; F. S. Moore, Treasurer, and I. D. 
Stevens, Secretary. Since the first organization of these works, they have 
enjoyed an uninterrupted prosperity. They employ about forty men, turning 
out annually some 3,000 cook stoves and 40,000 pieces of hollow-ware, consum- 
ing 3,000 tons of the best pig iron in their production. The stoves of which 
they make a specialty, are the Commonwealth, Interior, Columbia, Fidelity and 
the George Washington. They also manufacture a Cooper's Barrel Heater, 
which has been sold and used in nearly every State and Territory in America. 
The company has a large trade and are shipping quantities of stoves through 
the States of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Minnesota, and 
Dakota Territory. 

As a manufacturing city, Joliet has considerable prominence among the 
cities of Illinois, and its location is favorably adapted to this kind of industry. 
With such a net-work of railroads, together with the canal, it has the very best 
shipping facilities, and then the water-power is of incalculable value to the manu- 
facturing interests, and should the whole force of the water-power of the Des 
Planes contiguous to Joliet be utilized, her citizens will be convinced of the 
fact that " there's millions in it." One of oldest manufacturing establishments 
now in operation in the city is the Joliet Manufacturing Company. It was 
originally established in Plainfield, under the firm name of Dillman & Co., in 
1849, as a foundry and a machine shop. In 1863, it was removed to Joliet, 
and was still operated by the old firm until 1867, when it was merged into a 
stock company with the above title, and A. H. Shreffler, President ; L. E. Dill- 
man, Treasurer, and E. C Dillman, Secretary. From twenty-five to eighty 
men are employed, and a specialty is made of corn shellers ; but reapers, mowers 
and plows were at one time largely manufactured by these works. Capital stock 
is about ^69,000, and the factory is near the Michigan Central Depot. R. 
Sandiford, successor to the firm of Sanger & Co., and proprietor of tlie Joliet 
Agricultural Works, located near the Jefferson street bridge. These works 
manufacture land rollers. Champion reapers and mowers, horse-powers, etc. and 
is an extensive establishment of the kind, employing usuallvfrom ten to fifteen 
hands. It furnishes power to the factory of the Joliet Wire Fence Company. 
The Adam Manufacturing Company was organized and commenced business 
in April, 1877 — William Adam, President; F. G. Stanley, Vice President, and 



406 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

W. J. Adam, Secretary and Treasurer, with $10,000 capital stock. The Com 
pany manufactures barbed fence wire and staples ; from two to two and a half tons 
of the former per day, and about one ton of staples, is the capacity of the works. 
From twenty-five to thirty hands are employed, and the items mentioned are 
specialties, though other work is done to some extent. The water-power of the 
Company is excellent, the best perhaps on the river, as well as the oldest, and 
furnishes power to the paper mill, as elsewhere notiljed. The Lock Stitch Fence 
Company, manufacturers of barbed wire for fence purposes, have their office at 
the Joliet Manufacturing Company, and their factory near Hyde's Mills at the 
upper bridge. This Company employ about fifteen men, and their capacity is 
from one and a half to two tons per day. 

The Joliet Wire Fence Company has a factory just below the Jefferson 
street bridge, the power of which is furnished by Sandiford's Agricultural 
Works ; it also has a factory at the prison, with its business office on the 
west side of the public square. The capacity of the two establishments is suf- 
ficient to require the employment of about seventy men, continually. The 
Company was organized October 1, 1866, with capital stock of $65,000. H. 
B. Scutt, President ; W. S. Brooks, Treasurer, and J. R. Ashley, Secretary. 
This is the pioneer establishment, and succeeded H. B. Scutt & Co., who were 
the first parties to manufacture barbed wire in Will County. They have a large 
and growing trade, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast, and from the 
St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico. There are, we believe, some other factories 
of this branch of industry about to begin operations, but of them we have but 
little information. From the facts given it will be seen that the manufacture 
of barbed wire for fences is developing into quite an extensive business. 

The tannery of Houck & Brown is quite a large establishment of the kind, 
and is located near the Rolling Mills. The business was originally begun by 
Firman Mack & E. Cleghorn, about 1854. Mack had carried on the business 
since 1850 on a small scale. The business passed into the hands of M. 
Cle'^horn (after the death of Mack, which occurred by drowning), who built the 
present works about 1863. The works were finally sold, and bought by the 
present firm, who have conducted the business on a much larger scale than here- 
tofore, and operate a store in addition to their tannery. They employ twenty- 
one men, and their business amounts to about $80,000 annually. 

The Wind-mill Manufactory of L, Leach is one of the largest of the kind in 
the West. In 1871, he invented " Leach's Wind-mill." and began the manu- 
facture of it, and does a very large business in wind-mills, selling in nearly every 
State in the Union. He manufactures only his own inventions ; and to wind- 
mills is added the manufacture of earth augers, well-boring machinery, etc. 
There are several other Avind-mills represented in Joliet. but Leach's is the 
most extensive. 

The breweries of Joliet are quite a large industry. The Eagle Brewery of 
E. Porter, is one of the largest establishments of the kind in the State. Mr. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 407 

Porter erected liis first brewery in 1858, which was burned down ten years 
later, when he erected his present massive buiklings on the West Side, which 
are 80x100 feet, and three stories high. An artesian well, forty-five feet deep, 
affords an unfailing supply of water for carrying on the works. The goods 
manufactured by the Eagle Brewery are well known and command a large sale 
throughout the country. The Columbia Brewery, by F. Sehring, is another 
mammoth establishment, and sells a large amount of goods annually. Mr. 
Sehring purchased the Columbia in 1868, and has since remodeled it, putting 
in steam power and all the modern improvements, and it is now one of the best 
appointed establishments of the kind outside of Chicago. There are one or two 
other breweries in the city which manufacture considerable goods ; these men- 
tioned, however, are much the largest, and have most of the trade. 

The manufacture of sewer pipe, drain tile, fire and bath brick and all this 
class of goods is an extensive business of Joliet. The material produced in 
this section is superior to that of any part of the State of Illinois. The clay 
is peculiarly adapted to drain tile and sewer pipe, and wherever the Joliet tiles 
have been used, their reputation is good and their merits fully appreciated. 
For more than a quarter of a century, this line of industry has been in course 
of operation here, and increasing with the lapse of years, until it has become 
one of the most extensive branches of business. Joliet has the honor of being 
the only point in the United States where bath brick is manufactured and 
makes a large quantity of them annually, Avhile the amount of sewer pipe, 
drain tile, of every size in use, manufactured each year is simply immense. 
Of other manufactures of Joliet, in addition to those already mentioned, 
such as brick-making, lime kilns, sash, door and blind factories, planing-mills, 
etc., etc., the city is well represented in all these lines and branches ; and they 
are rather too numerous to admit of particularization in our limited space. 
With the brief mention we have made of this particular source of enterprise, 
our readers cannot fail to observe the importance of Joliet and its advantages 
as a manufacturing city. 

Banking was begun in a small way by private individuals in Joliet more 
than thirty years ago. The first regular banking institution was the old 
"Merchants' and Drovers' Bank," of which Joel A. Matteson, R. E. Goodell 
and William Smith were, we believe, the principal stockholders. It was char- 
tered and organized as a bank under the above title in 1 850, and continued as such 
for a number of years. There were, however, banks prior to this, of a private 
character, or individuals who did a general banking business in a private way, 
of whom Uri Osgood was one of the first in this business. But, as stated, the 
Merchants' and Drovers' Bank was the first organized effort. In those days, 
the banking system was not so thorough as at the present time, and ''wild-cat'' 
banks were as common and as popular (?) as savings banks used to be in Chicago. 
Joliet was no exception, and so wild-cat banks existed here, as well as several 
sound institutions, before the era of National banks, among which may be men- 



408 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

tioned the Will County Bank, the Joliet City Bank, etc. The period of 
National banks dates back to 1864, and the first one organized under the 
National bank law was the First National Bank of Joliet. It was established 
September 4, 1864, with George Woodruff, President, and a capital stock of 
1100,000. Mr. Woodruff is still President, and F. W. Woodruff, Cashier. 

The Will County National Bank was organized October 10, 1871, with acapital 
stock of $100,000, and Henry Fish, President ; Calvin Knowlton, Vice President, 
and George P. Jones, Cashier. In January, 1873, Calvin Knowlton was elected 
President; J. A. Henry, Vice President, and Henry Knowlton, Cashier, all of 
whom hold these positions at the present time. The Joliet City Bank was origin- 
ally established in 1857-58, by the Cagwins, Woodruff and others. It is still one 
of the leading banks of the city, and is ably managed by Francis L. Cagwin, 
whose credit is beyond question, and who, in a long business life, has always 
paid 100 cents on the dollar. The Stone City Bank was organized by Henry 
Fish in 1873, the first President of the Will County National Bank. He is 
still the proprietor of it, and is doing a large and safe business. Goodspeed's 
Bank was organized in 1870, by Goodspeed & McGovney. In 1872, he bought 
out McGovney, and has since been sole proprietor. Westphal & Lagger or- 
ganized the German Loan and Savings Bank in the Fall of 1875. It is still 
conducted by them and is the only banking institution on the west side of the 
river. 

Secret societies are probably coeval with man's existence in organized society, 
and perhaps will continue to exist until the last syllable of recorded time. We 
know that the causes which actuate them are beneficent and good, because the re- 
sults achieved are so grand and glorious. Freemasonry bears an early date in 
Joliet. From records preserved by W. W. Stevens, Esq., and furnished us for 
perusal, we find that a lodge was organized as early as 1840, under a dispensation 
from'the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, before Illinois had a Grand Lodge of her own. 
The dispensation was signed by Most Worshipful Abner Cunningham, Grand 
Master of Kentucky, 'and Right Worshipful Philip Swigert, Grand Secretary, 
dated November, 1840, and issued to Juliet Lodge, U. D., Juliet, Illinois. 
Right Worshipful C. Jackson, proxy of the Grand Master of Kentucky, came 
all the way from that Grand Jurisdiction to institute this Lodge, and set the 
brethren to work upon the square. It continued under dispensation until Oc- 
tober, 1842, when it Avas chartered by the same august body, as Juliet Lodge 
No. 10. The first officers under the charter were Jacob Patrick, Master; Nor- 
man Ilawley, Senior Warden ; Aaron Kinney, Junior Warden ; Robert G. Cook, 
Treasurer; Maurice Murphy, Secretary; Thomas J. Wade, Senior Deacon; 
Fenner Aldrich, Junior Deacon ; Thomas J. Kinney, Tiler, with twenty-seven 
original members, besides the officers. Among them will be recognized the names 
of many of the leading citizens of that day, viz. : Jared Runyon, Thomas Will- 
iams, David L. Gregg, Joel A. Matteson, James Brodie, Henry G. Brown, 
Ethan Wetherbee and Benjamin Richardson, all of whom, with three exceptions, 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 409 

joined the first year. This was tlie first Masonic Lodge in Will County, and, 
from the number, appears to have been the tentii in the State. It continued 
to work under its charter until 184(5, when some dissensions having arisew in 
the Lodge, and the Grand Lodge of Illinois in the mean time having been or- 
ganized, the latter Grand Body annulled the charter of Juliet Lodge, No. 10, 
and afterward issued a dispensation to establish Mt. Joliet Lodge. In due time 
it was chartered as Mt. Joliet Lodge, No. 42, by Most Worshipful Nelson D. 
Morse, Grand jNLaster of Illinois, and under which name and number it still 
exists. The first officers of the new Lodge were Wm. C. Little, Master; My- 
ron K. Bronson, Senior Warden ; and Joel George, Junior Warden. For years, 
the first Lodge (Juliet, No. 10) had no regular place of meeting, but kept their 
paraphernalia in a chest, and met on the "highest hills, or in the lowest vales," 
metaphorically speaking, but usually in the old stone block on the West Side. 
The present officers of Mt. Joliet Lodge are John Gray, Master; P. B. Ryan, 
Senior Warden ; J. G. Patterson, Junior Warden ; and John S. Millar, Secre- 
tary, with 160 members on the roll. 

Matteson Lodge was organized under dispensation in 18o5, by Most Wor- 
shipful James L. Anderson, Grand Master of Illinois. In October, 1856, it 
was chartei-ed as Matteson Lodge, No. 175, and named for ex-Gov. Matteson, 
one of the influential Masons and enterprising business men of the town. The 
first officers were : William Smith, Master ; Nelson B. Elwood, Senior War- 
den ; James T. McDougall, Junior Warden ; Abijah Cagwin, Treasurer; John 
McGinnis, Jr., Secretary; Benjamin Richardson, Senior Deacon; W. S. 
Brooks, Junior Deacon, and C. II. Swayne, Tiler. The following are the pres- 
ent officers : W. G. Wilcox, Master : J. C. Lang, Senior Warden ; George C. 
Raynor, Junior Warden, and J. L. Raynor Secretary, with about one hundred 
and fifty names upon the roll of membership. 

Joliet Chapter, No. 27, Royal Arch Masons, was chartered in November, 
1855, by Most Excellent Ira A. W. Buck, Grand High Priest of Chapter Ma- 
sonry for the State. The first officers were : William Smith, High Priest ; 
Nelson D. Elwood, King, and A. S. Jones, Scribe. It is in a most flourishing 
state, and its affairs are at present administered by the following worthy com- 
panions : David Rosenheim, High Priest ; C. C. Olney, King ; C. Puff'er, 
Scribe, and John C. Lang, Secretary, with about one hundred and seventy-five 
members. 

Knighthood, the highest order of Freemasonry, was introduced in 1858. 
A Commandery of Knights Templar was organized in the Spring of this year, 
under dispensation, and in October following, was chartered as Joliet Com- 
mandery, No. 4, Knights Templar, by Right Eminent Sir J. V. Z. Blaney, 
Grand Commander of Illinois. The first officers under the charter were : Sir 
Nelson D. Elwood, Eminent Commander ; Sir S. S. Brooks, Generalissimo ; 
Sir H. W. Hubbard, Captain General. It is at present officered as follows : 
Sir John S. Millar, Eminent Commander ; Sir E. W. Willard, Generalissimo ; 



410 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Sir William Dougall, Captain General ; Sir J. B. Fithian, Recorder, and the 
roster shows a record of 137 members. Sir J. G. Elwood, a member of this 
Commandery, is at present Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Commandery 
of the State. The Masonic Hall, in which all the bodies held their meetings, 
was burned in February, 1866, with a loss to the fraternity of about $7,500, 
including jewels, paraphernalia, the private uniforms of members, etc. No 
one could enter the hall, and hence, nothing was saved. The insurance was 
about $4,000. In July, 1872, they were again burned out, this time at a 
loss of $8,000, with an insurance of about $6,000. They have elegant rooms 
now in Masonic Block, but do not own the building. It was, however, built 
specially for their accommodation, and they rent the upper part of it. 

Odd Fellowship is represented by two Lodges and two Encampments. Pow- 
han Lodge, No. 29, was chartered July 13, 1847. Charter members were : J. 
T. McDougall, Abijah Cagwin, Phineas Wheeler, Mansfield Wheeler, S. W. 
Bowen, A. Mcintosh, Harvey Wheeler and William McDougall. The charter 
was issued by W. W. N. Parke, Grand Master, and S. A. Corneau, Grand Sec- 
retary. The first oflScers were: J. T. McDougall, N. G.; Phineas Wheeler, 
V. G.; S. W. Bowen, R. S.; A. Cagwin, Tr., and Wm. McDougall, P. S. The 
present Noble Grand is William Hingston, and R. Sandiford, Secretary, with 
sixty-five members. As a matter of interest, we would state here that S. 0. 
Simonds, a prominent merchant of Joliet, was Treasurer of this Lodge for nine- 
teen years, without interruption, besides holding other ofiices of distinction in 
the fraternity. 

William Tell Lodge, No. 219, was chartered October 13, 1857, by Augustus 
C. Marsh, Grand Master, and Samuel Willard, Grand Secretary. The charter 
members were : Leopold Schwabacher, Adam Werner, Sol. Louer, Gabriel 
Hauch, J. L. Guirard and Martin Wagoner. Joliet Encampment, No. 72, was 
chartered by Charles Parke, Grand Patriarch, and N. C. Mason, Grand Secre- 
tary, October 8, 1867, and the following were charter members : Ed. Cleghorn, 
A. D. Edgworth, G. H. LTchlman, Isaac S. Watson, Jacob Whitmore, Gabriel 
Hauch, Fred Schring and C. C. Braun. Eagle Encampment, No. 139, re- 
ceived its charter from A. H. Lichty, G. P., and N. C. Mason, Grand Secre- 
tary, October 8, 1872. The charter members were : A. D. Edgworth, Frank- 
lin Haines, James McEvoy, F. J. Richards, John Brown, John F. Tarball and 
George S. Kinney. The present C. P. is W. L. Green, and C. B. Brainard, 
Scribe. Pocahontas Lodge, No. 59, Daughters of Rebecca, was chartered Oc- 
tober 14, 1873, by G. Bross, Grand Master, and N. C. Mason, Grand Secre- 
tary. This is an order conferred on the female relatives of members of Odd 
Fellowship. 

By far the most important item in the welfare of a city, and that which adds 
to the health and prosperity of its citizens, is a plentiful supply of pure, fresh 
water, and on this element, in a measure, its safety depends. The blessed, 
health- giving water ! No poison bubbles on its brink ; its foam brings not mad- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 411 

ness and murtlcr, and no blood stains its liquid glass. Pale widows and starv- 
ing orphans weep not burning tears in its depth, but health and life sparkle 
upon its surface. The tomb of Moses is unknown, but the weary traveler still 
slakes his thirst at the well of Jacob. The lofty columns of Persepolis are 
moldering into dust, but its cisterns and aqueducts remain to challenge our ad- 
miration. The " Golden House" is a mass of ruin, but its Aqua Claudia still 
pours into Rome its liquid stream. The temple of the sun of Tadnor in the 
wilderness has fallen, but its fountain sparkles as freshly in his rays, as when 
thousands of wx^rshipers thronged its gilded colonnades. It may be that Joliet 
will share the fate of Babylon, and nothing be left to mark its site but piles of 
crumbling stone. But the numberless wells of pure water will continue to 
throw their liquid columns toward heaven as they do now. There are few cities 
in Illinois that can favorably compare with Joliet in its supply of good water, 
the health-giving element. The artesian wells, of which there are a number in 
the city, supply an abundance of water, and that of a quality, too, unsurpassed 
by any city or country. The limestone springs of Kentucky, supposed to afford 
the best water in the world, scarcely equal that of the artesian wells of Joliet. 
These wells, with their inexhaustible supply, are an acquisition to the city, of 
which the people should be justly proud, and one, too, that will last as long as 
their own granite hills. The first artesian well was put down in 1866-7, and 
since that time, in addition to three public wells, a dozen or moi'e have been 
sunk by private individuals. The well at the corner of Chicago and Jeffei'son 
streets is 455 feet deep, and at its completion raised water sixty feet, with 
thirty-one pounds pressure to the square inch, and with a daily flow of about fif- 
teen thousand barrels. Pipes were laid on Chicago and Jefferson streets from this 
Avell, but owing to some defect it does not at present supply them. Another of 
the city wells is at the East Side public school, and was bored about one thousand 
one hundred feet deep. The other public w^ell is on the West Side. These wells, to- 
gether with the number of private ones in the city, afford an apparently inexhausti- 
ble quantity of water for all practical purposes. Before the era of artesian wells 
the city was supplied by the ordinai-y wells, in which water was usually obtained 
by digging down to the gravel. From the " Geological Survey of Illinois,'' it 
appears there are two strata of sand rock reached in boring these artesian 
wells, one at a depth of about four hundred and fifty feet and the other at about 
one thousand two hundred feet below the surface, and it is in these the best 
water is obtained. But without going into a full detail of this feature, the reader 
is referred to the " Geological Survey," extracts from which are found in another 
department of this work. 

Beyond the products of her own manufiictories, Joliet makes little preten- 
sions toward a wholesale trade. Though all lines of merchandise are well 
represented by first-class, enterprising business men, they do not aspire to any- 
thing further than a good retail trade, which compares favorably with that of 
any other city of its size iu this section of the State. The close proximity of 



412 HliSTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Cliicago would not admit of successful competition in a wholesale business ; 
there are a few firms, however, that, when occasion offers, wholesale to some 
extent, but make no special exertions that way. With a population of about 
twelve thousand inhabitants, and such an admirable location, easy of access, rend- 
ers Joliet a fine trading point, and we can safely predict for it a prosperous future. 
Its citizens are intelligent and hospitable ; its merchants and business men are 
enterprising and energetic, and the majority of its business houses are far 
superior to those usually to be seen in country toAvns. As noticed elsewhere, 
its grain trade is not exceeded in volume in the State, except in Chicago, and its 
stone quarries are unrivaled almost in the world. Its rolling mills and other 
manufactories are of the very best, and command a large trade throughout the 
country. All these interests, centering here, conspire to render this city sec- 
ond to no other section of the country for the man of wealth to invest his 
superfluous capital. We have said that the business houses were better 
than in a majority of country towns. Indeed, there are blocks of buildings 
in Joliet that would be an ornament in any city — Munroe's new block, 
the Centennial Block, Aiken's Block, the Masonic Block, the different bank 
buildings, the post office, Robesson Hall and the Opera House and many 
others. 

The Opera House was built by the Joliet Opera House Company, and is. 
perhaps, the best appointed building of the kind in the State outside of Chicago. 
It was built in 1873, is of Joliet limestone from the quarries of William David- 
son, and cost $60,000. The upper part is used for an opera house, and the 
first floors for stores. Of the latter, three are used by G. Munroe & Son and 
the other by G. L. Vance. This building was erected by a company, of which 
the following are some of the principal stockholders : G. Munroe k, Son, Wm. 
Davidson, J. A. Henry, James Ducker, James B, Speer, Dr. Williams, Henry 
Fish, Rodney House, R. E. Barber, W. A. Steel, F. Zirkle, J. D. Paige, 
Knowlton, Higgenbotham & Co., D. McDonald and William Gleason, with 
James Ducker, President ; George H. Munroe, Treasurer, and C. H. Weeks, 
Secretary. Robesson Hall Avas built in 1876 ; is a handsome stone front ; the 
lower part business houses, and the upper part a public hall. The post oflSce 
building is an elegant stone front building, and was erected in 1877 by James 
G. Elwood, present Mayor of the city, specially for post office purposes, and 
was so adapted and arranged. The lower part is leased to the Government for 
ten years, at ^600 per annum, while the upper part of the building is the 
Mayor's office, Surveyor's office, etc. 

The Joliet Gaslight Company was organized in 1857, with a capital stock of 
$60,000 paid up. Hon. E. Wilcox was the first President, and superintended 
the erection of the Company's works, which were completed and the city lighted 
for the first time in January, 1859. The works are located on North Bluff street, 
and have sufficient capacity to supply a larger city than Joliet. They have 
some eight or ten miles of pipe now laid, and two gasometers — one on each side 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 413 

of the river. W. A. Strong, an enterprising citizen of Joliet, is President of 
the company. 

The Joliet Public Library Avas organized and opened to the public in No- 
vember, 1875. It is a free public library, and is ke})t up by taxation. A well 
stocked reading room is in connection with the Library, where all the period- 
icals and leading publications of the day are kept on file for the benefit of those 
who feel disposed to pay a visit to the place. The Board of Directors of the 
Library Association are : G. D. A. Parks, Mrs. H. S. Smith, Doi'rance Di- 
bell Mrs. E, M. Raynor, Benjamin Olin, A. W. Heise, Thomas J. Kelly, 
Edwin Porter and George Munroe. G. D. A. Parks is President ; Mrs. H. S. 
Smith, Vice President; Dorrance Dibell, Clerk, and Miss Charlotte Aiken, 
Librarian. This association bought the books owned by the old Joliet Histor- 
ical Society, and have now about 1,500 volumes, and are adding more as fast 
as their means will allow them. The Joliet Historical Society was organized 
in 18<)7, and assumed the liabilities of the old Library ; and it, in its turn, was 
succeeded by the present Library. Among the private libraries of Joliet is 
that of Hon. W. A. Steel, which consists of several thousand volumes, and em- 
braces most of the standard works of the day, together with many old and rare 
books not often found in a private library. 

Joliet was supplied with street cars, this modern addition to city travel, in 
1873. Their lines encircle the city, aifording cheap transpoi'tation within its 
limits to all who desire this mode of transit to " Walker's Express." The en- 
terprise of a street railway was inaugurated by E. T. Chase and Norman Carl. 
They sold it to a man named Cooper ; and he, after operating it for a time, sold 
it to the present owner and manager, J. A. Henry. While, apparently, not 
doing a very extensive business, it is yet paying a small dividend above running 
expenses. 

Oakwood Cemetery was laid out in 1854, and organized under act of the 
Legislature in 1857, receiving its charter from the State. It is beautifully sit- 
uated on a gentle eminence on the north bank of Hickory Creek, east of the 
city limits, and reached by a branch of the City Railway. The grounds are 
handsomely and artistically laid out with serpentine walks and drives, well 
graded and graveled. Cultivated flowers, ornamental shrubbery and native 
forest trees add their beauty to the place, while the " green grass grows rank in 
the vapors of decaying mortality." The beauty and care bestowed on the 
grounds show a kind regard for the " loved and lost " by surviving friends. St. 
Patrick's Cemetery (Catholic) is a beautiful burying-ground, and kept in good 
order by the Catholic citizens of Joliet. St. John's Cemetery (German Cath- 
olic) is situated northwest of the city, and is a beautiful and well-kept church- 
vard. 

The professions, both legal and medical, are well and ably represented in Joliet, 
and combine an array of talent that will compare favorably with any city in the 
State. As a work of this kind is not devoted to eulogiums or fulsome puft's of 



414 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

any one, we shall not attempt to particularize the professions beyond the bestowal 
of a well-merited testimonial to their character and worth. Joliet has also pro- 
duced some eminent men — men who have filled high positions with credit to 
themselves and honor to their conntry. In the court, the camp, upon the bench, 
and at the holy altar, they have figured with distinction. And at the head of 
the State Government, in the halls of the law-makers, and as our representa- 
tives abroad, they have acquitted themselves with honor and the dignity due 
their exalted stations. As the "notables" have been particularly mentioned, 
however, in the general history, we will leave the subject, and conclude our 
history of Joliet sans ceremonie. 



LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP. 

This town is diversified between woodland and prairie, and is divided by the 
Des Planes River & the Illinois & Michigan Canal, which pass through it 
from north to south. Away from the river-bottom, the elevation rises almost 
to abrupt bluff's, beyond which, on either side, are beautiful table-lands or broad 
rolling prairies of the most productive soil, relieved only by a belt of timber on 
the east side of the Des Planes, mostly in Lockport, but extending a short dis- 
tance into Homer Township, A peculiarity of this section of the country is 
said to be the non-existence of timber on the west side of the water-courses. 
Old settlers mention this fact and advance their theories as to the cause, 
some of which are vague and far-fetched ; but without attempting to solve the 
problem, we will state upon the authority of several parties of this vicinity, 
that not a tree stands on the west side of the Des Planes but such as have been 
transplanted by the white people, while a fine forest lined its eastern shore at 
the time of the early settlement. As regarding this strange freak of nature, 
we will pass it with the philosophical reflection of the schoolboy, whose theory 
as to the cause of the magnetic needle pointing to the north was "that it is a 
way it has." As a civil township, Lockport is described as Town 36 north, 
Range 10 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and is bounded north by Dupage 
Township, east by Homer, south by Joliet, west by Plainfield, and is one of the 
wealthy towns of Will County. 

The first permanent settler in Lockport Township was Arrastead Runyon, 
who came to the neighborhood in October, 1830. He was born in Kentucky, 
but removed to Ohio when but 15 years old, where he remained until 1827, 
Avhen he came to Danville, 111. Here he remained until his removal to 
Lockport, as above stated. His first Winter in this section was that of the 
"deep snow," so vividly remembered by the few old settlers still surviving, and 
who were here that memorable Winter. Mr. Runvon had a larwe amount of 
stock, most of which he left at Danville, except some hogs which he brought 
with him, thinking they would winter on nuts and acorns, but they all perished 
during the deep snow, as he had notliing to feed them. The next Spring, as 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 41o 

soon as tlie snow had sufficiently disappeared to allow travel with safety, he took 
his men and went to Danville after the remainder of his stock and for provis- 
ions. The high waters, consequent on the melting of such quantities of 
snow, detained him six weeks beyond the time he expected to be gone, and his 
family run short of provisions before his return. Mrs. Boyer, of Lockport, a 
daughter of Mr. Kunyon's, informed us that for several weeks before he returned 
they had nothing to live on but salt pork and corn bread made of meal so 
musty that it did not seem fit for a dog to eat. She remembers but two fam- 
ilies then living in what is now Lockport and Homer Townships besides her 
father's, viz., Edward Poor and a man named Butler, who lived where Mr. 
Milne now lives. Of Butler she remembers but little except that he lived 
there ; but whence he came or whither he went she has forgotten. When her 
fiither decided to remove to this section, he gathered up, brought his family and 
hired men to the place and lived in a tent until he got his cabin ready to move 
into. Mrs. Boyer remembers very distinctly how the prairie wolves used to 
come round that tent and render the night hideous with their blood-curdling 
howls. When the news came of the Black Hawk war, and that the savages 
were moving in this direction, Mr. Runyon was plowing in the field, which he 
continued until noon notwithstanding the exciting rumors. He then gathered 
together his family and what goods he designed to take, and moved on to Hick- 
ory Creek, where the settlers were to rendezvous preparatory to retreating 
toward Danville. But upon his arrival there he found they were already gone. 
His company consisted of his own family, Edward Poor's, Holder Sisson's and 
Selah Lanfear's. Finding that the Hickory Creek people were gone, they held 
a council of war, and, at Mr. Runyon's suggestion, went to Chicago, or Fort 
Dearborn, instead of Danville, as originally intended. He was also the first to 
propose to come out from Chicago and buihi the block house which was built on 
Mr. Sisson's place, as noticed further on. Indians were plenty in this section 
when they first settled here, but of the friendly Pottawatomies ; and Mrs. Boyer 
remembers an encampment, or Indian town, on both sides of her father's place, 
and their trail from the one to the other was by the house. They used nearly 
always to come in when passing, but did nothing wrong and generally behaved 
very well. While Mr. Runyon was gone to Danville, and detained so long, it 
was reported that the small-pox was at the Indian camps, and Mrs. Runyon 
refused to let any of them come into her house; when they were seen approach- 
ing, the proverbial latch-string was drawn in. This very seriously offended the 
"noble red men," but they offered no molestation. Mr. Runyon went to Cali- 
fornia in 1849, where he lived until his death, which occurred in September, 
1875. His daughter, Mrs. Boyer, made a trip there to see him the Summer 
before he died. Though one of the very earliest in this section, he had been 
away so long that none but the oldest settlers remember him personally. 

Many of the early settlements of Lockport were made by New Yorkers — 
men of intelligence and enterprise — qualities still distinguishable at the present 



416 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

day. Among these early pioneers, we may mention the following from the Empire 
State: Holder Sisson and his brother-in-law Cyrus Bronson, Selah Lanfear, 
Lyman Hawley, and his son Warren Hawley, Nathan Hutchins, William 
Thomas, William Gooding, Isaac Preston, A. J. Mathewson, David C. Baldwin, 
Edward P. Farley, Col. James Wright, James S. Baker, Justin Taylor, Horace 
Morse, Hiram Norton, Henry Bush and perhaps others. Sisson was one of the 
first settlers in the township, and located on the east side of the river, in Octo- 
ber, 1831, on what has since been known as the Hanford place. He was born 
in Rhode Island in 1790, and died in April, 1878, at the ripe old age of 88 
years. Though born in Rhode Island, most of his life had been spent in New 
York, until his removal to the West. He served six months in the war of 1812: 
was Captain of a company during the Black Hawk war, and built a fort or 
blockhouse on his place near the village of Lockport, in the Spring of 1832. 
He first located in Indiana, near the present city of Evansville, at which time 
the country was new and very sparsely settled. During the fifteen years he 
remained there, he improved five farms, and, finding no market there for his 
produce, built flatboats and carried it to New Orleans. As an example of his 
indomitable energy, of the four trips he made to the Crescent City, he returned 
from two of them on foot. From this Indiana settlement he returned to New 
York, but did not remain long, until he again removed to the West, as already 
noticed, in October, 1831, and settled in this township. When the Black 
Hawk war broke out, the families of the few settlers were removed to Fort 
Dearborn (now Chicago) for safety ; they made the trip to that haven of peace 
in ox-teams, and on the return to the settlement of the men, Mr. Sisson was 
elected Captain, and proceeded at once to build a blockhouse, and make prepar- 
ations for defense. On receiving his command, he was ordered by Gen. Scott 
to proceed Avith his company to Indian Creek, in La Salle County, and bury the 
unfortunate whites massacred there by the Indians. In November, after set- 
tling in Lockport, he went to Michigan where he had sold a drove of cattle "on 
time" while living in the Wabash country, to try to make some collections; but 
the trip was a fruitless one, as well as one of privation both to him and his 
family at home, which at that time consisted of a wife and five little children. 
The Winter set in, and he was detained long beyond the time he had intended 
remaining ; his family was almost without provisions, or any of the necessaries 
of life. During his absence his wife had to go out and cut wood in the forest 
and carry it to the cabin to keep her children from freezing. There were few 
neighbors, and they were at a distance ; Indians were plenty, but mostly of the 
friendly Pottawatomies, and under these circumstances, the heroic woman 
endured the long absence of her husband ignorant of his fate, and hardly daring 
to hope for his return, owing to the severity with which the Winter had set in. 
His sufi'erings and perils were great, and a man of less courage and energy 
would have sunk beneath them. As he was returning from this fruitless trip, 
while crossing Mud Lake with his Indian pony, the ice gave way and pony and 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 417 

rider were submerged; the weather was piercing cold and the snow nearly two 
feet deep. It was night, and in his frozen clothes he rode on to his home, not 
knowing whether he would find his wife and children alive or dead. Upon his 
arrival, finding them all well and comfortable as could be expected under the 
circumstances, he sat down and wept like a child. But we draw a veil over the 
meeting, and, as the novelists say, leave it to be imagined ; to describe it is 
beyond the power of any who never experienced a similar meeting. Soon 
after the close of the Black Hawk war, he sold his claim to Comstock Ilanford 
and removed to the west side of the Des Planes, on the bluff where George 
VVightman (who married Mr. Sisson's youngest daughter) now lives. The 
second night after his removal to this place, a prairie fire, one of those terrors 
to the early settlers, came well-nigh ruining him. Sixty tons of hay, standing 
in ricks, Avere burned, and to-day handfuls of the cinders can be picked up on 
the spot where the ricks stood. Of 170 head of sheep, they were all burned to 
death or injured so that they died from the effects, with the exception of six or 
eight ; and of forty head of cattle, many died from the scorching, and those left 
he was obliged to sell for a dollar or two apiece to prevent them from starving 
on his hands, as he had nothing left to feed them. 

Such were the hardships borne by the pioneers who made this country what 
it is, and prepared for us homes which cannot be surpassed in any State, or in 
any country. And yet we frequently hear people complaining of hard times. 
Hard times ! Why, the present generation knows no more of hard times than, 
to use a homely phrase, " a hog does of holiday." The few survivors who set- 
tled here forty years ago or more can bear witness to the fact of hard times now 
and then. Mr. Sisson was elected one of the first Commissioners of Cook 
County, when Will, Du Page and Lake were included in Cook ; and when Will 
County was set off, was one of its first Commissioners, both of which facts stand 
as evidence of his integrity and ability. At the time of sale of the Govern- 
ment land, he was selected by his neighbors to look after their claims and inter- 
ests, and all who remember the period of '' claim law," knoAV something of the 
importance and peril attaching to his position. But a look at his face, or his 
ringing voice, assured all that with him it was not safe to trifle. When Mr. 
Sisson died, the Lockport Standard paid an eloquent tribute to his worth, from 
which we make the following extract : " His word was law, his courage has been 
for nearly two generations a household word; no taint of suspicion mars the 
soundness of his private and public character. His children simply worshiped 
iiim, and they are a unit in the expression that he was never known to do a 
mean thing, or set a bad example. His widow's views are tersely expressed 
iu these few words to the Avriter, that he was the most upright and per- 
fect gentleman she ever knew; that his judgment was always clear; he knew 
no side but the right. Through all his apparent sternness, he was exceedingly 
social, and in many directions as confiding as a child, as loving as a woman; 
and it is no exaggeration to say that few lives are so complete in all their details 



418 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

and leave so rich a legacy to those that live after it." Cyrus Bronson, a 
brother-in-la.w to Sisson, settled on Section 10, on west side of the river, in 1834. 
He was born in the land of wooden nutmegs, but had lived some time in New- 
York before removing to Illinois. He was killed by lightning in September, 
1857, leaving several sons to perpetuate his name. Cyrus M. Bronson lives 
one and a half miles from where his father settled forty-four years ago ; another 
son, Montraville Bronson, lives in the village of Lockport ; David H. Bronson 
lives in McHenry County and Eliel S. Bronson lives in Dupage Township. 
The widow of Mr. Bronson is still living but is quite old and rather feeble. 
Cyrus M. Bronson, one of the sons above referred to, is quite a remarkable 
man and has a most tenacious memory. In fact, as pertaining to early events, 
and dates of particular occurrences, he is a walking encyclopedia, and we have 
drawn on him extensively for information contained in these pages. Nathan 
Hutchins settled under the bluff on the place where Fitzpatrick now lives, who 
bought it of Hutchins. The latter's father came Avith him to this country, but 
did -not live long — was a very old man when they settled here, and died in 1835, 
one of the first deaths which occurred in the town. A brother of Hutchins 
came out in 1834. and remained two years, when both removed to the neighbor- 
hood of Rockford. He Avas a great hunter (the brother) and had but one eye, 
which adapted him for shooting without the trouble of having to close an eye to 
draw a bead. A. J. Mathewson, the present County Surveyor, came AVest in 1837, 
and was some time engaged in surveying the canal. In 1865, he was appointed 
by the Board of Public Works of Chicago, for deepening the Canal, and, in 
1867, was engaged to make a survey of the Illinois River from La Salle to its 
mouth. He still resides in the village of Lockport, with an office in Joliet. 
William Thomas, General Superintendent of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, 
with headquarters at Lockport, settled in Michigan in 1836, but after a time 
returned to New York. In 1871, he was appointed Superintendent of the Canal 
which position he still holds. D. C. Baldwin settled in this township in 1834, 
where, after farming a number of years, sold out and removed into the village, 
embarking in the mercantile trade, which he still pursues. He is noted for 
having taught the first school in Homer Township. Horace Morse came about 

1835, and is mentioned as the first tavern-keeper of the toAvnship. 

William Gooding, together with the family of his father, who are also men- 
tioned in the history of Homer Township, came to Illinois in 1833. He had 
been prevented froin coming earlier on account of " wars and the rumors of 
wars" of Black Hawk. He and his wife and infant son were the first passen- 
gers to come around the head of Lake Michigan with the United States mad, 
and arrived in Chicago in May of the year mentioned, when the metropolis of 
the Great Northwest was mighty in nothing but its mud and mire, and con- 
tained but about one hundred and fifty inhabitants besides the garrison. Three 
days later, they arrived in Gooding's Grove, then a part of Cook County. In 

1836, he was appointed Chief Engineer of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, 




^ . ^c 




(deceased) 
JOLIET 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 421 

which position he held until its completion, in 1848. He traveled over the 
first completed section of railw.iy in the United States, from Albany to Sche- 
nectady, N. Y. The cars were something like old-style stage-coaches, and were 
drawn by horses. He died at his home in Lockport, in May, 1878. E. P. 
Farley settled in this township in 1837, but of him not much could be ascer- 
tained. The Hawleys settled here in 1835. The father, Lyman Ilawley, set- 
tled near where Warren Hawley now lives, and at the time, there was not a 
house or cabin between his settlement and Plainfield. The elder Hawley is 
dead, but his son, Warren Hawley, is still alive, and one of the thrifty farmers 
of the country. Isaac Preston came to the settlement in 1836. He was born 
in New Jersey in 1792, and had lived some time in New York before comins: 
to Illinois. He remembers to have seen his father with crape on his arm, as 
mourning for Gen. Washington, when the "Father of his Country" laid down 
his earthly life. J. B. Preston, a son of Isaac Preston, was a man of much 
note, and is said to have been the youngest man that ever received the office of 
Surveyor General. Hiram Norton was one of the most enterprising men the 
town of Lockport has known, and did more in his day, perhaps, for the build- 
ing-up of the place than any other man ; and though he has long since gone to 
his reward, the evidences of his works are still seen and felt by those who sur- 
vive him. Col. Wright sprung from a good old Revolutionary stock, his father 
and grandfather both having served in the great struggle for independence, and 
participated in many of its battles. He came from Saratoga, N. Y., to Illinois, 
in 1833, and to Lockport Township in 1837, and settled in the present village 
of that name, on the identical spot where he now lives. He was brought up 
on the battle-ground of Stillwater, where Burgoyne received his first check, and 
which was the first of a series of brilliant engagements that resulted finally in 
the surrender of the British General and his proud army to the Continental 
forces under Gen. Gates. Col. Wright's father owned the farm upon which 
stood the house in which Gen. Frazer died. All readers of our Revolutionary 
history are familiar with the death of that gallant officer. One historian thus 
describes it, in the battle of Stillwater: " Here Arnold did an act unworthy of 
the glory of the well-fought battle. He ordered up twelve of his best riflemen, 
and pointing to Frazer, who, on horseback, with brandished sword, was gal- 
lantly animating his men, he said : ' See that officer. Himself is a host. Let 
me not see him long.' The riflemen flew to their places, and in a few moments 
the hero was cut down." Col. Wright says he has often seen the blood-stain 
on the floor of this house, where Frazer was laid, just under the window, when 
brought in wounded, and where he breathed his last. A few years ago, there 
was, says the Colonel, a pot of gold found buried in the barn upon this same 
farm, and is supposed to have been buried there by some of the British officers. 
Baker settled in the present village of Lockport in 1837, where he has ever 
since resided. He is a carpenter by trade, and has always followed that busi- 
ness, and perhaps has left his mark on as many edifices as any other man of his 



422 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

a.cre in Will County. There are, he says, but three men living now in the vil- 
lage that were here when he came, viz., A. J. Matthewson, D. C. Baldwin and 
Joshua Croneen. The village proper of Lockport was laid out, but there were 
no houses except the Canal office and perhaps a log cabin or two. In one of 
the latter a man had lived for a time, named Everdeen, but had moved to Bach- 
elor's Grove. There are some who accredit the man Everdeen as the first set- 
tler in Lockport Township, but we have been unable to learn anything very 
definite concerning him, and, from information received from other sources, are 
of the opinion that he' was not the first settler in the town at all. He moved 
to Bachelor's Grove, in Cook County, but what further became of him we do not 
know. Selah Lanfear settled here in 1832, and was so near the line as to be hard 
to say whether he was in Lockport or Homer Township. He was in the block- 
house during the Sac war, a member of Capt. Sisson's company. He was a 
brother of Deacon Asa Lanfear, who settled in Homer a few years later. Jus- 
tin Taylor settled here in 1834, but had come out. the year before, on a tour of 
inspection. He was at Chicago at the Indian treaty, and saw several hundred 
Indians start for their new hunting-grounds beyond the Father of Waters. He 
died in 1847. His widow married William Sanborn, and is still living. A 
coincidence in the family may be mentioned in the fact that they have four sons 
dead and four living, one daughter dead and one living. Alomon Taylor, a 
brother of his, came here in 1835, and settled on the farm just north of where 
Fitzpatrick now lives. He went to California in 1850, and died from an acci- 
dent received there. In 1852, his widow married Jacob Smith, and at present 
lives about a mile from their original settlement. Joseph Heath came from 
Hartford, Conn., about 1834, and settled where C. S. Allen now lives. He 
was a young man then, but afterward married and raised a large family of 
children, who have gone out in the world to do for themselves, and he has re- 
moved to Minooka, where he now lives, enjoying his wealth, gained by a life of 
honest toil. Thomas Webb also came from Connecticut, and settled where 
Stephen Williams now lives, in August, 1833. He had lived for a time in 
Ohio before coming to Illinois, and after remaining on this place about four 
years, moved just over the line in Dupage, where he died, in 1840. Michael 
Noel was a son-in-law, and lived on the place for some time after Webb moved 
away, when he finally sold it to Williams, who now occupies it, as already 
stated. William Rogers was from Ashtabula County, Ohio, and settled near where 
Daggett's mill now stands, in 1832 or 1833. Mrs. John Giffin, a daughter of 
his, is living about one mile southwest of Lockport village. He finally moved 
up on the bluff, where he died, some years later. His widow afterward mar- 
ried John Mulligan, a man of Irish extraction, but had been raised mostly in 
England, and was a member of the Episcopal Church. It is said that she loved 
him most devotedly. He was on his way to Pike's Peak, during the gold ex- 
citement of 1859, when he died, and she had him brought back and interred at 
home. She then rented the farm and went to live with her children, in Livings- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 423 

toil County, where she died, about three years ago, but made the recjuest that 
he should be disinterred and taken to that locality and buried before her, and 
she then laid by his side. Her request was com))lied with, and side by side 
they sleep. Harvey and Thomas Reed were from Kentucky ; the latter came 
in 1832, and the former in 1834 or 1835, and settled where William Mauer now 
lives. He went to California during the gold excitement of 1849-50, and to 
Pike's Peak during that excitement, in neither of which he seems to have 
amassed any great fortune, thus verifying the saying that "a rolling stone gath- 
ers no moss." Thomas Reed settled where D. Mallon now lives, on the West 
Side. He sold out about 1858 or 1860, and removed to Iowa, where he died, a few 
years ago, more than 90 years of age. He was a warm-hearted Kentuckian, 
fond of his bitters, good-natured and jolly, but whole-souled, and generous 
to a fault. 

James B. Marvin settled in this township in 1834, about one mile east of 
the village, where he lived until his death, which occurred a few years ago. He, 
with Mr. Mason, mentioned more particularly in the history of Homer Town- 
ship, made the trip to California, overland, during the gold fever in 1849 and 
1850. They were in Sacramento City when it was burned as a huge bonfire 
on the election of Gen. Pierce as President of the United States. A son of 
Marvin now lives on the homestead, and the place has never been out of pos- 
session of the family since its entry in 1834. Hale S. Mason first settled in 
Homer Township, where his history is more fully given, but has lived in Lock- 
port since 1846. B. B. Clarke, whose father settled in Plainfield, and lived 
for years in Dupage Township, where their history is given, is now a prosper- 
ous merchant in the village of Lockport. Gen. James Turney was from Ten- 
nessee and John W. Paddock from New York, the first representatives of the 
legal profession, and came about 1836 or 1837. Luther C. Chamberlain came 
from New York, but settled first in Homer Township. Dr. Chancy White was 
an early settler, and one of the first physicians. Joseph Haight Avas from the 
Nutmeg State, and settled in 1834. Patrick Fitzpatrick is a son of "Ould 
Erin,'' but had resided in Canada from early youth until he came to Illinois. 
His first visit was in 1832, but owing to the Sac war then going on, he returned 
to Canada where he remained a year and a half, and came back to this section. 
He bought the claim of Nathan Hutchins, and settled on the bluff west of the 
village of Lockport, where he still lives. He is one of the few old landmarks 
still left in the country. When he settled here, he says there was not a cabin 
from his place to Plainfield, and Will County was a part of Cook. He voted 
at the first election held in Will County, but has forsworn politics since the 
defeat of Van Buren in 1840. 

Dr. John F. Daggett, who has practiced medicine in Lockport and the sur- 
rounding country for forty years, is a native of the Green Mountains of Vermont, 
and came to this neighborhood in 1838. He entered the medical collef^e at 
Woodstock, Vt., when but 19 years of age, and taught school through the 



424 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Winter to pay his course through college, from which he graduated in 1836. 
He married Angelina Talcott, of New York, a sister of the late Mancel Talcott, 
of Chicago, and of Edward B. Talcott, one of the engineers who surveyed and 
laid out the Illinois & Michigan Canal. He still lives in Lockport, and looks 
as if he was good to practice his profession forty years longer. John Bovee 
came from Ohio in 1837 and settled in this township, but has been dead many 
years. Hon. Charles E. Boyer came from Reading, Penn., and first located in 
Chicao-o, where he embarked in the mercantile business. In 1839, he came to 
Lockport and opened a store, but closed it out in a short time and took a con- 
tract on the Canal. He went to California in 1850, and contracted to build 
Bear River Canal. He served a term in the State Legislature, and was a can- 
didate for the State Senate when he died in September, 1868. Robert Milne 
came from the "banks and braes" of Scotland in 1836, and stopped first in 
Chicago, where he bought out the first lumber merchant of the Garden City 
and engaged in that branch of trade. Although pretty well off in regard to 
worldly wealth, it would probably take a longer purse than his to buy the lumber 
trade of Chicago to-day. In 1840, he engaged in contracting on the Illinios & 
Michif^an Canal, and built five of the locks. He settled in the village in 1846, 
owns an excellent farm adjacent, and devotes a great deal of attention to raising 
blooded cattle, and has imported some very fine animals from the old country. 
John Griswold came from Vermont, and settled here about 1834 or 1835, 
where he still lives, a prosperous farmer. Benjamin Butterfield is an early 
settler, one of the very early ones, and is said by some to have built the first 
log cabin in the township ; but we are unable to vouch for the truth of this 
statement. He was in the block house built by Sisson in the time of the Sac 
war and went to Iowa. He is said by some to have been in Homer Township, 
but he has been away so long that few can tell much about him now. Judge 
Blackstone, First Lieutenant of Sisson's company while in the blockhouse, 
was also a very early settler, but there is some discrepancy as to his settlement, 
whether it was originally in Homer or Lockport. This embraces many of the 
first settlers of Lockport Township up to the time when the influx became too 
crreat to keep pace with the arrivals. It may be that there are omissions of the 
names of many who should be mentioned as pioneers, but if so we have been 
unable to learn anything in regard to them. Many of them have gone to their 
account, and others have moved away and all trace of them lost. 

As already stated, there were plenty of Indians here when the white people 
began to settle in the vicinity, but they were friendly, lazy, and not at all times 
disposed to heed that commandment forbidding us to steal. Says the " Will 
County Gazetteer," of 1860 : "From the observations of the first white settlers 
in this vicinity, it is evident that what is now Lockport had long been a favor- 
ite resort of the Indian tribes which had occupied this section of the country. 
The spreading oaks, the clear running brooks, the rapid river, all made this one 
of the brightest spots in this paradise of the red man. Here their graves are 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 425 

found, their caches, or places for liiding their corn, etc., and arrow-heads, stone 
hatchets and other evidences of their having lived and died here. Even after 
the settlements by the whites commenced, the Indians often came here to spend 
the hunting and fishing season. Another reason why tliis became an important 
stopping-place for them was, that here was the best ford across the Des Planes 
River, and a crossing could be effected here in consequence of the rapid fall and 
numerous channels into which the river was divided in extreme high water, 
when it could nowhere else." But the time came when, "Lo! the poor Indian," 
with the star of empire, had to wend his way westward. Their old hunting- 
grounds have changed into broad, cultivated fields, and herds of domestic ani- 
mals now graze where they once chased the wild deer. Their war-whoop is no 
longer heard, their council-fires have gone out in the forests and few now living 
remember them from pex'sonal knowledge. Mrs. Wightman says she very well 
remembers the last Indians she saw in this settlement. She and others of her 
father's children were sitting on the fence eating butter and bread, when two 
Indians came along on their ponies, and snatched the butter and bread from 
their hands. Mr. Rogers, who lived in the neighborhood, had called for some- 
thing and witnessed their act to the children, became incensed, and seizing Mr. 
Sisson's horse-whip rode after the Indians and whipped them every jump for a 
mile or more. She was a small child at the time, but remembers the occurrence 
and that they were the last she ever saw in the country. Mr. Bronson says 
that when they took up their line of march for their new hunting-grounds 
beyond the Mississippi, they presented a rather sad and mournful spectacle, as 
they trudged along on foot in true Indian file, with head? bowed down and a 
melancholy and dejected cast of countenance, that might well have become the 
bard of Bonnv Doon, when he wrote 

"Farewell my frieiul'', farewell my foes, 
My peace with these, my love with those." 

The first white child born in Lockport Township, is supposed to have been 
Orrin Runyon, who was born on the 27th of May, 1833. He lives now in Cal- 
ifornia. This is doubtless correct, as at that time there were but a few families in the 
town. The first birth on the west side of the Des Planes River, in the present limits 
of Lockport, was Eliel S. Bronson, a son of Cyrus Bronson, born April 23, 
1835. The first marriage was that of Louisa Webb and Michael Noel, and the 
matrimonial knot was tied by C. C. Van Home, a Justice of the Peace from the 
Hickory Creek settlement. C. M. Bronson says that upon its being reported 
that the weddingwas to take place, and no invitations having been received by any 
of the neighbors, he, but a boy at the time, was dispatched to Webb's to reconnoiter, 
but ostensibly to borrow something, as borrowing was an every-day occurrence 
at that period of the countr3''s settlement. Lpon presenting himself as an 
Electoral Commission of one, he found the old gentleman sitting on a three- 
legged stool, eating a piece of the wedding cake. Van Home riding away from 
the place and the new bride and bridegroom sitting on the bed looking very 



426 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

sweet at each other, all of which seemed to indicate that the deed was done, 
which proved to be correct, for on entering the house he was introduced to the 
bride, and offered a "hunk" of the wedding cake. The Webbs were from 
Ohio, and Noel, it seems, had been the girl's lover before the family came West, 
and for two years after their removal to Illinois she neither saw nor heard from 
him, when finally he decided to pay her a visit, which culminated in a mar- 
riage, the first of which we have any record in Lockport Township. The first 
death was that of a maiden lady — a Miss Miner, and a sister of Dr. Miner, who 
lived on a part of Armstead Runyon's land. She died in the Summer of 1834, 
of consumption, and was buried on what is now known as the Hanford Place. 
Another of the early deaths was that of the father of Nathan Hutchins, who 
lived with his son on the west side of the Des Planes, and died in 1835. A 
custom prevailed in that early day of carrying all dead people to the grave, 
which seemed to the simple-minded settlers to show more aff'ection for the 
departed than hauling them in a hearse or wagon. The Fall Mr. Hutchins 
died was one of almost unprecedented ague, even in this ague climate, and it 
was hard to find, says Mr. Bronson, four men to carry him to the grave who 
were not shaking with the ague. There were no grave-yards or cemeteries laid 
off" at that time, and they carried him up on the bluff" and buried him near where 
Fitzpatrick's barn now stands. As nearly as the spot can be designated, it is 
directly in front of the barn-door, where every time Fitz steps out he treads 
upon the sod that covers the old pioneer; and it would not be in the least sur- 
prising should his troubled ghost rise up sometime and confront Fitz for this 
apparent desecration of his lowly resting-place. The following circumstance is, 
perhaps, not out of place in this connection. A son of Nathan Hutchins went 
to Chicago with a wagon and team. He carried a load of produce to be exchanged 
for groceries and such goods as were needed at home. They were then living 
near Rockford, having moved to that section in 1836. The young man's team 
was found stabled by some one who recognized it, and word sent to Hutchins, 
who came and took it home. It had been there several days, the proprietor of 
the stable feeding and caring for it without knowing to whom it belonged. From 
that day to this, the young man has not been heard of. It is said that he had 
a little money, and whether he ran away or was murdered is, and will perhaps 
remain forever, one of the unrevealed mysteries. 

The first practicing physician in Lockport Township was a Dr. Miner, who 
came to the settlement in the Winter of 1833-34, and lived on Mr. Runyon's 
place for a year or two. He was an Eastern man, but from what State could 
not be ascertained. He was a bachelor or widower, and a maiden sister lived 
with him and acted as housekeeper, and is mentioned elsewhere as the first 
death in the township. Mrs. Boyer remembers both him and his sister well, 
though but a child at the time, but does not know what finally became of him. 
Dr. Bronson was, perhaps, the next physician, and removed to Jolict. Dr. 
Chancy White came in 1836, and was from New York, and now lives in Gales- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 427 

"burg. 111. Dr. Daggett was, perhaps, the next, and has been admini.stering to 
the afflicted of the community since 1838. The lawyers, stores and post office 
of the township are more intimately connected with the village of Lockport, 
and will be given in that chapter. The first Justice of the Peace was Jarod 
Runyon, and was acting in that capacity as far back as 1836 or 1837, though no 
one can now tell with certainty just when he received the appointment. One of 
the first roads in the town, other than the Indian trails, was near where the 
canal is located, and extended from Lockport to Joliet. In 1838. the Canal 
Commissioners cut a road direct to Chicago, which bears oft' to the right of the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad, and, in 1830, the road was opened through from 
Chicago to Ottawa, on the west bluff", and which afterward became quite famous 
as a stage route. It used to be a great thoroughfare of travel, when stage- 
coaches were the common mode of transit. The first mill in Lockport Town- 
ship, or in Northern Illinois, of any consequence, was built in what is termed 
West Lockport, by William Gooding, Eli S. Prescott, William Rogers and 
Lyman Hawley. Rogers had pre-empted the land on which the mill was built, 
and the names given above were the original proprietors. It was begun in 
1836, and completed in 1838 ; was built of stone, and cost .^30,000 ; with four 
runs of buhrs, and is still in operation. Dr. Daggett bought it entire in 1855 
but had owned an interest in it for several years previous. Other mill and 
grain interests will be mentioned in the history of the village. 

The first minister of the Gospel in this section of the country was a young 
man from Massachusetts, of the name of Greenwood, sent out by the Home 
Mission of the Presbyterian Church, and who preached for a year and a half at 
the house of the elder Bronson, on the west side of the Des Planes River. 
After leaving his labors in this town, he went to the wilds of Wisconsin, and 
once got lost in what was well known in an early day as the "Big Swamp" of 
the Badger State, and came very near starving to death before he found his 
way out. He had some property, and when believing he was doomed to perish 
in the dismal swamp, sat down and wrote his will, threw it on the ground and 
lay down by it to die. But reviving somewhat after a while, got up and pur- 
sued his way in a kind of listless manner, until the crowing of a cock infused 
new life into him and assured him that relief was at hand. He found the cabin 
of a settler, who took him in, gave him food, and where he remained until his 
exhausted energies were fully restored. The next preachers to proclaim salva- 
tion in this township were the Methodist itinerants, Revs. Blackburn and 
Beggs, the latter now living in Plainfield, resting from a long life of labor in 
the vineyard of the Lord. Another of the early preachers of that day was a 
Congregational minister of the name of Foster, who used to preach at the 
schoolhouse, long before there was a church edifice in the town. The old fel- 
low had a way of wiping his nose on his coat-tail, when preaching, a perform- 
ance not altogether agreeable to his hearers; and so Dr. Daggett, with some 
others, raised a contribution and bought the good old preacher a beautiful red 



428 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

bandana, which, with due solemnity, they presented to him. The elder Mr. 
Bronson was in Chicago one day with his team, and when about starting home 
was accosted by a very polite, courteous gentleman, with a slight foreign accent, 
who asked to ride out with him. He brought him out in his wagon, found him 
very intelligent, and was well pleased with him. Acting upon the injunction 
to be kind to the wayfaring man, for many have so entertained angels unawares, 
he kept him over night, and in the morning sent him on to Joliet. A few days 
later, Mr. Bronson was in Joliet, when the same gentleman came up and spoke 
to him, apparently very glad to see him. He then learned that it was Father 
Plunkett, sent to Joliet to take charge of the Catholic Church there, and whose 
melancholy death is noted in the history of that city. 

Education received attention at a very early period in the history of Lock- 
port. The first school of which we have any account was taught in 1835, by a 
young lady from Joliet, whose name is now forgotten. She afterward married 
a man named Eastman, and removed to Chicago. The next was taught by a 
Miss Royce, of Dupage Township. Both of these schools were before the 
day of schoolhouses, and were taught in a little room built by Capt. Sisson as an 
addition to his dwelling and intended for a kitchen, but surrendered it for school 
purposes. The first schoolhouse was built by the neighbors en masse, and was 
a small log cabin. The work and material were donated — one man giving logs 
enough, delivered on the spot, for a side and an end, and another for a side, 
etc., while another cut down a tree, sawed it up and made "shakes," or boards, 
to cover it. A log was cut out for a window, a large fire-place with a stick 
chimney, and benches made by splitting open a small tree, boring auger-holes 
and putting in legs, is a pen photograph of this primitive schoolhouse. There 
are some who assert that the first school was taught by a Miss Warren, of War- 
renville, Du Page County, as early as 1834, just in the edge of Lockport, near 
what was known as the Barnett Place. But of this school we are unable to 
learn anything very definite. The schools of Lockport have expanded some- 
what since that day. In 1872, we find there were 10 school districts, 1,244 
pupils enrolled, 1 graded school, and 15 teachers employed. There were 
10 schoolhouses, 4 districts having libraries, with an aggregate of 820 vol- 
lumes, and the amount paid to teachers was $6,490. The special tax levied for 
school purposes was $8, 574. 60 ; total expenditures for the year, $9,839.81 — 
leaving a balance of $1,068.36 in the treasury. Further mention is made of 
the schools and churches in the history of Lockport Village. 

At the land sale which took place in Chicago, for the land embraced in 
Lockport ToAvnship, the people had organized a kind of protective society 
against speculators, and appointed one of their number to look after their inter- 
ests. That man was Holder Sisson; and faithfully he performed the duty. As 
the numbers of the claims were called, while Sisson bid on it for them, they 
would stand around and watch to see if a speculator bid, and if so, unless he 
took it back very suddenly, they put him in the river until he did. The auc- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUIITY. 429 

tioneer favored the settlers, and as soon as the Government price was reached, 
it was with hiai '' going, </om</, gone." Finally, a compromise was effected, 
whereby the speculator paid for all the land and gave the the squatter half. 
This enabled many to procure homes Avho did not have money to even pay the 
Government price for a "forty" or an "eighty." As the country settled up, 
old settlers say it seemed rather hard that they could not let their stock run at 
large, and cut their wild hay where they pleased. When the first settlers came 
in, everything was free, the country wild, and every man, for scores of miles, 
neighbors. As it settled up, these things changed, and people became more and 
more selfish, until it seems, at the present day, that it is every man for himself, 

and the take the hindcrmost. Then a man would loan another a horse or an 

ox, or anything else that he had, except his wife and babies, though he had 
never seen him before. But now such confidence would, in nine cases out of 
ten, be abused. These somber reflections are not those of the histoi'ian, but the 
echo of some of the old settlers who have seen the country grow up, and have 
marked these changes in the people and in their manners and feelings toward 
one another. 

C. M. Bronson remembers two species of birds quite common here when 
liis father removed to this section, in 1884, but which have long since disap- 
peared. One of them was about the size and very similar to the English cur- 
lew. It had a bill about seven or eight inches long, and when disturbed would 
rise in the air, and, circling overhead, pronounce very distinctly the word 
chelee. The other was somewhat smaller in size, but similar in appearance, and 
could say very plainly, "go to work." But as the English and Irish came in, 
who are fond of birds as food, and took to shooting them, they soon disappeared. 
Mr. Bronson informed us that he was once bitten on the great toe of his right 
foot by a massasauga, or prairie rattlesnake, and for eight years was unable to 
do any work. He was finally cured by a severe attack of fevers, in which he 
came near dying, but which had the effect of driving the poison from his sys- 
tem, and when he recovered from it was free from the other also. He describes 
a sickly season when 500 canal men died and were buried, and upon the graves 
of whom not a drop of rain had fallen from the burial of the first to that of the 
last. They had come from a country of a different climate, were little used to 
eating meat, and here they had plenty of it, and working hard in the hot sun, 
would sicken and die by scores. When one "shuffled off the mortal coil," the 
others would hold a "wake;" no matter how pressing work might be, every- 
thing was "dropped;" and if the departed had any of the world's wealth, not a 
lick of work would the others do while it lasted, but drink and fight, and some- 
times, in their drunken orgies, prepare the material for another wake. A 
grave-yard was laid out and consecrated for their special benefit, as the Catholic 
Church never bury their members except in holy ground. The following anec- 
dote, by a correspondent of the local press, writing under the nom de plume of 
"Styx," will serve to illustrate somewhat the Irish character as represented 



430 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

here during the building of the Canal. Writing of some of their little frays, 
the correspondent says: "Representatives from different parts of Ireland gath- 
ered into separate settlements, and raising the old songs and war-cries that 
have so often torn 'the Harp of Erin' to tatters, they have re-enacted the 
refreshing dramas of 'Donny Brook Fair' and the 'Kilkenny Cats," in which 
every sprig of shillalah was rampant and restless. Funerals and ' wakes ' 
followed on the heels of each other — the ' wakes ' being productive of more 
funerals, and the funerals of more 'wakes!' The writer remembers seeing a 
funeral cortege that started from the flat, near where the })rison now stands, 
consisting of a dirt-cart with the coffin and mourning occupants, and preceded 
by the carriage of the priest, who led the way to the Lockport burying-ground. 
Wrapt in that kind of dreamy forgetfulness that was introduced by the exciting 
watches of the previous night, the occupants did not notice how the hind-end- 
board of the wagon had jolted out, nor did they notice, while climbing the hill 
at the old prison quarry, the coffin had taken a notion to slip out after the end- 
board, but went on to the grave-yard full of grief and lamentations. ' Begorra, 
Jamie's gone!' was the startling remark of the sexton as he reached after the 
missing casket." 

The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad passes through Lockport Town- 
ship from north to south, and was built through in 1856. But as a full and 
complete history of this great road is given elsewhere in this work, we deem it 
unnecessary to recapitulate here. The same applies to the Illinois & 
Michigan Canal, which also passes through the town from north to south, and 
the history of which is fully given in another page. There is a point or two, 
however, upon which we may touch in regard to it. That it is designed to 
become, at no very distant day, a ship-canal, upon which will float thousands of 
crafts from all parts of the country, there can be little doubt, since a few 
shovelfuls of dirt have been judiciously removed from the low divide between 
the Chicago and Des Planes Rivers, permanently uniting Lake Michigan and 
the Father of Waters. With this few miles of canal widened and deepened for 
ships to pass through, it would be of untold advantage to the whole country. 
There are those living to-day who will yet see mighty steamers unloading cotton 
and sugar at the piers of Chicago, and taking in the grain of the prairies and 
the minerals of the Superior country, steam away to the Crescent City of the 
South. As pertinent to the subject, the following extract is from a speech 
delivered in the Congress of the United States, by Hon. Carter Harrison, on 
this very enterprise : " Fifty years ago, only a prophet could have seen at 
Fort Dearborn the site of a mighty city. But his mantle of prophecy need 
not have been heaven-born. It was only necessary that its woof and fabric 
should be woven of commercial and engineering sagacity, united to close obser- 
vation of the little bayous and the low divide separating its waters from those 
of the Des Planes River close by. That divide was only a few inches above 
the average surface of the lake, and in high water the birchen canoe of the 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 431 

savage passed freely from one to the otlicr. * ^t * Ages ago, 

tlie prairie States of the Northwest were a vast inland, shallow sea. Its deep 
pools were the beds of the present lakes. When the bottom of that sea was 
upheaved and the barriers to the east and south were broken down, the waters 
of Lake Michigan flowed through a long cycle of centuries, through the Des 
Planes River to the Mississippi. As the prairies to the south were gradually 
lifted, and the outlets to the east were deepened, the southern outlet became 
nearly closed. Nature thus wrote on that low divide the first engineer's report 
in favor of a ship-canal to unite the Mississippi and the Lakes. She traced 
along that flat marsh in the dark waters of that little bayou the plan for tying 
the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. A gentle breeze parted 
sister-waters in that sullen creek and carried them to far-distant oceans, where 
one would be caught in the grasp of the stream coming down from Labrador, 
the other to be wooed by the warm embrace of the Gulf-stream, again to be 
re-united in mid-ocean." With all its natural advantages, it does seem that 
the making of this a ship-canal would be one of the grandest improvements of 
the age, and we have no doubt but that a few more years will witness the 
inauguration of such a movement. 

Politically, Lockport Township is Democratic. In the days of building the 
Canal, whereon were employed so many sons of the "old sod," it polled up 
sometimes rather huge Democratic majorities, as the first thought of the Irish- 
man when he arrives in this country is the right of franchise, and hundreds j 
of them had been freshly imported for canal purposes. / 

"Young Barney 0' Toole was a broth of a boy, 
Who crossed over the sea with bold Pat Malloy. 
They landed at night — it was rainy withal — 
And the next day got work on the raging ' canawl,' " 

It is Stated, and very reliably, too, that at the Presidential election of 1840, 
some of the " Canalers " voted not less than twenty times apiece ; and it is 
estimated that along the Illinois & Michigan Canal there were probably 5,000 
illegal votes polled for Van Buren. But with the completion of the Canal and 
the exit of the " Irish Brigade," it has toned down, and the two great parties 
are more evenly divided, though the Democrats still have the majority. The 
name of Lockport was given to the village by Armstead Runyon, and the town- 
ship named for it. The name originated from the first lock on the Canal 
between Chicago and Lockport being at the latter place, and hence, was deemed 
an appropriate name. 

THE VILLAGE OF LOCKPORT. 

Lockport village is situated on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad 
and the Illinois & Michigan Canal, about thirty-three miles southeast of Chicago 
and four miles north of Joliet. The town site for Lockport was chosen by the 
Canal Commissioners, and the village laid out by them. It was selected with 
a view of making it their headquarters, and soon after its selection, they erected 



\ 



482 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

their Canal office here, which has ever since, with some improvements, been 
used for that purpose. The village was laid out under the supervision of Will- 
iam B. Archer, by a surveyor named Wampler, and the first sale of lots took 
place on the 22d day of November, 1837, and lots sold to the amount of $6,000. 
The Canal office was the first building of any importance erected in the town, 
and doubtless had considerable influence in inducing the first settlers of the vil- 
lage to come to the place. The Canal Commissioners, as well as many other 
persons of intelligence, probably over-rated the advantages of this locality for 
a commercial and manufacturing town. Joliet, only four miles south of the site 
selected for Lockport, had at that time been laid out and established as the 
county seat, and the natural advantages of its position, with the agricultural 
and mineral wealth surrounding it, would preclude the existence of other towns 
in such close proximity. Lockport, with all her wealth, must eventually become 
a part of Joliet. It was laid out with much care, and fine taste exercised, as 
will be seen from its broad and regular streets. The residences are built with 
regard to beauty as well as utility, many of them being surrounded with taste- 
fully laid out and highly ornamented grounds. With its eligible location and 
romantic site on a sloping hillside, and withal its healthy condition, it is very favor- 
ably adapted for, as it no doubt will some day be, a suburban retreat of Chi- 
cago. 

The first store was established in Runyontown town (no^v North Lockport) 
by a man named Kellogg, and was but a sort of grocery store, a rather small affair. 
Goss & Parks kept the first dry goods store at the same place, and at the laying- 
out of Lockport proper, removed within its limits, Goss and Stephen Gooding 
opening a store in partnership, and Parks likewise opening one on his own 
hook. After the retirement of Stephen Gooding, Oliver P. Gooding took 
charge of this, and soon other mercantile establishments were opened, and Lock- 
port grew rapidly. The first building of any pretensions erected, was the 
Canal office, as already stated. There were, however, several cabins and 
huts put up within the present limits of the village, by the early settlers, long 
before it was laid out as a village. The first tavern was built by Horace Morse, 
but Mr. Runyon, we believe, kept travelers before this tavern was built, though 
he did not pretend to keep a regular hotel. The first post office was established 
in 1836, over on the west side of the river, at the stone mill, and EdAvard P. 
Bush was the first Postmaster. The office remained at the mill until 1839, 
when it was removed across the river to the East Side, where it has ever since 
remained. While at the mill, the mail came once a week, and was brought on 
horseback. In 1839, coaches were put on the Chicago and Ottawa route, and 
the mail then came that way, which was considered, in that early day, quite an 
improvement, and a considerable advance toward civilization. The first repre- 
sentatives of the legal profession were Gen. James Turney and John W. Pad- 
dock, both long since dead. At present Messrs. L. S. Parker and W. S. Myers, 
men of ability, constitute the "learned in the law" of Lockport. The first 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 438 

village schoolhouse -was built in 1839 ; a small frame building, about 18x32 
feet, and cost perhaps ^200. It was used for schools, religious services, town- 
hall, and anything else that happened to come along. The present handsome 
stone building, with its fine clock, was erected a few years ago at a cost of 
^30,000 — quite a contrast to the little shanty built for school purposes forty 
years ago. The present building would be an ornament to any town. The fol- 
lowing is the record of the school for the present year: Prof. D. IT. Darling, 
Principal ; Misses Paxson, Gooding, Devine, Parker and Herron, Teachers. 

Before Lockport proper was laid out, and as early as 1836, Armstead Run- 
yon laid out North Lockport, or what was long known as Ilunyontown, but now 
called Ilunyon's Addition to Lockport. West Lockport was laid out by William 
Gooding, Lyman Hawley, William Rogers and Eli Prescott, the parties that 
built the stone mill. At one time this was the most flourishing part of Lock- 
port, but both it and Runyotitown have been merged into the village proper. 
Lockport was incorporated under especial act of the Legislature, approved Feb- 
luary 12, 1853, and signed by J. A. Matteson, Governor. At the election for 
adopting the village charter, the vote was 86 in favor of and 55 against 
tlie charter. The first Board of Trustees elected were Isaac H. Steward, Henry 
Torrey, S. S. Chamberlain, D. C. Baldwin and Chauncy Doud. Henry Torrey 
was chosen President of the Board, I. H. Stewart appointed Secretary, and 
Chauncy Doud, Treasurer. The following is the present Board : David C. 
Baldwin, William Shields, Samuel Matthews, John Ryan and Jacob Lotz. D. 
C. Baldwin is President of the Board ; William Shields, Clerk ; F. F. Stowe, 
Police Magistrate ; William A. Johnson, Police Constable, and James Wright, 
Jr., Street Commissioner. 

Lockport has always been the headquarters of the Canal Commissioners, and 
the General Superintendent, Mr. Thomas, has his office here at this time. 
Without going into a detailed history of the Canal, which has been thoroughly 
given in another department of this work, we will mention one little anecdote 
especially pertaining to this section and to Lockport. The first boat that passed 
through the entire length of the Canal after its completion, was the " General 
Thornton," and made the passage in April, 1848. But the first that floated 
on its Bridgeport-tainted waters was the " General Fry." named for one of the 
Canal Commissioners. It was built near where the depot now stands, and as it 
was an event of importance, unprecedented in the history of Lockport, every- 
body went down to see it launched. As it gently " slided " from the stocks 
into the '* raging canawl," Dr. Daggett rode in on it, and the boat, seemingly 
conscious that it carried more than Caesar and his fortunes, acquitted itself 
handsomely, by dropping into the water "right side up." When the Canal was 
completed and opened to Chicago, in March, 1848, this boat was the fii'St to 
make the trip to that city. It was the occasion of a grand excursion for the 
purpose of celebrating an event of great national importance. A magnificent 
reception was given the excursion, as Chicago, even then, knew how to entertain 



434 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

her country cousins. The boat was met at Bridgeport by a propeller and a 
large number of citizens, who took thp excursionists on through the river, and 
for a lide out on the lake. The river was lined with people on both sides, to 
see the first excursion that had come through the Canal. They were taken in 
and " dined and wined," and a general good time had all round. There are 
those (Blue or Red Ribbonists, perhaps) who remarked with some emphasis, that 
the entire excursion got gloriously drunk. But doubtless this is a sort of 
" stretch of conjecture," and should be taken with all due allowance for ill- 
natured remarks. 

Lockport is a grain market of considerable importance. Trade in grain 
began here on the opening of the Canal in 1848. Hiram Norton, the father of 
the present grain dealer, J; L. Norton, John Milks, Jenkins, and Geo. Gay- 
lord, were the first who entered the business. Gaylord & Co., with the excep- 
tion of from 1852 to 1863, have been in the trade ever since, and handle 
annually from 300,000 to 400,000 bushels of corn and oats exclusively, all of 
which is shipped by the canal. Gaylord was the first man to buy grain at 
legal weights, and had a hard fight with the other dealers to maintain it, but 
eventually carried the day. Since buying the Martin property, Gaylord & Co. 
have storage and cribbing capacity for more than 200,000 bushels of grain. 
Their elevators have improved steam-power, and are provided with grain-dumps 
and all modern conveniences for handling grain. Norton & Co. are the only 
other firm in the grain business here at present. They handle, including the 
wheat used in the mill, perhaps between 800,000 and 900,000 bushels annually. 
With an extensive and well-appointed warehouse and steam elevator of large 
capacity, they are well prepared for the grain business in any form or shape. 
George B. Martin, at one time, was a heavy grain dealer at this place — too 
heavy for the financial benefit of many of his patrons. He commenced busi- 
ness here in 1849-50, without capital it is supposed, and by dint of energy 
and good business ability worked up an immense trade, gaining the fullest con- 
fidence of the entire community. There are, perhaps, few cases on record 
of a more complete betrayal of confidence. Many hard-working people had 
deposited their savings with him, and it is even said that washerwomen had 
money deposited in his hands, when, without warning he failed most dis- 
astrously, to the amount of |200,000, a failure aggravated in its nature and 
sad in its results ; scarcely equaled in the. distress it wrought among the work- 
ing people, by Spencer's State Savings failure or Myer's "busted" Beehive, of 
Chicago. He is said to have been of most excellent family, was not a fast man 
nor high liver, but is supposed to have managed badly, paid too much interest, 
and traded too high on borrowed capital. One bad move he made was in 
establishing a grain point at Romeo, a few miles north of Lockport, which took 
considerable trade fi'om him, which, otherwise, he would have secured at this 
place. William Shields and Anderson are now buying grain at Romeo for 
Norton & Co., and do quite a large business for a country station. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 435 

Thu first Fourth of July celebration in Lockport was an old-fashioned bar- 
becue, which was gotten up in 1839. Whole animals, such as muttons, pigs 
and poultry were roasted, and the primitive board groaned under the bountiful 
supply of eatables. Hiram Norton was President of the celebration ; Gen, 
James Turney, a lawyer of considerable ability, was the orator of the occasion ; 
Edward B. Talcott read the Declaration of Independence, and Dr. Daggett 
marshaled the grand procession. It was a general good time — a day of 
rejoicing — and everybody enjoyed it to the utmost, winding up in the evening 
with a grand ball at the Canal oflSce, then the most capacious building in the 
place, which had been put in "apple-pie order" for the occasion. Fiddlers 
were rather a scarce article in the country at that time, and the only one of 
any note was living at St. Charles, Kane Co. Dr. Daggett was appointed a 
committee of one to procure his services. Of course about the ''Fourth," the 
old fellows musical accomplishments were in demand ; Daggett found him with 
several propositions before him for consideration, and the only means of secur- 
ing him was to outbid all others. He offered him $60, and being the longest 
pole, it "knocked the persimmon." Daggett brought him over to the scene of 
action, but as he was extremely fond of the "wine when it is red," before mid- 
night he was blind drunk. So went their $60, and they were forced to find 
some one who could make a noise on the catguts, about as harmonious as the 
tiling of an old saw, in order that the dance might go on as laid down in the 
programme. 

One of the most important features in the business of Lockport is the 
industries of Norton & Co., who employ a large number of men in the several 
departments of their business. Their flour-mills on the west side of the Canal 
are the largest in the State, having the very best and most improved machinery, 
with twenty-eight runs of buhrs, under the superintendence of Robert Whit- 
ley, an expei'ienced miller, and when employed at full capacity, will turn out 
from seven to eight hundred barrels of flour per day. The Winter wheat used 
at these mills is brought from the southern part of the State, while the Spring 
wheat is from the West. In connection is a cooper-shop, in charge of Henry 
Ripsom, Avho employs, usually, about thirty hands, making the barrels used at the 
mills. On the east side of the Canal, at the large warehouse and elevator, is the 
corn-mill, having five runs of buhrs, and used wholly for corn and for grinding 
wheat for their home customers. Albert Deeming is Superintendent of the 
store, carried on in connection with the mills and grain warehouse, and Jacob 
Lotz is the general shipping clerk and manager of the warehouse. The paper 
mills of this firm, known as the Lockport Paper Company, are an extensive 
establishment. About thirty men find employment in them, and they run day and 
night. The mills were built in the Fall of 1872, and make a specialty of 
board paper, which is manufactured from straw, using daily about six and a 
half tons — one and a half tons of straw to a ton of paper. To the eflicient man- 
ager of the mills, Samuel Wilmot, we were indebted for a visit through the 



436 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

large establishment, and many items of interest as to its workings and capacity. 

The stone quarries in and around Lockport are quite an important branch 
of the business of the place, though in the immediate vicinity of the village 
the stone does not compare in quality with the quarries of Joliet and Lemont. 
J. A. Boyer opened a quarry here in 1869, but the quality of stone taken from 
it did not warrant the working of it, and it was soon abandoned. Mr. Boyer's 
quarries at Lemont are among the most extensive, and produce as superior a 
quality of stone as any quarry in this section of the State. He furnished 
from these quarries much of the material in the beautiful stone-front buildings 
recently erected on the West Side in the city of Chicago. He, also, has 
furnished the stone for the new Catholic Church in Lockport, by far the hand- 
somest church edifice in the village. Though these quarries are not in this town- 
ship, nor in. Will County, yet their proprietor, Mr. Boyer, was born and reared in 
Lockport, where he still lives, and to omit mention of them here would be to 
leave out an important part of its history. He employs from one hundred to 
one hundred and fifty men, and has all the improved machinery and the best 
of shipping facilities — both on the Chicago & Alton Railroad and the Canal. 

Oak Hill Quarry, now owned by Isaac Nobes, is one of the best in this sec- 
tion. Just south of Lockport village, conveniently located to both railroad and 
canal, has fine facilities for shipping. This quarry was opened by G. A. Cous- 
ens & Co., afterward passed into the hands of George Gaylord, and, in 1868. 
Mr. Nobes came into possession of it and has since worked it. He works about 
thirty-five men, and is supplied with all the modern machinery for working quarries 
and handling stone. He has one of the finest residences in the State, outside 
of the Idrge cities. It is built of stone, and presents a very fine appearance. 
The large quarries of W. A. Steel are in Lockport Township, but were men- 
tioned in the history of Joliet, where the owner of them lives. The first quar- 
ries worked in this section of the country, however, were opened by Dr. Dag- 
gett on the west side of the Canal, a little south of Lockport, and nearly oppo- 
site Nobes' quarry. He sold $30,000 worth of stone the first year he opened 
them, and that of an excellent quality. But he is not operating them at pres- 
ent, owing to the fact, perhaps, of there being so many others in the business 
that it does not pay as well as it did years ago. It is wonderful to contemplate 
the inexhaustible supply of stone in the hills and bluff's of the Des Planes 
Valley. And the quality, too, the convenient ledges and layers in which it is 
found, and the easy access to it, is not the least wonderful item in regard to 
these vast quarries. It almost seems that the layers of stone had been pur- 
posely arranged for the convenience and benefit of man. 

The history of the press dates back to quite a remote period in the history 
of Lockport. The first newspaper was established by one H. M. Fuller, in 
1848, and was called the Will County Telegraph. During the year 1849, 
Judge Parks (now of Joliet) became the leading editor, while Fuller remained 
the publisher, until the Moon arose on the 23d of January, 1850, when it 




<^c^a^ 



(OFCEAS£d) 

JOLIEt. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 439 

passed into the control and management of John M. Moon, who continued to 
edit and publish it for a few months. Tlie busincsis men of the town, it seems, 
owned the paper, while Moon was only editor and publislier, and his political 
views not altogether coinciding with those of his readers, he was forced to resign 
his position. The paper was somewhat tinged with Free-soiiism, and he, it ap- 
pears was a red-hot Democrat, and if one may be allowed to judge from the fol- 
lowing extract taken from his valedictory, this Moon set ingloiiously in a cloud- 
bank : •' He pledged himself at the outset to keep the avowal of its proud motto 
intact; at the same time that he also declared his sympathy with the party 
named,* in its present sentiments, and in regard to its peculiar objects. Not 
unmindful that it is not in the power of mortals to command success, he regis- 
tered his stern determination to deserve respect, by resigning his post as soon 
as it might seem that the assertion of those sentiments would be incompatible 
with the feelings of subscribers and the success of the enterprise. That time 
has fully come. From several quarters he has received intimations to this effect, 
and they had recently become so plain and so numerous that he could no longer, 
with consistency, overlook them. His retirement follows in mere consistency." 
He closes his valedictory with a grandiloquent Micawberistic flourish as follows: 
'• He has carried his colors high and fearlessly, against the extension of it 
(slavery) in the free portions of this country upon any pretense or construction 
whatever; and he wraps these colors around him, now that he can no longer 
combat as a testimony of the principles for which he fought, and in defense of 
Avhich he fell." Dr. Daggett succeeded him in the editorial management of the 
paper April 10, 1850, and follows his high-strung valedictory with a modest 
salutatory, in which he acknowledges his ignorance of the newspaper business 
and cares of the editor, and ventures to hope that he will give satisfaction to 
his readers, and as a means to that end declares his intention to please himself. 
When Daggett sat down in the editorial chair, the name of the paper was 
changed to Lockport Telegraph. He remained the editor until 1857, and for 
a few months had for assistant editor — or editress — a Mrs. P. W. B. Corothers, 
a lady of considerable literary merit, and whom many of our readers will re- 
member as quite a pleasing writer. The paper underwent several changes in 
proprietors, viz., Plumb & Holcomb, Daggett & Holcomb, Charles D. Holcomb 
and we know not what others, until it finally became extinct, and the Phoenix 
"rose from its ashes." The Lockport PAcema; was established in 1875, and the 
other branches were added to it the following year, as noticed in the history of 
Joliet. The plan of publication of each office is to set its ratio of type, which 
is sent to the central office, and there put in the form of general local and read- 
ing matter, while the advertisements for each locality are inserted at rates cor- 
responding to the amount of circulation. The papers are devoted especially to 
local and county news, and are intended to go with Chicago and other outside 
journals, so that subscribers ordering one of them with a Phoenix can obtain a 

» The Free-soil Party. 



440 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

complete assortment of reading matter at the usual cost of one country paper. 
The Phcenix is under the control of J. S. McDonald, a veteran editor and live 
newspaper man. The Will County Commercial Advertiser, a live and sprightly- 
paper, published by Hawley & Curren, is the Lockport Standard in a new 
form and character. It is devoted to home interests and is quite a readable 
sheet. 

The people of Lockport, with their ten churches in their midst, have 
no lack of Gospel influences surrounding them. Religious services were 
first held in Lockport under the auspices of the Episcopal Church, in 
1834, Rev. Isaac W. Hallum, of St. James' Church, Chicago, occasion- 
ally visiting it and administering to the welfare of the people. The first 
Rector was Rev. Andrew W. Cornish, at the time Rector of the Episcopal 
Church of Joliet, where he resided, preaching at the two places alternately. 
From his day to the present time, the following ministers have officiated : 
Rev. William Bostwick, 1842—45. During his administration, the parish was 
duly organized by Rt. Rev. P. Chase, D. D., and the first church was built in 
1844. Rev. Charles F. Todd, 1845-46 ; Rev. D. E. Brown, 1847-51 ; Rev. 
S. D. Pulford, 1852-55. In his time, the present parsonage was secured to the 
parish. Rev. S. L. Bostwick, 1857 ; Rev. Samuel Cowell, 1858-62 ; Rev. C. 
A. Gilbert, 1862-66; Rev. W. H. Cooper, 1868-70; Rev. William Turner, 
was next, under whose ministry the corner-stone of the new stone church was 
laid. After the Rev. Mr. Turner, Rev. Mr. Cowell again took charge for 
three years, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Philips, and in the Summer of 
1878, Rev. John McKim became Rector. The church cost about six thousand 
dollars, was finished in 1874, and is at present under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. 
McKim. The membership is small, but is flourishing, with an interesting 
Sunday school, of Avhich the Rector is Superintendent. The corner-stone of 
the church was laid September 20, 1870, as above stated, by Bishop White- 
house, assisted by several local clergymen. It has been completed in excellent 
style, and is one of the handsomest churches in the village. 

The Methodist Church was organized in Lockport at an early day. In 
1838, this was included in Joliet Circuit, with Rev. William Crissey, Pastor, 
and Rev. John Clarke, Presiding Elder, In the Winter of 1838, Rev. Mr. 
Crissey formed the first class in Lockport, consisting of G. L. Works, class- 
leader, his wife, D. Breesee and wife, M. Brooks, R. Lowrie, Polly McMillen, 
Dira Manning, A. Heath and Julia Reed. In the Spring of 1842, Col. Joel 
Manning joined on probation, and was appointed class-leader, a position he 
held for fifteen years. In 1852, Lockport was made a station, and, in 1854, it 
and Plainfield were united. In 1854-55, during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. 
Reed, the present fine stone church was built, at a cost of $7,000; and, in 1867^ 
a second parsonage was built, costing about $3,000, on a beautitiful lot opposite 
the church. The present Pastor is Rev, Mr, Strout, with a large membership 
and a flourishing Sunday school, of which Arthur Deeming is Superintendent. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 441 

The Baptist Church was organized in 1844, by Rev. Solomon Knapp, with 
twenty-one members. Some years later, their church was built, a neat little 
frame building, which cost about ^1,5U0. The Church i.- now under charge of 
Rev. Robert C Ray, and has about seventy-six members. A Sunday school is 
maintained, with an average attendance of eighty children, of which Frank 
Hopkins is Superintendent. 

The Congregational Church was organized in 1888, with nine members, 
viz. : Erastus Newton and wife, John Gooding and wife, Harvey Raymond, 
Dr. Chauncy White and wife, and William B. Newton and wife. The church 
was built in 1889, at a cost of ^2,000. The first minister was Rev. Isaac 
Foster, and following him in the order given' were Rev. Jonathan Porter, Rev. 
Alanson Porter, Rev. Joel Grant, Rev. Mr. Whiting, Rev. George Slo.sser, 
Rev. Alfred L. Riggs, Rev. H. C. Abernethy, Rev. Mr. Post, Rev. A. B. 
Brown, Rev. J. E. Storm. The present Pastor is Rev. S. I. McKee, with a 
membership of fifty. Sunday school established in 1841, Eli Eddy, Superin- 
tendent, with an attendance at present of about two hundred children, and 
Prof. D. H. Darling, Superintendent. 

The Roman Catholic Society was organized here at the commencement of 
the building of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and was at first attended by the 
priests in charge of the Joliet Mission. The first resident priest at Lockport 
was Father Dennis Ryan, and the first church was a small frame shanty, 
moved from Lemont, which, with some improvements, has been their house of 
worship ever since. In 1877, the elegant stone church was begun which is 
not yet completed. When finished, this will be the finest church in the vil- 
lage, and a handsome ornament to the place, and will cost about $25,000. 
The architects are Egan & Hill, of Chicago, and the stone is furnished 
by J. A. Boyer, of Lockport. Father Dorney is the priest in charge, and to 
his energetic efforts is the parish indebted for this magnificent church. A well- 
attended Sundav school is maintained in connection with the Church. The 
German Catholics also have an elegant stone church, a comfortable parsonage, 
and fine grounds. A large membership worship at this church, made up of the 
German citizens of Lockport and the surrounding country. There are in the 
village, in addition to those already mentioned, three other German churches 
and one Swede church. Of these, however, we have not been able to learn 
much beyond the fact that they are occupied regularly, with the usual church 
and Sunday school services. 

Freemasonry and Odd Fellowship are represented in Lockport by flourish- 
ing lodges. Des Plaines Lodge, No. 28, I. 0. 0. F., is one of the oldest 
Lodges of this Order in Northern Illinois, and was chartered January 12, 1847, 
by Stephen S. Jones, Grand Master, and J. F. Ruhci, Grand Secretary. The 
charter members were John Blackstone, Harvey Mosier, William P. Whittle, 
John W. Paddock and B. C. Waterman, not one of whom are now living. 
John Blackstone was the first Noble Grand. The present elective oflBcers are : 



442 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTif. 

J. H. Weeks, Noble Grand; John Pitts, Jr., Vice Grand; W. J. Deeming, 
Secretary ; John Geddes, Treasurer — with a membership of thirty-five. The 
removal of members and the formation of new lodges in the vicinity have kept 
the membership down at a small number. Lockport Lodge, No. 538, A., F. & 
A. M., was chartered October 1, 1867, A. L. 5867, by Most Worshipful 
Jerome R. Gorin, Grand Master, and H. G. Reynolds, Grand Secretary. The 
first officers were : C. H. Bacon, Worshipful Master ; John C. Backus, Senior 
W.irden; and William J. Denton, Junior Warden. It is officered at present as 
follows: F. F. Stowe, Worshipful Master; H. M. Starrin, Senior Warden ; 
W. C. Fisher, Junior Warden ; and H. R. Wells, Secretary ; with about sev- 
enty-five members on the Lodge records. 

The medical faculty of Lockport comprises some able physicians, viz., Di's. 
Daggett, Bacon, Larned and Schoop. Dr. Daggett has been a practicing 
physician in this section since 1838, a period of forty years; and as a success- 
ful practitioner has few equals. Dr. C. H. Bacon came from New York, and 
first settled in Mokena, but soon removed to Lockport. He was appointed 
Assistant Surgeon of the Volunteer Corps, at the beginning of the war, but 
was promoted to full Surgeon in August, 1863, which he held until November, 
1865 ; was appointed Post Surgeon at Johnsonville, Tenn. In 1869, he 
received the appointment of Physician and Surgeon at the State Prison at 
Joliet, which he held until July, 1874, since which time he has practiced in 
Lockport. Dr. Larned is a well-read physician, and Dr. Schoop is a young 
physician of promise. Writing of doctors and medicine naturally brings to 
mind grave-yards and burying-grounds. It is with no disparagement or disre- 
spect to the medical fraternity that we make the observation, but the grave-yard 
is the final abode of man after he passes beyond the doctor's wisdom ; and in 
this connection we would say a word or two in admiration of Lockport's little 
city of the dead. Located on the summit of the east bluff, overlooking the 
village and the valley of the Des Planes, a more lovely and appropriate spot 
could not have been selected. It is well laid out and tastefully arranged, 
shaded with a few grand old forest-trees and plenty of ornamental shrub- 
bery, interspersed with flowers — fit emblems to the memory of the loved 
and lost. 

The organ factory of William Evans is a Lockport enterprise ; and while it 
is not an extensive establishment, it is of some importance as a manufactory. 
Organs, from the largest to the smallest, together with melodeons, are made to 
order, and of an excellent quality. Another factory — if a tannery can be 
called a factory — is the tannery of John Marks, and which does quite an 
enterprising business and adds something to the importance of Lock- 
port. The mercantile business is confined entirely to a retail trade, which 
is well represented by courteous and energetic business men in all its 
branches. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 443 

WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

The ancient philosophers recognized in nature four primary elements — water, 
earth, air and fire. This was quite a natural classification, as from these, they 
readily perceived, came all of their comforts. From the first two came food 
and drink, and from the last two they derived health and heat. Modem scien- 
tists have changed and modified the arrangement of the ancient alchemist, so 
that the earlier classification is now known only in history. And yet these 
four items, just as the ancients understood them, are the great essentials of life, 
and to them we turn for all of our needs and all of our luxuries. A locality 
that furnishes all of these in abundance and of a good quality is a locality 
blessed by nature with all that ia desirable. These four items entered into the 
argument which induced the settlement, not only of this but of every country 
in the world ; and, in whatever locality one or more seemed deficient, a corre- 
sponding tardiness in occupying the country is observed. Thus, the prairies of 
the West, though favored with a soil scarcely equaled, and possessed of climate 
and Avater unsurpassed, yet apparently lacking in the means of producing 
warmth, were slow to attract the attention of the speculator or the emigrant ; 
while the eastern portions of the United States, though not favored with such 
a good soil, settled two hundred years earlier. When Illinois finally began to 
fill, we find its first occupants steering immediately for the streams of water, 
where they rightly concluded lay, with a productive soil, also plenty of fuel and 
water. Certainly but few portions of the State have been more highly favored 
with these natural advantages than that of which we write. With a good soil, 
with water privileges and water-power in great abundance, with timber for fuel 
and with a salubrious climate, it is not strange that this section had at<^raction8 
for the early emigrant. Nature seems to have overexerted herself, in this 
instance, in producing a locality which is at once beautiful, healthy and pro- 
ductive. 

The Kankakee River at this place is one of the finest streams in the State 
or in the whole West. The water, pure and clear, flows over a solid limestone 
bed, and this, with a rapid descent, tends to purify the stream and the air, and 
render the surrounding country healthy in an eminent degree. Even the 
Indians, who preceded the white people, realized fully the advantages of this 
neighborhood, and the relics of these original owners of the soil are found here 
in abundance. Arrow and spear heads, stone axes, rude pottery and other 
articles found upon the banks of the Kankakee, in this township, attest that 
this must have been a favorite dwelling-place as well as hunting-ground. Not 
only so, but the fortifications, constructed of earth, on Avhich now grow trees 
more than two hundred years old, and of which the later race of Indians have 
not a tradition, points to an earlier race of human beings, who not only made 
this their home, but defended it with all the skill and power at their command 
Doubtless, prior to 1836, white men lived in the township of Wilmington. 



444 HlriTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Even before the the Black Hawk war, some hunters may have made the banks 
of the Kankakee their headquarters. If such there were, their stay was but 
temporary, those inhabiting the section before 1832 retiring, on the rising of 
Black Hawk and his allies, to safer localities, and those coming in immediately 
after peace was restored making their stay so short as not to entitle them to the 
credit of permanent settlers. 

To Thomas Cox is justly due the honor of being the first permanent settler 
of this vicinity. In 1836, he laid claim to all of the land on which the city of 
Wilmington now stands, laid out the town, calling it Winchester, erected the 
first saw-mill, built a house and disposed of a few town lots. He followed these 
improvements soon after with the addition of a corn-cracker to his saw-mill, 
and still a little later by the erection at the upper end of the race, near where 
Whitten's flour-mill now stands, of a grist-mill and carding machine. These 
improvements gave the town a wide reputation, and Cox's mills wei'e patronized 
by many who lived more than fifty miles distant. The old pioneers of Kanka- 
kee, Grundy, Livingston and other counties are wont to tell how they took their 
corn and wheat to the mill at Wilmington, consuming, often, nearly a week in 
the trip. Having such a long distance to go, it became necessary to wait for 
the grinding of the grain before their return ; and, as the mill was frequently 
crowded, they were often necessarily detained several days. The first mill was 
built without any bolting machinery ; but, after a time, a bolt, made to turn by 
hand, was constructed, and through this the patrons of the mill were allowed to 
sift their own flour. Prior to the erection of the mill, tradition says there was 
an oak stump that stood near the site of Stewart & Henderson's store, which 
was slightly hollowed out in the top. A spring-pole was fixed in a suitable posi- 
tion, and to the end of the pole was tied a bar, into the end of which was 
fastened an iron wedge, constituting a heavy pestle. The stump was the mortar, 
into which was cast a small quantity of corn to be pounded and cracked for 
bread and mush. While undergoing the pounding process, hot water was some- 
times poured on, and while this prevented the mashing of the grains, it facili- 
tated the removal of the husk or bran, and a good article of hominy was thereby 
provided. This primitive machine is said to have been Avell patronized, and 
furnished food for the early pionee rs. , 

Fearing that our younger readers may associate Cox's carding macJdne with 
a printing press designed to turn out the little bits of paper with which they are 
wont to amuse themselves on an idle evening, and which gamblers put to the 
more base purpose of deluding their simpler-minded companions, thereby gain- 
inw a livelihood, we will say that it was a machine used to straighten the wool 
of the sheep's fleece, and cut it into rolls or cards preparatory to spinning and 
weaving into cloth. In the early times, all these processes were common to the 
farmhouse ; and our grandmothers not only made the clothing for the family 
but spun the yarn and wove the cloth of which it was made. Times hav© 
changed wonderfully in this regard. The carding machine, though a wonder- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 445 

fully ingenious invention, is a thing of the past; the spinning-wheel, found in 
a few of the oldest settlers' garrets, has ceased its merry hum, and the loom, if 
one still exists, is known as a loom in an entirely difl'erent sense — an heir-loom. 
The saw-mill, too, which prepared the most of the lumber for the first houses of 
"Wilmington and vicinity, passed gently down the river years ago. 

Perhaps the man who has left a deeper, broader, longer and brighter mark 
on this part of the county than any other, was Peter Stewart. While some may 
have outranked him in education, and while others may have had the gift of 
oratory in a higiier degree, his impress was doubtless of such a nature as to 
make him the acknowledged mark of manly character and of all that makes up 
the respected citizen. 

Peter Stewart was a native of Scotland. When but a boy ho left his home 
to seek employment and an independence in a distant portion of the country. 
Without education, and with scarcely sufficient knowledge of the English lan- 
guage to make his wants known, he went to England and succeeded in obtaining 
work in Lord Anglesea's garden, as a common laborer. He was, however, 
under the superintendence of a scientific gardener, who was at the same time a 
proctical civil engineer, and from him he acquired a thorough knowledge of both 
branches by hard study after the day's work was over. He, at the same time, 
became greatly interested in the study of botany, and finally became thoroughly 
versed in the science. By industry and economy he saved sufficient to pay his 
passage to America. At the time of his arrival in this country, the Erie Canal 
was being constructed, and this proved to be a favorable opening. His knowl- 
•edge of engineering soon gave him a paying position on these works, and when 
the excavation of his part of the canal was done, he built the very first lock on 
the whole canal. He afterward obtained a number of large contracts for build- 
ing public works of various kinds, among which were the grading of the Sche- 
nectady & Utica Railroad and the building of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Dur- 
ing this time he was not unmindful of his less fortunate relatives, whom he had 
left in the old country ; and when he had accumulated means sufficient to war- 
rant, went back and brought over to the United States the balance of his father's 
family. 

In 1835, partially to prospect in the interest of the Michigan & Illinois 
Canal enterprise, which was then receiving attention from both the State and 
General Government, and partially to look at the land in its proposed vicinity, 
he came to this neighborhood, selected a piece of land and returned to Amster- 
dam, N. Y., which had been his home, and the next Spring emigrated to this 
place. Already he had performed the work of an ordinary life-time, but he was 
still a young man and his activity continued till his death ; and to name all of the 
enterprises both benevolent and business in which he had been engaged, would 
be to consume more space that the design of this work will permit. One of 
his first works, after coming, was that of inspector of masonry of the Michigan 
k, Illinois Canal. He was a stanch Presbyterian, and contributed his means 



446 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

and influence to building up the society here, without stint. When a building 
for the use of that denomination was to be erected, the people contributed as 
they were able, and Peter Stewart gave the balance. He was an Abolitionist 
of the most ultra kind, and yet, always reasonable in his views and demands, 
commanded the respect of even those of contrary opinions. At one time, a com- 
pany of men fi'om the South visited Wilmington, in pursuit of a fugitive slave. 
When their business became known, they were at once surrounded by a mob of 
citizens, at whose hands they could not but expect violence. Having heard 
that Peter Stewart was a man of influence in the town, they sent for him to 
intercede for them. When Stewart arrived on the ground, the would-be slave- 
catchers implored him to use his influence with the people for their release, and 
were astounded to find that he was the leader of the Antislavery movement in this 
neighborhood. But, after learning that they would be only too glad to return 
to St. Louis, Stewart counseled the citizens to set them at liberty, with an in- 
junction not to delay their return to their homes, which advice was duly heeded. 
Mr. Stewart took great interest in the organization of the township into a sep- 
arate precinct, and of the organization of the town of Wilmington and in what- 
ever would tend to their prosperity. The history of his expressive title — 
Colonel — which he wore with good grace, was conferred on him by common 
consent. On another page, is mentioned a little "unpleasantness" that took 
place at Lockport many years ago. The mutineers or rioters had been notified 
of the approach of a posse, commanded by the Sheriff" of the county, but had 
stood resolute until their appearance on the hill. Then they began to waver a 
little ; but when the Sheriff" delegated to Peter Stewart authority to go down alone 
and treat with the belligerents, many feared that he would be roughly received. 
But Stewart, who was the man for the occasion, went boldly forward and com- 
manded them to surrender, which they did unconditionally. 

Peter Stewart passed on to a better land several years ago. His funeral 
was more largely attended than that of any other person who had preceded 
him in this city. He left a large, wealthy and influential family, notice of sev- 
eral of whom appears in the biographical portion of this work. The advent of 
Cox and Stewart was nearly coincident. Following shortly after, at close 
intervals, were the members of Cox's family — a son Joseph, and five sons-in- 
law, Henry and Elias Brown, Peter Polly, John T. Basye and Peter Marlatte. 
Henry Brown built the first hotel, in 1838, and called it the "Eagle." He 
did not, however, occupy the house, but rented it to other parties, himself 
engaging in merchandise. His store was located on the site now occupied by 
Willard's drug store, and was the first business house on the south side of 
Crooked Creek, and the second in the town. Basye bought and operated for a 
time the saw-mill which had been erected by his father-in-law. 

The whole family — Cox and son and sons-in-law — sold out their interests 
here and removed to Salem. Oregon, in 1847. A year after Peter Stewart 
came, his brother Daniel arrived in the neighborhood. He settled shortly in 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 447 

what is now Florence Townshij), in the history of which he receives further 
notice. 

James L. Young, familiarly called the " Senator," came to the township in 
1837 and settled near the junction of the Kankakee and Des Planes Rivers, 
but subsequently removed to the village. He was a blacksmith, and swung the 
sledge until, like Cincinnatus, he was called by his fellow-citizens to take a 
more responsible position. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace 
almost continuously since the organization of the townsiiip. At the organization 
of the village he was elected first Clerk. Some years ngo, when he held his office 
in the upper story of the post office building, the boys gave his office the name 
of the "upper house," and styled the post office the " lower house;" and, as 
Mr. Young occupied the " upper house," quite naturally was conferred upon 
hiru the title of " Senator," which has tenaciously stuck to him ever since. 
Certainly, this distinction could not rest on more worthy shoulders. 

Hon. Archibald Mclntyre was the first merchant in this vicinity. His store 
was located on the north side of the creek, in Stewart's Addition. He was a 
most successful business man, and accumulated a large property. As indicated 
by his title, he was a member of the Legislature, as representative from this 
district. He was a brother of the Mclntyre of the celebrated lottery firm of 
Yates & Mclntyre, of Philadelphia. At the time of his death, which occurred 
a few years ago, he was President of the First National Bank of this city. He 
was a native of New York, and came to this place in 1837. 

Dr. A. W. Bowen, though not one of the very earliest inhabitants of this 
place, deserves mention here, as he was interested here as early as 1838. The 
Doctor had been living in Joliet for four years when, at the date named, he pur- 
chased of Cox a half interest in the site of Wilmington ; and soon after, by a 
division of interests, became sole proprietor of the north part of the original 
town. Perhaps it may interest some of our readers, who are in any way con- 
cerned in the real estate, to follow for a little way the title of the land on which 
the city is built. 

As previously stated, Thomas Cox pre-empted and entered all of the land, 
including the island, which he afterward laid out and called AVinchester.* A 
short time before his departure to Oregon, he conveyed the remainder of his 
landed property to James F. Alden, of Maine, who had recently come to the 
place. After this, Alden conveyed what he had not already disposed of to his 
brother, H. 0. Alden ; and from him, the larger portion of the upper town, 
including the island, was bought by the Kankakee Company. This short 
abstract will explain how some of the earliest deeds run from Cox, why some 
in the lower part of the city are traceable to Bowen, and why some of the 
later primary titles run from the Aldens. As stated, prior to the selection ot 
this locality as a town site, Dr. Bowen lived at Joliet. That village, now a 
city of large proportions, was then an insignificant village. At the time of his 

* A short time after, it having heen ascertained that tlierc waa already one town of that name in the State, it 
was changed to Wilmington. 



448 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

arrival at Joliet, in 1834, the territory now constituting Will and some other 
counties was embraced in Cook ; and, though some thought had been given to 
formation of a new county here, nothing positive had been done. Dr. Bowen 
took hold of the matter, and circulated a petition, which soon received 500 
signatures, praying the Legislature to form a new county out of what is now 
Will and all of that part of Kankakee County which lies north of the Kanka- 
kee River. This was at the last session of the Legislature held at Vandal i a, 
in 1835-6. The Doctor was in attendance at the session, and brought su<'h 
influences to bear that the petition was granted, in exact accordance with the 
wish of the signers. In the petition was a clause locating the county seat at 
Joliet. In 1849, Dr. Bowen moved to Wilmington to engage in business. He 
practiced his profession, established a store, built what has been known as the 
lower mill, and took a lively interest in whatever tended to build up and pros- 
per the town. The venerable Doctor and his wife still reside at Wilmington, 
and to their kindness much of what is valuable in this work is due. In 1837, 
Abner Wright, father, mother, brother and two sisters came from New York to 
reside at this point. The father, mother and brother are all dead, while he and 
the two sisters still remain. In the year last named, Daniel Mcintosh, a 
Scotchman, who had for a few years resided at Amsterdam, N. Y., immigrated to 
this part of the county. Mcintosh had been employed on the Erie Canal 
Works, and was Superintendent of a division, while Seymour was one of the 
Canal Commissioners. He was a man of extensive business qualifications, and 
died leaving a large estate. In 1889, soon after Dr. Bowen had built the 
lower mill, John Fisher, who was a practical miller, came on from Rochester, 
N. Y., to work in the mill. He died a few years later and left two sons, John 
and Bryan, who have carried on the business ever since, more recently not only 
as operators but as proprietors. At present, the mill is owned and operated by 
Fisher & Pennington, who came into possession in 1859. One of tlie old 
stones, on which some of the first grists of corn were cracked, is still in 
use in this mill, though the old Bowen mill is now idle, except as a store- 
house. 

Andrew Whitten came to this vicinity in 1840 from Canada, and engaged in 
the mercantile trade. He has been very successful in business, accumulating a 
fortune. His sons are in the banking business, and own large interests in the 
mill and other enterprises. 

Franklin Mitchell is a native of Vermont, where he lived until 1836, when 
he came to Chicago. He stayed in Chicago a few months, when he removed to 
Joliet and resided four years. In 1840, he came to Wilmington to take charge 
of the Eagle Hotel, then the only one in the village. After remaining in charge 
of the house three years, he began the erection of the " Exchange," which he 
completed and occupied the next year, Mitchell, as a landlord, was a great suc- 
cess, and during his occupancy of the house, a space of twenty-one years, the 
Exchange was counted one of the best hotels in the State. 



HISTORY OK WILL (BOUNTY. 449 

In 1854, Peter Stewart built the hotel which bears his name, and a few 
years subsequently, the Exchange was converted into store-rooms, and for that 
purpose it is still used. 

By the vear 1846 — the elosinij of the first decade of the existence of the 
settlement, and which period may properly be termed the pioneer period — quite 
a number of persons had selected this township and village as a place of lesi- 
dence. Among the number are remembered S. C. and J. C. Thompson, James 
Johnson, John L. Wilson, Henry and Robert Northam, John R. Jones, Henry 
Bowen, John and Robert Lyon, John G. Putman, Jonathan Barnatt and Peter 
Mcintosh. The two Thompsons were brothers, and were natives of Scotland. 
S. C. was a good blacksmith, and quite a successful man in business. During 
the gold excitement which followed the acquisition by the United States of 
the Pacific Coast, he went to California and stayed a couple of years. Soon after 
his return from the gold-fields to this his adopted home, he died. J. C. is still 
a resident of the city. 

James Johnson was from Erie, Penn. He was a very successful physician, 
but the injunction, " Physician, heal thyself," was by him unheeded, and he 
passed away about 1849. 

John L. Wilson came from Albany, N. Y., and engaged for a time in the 
mercantile trade. He left here in 1850, and removed to Chicago, where he now 
resides. He is a brother of Charles L. Wilson of the Chicago Journal, and 
until recently has been connected with that paper. 

John R. Jones was a native of Wales, and had been living at Detroit on the 
farm of Gen. Cass. He died a few years ago. 

Henry Bowen is a brother of the Doctor. He was a blacksmith, but lat- 
terly laid aside the anvil and hammer, took up the plow and hoe, and became a 
farmer. Some years ago he removed to Kansas, where he now resides. 

The Lyon brothers had charge of the carding machine, but subsequently 
removed to California. 

In 1848, came one of Wilmington's most solid men. J. D. Henderson, a 
native of New York, had been employed in the construction of the upper dam 
at Joliet. He came to Wilmington in the year named, to open a store with 
Dr. Bowen. With him he continued in partnership nine years, when George 
T. Stewart bought the interest of Bowen, and the firm of Henderson & 
Stewart has existed without change ever since. His fellow-citizens have shown 
their appreciation of him by frequently electing him to the highest oifice within 
the municipality. In 1849, the Legislature of the State of Illinois pa.ssed an 
act authorizing counties to change their organization to what is known as town- 
ship organization. The county of Will was one of the first to adopt the system, 
and Wilmington Township was one of the first to accept the new arrangement. 
The order for election was made and a preliminary was held Max'ch 1, 1850. 
By the order of the Commissioners, appointed for the purpose of dividing the 
county into townships, the township of Wilmington consisted of the Congres- 



450 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY.* 

sional Towns 33 north. Ranges 9 and 10 east, and that part of 32 north, 9 and 
10, lying north of the Kankakee River (this territory now constitutes the 
townships of Wilmington, Florence and Wesley). The boundaries of the 
township were given as Channahon and Jackson on the north, Wilton and 
Rockville on the east, Grundy County on the west, and the Kankakee River 
and Clinton on the south. By a glance at the map, it will be seen that Clinton 
must have been what is now known as Reed Township. The first election for 
township officers was held at the " Exchange," April 2, of the year named. 
The meeting was called to order by Don A. Watson ; Peter Stewart was chosen 
Moderator, and S. W. Stone, Clerk. 

John Frazier was elected Supervisor ; John R. Bickerton, Clerk ; Daniel 
Stewart, Assessor; F. D. S. Stewart, Collector; Elias Freer, Wm. Van De 
Bogart and William P. Hewit, Commissioners of Highways; Archibald Mcln- 
tyre and David Willard, Justices of the Peace ; F. D. S. Stewart and Daniel 
Ferris, Constables ; and Adam White, Overseer of the Poor. It will be noticed 
that a number of these names appear for the first time in this narrative. Some 
of them have come in since 1846, some are citizens of what are now Florence 
and Wesley Townships, and will probably receive further mention in the history 
of those localities. At this election, 210 votes were cast, most of which were 
from the immediate vicinity of Wilmington. Even at that date, but few settle- 
ments had been made, except very near the river. In 1851, the townships of 
Wesley and Florence were organized as separate precincts, and, from that date. 
Wilmington Township voted and transacted business alone. Franklin Mitchell 
was elected first Supervisor of Wilmington Township, as it now exists. His 
successors have been as follows: 1852, A. J. Mclntyre ; 1853, H. R. Whip- 
ple: 1856, John J. Camp; 1858, R. S. Noble; 1859, John D. Henderson: 
1861, D. W. Cobb; 1863, A. J. Mclntyre; 1865, Franklin Mitchell; 1866, 
E. R. Willard; 1867, John H. Daniels; 1871. S. C. Camp; 1874, Robert C. 
Thompson ; 1877, Samuel Sillman. A full list of the present officers is as fol- 
lows : Samuel Sillman, Supervisor ; L. L. Stephenson, Clerk ; W. J. Carter. 
Assessor; Martin Carroll, Collector; Joseph Martin, James Dunn and E. P. 
Smith, Commissioners of Highways; Le Roy Baker and S. D. B. Lines, Con- 
stables ; James L. Young and J- P. Ransom, Justices of the Peace. 

The township of Wilmington was one of the most active in the eft'ort to 
suppress the great rebellion. Besides several whole companies of the Thirty- 
ninth and One Hundredth Regiments, very many enlisted in various other regi- 
ments, in this and other counties. Quite a number of the best and bravest 
officers of the regiments named were from this vicinity. S. W. Munn was 
Major of the Thirty-ninth. He is now a successful lawyer of Joliet. L. A. 
Baker was Captain of a company in the same regiment, and lost a leg in the 
service. He was afterward Postmaster of AVilmington. The present Post- 
master, R. S. Camp, was also Captain of a company. Capt. R. S. Bowen, 
who raised Company A of the One Hundredth Regiment, was also of this place. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 451 

He was afterward promoted to Major; was wounded at Franklin and carried to 
Nashville, where he died. Capt. M. McN. Stewart of the One Hundredth 
Regiment, was hit on the side of the head by a cannon ball. Ordinarily a 
man's biography stops at this point; but, only for a few minutes, Stewart 
believed himself dead. He still lives and performs the duties of teller in the 
First National Bank. 

L. D. B. Lines went out in the One Hundredth and was promoted to a Cap- 
taincy. Capt. Hezekiah Gardner of the One Hundredth Regiment was 
wounded at Missionary Ridge, and had a leg amputated to prove his valor. He 
was afterward promoted to Major of an invalid corps, and is now on the retired 
list, residing in New York. Several hundred other brave men who left their 
homes, families and property, deserve honorable mention here, but space for- 
bids even a mention of their names. Suffice it to say that the township of 
Wilmington, of which the soldiers were a large part, did its duty well in that 
most trying period. The township never submitted to a draft, a sufficient num- 
ber having volunteered, so as not to necessitate such demand. 

The people of Will County have honored this township, by the selection of 
several of its citizens to fill positions of honor and trust. George Strathde and 
Warren S. Noble have both been called to, and served the county in the capac- 
ity of Sherifi". John H. Daniels was elected to the Legislature, as was also 
Archibald Mclntyre. Mrs. Sarah Mcintosh was elected to the office of Super- 
intendent of Schools, and held the office four years, filling the position and dis- 
charging the duties of the same in a very satisfactory manner. Franklin 
Mitchell, befoi-e the county adopted the township organization act, was for sev- 
eral years, one of the three County Commissioners. 

The subject of education received attention in this vicinity at a very early 
date. As early as 1838, a small private school was kept at Wilmington ; but 
in the year 1841, a small building having been erected, a public school was 
established. This first schoolhouse was a very modest affair, indeed. It was a 
small frame building, and stood on the site of Mrs. Rogers' residence. The 
ancient academy, college, institute, or whatever it may have been called, is still 
in existence, forming a portion of a dwelling in which John Patterson now 
resides. The first term of public school taught in this institute or seminary 
was by George Bristol. The term consisted of forty-two days, for which Prof. 
Bristol was to receive ^31. Perhaps he did receive it, but the books of the 
Treasurer do not indicate the fact. There were in attendance at the school, 
during the session, fifty-three scholars. Authority was conferred by the County 
Commissioners, October 20, 1841, on Peter Stewart, Thomas Cox and Daniel 
Mcintosh to organize a school district, within the bounds of Town 33 north, 
Range 9, and they accordingly met at Cox's house and made the whole town 
one district, appointing Jonathan Barnatt, Treasurer, and John G. Putman, 
Samuel C. Thompson and Abner Wright, School Directors. At the next sub- 
sequent meeting of the Trustees, the Treasurer reported that he had taken a 



452 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

census of all the children in the district, and found 117 entitled to public 
school privileges. He had also received from the School Commissioner ^22.22, 
with which to sustain school the coming year. Previous to this, the town of 
Florence, or Town 33, Range 10, had not been sufficiently settled to support a 
school ; and, at the meeting last named, some of the citizens of that locality 
appeared, desiring to be attached to the Wilmington District for school pur- 
poses, which request was granted, and thus the district consisted of two full 
townships. The next Winter, Sarah Fisher taught a half-dozen scholars in 
that part of the district known as Reed's Grove. In 1845, the whole district, 
consisting of the two towns, contained 214 persons under 20 years of age, of 
whom 190 were in Wilmington and 24 in Reed's Grove. In 1848, Reed's 
Grove Avas cut off as a separate district, and, a short time thereafter, a new 
school town was formed from Town 33, Range 10, and Wilmington again 
became independent. The township has gradually grown in population and 
strength, until there are now seven school districts, each with a convenient 
house, in which schools are sustained every year. The number of persons of 
school age is just about one thousand. The total expense of supporting the 
public schools of this township averages, for the last ten years, a little over 
$5,000 per annum. In 1851, D. U. Cobb was appointed Treasurer of Schools, 
and has held the office continuously ever since. 

Wilmington Township is a full Congressional town, consisting of thirty-six 
whole sections, and is bounded on the north by Channahon, on the east by Flor- 
ence, on the south by Reed, Custer and Wesley, and on the west by Grundy 
County. The surface is gently undulating, and is covered in the vicinity of 
the river with timber. Some of the timber along the bank is of a good quality 
and heavy growth, but at a distance from the stream it consists of small and 
seemingly stunted oak, unfit for much else than railroad ties and firewood. The 
township is crossed from southeast to northwest by the Kankakee, one of the 
most beautiful streams of water to be found in the State. The descent through 
this section, though not so rapid as to require a broken and barren district for 
its bed, as is the case Avith many streams affording water-power, has sufficient 
fall and sufficient volume of water to run more than a hundred mills. Besides 
the Kankakee, two fine little creeks, the Prairie and Crooked, empty into the 
Kankakee in the township. The former flows from the township of Florence, 
entering Wilmington on Section 12 and dropping into the Kankakee at the 
northAvest corner of Section 15 ; and the latter enters the township and empties 
into the same stream at the city of Wilmington. Stone of an excellent quality 
is found two and a half miles below Wilmington, near the mouth of Prairie 
Creek. Some of this stone, used in the construction of the first houses 
built in the city, is as clear and white as when dressed, and seemingly 
almost as hard as granite. In the southwestern part appear the croppings 
of the great Wilmington coal-fields. The land in the neighborhood of the 
coal deposits is of an inferior quality. The soil is quite thin, and the sub- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 453 

soil, being of a kind of quicksand, renders successful cultivation rather uncer- 
tain. 

CITY OF WILMINGTON. 

The village of Wilmington was laid out in 1836, and as this and its imme- 
diate vicinity was the objective point toward which the esu'ly settlers naturally 
cast their eyes, the early history is necessarily embraced in that of the town- 
ship. However, in 1854, having attained a population required by law, it was 
deemed best by most of the leading citizens to organize the village as a separate 
corporation. It was argued that this would give the village authority to build 
sidewalks, abate nuisances, control the liquor traffic, and, perhaps, obtain some 
revenue from the trade in the way of license, and numerous other advantages 
not enjoyed while merely constituting a portion of the township. Therefore, a 
notice, signed by " Many Citizens," requesting the residents and freeholders to 
meet at the schoolhouse on Saturday, the 24th day of June, to take into con- 
sideration the incorporation of the town, was posted in various public places 
by S. W. Munn ten days before the date specified in the notice. At the meet- 
ing, Peter Stewart Avas called to the chair, and James F. Alden was selected as 
Clerk. The advantages of incorporation were then argued pro and con. 
(mostly pro), after which a vote was taken, resulting in favor of organization 
12 to 1. A day Avas then appointed for the election of a town board, 
and on the 3d day of July the election took place. Of the election, Peter 
Stewart and James F. Allen occupied the position designated at the primary 
meeting. Sixty-three votes were cast, and D, W. Smead, J. D. Henderson, 
Samuel C. Thompson, J. A. Seebor and James F. Alden were elected Trustees ; 
James L. Young was chosen Clerk ; Anthony Riker, Street Commissioner, and 
Fred. Walrath, Constable. Thus was the incorporation of the village fully 
accomplished, and under this organization it continued eleven years. D. W. 
Smead was chosen first President. His successors were as follows : 1855, H. 
Warner ; 1857, Anson Packard ; 1858, Israel Massey ; 1859, S. W. Munn ; 
1860, William Harbottle; 1861, John D. White ; 1862, John S. Jessup ; 1864 
E. H. Jessup. 

About the date last named, the question of changing the charter of the 
town, so as to give the incorporation some additional powers and a more genteel 
title, began to be agitated, and resulted in obtaining from the Legislature a 
charter, February 15, 1865, " constituting the inhabitants of said town a body 
corporate, by the name and style of city of Wilmington." Under this char- 
ter, the first election was held on the third Tuesday of March of the year 
named. 

John H. Daniels received the most votes for Mayor, and Edward Alden, 
R. P. Morgan, Jr., William H. Vaughan, M. F. l^lish, V. Banyard and J. B. 
Johnson were elected Aldermen. The succeeding Mayors have been J. D. 
Henderson, W. H. Odell, J. H. Daniels, D. U. Cobb and the present efficient 
officer, S. E. Trott. 



454 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

The Board of Aldermen, as now constituted, consists of Howard Johnson, 
John Whitten, Edward Donahoe, Edmund Gushing and Joseph Burton. 

The early settlers of Wilmington, unlike the pioneers of most other locali- 
ties, were religious people, and they had but constructed a habitation, which 
barely sheltered them from the inclemencies of the weather, before they began 
to take measures for the establishing of a house for the Lord. Like the ancient 
Israelites, they experienced no trouble in worshiping God, even in the wilder- 
ness, and Peter Stewart's barn answered the purpose of a tabernacle. In this 
barn, services were held, and, in 1838, two years after the first settler made his 
appearance in the vicinity, in it was organized the Presbyterian Church. The 
organization was effected by J. (j. Porter, now a venerable servant of the Mas- 
ter, and resident of Naperville. Among the original members were the two 
Stewart brothers and Daniel Mcintosh with, their wives. Rev. Mr. Porter con- 
tinued to preach for the little society once a month for a year or two, holding 
the services sometimes in the barn and afterward in the little frame schoolhouse 
erected about this time. Afterward he was called to the Church, regularly in- 
stalled, and served the Church as Pastor for twelve years. A part of the pres- 
ent building was erected in 1840, at a cost of $1,400. Since then some addi- 
tions have been made which make it quite a commodious and comfortable house. 
The present minister is Rev. R. K. Wharton. In connection with the Church 
is a prosperous Sunday school, of which H. L. Cady is Superintendent. The 
membership of the Church is 121, and of the Sunday school about 150. 

At about the same date that the Presbyterian Church was organized, the 
Methodists began to hold religious services here, and a class was formed, though 
the society was not organized as a separate charge until 1868. In 1840, a 
small building, now used as a parsonage, was erected, and in this services were 
held until 1857, when their present fine edifice was built. The building is a 
large, solid, stone structure, with basement, forty-five feet in width and ninety 
in length, and cost $15,000. 

The society has been quite prosperous, and numbers at present 180 mem- 
bers. Rev. E. W. Drew is the present Pastor. Prof. H. R. Beggs is Super- 
intendent of the Sunday school. The Episcopal Church was organized in 1857, 
and was placed in charge of the Rev. Charles B. Stout. In 1857, a small church 
building was erected on the site of John Fisher's residence. Previous to this, 
the society had worshiped in one of the public halls of the city. In 1867-68, 
their present tasty house was put up, at a cost of $7,000. The present mem- 
bership of the Church is thirty-five. Rev. W. H. Hopkins is Pastor and Super- 
intendent of the Sunday school. 

The Catholics established a society at Wilmington in 1855, and built a small 
house of worship at the date named. This society has been a most flourishing 
one, and has grown to large proportions. In 1865, having entirely outgrown 
their first church accommodations, they built, at a cost of $12,000, their present 
large brick edifice, capable of seating 500 persons. The membership, including 





foFCE^ED) A 



JO LI ET. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 457 

all baptized persons, is nearly 1,000, 650 of whom are communicants, 
representing over 200 families. A small parsonage was erected some years 
ago, which was burned in 1875. The next year a very fine building of 
this character, containing library, drawing-rooms and every modern convenience, 
took the place of the burnt one. This building cost the' society ^0,000. The 
first priest was the Rev. Mr. Enthout. The present priest, the Rev. Hugh 
O'Garra McShane. 

Besides the churches, already named, the Swedenborgians have a small 
house of worship, though services are not now held. 

Religion and education usually go hand in hand ; and as the first settlers 
were religious people, they also interested themselves in the subject of educa- 
tion, and the people of Wilmington have ever been on the alert to adopt what- 
ever measures would tend to improve the morals and enlighten the minds of 
the youth. The little frame schoolhouse already alluded to had outlived its use- 
fulness by 1849, and a more commodious building was demanded and erected 
on the site of the present fine structure. A two-story brick, capable of accom- 
modating 200 pupils, was built. For its day, it was considered a very hand- 
some and convenient affair, and by many supposed to be ample for all time to 
come. A curious and amusing incident is remembered in connection with the 
construction of this schoolhouse. When the building was almost ready for 
occupancy, and but little time for its completion remained, it was found that 
there was not a pint of oil in the whole town with which to mix the putty for 
glazing the windows. It must be remembered that an order could not then be 
sent to Chicago in the evening, with a certainty of its being filled and delivered 
the next morning— the railroad made its appearance five years later. How- 
ever, unlike the five foolish virgins of Scripture reputation, an inventive genius 
was on hand, and suggested the substitution of lard which could be h'ld in 
abundance (if only the virgins had thought about that, how much mortification 
they might have saved themselves). The suggestion was adopted, and the 
whiting and the lard mixed made a very fair looking article. The windows 
were accordingly glazed, and a good job it seemed to be. But some time after 
school had opened there came a warm day, and suddenly, crash ! a pane of 
glass slipped from its place and disturbed the quiet of the school. Directly 
another and then another, until more than half the glazing on the south side 
was worse than a wreck. Then it was discovered that lard was worse than no 
grease for glazing purposes, and the balance of the panes were removed before 
the temperature had caused additional havoc. In 1860, the " brick school- 
house " was found to be entirely too small for its purposes, and other rooms 
had to be leased temporarily to accommodate all who desired to attend. The 
division of the school in this manner was attended with numerous disadvantages 
which the saving of money could not compensate, and so it was concluded 
that economy indicated the erection of a new and still more spacious build- 
ing. 



458 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Therefore, in the year last named, the City Council passed an ordinance, 
appropriating $30,000 for the erection and furnishing of the present temple of 
learning. If not the finest and most convenient school-building in the county, 
it certainly is one of that description. It is a large brick three-stories high, 
besides basement, and will accommodate 700 pupils. It is located on what was 
originally designed for a park, and is one of the finest sites in the city. This 
is a wonderful improvement over the little frame structure of forty years ago, 
and indeed over its successor of 1849. The schools of Wilmington have cer- 
tainly kept pace with the other institutions of this vicinity, and the citizens of 
Wilmington have good reason to feel proud of their excellence. Besides the 
graded system at the schoolhouse just described, the authorities have also estab- 
lished a primary school, and erected a building on the west side of the river, to 
accommodate the dwellers in that quarter of the city. The school system of 
this city is peculiar, being an adjunct of the city corporation, and immediately 
under the control of the City Council. To a Board of Inspectors elected by 
the people, is delegated the immediate duty of looking after the interests of the 
schools. A little "special legislation," while the proposition to build the 
$30,000 schoolhouse was under consideration, helped the friends of the enter- 
prise out of a difficulty. As stated, the ordinance appropriating $30,000 was 
passed July 27, 1869. The Board of Inspectors, who had been elected for the 
purpose of disposing of this anticipated fund, had been elected on the 16th of 
March, and had performed several important acts, looking toward the erection 
of the house, when it was suddenly discovered that the election of the Inspect- 
ors, though subsequent to the passage of the bill authorizing their election, wa& 
prior to its approval, and that their acts were at least of doubtful validity. As 
soon as this fact became known, a deputation was hurried off to Springfield, the 
Legislature being still in session, and an amendment legalizing the election of 
the Board obtained. 

Wilmington Lodge, No. 208, A., F. & A. M., was authorized by the Grand 
Lodge of the State of Illinois, October 7, 1856. This is comparatively one of 
the " ancient" lodges, as the number of lodges in the State at present is nearly 
eight hundred. The charter members were Joseph Shirk, Cyrus Stowe, Heze- 
kiah Warner, Franklin Mitchell, George E. Cavanaugh, William G. Cutshaw 
and William A. Tinsler, the first three of whom were respectively Worshipful 
Master, Senior and Junior Wardens. The officers in charge at present are: J. 
B. Johnson, W. M.; H. W. Blood, S. W.; John P. Ransom, J. W.; I. Cra- 
craft, Treas.; 0. D. Row, Sec; Austin Smith, S. D.; W. H. Mitchell, J. D.; 
S. D. B. Lines, Tiler, and William Hart, Chaplain. Meetings are held on the 
first and third Wednesdays of each month. 

This Order, in 1870, obtained from the Grand Chapter a charter for estab- 
lishing a subordinate chapter at this place. The charter was granted October 7, 
and designated this as Wilmington Chapter, No. 142, and constituted William 
H. Odell as High Priest, Franklin Mitchell, King, and Alexander Mcintosh, 



HISTOKY OF WILL COUNTY. 450 

Scribe. The balance of the original members were H. Jones, L. A. Baker, F. 
L. Quigley, 0. J. Jukes and S. D. B. Lines. The regular meetings are held on 
the first and third Fridays of each month. The two societies occupy a large 
room in the third story of Empire Block, which they have fitted up for their 
mysterious purposes in a very tasty and elegant manner. 

The present officers of the Chapter are W. H. Odell, 11. P.; Franklin 
iMitchell, King; William Hart, Scribe; E. W. Willard, R. A. Captain ; II. W. 
Blood, Prin. Soj.; F. Lamed, Captain of Host; Vincent Banyard, Treasurer; 
L, A. Baker, Secretary, and S. D. B. Lines, Sentinel. 

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows organized a lodge of that character 
March 26, 1872, the original members of which were : H. H. Wise, William 
Harbottle, F. Vitenhoff, L. I. Gildersleeve and L. Lorch. From this original 
hive have swarmed the lodges at Braidwood, Elwood and Wilton Center. A 
remarkable fact in the history of this Lodge, is that in all of its existence of six- 
teen years, but one death has occurred. M. P. Kilbourn is present Representa- 
tive ; John R. Babcock, N. G. ; T. W. Kahler, V. G. ; J. P. Ransom, Sec. ; 
T. S. Mcintosh, Treas. The Lodge is styled Will Lodge, 301, and meets every 
Monday in Empire Block. The present membership is forty-seven, though, at 
times, it has been greatly in excess of that number. 

One of the most important interests, and doubtless destined to be the great- 
est in this section, is that developed by the vast water-power supplied by the 
Kankakee River ; and, but for some unfortunate circumstances, would ere this 
have been more fully utilized. The improvement of the river in some of its feat- 
ures dates back many years. In 1835-36, an act was passed by the Legislature 
of the State, authorizing the Illinois & Michigan Canal. The project had 
been agitated for a number of years by both the State and General Govern- 
ment — by the former as a commercial enterprise, and by the latter as both a 
commercial and military necessity. The war of 1812 had shown the necessity 
of a work of this kind, for the purpose of transmitting supplies for the 
army, should a foe ever ascend the Mississippi River above the mouth of 
the Ohio, and Government accordingly donated a large amount of the 
public lands in aid of its construction. Work was begun on the Canal the year 
following the passage of the Canal act by the State Legislature, and 
was completed in 1848. The original idea was to make it a ship-canal, 
but a very inferior work Avas the one completed at the date named. How- 
ever, this has been deepened, widened and otherwise so improved that 
small steamboats now make trips, not only the entire length of the 
Canal, but from the city of Chicago to St. Louis. When the Canal was ready 
for use, it was found that at the lower end there was a lack of water, and that 
an extra feeder was necessary for its supply. It was therefore decided to con- 
struct a dam across the Kankakee at a point which, allowing for sufficient fall, 
would meet the extra demand. The dam was built at a point in the Kankakee 
River, near the center of W^ilmington Township. 



460 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

From tliis point a canal was constructed, on the north bank of the river, 
crossing the Des Phmes River by aqueduct near the northwest corner of the 
township. The dam alluded to created slack water to the city of Wilmington, 
and below the dam, to the mouth of the river, it was already navigable. This, 
however, lacked a means of raising boats to the level of the water above the 
dam. In 1870, a company of gentlemen from Boston, perceiving the great 
advantages which must necessarily result from a further improvement of the 
river, formed a gigantic stock company for the purpose, prominent among 
whom were Gov. William Claflin, E. P. Carpenter and Joel Hills, who were 
respectively President, Managing Director and Treasurer. Work was begun, 
and nearly a half-million dollars were expended. The improvements made to 
this date consist of the raising of the State dam, to which allusion has been 
made, two feet, thus creating navigation to Wilmington ; the construction of a 
tight earth dam at the city, fourteen feet in height; the building of an overflow 
dam at the head of the island, five and a half feet high ; and the construction 
of a monster dam, sixteen feet in height, a mile above the city. At each of 
these dams are locks of the most substantial character, and of a size to admit 
boats eighteen feet in width and one hundred in length," and carrying one hun- 
dred thousand feet of lumber or six thousand bushels of grain. These works 
make the Kankakee navigable for the boats described, a distance of twenty-one 
miles, and make an outlet for this region, by water, to Chicago and St. Louis. 
Boats are run regularly from the mouth of Horse Creek to Chicago every week 
by E. D. Small & Co., of Wilmington, and Stephen Hanford & Bro., of Reed 
Township. The original design was to extend the line of dams and locks to 
the Indiana line, to tap the bog-iron fields, and to construct a canal to 
the Braidwood coalfields, thus not only bringing the two materials in 
contact, but also making a water outlet for the vast fuel product. Not 
only have these works made all this possible, but the fall of nearly fifty 
feet of this large volume of water makes a water-power variously esti- 
mated at the driest season at from four thousand to eight thousand horse- 
power. But a comparatively small portion of this has yet been utilized. The 
flour-mill, already alluded to and operated by Messrs. Fisher & Pennington, is 
situated at the lower end of the race. This mill contains six runs of stone, and 
has a capacity of five hundred barrels daily. Messrs. Mclntyre & Co. (or 
Mclntyre k Whitten) built near the bridge, at about the time the water-works 
were begun, a fine flour-mill of about the same capacity as the lower mill. At 
about the same date, Messrs. Chapman & Jukes erected, at the upper end of 
the island, a building designed for a bolt and nut 'factory ; but, owing to the 
financial crisis which swept over the country in 1872, the enterprise failed. 
The building was bought a few years ago by Dr. S. E. Trott, who turned it 
into a paper-mill. M. D. Keeney put in the necessary machinery, and the 
mill is now in successful operation. Straw-board of a good quality is manufact- 
ured from rye and oat straw, at the rate of seven tons per day. Some years 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 461 

ago, a distillery was started in a brick building erected near the bridge, but the 
parties interested failed, and tlio high waters subsequently damaged the build- 
ing so that for many years it stood idle. This Dr. Trott also reconstructed and 
has introduced into it a planing -mill, turning-lathe and other machinery. The 
SA'stem of ^vater- works for the use of the city in case of fire was introduced last 
year, and connected with machinery atWhitten's flour-mill and Trott's planing 
machine. Hydrants, to which pipes are laid, connecting them with the pumps 
at the mills, are placed at convenient points in the city, so that all of the busi- 
ness portion and part of the residence property is fully protected. A fire com- 
pany, of which C. W. Barnhart is Chief Engineer, has been organized, and 
this system, in connection with a hook-and-ladder company, which is 
organized on an independent basis, gives the city ample protection. At 
a moment's warning, the power of either mill can be transferred to the 
pumps, and in an instant two streams of water, each two inches in diameter, 
from any hydrant, can be made to play on a burning building. The whole 
system, consisting of the Holly pumps, pipes, hose and hydrants, has cost about 
$1,500. 

The river, on several occasions, has been the cause of much anxiety to the 
citizens of Wilmington, and the cause of no small amount of damage to property 
in the immediate vicinity of its banks. On the 14th day of February, 1867, 
the floating ice gorged at the lower dam — then the only one — and in a few 
hours all of the business part of the city was under water. The main business 
street aff'orded navigation for boats of good size. A considerable amount of 
goods was damaged in the stores, and business was entirely suspended for some 
days. The bridges, including the railroad bridge, were swept away, and some 
buildings near the bank of the river were somewhat injured by floating ice. It 
is thought that the building of the other dams will hereafter prevent any such 
mischief. 

An industry, which bids fair to develop into large proportions, is that of 
the manufacture of butter and cheese. Indeed, though but in its incipiency, 
the business has already become one of considerable importance. In 1844, E. 
Allen of this place, commenced buying butter and grading the same, for the St. 
Louis market. So careful was he in his selections that Wilmington butter 
soon attained an enviable reputation, so much so that Mr. Allen could not 
supply the demand, even at a higher price than was usually obtained for other 
brands. He continued in the butter trade until a few years ago, when he 
resolved to erect a creamery. In 1875, he built his cheese and butter factory, 
at an expense of about $6,000, and began buying milk and manufacturing but- 
ter, paying for the milk 70 cents per hundred pounds. The enterprise proved 
quite successful, and last year he began the manufacture of cheese. He is 
making at present about 75,000 pounds of butter, and 365,000 pounds of 
cheese per year. The average price received for butter is 33 cents, and that 
for cheese 9 cents. Much of the cheese manufactured finds a market in 



i62 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Europe. The Wilmington Dairy Association was incorporated June 21, 1877, 
with William Burke, Joseph Shirk and John Bovee as its officers. Buildings 
costing ^6,000 Avere erected, and the manufacture of butter and cheese begun. 
At the rate at which they are now manufacturing, they will turn out 42,000 
pounds of butter and 600,000 pounds of cheese per year, the receipts for the 
former averaging 30 cents, and the latter 8^ cents per pound. They consume 
at present 15,000 pounds of milk per day, and have a capacity of 40,000. 
The present officers are Lawrence Tinsler, President ; William Burke, Secre- 
tary, and William Martin, Treasurer. 

One of the most important events in the history of this part of the State, 
was the construction of the Chicago & Mississippi Railroad, now known as the 
Chicago & St. Louis. The road was completed through this section in 1"54, 
and the first train of cars passed through Wilmington on the 4th of July 
of that year. From that date the real prosperity of the country, within a 
breadth of fifteen to twenty-five miles on either side of the road, began. 
Farming lands, which had previously been held at from $2 to ^5 per acre, 
immediately went up to three times these prices. Towns and villages already 
established grew as they had not grown before. New towns sprang up all 
along the line. Land, which the Government had been offering for sale for 
twent}^ years, was snatched at by immigrants and speculators. Thus, in a few 
years alter the completion of the road, though its management was at first 
comparatively poor, the population doubled. Farms were opened, stores estab- 
lished, shops built and life and animation took the place of that state 
of lethargy and dullness Avhich had heretofore prevailed. The road has 
continued to increase in efficiency and capacity, and has come to be 
looked upon as necessary to the very existence of the country through which 
it passes. 

Probably no event has had such a depressing influence on this community 
as the failure, in 1873, of J. H. Daniels, banker and speculator, of this city. 
Daniels had come to the place in 1855, and was the first to establish a bank. 
His career here was one of exceeding brilliancy ; and to say that the people 
honored him with their confidence and credit, is but to state the feeling of the 
people for him in mild terms. Their confidence in his integrity was unbounded, 
and as a proof of the same, they deposited their substance with him for safe (?) 
keeping, in preference to investing in enterprises designed to build up and 
develop the city, to the extent of almost the last penny. When, seemingly, 
the last dollar had been deposited, the ears of the populace were scarcely able 
to believe themselves, Avhen it was suddenly announced that it was necessary 
for the bank to suspend for a short time ; but when afterward it was learned 
that the concern was hopelessly involved and would pay but eight cents on the 
dollar, the depositors went home and read the first three verses of the fifth 
chapter of the First Epistle of James, and other similar passages, and pondered 
long and deeply. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY'. 463 

The following history of the press of Wilmington has been kindly furn- 
ished by E. D, Conley, Esq., editor and proprietor of the Wilmington Advo- 
cate : 

Wilmington's first newspaper, the Wilmington Herald^ was established in 
this place in 1854 by D. H. Berdine. Whether misfortunes never come singly 
or not, that year marked the advent of the cholera in our midst, also. The 
Herald was a joint stock institution, gotten up by a number of citizens ; and 
the setting-up of the press and material was literally a nine-days wonder in the 
eyes of many villagers. Cholera swept oft' one of the printers — John J, Post — 
and sickness and disaster threatened the Herald's success. In less than a year 
afterward, R. W. Waterman, a large stockholder, obtained control of the office 
and placed it in charge of William H. Clark, of Michigan, who was to edit and 
publish the sheet (a six or seven column folio), at a salary of ^15 per week. 
Clark watched his opportunity. The stock gradually merged in the hands of a 
few, and that few mortgaged it ; a snide " mortgage sale," made in the presence 
of a chosen few, was had, and the Herald passed into the hands of Clark, the 
consideration being ^7.00 ! It run along three or four years, when Joseph 
Braden, of the Joliet True Democrat^ came down to Wilmington with an old 
Ramage press to trade for the Herald press — a Foster; but the citizens got 
wind of it and mobbed the office. How the aggrieved and swindled ori^rinal 
stockholders settled the matter, the writer does not remember; but it was patched 
up somehow and security given. In 1856, or thereabout, Clark removed from 
this place — office and all — to Kendall County, where he established the Ken- 
dall County Clarion. The present publisher of the Advocate was chief "devil " 
of the Herald office for some time, while J. H. Reubenau, now a C. & A. 
■express-train conductor, was the principal typo when not engaged in stealinof 
Waterman's dry wood. 

W. R. Steel, Esq., established the Wilmington Independent here in 1861 : 
so, if the Herald's coming brought with it cholera, the Independent, not to be 
outdone, brought the pomp and circumstances of war. The Independent 
became Republican in politics, and had quite a good circulation in the Kankakee 
Valley. It was purchased by Alexander Mcintosh in 1861. It was run along 
until the Fall election in 1872, when it suspended publication and was sold 
under a mortgage. II. H. Parkinson, under a lease, run it a year longer, when 
the paper died, and the material was sold to parties abroad. In the meantime, 
June, 1870, the People's Advocate was started by Jacob H. Warner, at the 
instance of many who, in political issues, opposed the policy of the Independ- 
ent. When the Advocate was 35 weeks old — February 18, 1871 — E. D. Conley, 
Esq., purchased a half interest and became its chief editor. But partnership 
proved a bad horse to ride, and dissolution in ownership followed. In May, 
1872, Mr. Conley bought the office for $2,000 cash, and from that date to this 
the Wilmington Advocate has been issued regularly, and is generally recognized 
as a fixed and solid institution. 



464 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Another Wilmington Herald and a paper known as the Wihnington Free 
Press have, within a feAV years, been issued in this city ; but both proved short 
lived. 

At the present writing — September 20, 1878 — the Wilmington Plicenix is- 
published in this city, though principally edited and printed in Joliet. 



REED TOWNSHIP. 

This is now the smallest township in the county, containing only the west 
half of Congressional Town 32, Range 9 east of the Third Principal Meridian. 
For the fifteen years ending 1875, it was the largest, embracing within its 
limits all of that territory now constituting Custer. As now laid out, it con- 
tains eighteen sections, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Wilming- 
ton, on the east by Custer, on the south by Kankakee County and on the west 
by Grundy. The first name given to the township, by the Commissioners, was 
Clinton, which, however, was changed, at the first meeting of the Board of 
Supervisors, to Reid, in honor of one of the pioneers of this section. On the 
first maps and in the first reports, the orthography of the name is found as 
here indicated ; but on the later maps and reports it is spelled as indicated at 
the head of this article. For what reason this change has been made, or if 
made by common consent or practice — the later method being the more natu- 
ral way — we are unable to inform our readers. 

The land, for the most part, is a level plain or prairie. In some portions, 
more especially in the southern, it is covered with timber of a small growth. In 
this portion the surface is more broken, but cannot be considered hilly. It is 
not crossed by any stream of water, but all of that supply is obtained from 
wells. Good water abounds at a depth of from twenty to forty feet. The 
land is of a poor quality for agricultural purposes, the soil being quite thin, 
with a species of quicksand underlying. 

In his histoiy of New York, Washington Irving begins with the creation of 
the world, citing as a reason that as the first occupants of that island, the Knick- 
erbockers, were not only descendants of Noah, but also of Adam, therefore^ 
the history could not be complete without an allusion to that primary event. 
So, in the history of Reed Township, we are forcibly reminded of a declaration 
of the Almighty, when he had completed the creation, that it was " all very 
good."' Various constructions and explanations have been put upon this aver- 
ment of the Lord, seeing that so much of the world is evil, and that even Nature 
— especially to the uneducated — seems to be in many respects deficient in her 
purposes. No more striking illustration of this idea can be found than in the 
apparent waste of forces in the creation of the " dry land " spoken of in the 
tenth verse of the first chapter of Genesis. Especially is this notable in a 
locality deficient in productiveness, which is, at the same time, surrounded by 
territory of a most prolific character. And here, again, in this township, we 



MISTORV OF WILI, COUNTY. 465 

observe the wisdom of the Creator, and the verification of that declfiration of 
His, that if is " all good," vrhile the ignorance of man would condemn it. The 
surface of the township of Reed, to look upon, like the apples of Sodom, is all 
that is desirable; but like that deceptive fruit to the agriculturist, it is only a 
source of sorrow. For a number of years after the first settlement was made, and 
the first attempt made to induce the soil of Reed to return to tlie toiling laborer 
a compensation for his expenditure of strength and time, it was believed that 
this section was a failure, and numerous tracts were sold for taxes from year 
to year, and the epithet "'land poor" seemed to apply with propriety to its 
owners. But behold the wisdom of the Creator ! In this region, which man so 
irreverently denounced, was stored by Him, for many thousand years, an article 
for the use of man's extremity, which renders this one of the most valuable 
tracts in the State. All hoarded up. eighty feet under the ground, and con- 
densed into a small space, is suddenly found the fuel with which to supply the 
deficiency that had always been felt existed in the prairie country ; and, all at 
once, the land which could have been bought "for a song" jumps to ^100 per 
acre, and, within the space of ten years, a city of five thousand inhabitants buds 
and blossoms, as it were, by magic. 

Owing to a scarcity of timber and a want of water, the tOAvnship was one 
of the latest in the county to settle. Twenty years before, settlements had 
been made along the Des Planes and Kankakee. Not until the opening-up of 
the railroad could an emigrant be induced to lose sight of the belt of timber 
lying along the banks of the streams of water. When that event transpired, 
and fuel and other commodities were transported to a distance from their place 
of growth or manufacture, a life on the prairie began to appear possible, and 
this section began to develop. Prior to 1854, the date of the event named, 
probably not more than four or five families had shown the hardihood to 
venture so far from the original settlements. William Higgins, who came to 
this vicinity (being just a few rods west of the township line, in Grundy 
County) in 1850, says that when he arrived here, James Curmea had been 
living on Section 6 about six months. Curmea was a native of Ireland, had 
been peddling through the country, and, becoming tired of the business, settled 
at the point mentioned. He entered all of the section, and, though a large 
land-owner as regards real estate, he was poor, the soil proving to be of a very 
unfruitful nature. He lived on his land until 1865, when the discovery of coal 
in this section suddenly made him a rich man. His farm, which had cost him 
^1.25 per acre, and which, a few weeks before, could have been bought for $10, 
was considered worth $100 ; and shortly after, he actually sold it for the last 
price named. The tract now belongs to the Wilmington Company, Curmea 
took his money, removed to Morris and started a bank, in which business he is 
still engaged. P. Kilgore was "squatting" on Section 4. He was also from 
the Emerald Isle. In 1855, he sold out to Frank and Thomas O'Reilley, 
and removed to Kankakee. The O'Reilleys were also from Ireland. They 



466 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Still reside in the township. William Smith was a Yankee, from the hills of 
Vermont. He could scarcely be called a " settler," as his business was that 
of hunting, and his home was wherever his dog and gun could be found. His 
range was from the head of the Kankakee to its mouth, but his headquarters 
were in this township. The report of his rifle years ago ceased to be beard, 
and then it was known that "Smith the hunter" was gone to a "happier hunt- 
ing-ground." Patrick and James Dwyer came in 1850. They are still here. 
William Sterrett and Timothy Keane are also old settlers, and still reside in 
the township. Dennis Glenny was a stone-cutter on the Illinois k Michigan 
Canal. He is another native of Erin. He came to the township in 1856, and 
still resides here. Besides those already named, there were but few who could 
lay claim to being permanent settlers ; and neither were there any additional 
settlements until the discovery of coal. Even now, there are, perhaps, not 
more than twenty families outside of the city limits. 

Though Reed Township was organized in 1850, the portion now embraced 
in Custer contained, until 1865, nearly all the inhabitants; and, though Custer 
is but three years old in name, it, and not Reed, is the original township ; so 
that in reality, what is now called by the name of Reed, is a new town with the 
old name. The division occurred three years ago, on the petition of citizens of 
the eastern portion of the township. As now constituted, the west eighteen sec- 
tions were organized April, 1875. 

The present officers of the township are: John Young, Supervisor; John 
Bamrick, Clerk ; Dennis Downey, Assessor ; David Francis, Collector ; Bai'ney 
Higgins, Dennis La Hynes and Henry Roc, Commissioners of Highways; 
Nathan Goldfinger, Henry Hillman and Edwin Wakefield, Justices of the Peace; 
William J. Stewart, John Gaddis and J. Randick, Constables, and James 
Powers, School Treasurer. 

CITY OF BRAIDWOOD. 

In many respects, this city is peculiar, and in its growth certainly is a won- 
der; and, to any but inhabitants of the West, who are somewhat used to such 
phenomena as a large city springing from the ground in a decade, it would be 
considered a marvel. In 1865, where now stands the city of Braidwood, with 
its five thousand inhabitants, its seven churches, its three schools and its gigan- 
tic systems of mining machinery, was simply nothing but a sea of tall grass, or 
in the Winter a boundless field of snow, reaching out to meet the horizon, with 
scarcely a cabin intervening. As before stated, this locality was considered 
almost worthless, with only a few unthrifty farmers scattered through the neigh- 
borhood. In 1864, William Henneberry, while digging a well discovered the 
first coal. He had already sunk the well to a reasonable depth, but had failed 
to find water. Procuring a drill he continued his search, by boring to a greater 
depth. When about eighty feet below the surface, he came upon what proved 
to be a fine vein of coal. As soon as the fact became known, great excitement 
prevailed, and a shaft was sunk at a point known as Keeversville. This shaft 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 467 

fully realized the expectations of its projectors, and but a short time intervened 
before works of simple character were erected for the purpose of raising the 
])roduct. 

Individual and small company enterprises were thenceforward organized 
with varying success. The parties originating the same usually having more 
enthusiasm than capital, their efforts generally proved comparative failures. 

In 1865-66, J. D. Bennet, M. B. Killbourn, C. L. Whitcomb, Seth 
Turner and C. D. Wilbur leased some land, proposing to operate for coal. 
Wilbur was the State Geologist, and was a great enthusiast on the subject of 
coal desposits. 

Their work was, however, but scarcely begun, when a company of gentle- 
man from Boston completed an organization for the same purpose, and Bennet 
and his company sold out to them. The Boston organization was what is now 
known as the Wilmington & Vermilion* Coal Company, J. M. Walker being 
President, and A. T. Hall, Treasurer. With ample means at their command, 
the success of the work was fully assured, and the Company has continued in 
successful operation ever since Though the demand for the product is not so 
great as formerly, 700 men are in the employ of the Company at Braidwood. 
Of these, about one-half are colored. The colored portion of the miners work 
almost exclusively in a mine by themselves. In the Summer season, when the 
demand for coal is comparatively limited, the workmen are employed only about 
one-half the time. They receive in Summer, 85 cents per ton, and in the 
Winter, 90 cents. The average work of a day, per miner, is two and a half 
tons. Two shafts are operated by the Braidwood detachment, at which about 
10.000 tons each are raised, the capacity of both shafts being about 30,000 
tons per month. In addition to shafts, engines and other machinery, the Com- 
pany own 300 cars with which they transport the products of the mines to 
Chicago and other markets. They also run two general stores, at which the 
miners obtain most of the necessary articles of food and clothing. One of these 
stores is located near the offices of the Company, and the other in the central 
part of the business portion of the city. Tlie managers of the Wilmington 
Company's works at this place are : Esaias Hall, Superintendent, and H. 0. 
Alden and B, F. Washburn, Clerks. 

The Eureka Mining Company commenced operations in 1865. At first the 
enterprise was known as the Rhodes Coal Company, with D. P. Rhodes as 
President or Manager ; but subsequently a new organization was formed by A. 
B. Meeker, D. P. Rhodes, W, L. Brown, C. B. Brown, George L. Dunlap 
and Perry H. Smith. Of these. Meeker was President, and W. L. Brown was 
Secretary and Treasurer. With the exception of C. B. Brown, withdrawn, and 
H. Pratt, who has been introduced as Secretary, the primary organization 
remains intact. William Maltaby, the present Superintendent of the mines, has^ 
performed the duties of that position since the organization of the Company. 

•' The Compauy also operate mines at Strentor, on the Verniilioii liiver. 



468 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

The Company employ, at their two shafts, 425 men, about 300 of whom are 
at work all of the time, the remainder waiting their turn for employment, 
which is given to all from two to four days each week. About 130,000 
tons of coal are raised per year, the capacity of the shafts being over 200,000. 
The total expenses of the Company amount to about $18,000 per month. Not 
only are the minutiae of the operations of the two companies about the same, 
but they, with the companies in adjacent townships, unite their interests, divid- 
ing profits after all necessary expenses are paid. 

James Braidwood has, perhaps, done more than any single individual to 
develop the coal industry in this region than any other man ; especially was 
this the case in its early history. He came from Scotland to America, in 1863. 
and to this vicinity, in 1865, and assisted in sinking most of the early shafts. 
In 1872, he, in company with some others, sunk the Braidwood shaft. Sub- 
sequently, the works were burned, and, in 1876. he started, on his own 
resources, the shaft now known as the Braidwood shaft. He is not connected 
with the pool, but employs his men and sells his coal at prices independent of 
all corporations, most of his product being disposed of to the Bridgeport Rolling 
Mills at Chicago. He employs about eighty men, who receive 85 cents per 
ton for mining. The amount of coal raised at this shaft is 130 tons per day. 
The capital invested is $20,000. 

The appearance of the city is remarkable in some respects. The companies 
who own the land have always sold lots with a clause in the deed, reserving the 
right to mine the coal that lay beneath. In consequence, we find a whole city, 
built entirely of wood. With the exception of a small brick schoolhouse, which 
antedates the coal discovery, and a bakery rebuilt a year or two ago on land 
which had already been undermined and had settled, there are no stone or brick 
buildings ; but the light balloon frames, which a settling of the earth would not 
injure, are universal. The vein of coal here is from three to three and a half 
feet in thickness ; and, after a lead has been worked and abandoned, the roof 
falls in, and a corresponding depression soon after makes its appearance on the 
surface of the ground. The settling is quite gradual, and is usually completed 
within a year. In time, doubtless, the site of the city will all have been worked 
over ; and, after some sweeping fire which sooner or later comes to every wooden 
town, a more substantial class of buildings will take the place of the frame struct- 
ures, and the city will put on a more presentable appearance. During the first 
year or two, people came in and retired so rapidly that it is hard to say who 
were here first. Many who came in to work in the mines left as suddenly as 
they came, and not even their names are remembered. Some who came to carry 
on trade made their stay quite brief, and are not entitled to notice as permanent 
settlers of the town. Others who worked here for some years, yet having fam- 
ilies, relatives or friends at other points, never considered this their home. 
Among those who came to the place, at the beginning, was William Maltaby, 
Superintendent of Mines for the Eureka Company. Mr. Maltaby is a native of 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 469 

England, where he worked at mining before coining to this country. In 18G3, 
he came to this vicinity on a kind of prospecting expedition, and moved to the 
place in 1866, to superintend the Company's works. He has been in their em- 
ploy ever since. John Young is a Scotchman. He came to the neighborliood 
in 1867, and worked at the mines. He has, by industry and economy, accumu- 
lated considerable means, and is now engaged in merchandise. His residence 
in this city, and his intercourse with his fellow-citizens, liave made him quite 
popular. He is the present Supervisor of Reed Township. Daniel McLaugh- 
lin came in 1869. He was also a native of Scotland, and a miner. He is 
present Mayor of the city, having been elected to that office in 1877. Hon. L. 
H. Goodrich was the first Mayor of the city, being elected in 1873. 
Mr. Goodrich was formerly from New York City, but had lived, 
before his removal to this place, a number of years in Gardner. 
From the latter place, he was elected as Representative to the Twenty- 
ninth General Assembly of the State, and re-elected to the Thir- 
tieth. He was also, for six successive years, chosen from that township as 
Supervisor, and, for eight years. Justice of the Peace. He is at present in the 
mercantile trade. Esaias Hall is from Vermont, and removed to this place in 
1866, to superintend the mines of the Wilmington Company. He is still in 
their employ in the same capacity. Robert Huston is from New York City. 
He came to this place in 1870, and engaged in the mercantile trade. John H. 
Ward is a native of Ireland. He came to Wilmington and resided for a num- 
ber of years. In 1866, he removed to this locality, where he has since resided. 
Within five years of the laying-out of the town, which occurred in 1865, 
among those who have become permanent residents and at the same time 
are recognized as leading citizens, are E. W. Felton, David Paden, William 
Jack, B. F. Sweet, John Broadbent, Edward Davidson, Duncan Rankin, 
John James, William Chalmers, John Barnett, John Cox, B. W. Reese, 
W, H. McFarlane, Meshach Dando and Robert Paden. The first house 
within what is now the site of Braidwood was the little brick schoolhouse, 
already referred to. 

The first dwelling erected is said to have been built by Paddy Nary, a 
miner in the employ of one of the first mining companies. Daniel Small built 
the first house designed to be used as a store, and J. D. Bennet put in the first 
stock of merchandise. The store-building has since served the purpose of 
schoolhouse and church, Andrew Benney is credited with the building of the 
first hotel. Benney was a miner, and built the hotel for the accommodation, 
more especially, of employes of the mines. He is now a resident of Missouri. 
Dwellings, shops and stores followed so fast and in such numbers that to name 
them or their projectors and builders would require more space than the design 
of this work would permit. Many of the miners have bought lots, which usually 
consist of a half and in some cases an acre or more of ground, and built them 
comfortable little homes. 



470 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

In 187"^, Braidwood presented the unusual example of a community organ- 
izing a city government without previously having incorporated as a village. In 
1872, the State Legislature passed a general act for the government of all 
towns having a population of 2,000 and upward, and conferring upon them the 
style and charters of cities. Upon this basis, it was found that Braidwood had 
already attained that number, and steps were accordingly taken to carry into 
effect the provisions of the law. A primary meeting was held, and, in accord- 
ance with the sentiments there expressed, an election was decided upon to take 
place the 21st of April, 1873. The result was the election of E. W. Felton, 
David Paden, William Jack, B. F. Sweet, John Cox and B. W. Reese, as 
Aldermen; L. H. Goodrich, Mayor; William Chalmers, City Clerk ; John 
Barnett, Street Commissioner ; William H. McFarlane, Police Magistrate, and 
Robert Paden, Marshal. 

In 1877, Daniel McLaughlin succeeded L. H. Goodrich as Mayor. 

The present officers of the city, are: John Mclntyre, John Cox, Frank 
Lofty, John Crelly, Richard Mulrooney, Nicholas Keon, Richard Phillips and 
John Froadbent, Aldermen ; Daniel McLaughlin, Mayor ; William H. Steen, 
Clerk ; John S-. Keir, Treasurer ; Patrick Muldowney, Marshal ; William 
Mooney, Attorney ; and Meshach Dando, Police Magistrate. Of the Aldermen 
chosen at the first election in 1873, John Cox has retained his place in the 
Council ever since. The voting population of the city is fully 1,000, though 
940 votes is the highest number yet polled at any election. 

Society in most mining districts is usually considered below par, but not 
only does present observation prove quite contrary, but the history of the town 
and its benevolent. Christian and educational institutions show conclusively 
that, in this instance, the moral and religious features compare very favorably 
with other towns of like age and size. 

Braidwood has five churches — the Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, Cath- 
olic, Congregational and Primitive Methodist — all occupying good comfortable 
buildings, besides which the Moi^mons, the Colored Methodists and Colored 
Baptists hold religious services and contemplate the erection of houses of wor- 
ship. 

The M. E. Church held religious services here as early as 1867. Rev. A. 
C. Price was the first preacher, and ministered to the congregation at the date 
named. The first services were held in the old schoolhouse, and a class was 
formed with William Anderson and wife, William Davids and father and mother, 
Samuel Bales and wife and John Runsey and wife ; and these, with a few others, 
soon after organized the Church. About two years later, the society, having 
increased in numbers and wealth, built their present house of worship. It is a 
frame building, capable of seating two hundred and fifty persons, and cost the 
society $2,000. The Church has been quite prosperous, and the membership 
at this date is 150, of which the Rev. John Rogers is Pastor. In connection 
with the Church is a flourishing Sunday school of 150 members, under the 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 471 

superintendence of L. H. Goodrich. In 1871-72, Rev. R.Davis, a missionary 
in connection with the Presbyterian Church, was preaching through this part of 
the State, and, amongst the points visited by him, was this, at which he stopped 
and preached ; and it was through his influence that an organization of this 
denomination was effected. As often happens, the organization of the Sunday 
school, in tlie early Spring of 1872, was the primary move, in this instance, of 
the more decisive measures adopted soon after. In June, of the year mentioned, 
the persons of that persuasion met to take into consideration the propriety of 
establisliino; a church of this denomination. Among the original members were 
David Padon, John James, Duncan Rankin, William Chalmers and E. A. Beadle, 
with other members of their families. At this time they held meetings in what is 
known as the Grove Schoolhouse. Rev. William Penhalagan was the first reg- 
ular preacher after organization. Rev. Thomas M. Gunn, now of the First 
Church of Joliet, was subsequently called and installed Pastor of this Church. 
He resigned in 1877, to take charge of the Joliet congregation, as stated. In 
1873, the society began the erection of a house of worship, which, though still 
unfinished, aff'ords for them comfortable accommodations. The building thus 
far has cost about $5,000, and is 40 feet in width and 60 in length. The 
present membership is 130, of which the Rev. John Currier is the stated sup- 
ply. The Sunday school, in connection with this Church, is under the super- 
intendence of Duncan Rankin, and numbers about one hundred and forty. 

The Catholic organization was formed by Dr. John McMullin, while Pastor 
of the Wilmington Church. When Dr. McMullin was promoted to the higher 
ofiice of Vicar General, Father Daniel Riordan succeeded him as Pastor of this 
Church. Afterward, Father Riordan was also promoted to Secretary and 
Chancellor of the Diocese, and the vacancy thus occurring was filled by Father 
Thomas O'Garra, who was also promoted, being called to serve in the temple 
on high. Succeeding Father O'Garra is the present Pastor, Rev. R. H. 
McGuire. During the period of Dr. McMullin's administration, the original 
building was erected. In this the congregation worshiped until 1875, when the 
additions of the front and back were made. In the same year, the parsonage 
was built. The value of the church property is put down at about $10,000. 
About two hundred and fifty families worship here. The strike which occurred 
in 1877 severely affected the strength of the Church. Prior to this, the mem- 
bership was nearly twice the number stated. 

The Congregationalists erected, in 1873, a neat little building for church 
purposes. It is about 28x32 feet, and cost $800. The membership at present 
is twenty-five, all of Welsh nativity, and services are conducted in that language. 
Rev. Griffith Evans, of Braceville, is Pastor, and William Davis is Superin- 
tendent of the Sunday school. The Primitive Methodists have a small house 
of worship, neatly furnished. Rev. Julius Marks is Pastor, and Thomas Davy 
is Superintendent of the Sunday school. Besides the buildings already 
named, a small church-house was erected some years ago by the Welsh Baptists, 



472 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

but this is now vacant. The Mormons, to whom allusion has been made, are of 
the persuasion who cleave to Joseph Smith, and disclaim any affiliation with the 
Salt Lake Mormons, or sympathy with their peculiar beliefs and practices. 
These accept the Book of Mormon as an additional divine revelation, but in 
other respects are not different from some of the evangelical Christians. 

The strike of 1877 had the effect of bringing to this place several hundred 
colored people, who, if not universally known to be practically pious, are noted 
as a peculiarly religious people. Though very poor, and mostly ignorant, they 
yet hold religious services, and contemplate the erection of a house of worship. 

The Odd Fellows organized a lodge of that Order here September 16, 1872, 
of the name and number of Banner Lodge, No. 495. Duncan Rankin was the 
first N. G.; Robert Paden, V. G.; John Skinner, Secretary; and William 
Neath, Treasurer. Duncan Rankin was the first Representative to the Grand 
Lodge, and continued to represent the Lodge for four years. The present 
membership of the Lodge is 160. John Barkell is present N. G.; James 
Fairley, V. G.; James Sims, Treasurer; W. H. Steen, Secretary; and W. W. 
Gallagher, Representative. Meetings are held every Wednesday evening. 

A year and a half later, Diamond Encampment, No. 152, was established, 
with John Brown as C. P.; Robert Meredeth, S. W.; John Peart, J. W.; 
Nicholas Hoffman, Treasurer; William Gallagher, Scribe; and Thomas Dur- 
ham, H. P. John Stephenson, William Neath, Theodore Green and John 
Skinner were also original members. The present officers are : Peter Barr, C. P.; 
James Hunter, S. W.; J. Jafrey, H. P.; William Rixon, J. W.; John Ste- 
phenson, Scribe; and Peter Harwood, Treasurer. 

The Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons began "work" here October 8, 
1873, with Alexander Patterson as first W. M.; Ira R. Marsh, S. W.; Egbert 
W. Felton, J. W.; Robert Dunlap, Isaac and C. Zeigler, William Campbell, 
John Broadbent, John B. Barnett, E. Davison, W. H. Watson, Thomas Fergu- 
son, John and David Skinner, William Chalmers, Robert Harrop and William 
White were also charter members. They now have a membership of seventy. 
Their hall, recently fitted up, is a model of neatness and taste. Meetings are 
held on the first and third Thursdays of each month. John Broadbent is 
present Master; F. Packard, S. W.; James W, Patterson, J. W.; F. M. Salla- 
day. Secretary; J. B. Backus, Treasurer; E. Davison, S. D.; Winfield Blood, 
J. D.; and Peter Abrams, Tiler. 

The educational facilities provided by the inhabitants of Braidwood consist 
of three large two-story buildings. One of these is located in the old part of 
the town, one near the depot, and the other in the vicinity of the Eureka shaft. 
These, like all other buildings of the city, are constructed of wood. They 
afford accommodation for at least one thousand pupils. 

One of the efficient adjuncts to the means of educating the youth and the 
public generally is the public library. In 1876, through the efforts of William 
Maltaby, Superintendent of the Eureka Coal Company, $1,500 were subscribed 





i^OE CEASED) 
J^OLI ET 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 475 

and a library of 1,400 volumes was established. The enterprise, though only 
a nucleus of what it is designed to be, is duly appreciated by the reading pub- 
lic, and is proving a real blessing to the community. The rooms of the asso- 
ciation are kept open all of the time, and all who have leisure have the privilege 
of visiting the place and consulting the volumes to be found there. Mr. Malt- 
aby was elected first President of the association, and still remains such officer. 
M. Dando is the present Secretary. The most effectual means of disseminating 
general information, and consequently one of the most potential for general and 
practical education, is the newspaper. In this regard Braidwood is fortunate 
in having established the only daily in the county outside of Joliet. The his- 
tory of the press in this city, though short, has been varied and, until lately, 
quite precarious. Several attempts were made to established a paper at this 
point, but either through lack of fitness on the part of the publishers or of ap- 
preciation on the part of the public, each pi-oved a failure. Jacob Warner was 
the first to embark in the business, and started the News. He was followed by 
Thomas Simonton with the Journal. Then Fred Dalton, former publisher of 
the Streator Monitor, began the publication of the Republican. The first nura- 
Tjer appeared June 17, 1875, and the prospect for a live paper appeared fair. 
In a short time, however, the concern became so involved that it was impossible 
to proceed. At this point, Henry H. Parkinson, of Bloomington, took hold 
of the work, and through his untiring efforts, and in spite of discouragement, 
that would have broken down many men, the paper has not only lived, but has 
increased in circulation and popularity, and a year ago bloomed into a dailv. 
Mr. Parkinson, prior to his coming to this place, was publishing at Blooming- 
ton the Anti-Monopolist. The undertaking proved to be a i^iilure, and absorbed 
all of the means at his command ; therefore, when he arrived at Braidwood, 
he was in such an embarrassed condition that the prospect seemed anything but 
flattering. However, by the Summer of 1877, the paper had gained the confi- 
dence and support of the people, and was in a fair way to permanent success. 
Then the strike took place, and again the establishment was flat, so much so 
that its proprietor had to borrow a few quires of paper, and with this the lit- 
tle daily was started. From that time the enterprise has been prosper- 
ous, and its success is now assured. Mr. Parkinson has his office all 
paid for, owns the building in which it is kept, and the paper has a circulation 
of over five hundred. In the mean time two other attempts have been made to 
establish papers here. Jacob Warner published the Braidwood Herald during 
the political canvass of the Fall of 1876. In 1877, R. W. Nelson began the 
publication of the Daily Phcenix and issued a few numbers. Since the panic 
of 1872-73, many of the capitalists all over the country have withdrawn their 
means from manufactures and other enterprises, which formerly gave employ- 
ment to those, who, though not lacking in muscle, brain or will to continue the 
business, were yet without money or credit. Thus thousands of men and 

women all over the country were without the means of gaining a livelihood. 

p 



476 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

As a consequence, a competition amongst laborers reduced wages, and still 
many, who would gladly have worked for smaller hire, had nothing to do. 
Labor arrayed itself against capital and manufacturers continued to withdraw 
their means and invest in bonds and mortgages which were not threatened, and 
which, therefore, they considered safer, though not affording as great profits. 
This apparent conflict has kept increasing until absolute necessity on the one- 
hand and safety on the other have led to the organization of opposite parties. 
In 1877, this general strife culminated in a strike on the part of employes in 
all departments requiring labor. Mechanics, miners, railroad men and com- 
mon workmen were infected with a premature desire to suddenly right their 
fancied or real wrongs. Trains were stopped, shops were closed and machinery 
of all kinds stood idle. This was the state of affairs in July, 1877. On the 
1st of April, of the year mentioned, the coal companies of Braidwood had 
asked of their employes a reduction of 15 cents for Summer and 25 cents for 
Winter on each ton of coal mined, the reduction to take effect at once. The 
men would not accede to the terms proposed, and at once they stopped work, 
arguing that an unfair advantage was being taken of them in that many of 
them had bought lots of the companies and had improved the same, making it 
impossible ior them to remove without serious loss. The companies were deter- 
mined, however, and to keep their works in operation brought in miners from 
other localities, whom they employed by the day. After a month, several 
hundred colored miners were brought, who went to work for the companies at 
the reduction formerly proposed. Though deep mutterings were heard on all 
sides and some threats were made, nothing serious took place and hopes were 
entertained that the threatened trouble would finally blow over. But toward 
the last of July, the general strikes occurring, and riots becoming common in 
many places throughout the land, the spirit of defiance took possession of the 
strikers, and they determined to drive out the "blacklegs," who, upon, 
being apprised of the intention of the strikers, though promised protect 
tion by their employers and the county authorities, fled from the city. Some 
went to Wilmington, some to Morris, and others, who could obtain no means 
of conveyance for themselves and families, camped on the prairie. At this 
juncture, the Sheriff despairing of preserving order, the Governor was called 
on to furnish soldiers to quell the hourly- expected outbreak. Accordingly, 
Gov. Cullom ordered 1,300 soldiers to the scene of the trouble, 200 of whom 
occupied the city about three weeks, the others returning to their homes in a 
few days. On the appearance of the soldiery, the " blacklegs " returned to the 
city and resumed work. At the end of the three weeks alluded to, the excite- 
ment attending the riot, as well as the disturbances themselves, ceased, railroads 
were in operation, factories were opened, and business generally was as brisk as 
before, and this community partaking of the modified sentiment prevailing in 
other parts, the trouble which had for some weeks threatened bloodshed was at 
an end. Many of the strikers have taken their former places in the mines. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 477 

and some, with some of the "blacklegs," have departed to other fields of labor. 
Peace and good feeling is so far restored that the visitor sees no trace of the 
once threatened rebellion. While the excitement was at its highest pitch, Gov. 
Cullom visited the city and spoke to the people, counseling peace and good 
order, and promising protection to the laborers to the extent of the full power 
of the State or of the United States army. The soil of the surrounding country, 
though but poorly adapted to agricultural pursuits, is yet quite well adapted to 
grazing and the dairy business, and this latter industry is just now receiving 
attention. A creamery or cheese factory, now in successful operation, was 
established here last Spring. A company was formed, with Duncan Rankin as 
President. Buildings were erected at a cost, including machinery, of $2,000. 
The establishment, though in its infancy, manufactures 150 pounds of butter 
and 900 pounds of cheese per day, consuming, for the purpose, 9,000 pounds 
of milk. The product is shipped — the cheese to Chicago and the butter to St. 
Louis, the former article bringing Q^ cents and the latter 25 cents per pound. 
The principal business street of Braidwood, extending from the depot to the 
works of the Eureka Company, is built up on both sides with unbroken lines of 
stores, shops and offices, with scarcely a vacancy, except the narrow cross, 
streets, for more than a mile. The observer can but imagine what a blaze will 
occur here some time ; and it can only be a matter of time, the greatest wonder 
being that the time has not already come. There will then be active work for 
the fire company. Realizing this state of affuirs, a company for the purpose of 
controlling the fiery element was organized June. 1877, with James S. Patterson 
as Fire Marshal, and H. H. Parkinson, Secretary. The implements of the 
company consist of hooks, ladders and trucks usually belonging to such organ- 
izations. The company is independent, though the city furnishes all apparatus 
necessary for use in their duties. The balance of the city, though built of the 
same combustible material, yet being so sparsely built and occupying so much 
space, is less likely to experience a general conflagration. The space occupied 
by the city is fully two square miles. 

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP. 

Plainfield lays claim to the honor of the first settlement in Will County. 
The first settlement made in Walker's Grove, a body of timber just south of 
the present village of Plainfield, dates back half a century or more. Look at 
the figures. 1826 — 1878 ! Fifty-two years are between these milestones. 
Thirty years are the average of a generation's life-time, and hence the earthly 
span of almost two generations has run out since the "pale face " missionary 
pitched his tent by the "side of the river of waters," or to use more homely 
language, since the old soldier of the cross, Rev. Jesse Walker, established an 
Indian mission on the banks of the Du Page. The years have rolled by 
decades have faded into a half-century, since white people began to exercise 



478 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

dominion in this section — the very paradise of Will County. The Indians long 
ago, the lords of the domain, roaming at will through the lofty forests and over 
the flower-decked prairies, live now only in fireside legends, and this beautiful 
region, once their own undisputed hunting-grounds, has become the abode of the 
superior race — the white man. Cities, towns and villages have taken the place 
of the red man's lodge and wigwam, and their hunting-grounds are productive 
farms. 

It. may be a matter of question as to whether an itinerant preacher of the 
Methodist Church can justly be termed a settler. Their home is where duty 
and the work of the Master calls them, and, like Him who said, "the foxes 
have holes, and the fowls of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not 
where to lay his head," they often, and in those early days on the wild front- 
ier, were forced to make a bed of the green earth, with the blue sky to serve as 
drapery for their couch. Father Walker was born in the Old Dominion, in 
1766 ; a hundred and twelve years before the writing of these pages, and 
entered the ministry on probation in 1804. He made a trip to Illinois, a kind 
of toui: of inspection, in 1806, in company with William McKendree (after- 
ward Bishop McKendree) to look at the country. Illinois was then a part of 
Indiana, and being highly pleased with the section they visited, were, at the 
next meeting of Conference, transferred to circuits within its bounds. The fol- 
lowing extract from " Forty Years Ago," written by Hon. George H. Woodruff, 
of Joliet, is appropriate here, and is a well-deserved tribute to the good old 
preacher: "Walker returned from this Conference to his family, arriving about 
noon — commenced immediately to prepare for the journey, and by 10 o'clock 
the next day, he and his family were on the way. The journey had to be made 
on horseback, and four horses were required — one for himself, one for his wife 
and youngest daughter, and one for his oldest daughter, a girl of sixteen, while 
the fourth carried the stock of books, which was part of the outfit of a Meth- 
odist preacher, the sale of which aided in eking out their scanty salary. * 
* * * Jesse Walker became an able and efficient preacher of Meth- 
odist Christianity in Illinois, although he had received but a very limited educa- 
tion. In 1821, we find him reporting to Conference in respect to his labors as 
a missionary among the Indians, and it was in this capacity he came to Plain- 
field in 1826, where there was then, and for several years subsequently, an 
Indian village. In 1827, he was Superintendent of Fox River Mission. He 
is said to have held the first camp meeting in the State, and the first quarterly 
meeting in Chicago, and also to have preached the first Protestant sermon in St. 
Louis. In 1829, he had charge of the Des Planes Mission, and formed the 
first class at Walker's Grove." His son-in-law, James Walker, accompanied him 
to Plainfield, or Walker's Grove, as the beautiful grove a little south of the vil- 
lage was then called, and may probably be termed the first actual settler in 
Plainfield Township, if not in Will County. His claim was made, we believe, 
in 1828, and his first cabin erected in 1829. James W^alker was from Tennes- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 47& 

see, but liad first located at Ottawa, and was a pronunent man in the early his- 
tory of the county, and one of its first representatives in the State Legislature. 
He brought with him from Ottawa a horse-power mill, which he set up and at 
once proceeded to business. This mill, however, will be referred to again, fur- 
ther on. Mr. Walker, together with Dr. Bowen — so often mentioned in the 
history of Joliet — was the principal lobbyist in engineering the act through 
the Legislature for the formation of Will County; and after its organization as 
a county, he was one of the first Commissioners, Holder Sisson and Thomas 
Durham being his colleagues in that capacity. He was also commandant of 
"FortBeggs" during the Sac war, which is more fully noticed in another 
page. 

Perhaps it will not be amiss to give the following extract fi*om a work by 
Rev. S. R. Beggs, entitled "Pages from the Early History of the West and 
Northwest," referring to Father Jesse Walker, before passing to the further 
settlement of Plainfield. In speaking of the first session of the Methodist 
Conference held at Plainfield, the author says: "It was at this Conference that 
we resolved to remove the remains of Jesse Walker from their obscure resting- 
place, one mile south of our cemetefy. I think it was in the Fall of 1834 that 
I performed the marriage ceremony which united him to his second wife. He 
had then served two years in the Chicago Mission station, after which he sus- 
tainedasuperannuated relation, andsettled on a small farm about twelve miles west 
of Chicago, on the Des Planes River, and there he remained until he changed the 
cross for the crown, on the 5th of October, 1835. He was buried in Plain- 
field, and there rested until his sons in the Gospel resolved to remove his 
remains to their present resting-place. When the hour arrived for the inter- 
ment, the Conference adjourned and marched in solemn procession to the grave. 
The remains of his first wife had been disinterred, and brought to be buried 
with him. In one large coffin the bones were placed, and laid as nearly in 
their natural order as possible. It was a season of great solemnity, both to our 
village and to the Conference. It had been arranged that there should be several 
speakers to bear testimony to the zeal of this untiring servant in the work of 
the Lord before the coffin was concealed from our sight. As I had known him 
personally longer than any one present, I was to lead in the remarks. After 
singing and prayer, I proceeded to give a concise history of his arrival in this 
State, as a missionary, in the Fall of 1806, his extensive and different fields of 
labor, and especially our labors in the Central and Rock River Conferences. 
Rev. J. Scarritt, who followed, was very happy in his remarks in portraying 
the untiring labors, great usefulness and happy death of this unexcelled mis- 
sionary." This seems but a fitting tribute to the faithful old servant of the 
Lord, and who is generally termed the first white settler, not only of Plainfield 
Township, but of Will County. 

Rev. S. R. Beggs, another veteran Methodist preacher, is an early settler 
at Plainfield, and the oldest settler of the place now living. He settled here 



480 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

in the Summer of 1831, near where he still lives. Father Beggs was born in 
Rockingham County, Va., in 1801, and when 4 years old his father removed 
to Kentucky, where he remained two years, and then settled in Clarke County, 
Ind., on the Ohio River, seventeen miles above the falls. Here the family 
were subjected to all the privations incident to a new home in a great wilder- 
ness, that of chills and fever being included. As an illustration of the times, 
Mr. Beggs says he was 7 years old before he ever possessed the luxury of a 
pair of shoes. At an early age he entered the ministry, and became an itiner- 
ant Methodist preacher, laboring in Indiana, Missouri and Illinois, settling, as 
above stated, at Plainfield in 1831. To show the hardships those early preach- 
ers underwent to plant the Gospel in the wilderness, we again quote from Father 
Beggs' book. Referring to his year's labor, he says; " My quarterage this 
year was $23 ; my clothing, that I had brought from home, was by this time so 
nearly worn out that it was necessary to replace it with new. Some of the 
sisters spun wool and made me a coat of blue and white cotton, a pair of white 
cotton pants and one of mixed. One of the brothers gave me his old hat, 
which I got pressed, and then I was fitted out for Conference." Think of this, 
ye high-salaried, stall-fed pastors, who proclaim the Word from marble desks, 
in gilded temples, resplendent in your broadcloth and white cravats! Think 
ye, will not these self-denying men of God, who braved danger, hunger and 
cold to spread the Gospel, receive the brighter crown when they arrive in the 
Kingdom V We are not writing a religious history of the country, but the long 
associations and administrations of Fathers Beggs and Walker in this particu- 
lar portion of Will County, are so interwoven and connected with its history that 
to omit it would be to leave out the most important part of it. In 1836, Mr. 
Beggs was appointed to the Joliet Circuit, and commenced the work of build- 
ing the first Methodist Church, also the first church edifice in Joliet, as noticed 
in the first part of our work. During the Sac war, his house, then considered 
the strongest building in the Plainfield settlement, was constructed into a fort. 
Two log pens which he had built for a barn and shed, were torn down and made 
into fortifications around his house, into which the settlers all crowded. But 
Indian outrages growing more alarming every day, it was finally decided to 
risk trying to get to Chicago. The settlers were formed into a company, and 
James Walker elected Captain. Being only teams enough to carry the people, 
their effects were left behind, many of which were taken or destroyed by the 
Indians before the whites were permitted to return. But the cloud of war 
rolled away before Scott's legions, and the people could finally return in safety 
to their homes. 

In 1829, a Frenchman of the name of Vetel Vermette settled at Plainfield. 
He did not remain very long in the settlement, however, but sold his claim to 
Jedediah Woolley, Sr., and left for some other land. Of him very little is 
known, as few are living who remember him. In the Summer of 1830, Reuben 
Flagg, from Vermont, came to Plainfield with his family. He was two months 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 481 

on the road, and arrived in the settlement on the !)th of July. Chicago at the 
time consisted of about a dozen houses, mostly the huts of Indian traders and 
half-breeds. From Detroit, Flagg was accompanied by Woolley, noticed as 
buying out the Frenchman Vermette. In a letter written by Mr. Flagg to 
H. N. Marsh, in 1851, he'stated that when he settled at Plainfield, there were, 
besides Walker and Vermette, Timothy B. Clarke and Thomas Covel, and that 
he knew of no others then in the county, except three families on Hickory 
Creek, viz., a Mr. Rice, Mr. Brown and Mr. Kercheval, and the nearest white 
settler on the west was at Dixon's Ferry. He is said to have hauled the lum- 
ber to Chicago to build the first frame house erected in that city, and which was 
sawed in James Walker's saw-mill, on the Du Page, near Plainfield. 

Timothy B. Clarke, from Trumbull County, Ohio, came to Plainfield in 1830. 
He emigrated to Illinois in 1820, and settled in Tazewell County when that 
part of the State was an almost unbroken wilderness. He remained there about 
eight years, when he removed to Fort Clarke (now Peoria), remaining there a 
year or two, and moved up and made a claim within seven miles of Ottawa. 
This claim he afterward sold to Green, who built a mill on it, so extensively 
patronized by the early settlers of Northern Illinois, many coming to it from a 
•distance of from fifty to one hundred miles. From this place, Mr. Clarke 
removed to the Plainfield settlement, as already noted, in 1830. This was before 
the Sac war, and the Indians, who were quite plenty in the neighborhood, were 
friendly disposed, but exceedingly troublesome. They would go into the fields 
and help themselves gratuitously to corn, potatoes and anything else they wanted, 
without so much as "By your leave, sir. ' He could not stay there in peace, 
and so, in 1834, moved up into Dupage Township, near Barber's Corners. He 
had several sons, one of whom, B. B. Clarke, is a prosperous merchant in 
Lockport, where he has been since 1868. The elder Clarke was a carpenter 
and builder, and erected the first frame house in Chicago, then a little suburban 
village in this section of the country. In that house the Indians were paid off" 
before leaving for their new hunting-grounds toward the setting sun. He 
removed to Missouri in 1835, and from there to Iowa in 1847, but returned to 
Dupage, and died at his son's in 1848. B. B. Clarke was 16 years old when 
his father removed to Plainfield, in 1830, and remembers distinctly the Indian 
troubles of that rather stormy period. He served in the Black Hawk war, first 
in Walker's company, which soon disbanded, however, and afterward enlisted in 
Capt. Sisson's company. During the most perilous times, he went from Plain- 
field to Ottawa with a team after provisions, with a guard of only four men. 
They made the trip in safety, though several hats were found along the trail 
pierced by bullets, whose wearers had been murdered by the Indians. Mr. 
Clarke says that when his father first removed to Plainfield, the nearest mill was 
in the vicinity of Peoria, distant 130 miles. His father went there once to mill 
— bought grain there to save hauling it both ways — and the " rainy season " 
setting in, the waters arose (there were no bridges) and as a consequence, he 



482 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

was gone six weeks. His family, in the meantime, had to live on potatoes, and 
by pounding corn in a kind of mortar, which was sifted and the finest of it was 
made into bread, and the coarse into hominy. The elder Clarke was a soldier 
in the war of 1812, and had a soldier's claim to land in the Military District 
lying between the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, and had bought the claims of 
other soldiers to lands there. He sold a quarter- section of land in this military 
territory for $75, and took pay in augers, which, next to the ax, was the prin- 
cipal implement used by the pioneer. He also had a claim to canal lands in 
Dupage Township, a part of which is now owned by his son, B. B. Clarke. 
The latter went to California in 1850, overland with teams, and was five months 
on the way. He remained about two years in the Golden State, and then 
returned to the old home. A brother, Hiram Clarke, went out in 1849, when the 
gold fever first broke out, and William, anotherbrother, went with his brother B. B., 
in 1850. At this latter period, so many had crossed the plains with teams that 
the grass had been devoured by their stock for a space of two miles on both sides 
of the trail, and they would take their teams in the evening to the grazing and 
remain by them during the night to prevent their being stolen. William and 
Hiram Clarke still live in California. Mr. Clarke tells the following incident 
of the early times : He and one of his brothers took a lot of ponies to Chi- 
cago, for the purpose of selling them to the Indians when they received their 
stipendiary remuneration, as Wilkins Micawber would put it, and stable accom- 
modations being more meager then than now in the Garden City, could find no 
barn in which to put their stock, were forced to turn them loose in a lot. Hear- 
ing a racket among them during the night, his brother went out to learn the 
cause, when he found an Indian trying to get them out. Without a word, he 
fell upon the savage with his big horse-whip, and the faster he ran the faster he 
rained the blows upon him, the Indian indulging in the guttural Ugh ! Ugh ! 
every jump. Arriving at the fence, he made no effort to climb it in the ordi- 
nary way, but scrambled to the top and fell over on the opposite side. This 
caused them some alarm, lest he should return with assistance, but the night 
passed without further molestation. 

Another of the very first in this settlement was Thomas Covel. He came 
from Ohio in 1830, made a claim near Plainfield village where he remained for 
a time, then sold out and moved up on Salt Creek, where, some years later, he 
died. Though one among the very first settlers, beyond this no information of 
him could be obtained. John Cooper, a brother-in-law of Clarke's, came from 
Ohio in 1830. After remaining in this place a few years, removed to Iowa, 
and from Iowa to California in 1852, and resided there until his death, in 1872. 
James Gilson was another of the early ones who settled here in 1830. He came 
from Tennessee, and lived near the village, and kept a shop on his farm and 
did quite a business in repairing guns. He was a pioneer by nature, and when 
the country began to settle up around him, he " moved on " to Iowa in search 
of a location more congenial to his tastes, and there died. From New York, the 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 483 

settlement of Plainfield received John and Benjamin SluitlifT and Jedodiah 
Woolley, Sr. John Shutliff and Woolley came in 1832, and the former, after 
a few years, sold out and moved away, but where we could not learn. Woolley 
bought out Vermette the Frenchman, then sold the claim to Rev. Beggs and 
improved another farm on the east side of the grove, on which he lived several 
years, sold it and removed into Troy Township, about eight miles from Plain- 
field. Benjamin Richardson was from the East, but what State could not learn. 
He settled here in 1834, and in a year or tAvo moved to Joliet, where he is no- 
ticed further. Benjamin Shutliff settled in this town in 1834, and was a brother 
of John Shutliff. In a few years, he moved " West to grow up with the country." 
Jonathan Hagar was born in the city of Quebec, C. E., and, when 10 years of 
age, removed with his parents to Vermont, where he resided until 1829, when 
he came West and settled in Michigan, and five years later removed to Ohio. 
In 1835, he came to Plainfield, making the journey from Cleveland to Detroit 
by steamer, and from thence to Chicago by stage. The village had been laid 
out the year before (1834) by Chester Ingersoll, as elsewhere stated, and con- 
tained, on Mr. Hagar's arrival, a blacksmith-shop, tailor-shop, a wagon-shop, 
two taverns, and perhaps one or two other houses, of which a man named Royce 
owned a shop, in which he manufactured fanning-mills. James Gilson had a 
shop on his farm, and being quite a genius, did an extensive business in repair- 
ing guns. Robert Chapman lived near the village, and now lives in Elwood. Mr. 
Hagar was one of the first merchants of Plainfield, and has always been one of 
its active and enterprising business men. He remembers when he could 
stand in his store door of mornings and see the wolves scampering across 
the open common of the village. Jason Flanders came from New Hampshire 
in 1834, and settled in Plainfield Township. He came overland in wagons to 
Troy, N. y., thence by water to Detroit, and the remainder of the way by land, 
arriving at his destination in June. H$ had six children, one of whom is the 
present State's Attorney of Will County, Hon. James R. Flanders, of Joliet. 
A few years after his settlement in Plainfield, Mr. Flanders built a house of 
hewn logs, " sided " it with walnut, finished it inside with walnut, upper story 
walls, floor and ceiling finished in walnut, neatly "planed," and after it was all 
finished in fine style, had it immediately whitewashed, showing how much a fine 
walnut finish was appreciated in those days. He and his neighbors used to cut 
timber in the Plainfield woods, have it sawed into boards, and then haul them to 
Chicago to build some of the first frame houses put up in that city. He used to 
tell a story of a hian that accompanied him on one of these trips, who had a fine In- 
dian pony, and was bantered to trade by a stranger, who offered him forty acres 
of land in Chicago. Completing the trade and making out the papers, they started 
the next morning to look up the land. After proceeding a short distance, they 
had to take a boat and rowing out a little way, " There," said the man, "your 
land is right about here, under this water." The purchaser considered himself 
"sold," but wisely determined to hold the land — probably because he could 



484 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

not sell it — and years afterward sold it for $80,000. Another man offered to 
.trade Mr. Flanders a tract of land that was "in sight " for one of his horses, 
but he declined it. Had he made the trade, and held the land until the proper 
time, it would have made him a millionaire. He lived a highly respected citi- 
zen of Plainfield, and died a few years ago at a ripe old age. 

The Green Mountain State furnished the settlement Lorin Burdick, S.- S. 
Pratt, Oliver Goss, Thomas Rickey, Deacon Goodhue and Hardy Metcalf. 
Burdick was one of the early settlers of Plainfield — a man of exalted charity 
and benevolence and an enterprising citizen. He was a soldier in the war of 
1812, and one of the heroes of the battle of Plattsburg; had one son in the 
Mexican war, and three in the late war ; and a brother, Timothy Burdick, also 
a soldier of 1812, died of sickness in the army in Mexico during that war. 
We extract the following from the Plainfield correspondence of the Commercial 
Advertiser. Speaking of Mr. Burdick, it says ; * * " Jle hauled the first 
lumber from Chicago used in building the Court House in Joliet ; hewed the 
timber used in building the first bridge across the Du Page at Plainfield, and 
assisted in building the first saw-mill in this section of the country, located on 
the Du Page ; also in erecting the first church, the first schoolhouse in Plain- 
field, and the first hotel in Lockport. He donated liberally in money toward 
purchasing the land for the first burying-ground, and assisted in laying it out, 
and is one of the early settlers to whom Plainfield owes her existence. His sud- 
den illness, resulting in death August 3, 1878, was caused by taking Paris green 
through mistake for sulphur, which he was in the habit of using. Deacon 
Goodhue settled here in 1832. He entered land about a mile northeast of 
Plainfield village, on the Chicago road, and when he died in 1856, still lived on 
his original claim where he settled forty-six years ago. Goss came to the set- 
tlement in 1834, and made a claim just south of the village, where he died in 
1842. Metcalf came in 1884 or 1835, made a claim, sold out and moved away 
many years ago — where, no one now remembers. Pratt settled in the township 
in 1835, where he still lives. Rickey settled here in 1834, and died more than 
thirty years ago. 

William Bradford, Daniel, Chester and Enoch Smith, Chester IngersoU, 
John Bill and J. E. Matthews came from the old Bay State — the home of 
Charles Francis Adams and Ben Butler. The Smiths settled in the town 
in 1832. David sold out and died soon after ; Chester went to Wisconsin in 
1833, and what became of Enoch no one now remembers. Chester IngersoU 
was here during the Sac war, and has a son now living in Homer Township. 
He laid out the south part of the village of Plainfield, sold out his lots and 
entered other lands three miles northeast of the village ; improved a large farm, 
sold it ultimately, and, in 1849, went to California, where he died some years 
later. Bradford settled here in 1834. He entered land below the village of 
Plainfield, on which he died the 3'ear following. John Bill was a wagon-maker 
by trade, the first mechanic of that "stripe" in the settlement, and located 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 485 

here in 1834. He entered land and made a claim about a quarter of a mile 
from the village, where he lived until about two years ago, when he removed to 
Maryland, and died soon after. Matthews came to the settlement in 1831, and 
made a claim on the river just above the present village of Plainfield. In 1835, 
he built a mill here which, with some additions and improvements, is still doing 
service in that line. B. B. Clarke says he helped to raise it, and very distinctly 
remembers of some rather heavy lifting at the green timbers. Matthews went 
to Oregon when people first began to emigrate to that magnificent country. 
Another early settler of Plainfield was John Fish, who came to the place as 
«arly as 1833. He was from Indiana, and in a short time moved up on Salt 
Creek, fourteen miles west of Chicago, where he died. Edmund Reed came 
from Kentucky in 1833-34, and finally moved up near Racine, and whether he 
is yet alive could not be learned. W. W. Wattles also settled here in 1833. 
He came here from Chicago, but his native place could not be ascertained. He 
bought out Timothy B. Clarke, finally sold out himself, and moved up'north of 
Chicago. Robert Chapman, Scofield and a few other early settlers located about 
Plainfield and Walker's Grove, concerning some of whom but little informa- 
tion could be obtained. 

This includes the early settlers of Walker's Grove, as Plainfield was called, 
up to 1834 or 1835, or at least all of whom we have been able to learn anything 
definite. Since that date, the town has settled up and increased in population 
until, from the few names here given, it had at the last census, in 1870, about 
eighteen hundred inhabitants, with as handsome a little village as may be found 
in Will County. As a township, Plainfield is described as Town 36 north, 
Range 9 east, and lies in the western tier of towns, with Wheatland on the 
north, Lockport on the east, Troy on the south, and Kendall County on the 
west. The Du Page River flows through the town from north to south, thor- 
oughly watering and draining the country along its course. A peculiarity of 
the stream in this section is displayed by the two Lilly-Caches, a couple of little 
brooks that have their source in the immediate vicinity of each other, one flow- 
ing very nearly south into the Du Page, the other due west into the Des Planes 
— one dull, dark and sluggish, the other clear, bright and pure as crystal drops. 
Plainfield is mostly high, rolling prairie, except the grove of timber that lined 
the Du Page River, and as farming lands, is not excelled in the county, nor 
perhaps in the State. No railroads pass through it, but it is devoted almost 
wholly to agriculture. The old Indian boundary, mentioned in the general 
history, crosses diagonally the northwest corner, and the plankroad from 
Joliet to Plainfield, one of the first regularly laid out roads in the county, is 
still a great thoroughfare of travel, though the " plank " does not make much 
show. 

The first white child born in Plainfield Township, of whom there is any 
definite information to be had, was Samantha E. Flagg, a daughter of Reuben 
Elagg, and was born September 9, 1830. This is also supposed to have been 



486 HISTORY OF WILL cbUNTY. 

the first birth among the whites in Will County. The first death was that of 
Albert Clarke, in 1831, a son of Timothy B. Clarke, mentioned among the 
first settlers of Walker's Grove. The first marriage remembered was James 
Turner to a Miss Watkins, in 1831 or 1832, and were married by Rev. Mr. Beggs. 
The first physician who ever practiced medicine in this neighborhood was Dr. 
E. G. Wight. He came from Massachusetts and settled in Naperville in 1831, 
and the circle of his practice was bounded by Chicago, Mineral Point, Ottawa 
and Bourbonnais Grove, and was more than a hundred miles across either way. 
He built the first frame house in Naperville, and removed to Plainfield in 1847, 
but had been practicing here since 1831. He died in 1865. He became blind 
when scarcely past middle life, and for eight years his son, R. B. Wight, went 
with him on his professional visits and led his horse. He finally went to an 
oculist at Rochester, N. Y., who partially restored his sight, and for fifteen 
years before his death he could see to get about with comparative ease and 
safety. The experiences of this pioneer physician would fill a volume Per- 
haps the first resident physician was Dr. Charles Y. Dyer, who came to the 
settlement in the Fall of 1835, and practiced medicine during the Winter. But 
the settlement being small, the next Spring he concluded to risk his fortune in 
the then unpromising marshes of Chicago. The subsequent greatness of that 
city and the prominence of the Doctor there up to the time of his death, prove 
the wisdom of his decision, and illustrate thfe mutability of human conditions 
in the careers of both individuals and cities. The first blacksmith in the town 
was one of the Shutliffs, who opened a shop in 1833—34, and did the light work 
the settlement needed. The first bridge in the township was built across the 
Du Page at Plainfield, and was a rough wooden structure. The timbers were 
hewed by Lorin Burdick, as noticed in the sketch given of him elsewhere. The 
rude affair presented a striking contrast to the excellent stone and iron bridges 
at present spanning the Du Page and Lilly-Cache. 

The first mill built in Plainfield Township, or Walker's Grove, was by James 
Walker. It was a horse-power mill, which he brought with him from Ottawa, 
and at once set to work. But he built without delay both a saw and grist mill 
on the Du Page, which was swept away by a flood in 1838. At this mill was 
.sawed the lumber of which a man named Peck built the first frame house erected 
in Chicago, and which stood on the corner of La Salle and South Water streets. 
Reuben Flagg, a? elsewhere noted, hauled the lumber to Chicago, and with an 
ox-team at that. Matthews, as mentioned in another page, built a mill north 
of the village of Plainfield which, with some additions and improvements, is 
still in operation. It is owned by Noah Sunderland, but is run by M. H. 
Avery, who is doing quite a lively business with it. It has three runs of stones, 
with all the modern attachments. Quite an item in the history of Plainfield 
Township is Clarke & Co.'s cheese factory, erected last Spring, just outside of 
the limits of the village of Plainfield. It is a frame building with stone base- 
ment, and has a sufficient capacity to consume twenty thousand pounds of milk 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 487 

per day. Cheese is the principal product of the factory, and they turn out 
about sixty cheeses a week, of fifty-two pounds weight each, besides making a 
small quantity of butter. 

The first school in Piainfield Township was taught by a man, whose name 
is" now forgotten, in the Winter of 1833-34, and the first regular schoolhouse 
was built in 1833 of rough logs with a stick chimney, the exact type and coun- 
terpart of many others described in these pages. But the schools have kept 
pace with the other improvements, and, in 1872, we find there were eleven 
school districts, five hundred pupils enrolled, twenty-two teachers employed, two 
graded schools and a comfortable schoolhouse in each district. The amount paid 
teachers was ^3,026.38; total expenditure for the year, ^4,597.1)0, leaving a 
balance in the treasury of |1,381.05. The schools of Piainfield at the present 
time are in a flourishing condition, and will compare with those of any town in 
the county. The first Supervisor of Piainfield after township organization, 
was L. Hamlin for the year 1850. Since then, the following gentlemen 
have served in the Board of Supervisors for the years as given with their names : 
J. Ballard, 1851 ; A. Culver, 1852 ; L. Hamlin, 1853 ; Cyrus Ashley, 1854 ; 
W. Wright, 1855-56 ; A. Culver, 1857 ; D. Van Dersoll, 1858 ; A. Culver, 
1859; W. Wright, 1860 ; W. C. Caton, 1861-68 ; A. McClaskey, 1869-76 ; 
H. Strattan, 1877-78. Other township officers are J. D. Foster and 
E. Corlin, Justices of the Peace ; H. R. Frazer, Town Clerk, and George 
N. Chittenden, School Treasurer. The township is Republican in politiss, 
giving from one to two hundred Republican majorities in all important 
elections. Having thus followed the history of Piainfield from the first settle- 
ment at Walker's Grove to the present flourishing period of its existence, we 
will now take a brief glance at the 

VILLAGE OF PLAINFIELD. 

Piainfield is beautifully located on the east bank of the Du Page River, about 
one mile north of the center of the township of Piainfield, and is nine miles north- 
west of Joliet. Chester Ingersoll is accredited with laying out the village proper, 
which is sometimes termed South Piainfield, while the north division was laid out 
by 'Squire Arnold. He was a New Yorker, and came here in 1834; laid out 
the village that year, and was one of the first to keep a tavern in the place. 
Being a little at " loggerheads " with Ingersoll, as our informant expressed it, 
his addition was laid off" a little " caterino;." The meaning of the latter word was 
gathered while taking a stroll through the village, when we found the streets of 
the two sections coming together at an angle of about forty-five degrees. But 
even with this defect, it is a very pretty little village and claims from one 
thousand to twelve hundred inhabitants. James Walker put up the first dwell- 
ing within the present limits long before it was laid out as a village. It was a 
small log house, and was occupied by Walker some time as a residence. Inger- 
soll built the next house, which was soon after the one above-mentioned. Arnold 



488 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

put up the first house occupied purposely as a tavern, though Walker had kept 
a house of entertainment previously. " Uncle Fen " Aldrich also kept a tavern 
here. This was one of the stopping-places on the stage-route between Chicago- 
and Ottawa, and the half-way point between the two places, hence, it was a good 
place for hotels. Jonathan Hagar and Samuel Sargent opened the first store in 
the upper story of John Bill's wagon-shop. The next year, they put up a 
storehouse, which has since been converted into the Congregational parsonage. 
Mr. Hagar continued in business here until 1861, when he retired, and is one 
of the wealthy men of the place. He tells the following anecdote as an exam- 
ple of the pernicious effects of sowing " tares :" An old lady, one of the early 
settlers of the village, brought with her from the East a (quantity of burdock- 
seed, declaring it to be " such an excellent yarb," that she was bound to have a 
crop growing. She accordingly sowed it in every available spot. That the 
crop did grow, the citizens of the village can bear witness, notwithstanding 
their utmost efforts to the contrary. 

The village was incorporated under special act of the Legislature February 
23, 1861. This embraced North Plainfield only, we believe. In April, 1869, 
it was again incorporated by special act, including both the north and south 
divisions of the place, and June 30, 1877^ it was incorporated under the general 
law of the State. The first Board of Village Trustees were as follows : J. 
McAllister, George N. Chittenden, Robert Webb, Jonathan Hagar and John 
. D. Shreffler. The Board organized for business by making J. McAllister 
President, and George N. Chittenden, Clerk. The present " City Fathers " 
are: Alexander McClaskey, President; A. J. Perkins, C. E. Eraser, Joseph 
McCreery, George W. Flagg, P. Y. Dundore, and H. A. Tounshendeau, Clerk; 
Ira Vanolinda, Police Magistrate. The business of Plainfield presents the fol- 
lowing outlook : Two general dry goods and ^grocery stores, two grocery and 
hardware stores, two drug stores, one book and stationery store, one furniture 
store, one hotel, one restaurant, two livery stables, five blacksmith-shops, three 
wagon-shops, four practicing physicians, two cider-mills ; with barber-shops, 
meat-markets, harness-shops, tailor-shops, paint-shops, millinery-shops, etc.; 
but neither saloons nor lawyers. It has, however, a Red Ribbon Club of 382 
members — John D. Shreflfler, President, and H. A. Tounshendeau, Secretary. 

The first schoolhouse was built in North Plainfield in 1837, and was rather, 
a small affair. It was burned in 1846 or 1847, and the present two-story 
frame building erected, at a cost of |1,500. Prof. Giden Bartholf is Princi- 
pal, and Miss Amanda Dillman, teacher of the Primary Department. In 1851 
the village was divided into two districts, and a good two-story frame house 
erected in the lower district, or South Plainfield, at a cost of $1,200. Prof. 
John H. Stepman is Principal, and Mrs. M. C. Dresser, teacher of the Primary 
Department. The first post office was established in Plainfield in 1833, and 
James Walker was the first Postmaster. This was one of the points on the 
stage route between Chicago and Ottawa, and, after coaches were put on the 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 489 

mail was brought to Plainfield over this route. The benighted citizens of Joliet 
used to come here for their mail, as opportunity occurred. This was in the 
good old times when Dr. Bowen was Postmaster there, and he would fre(juently 
carry the entire mail for Joliet in his hat. It would take several hats to con- 
tain the Joliet post oflfice now, or even that of Plainfield. The present Post- 
master of Plainfield is John Sennitt, who has been in the service of Uncle Sam 
in this department for the past ten years. 

Plainfield is sometimes called the " Village of Churches,' and, for a place 
of its size, is well supplied with temples of worship. This is one of the first spots 
in Will County where the sound of the Gospel was heard. Here, Father Walker 
established an Indian Mission, it is said, in 1826, and here, in 1829, he formed a 
class composed of the following members : Jesse Walker and wife, James 
Walker and wife, Mr. Fish and wife, Timothy B. Claike and wife, and Mr. 
Weed and wife. Father Beggs, in his book, several times referred to in 
this work, and from which this information is taken, thinks that this was the 
first class formed within the bounds of the Rock River Conference, and states, 
further, that when the Mission* was abandoned the class was given up. In 
the Fall of 1832, Rev. Mr. Beggs succeeded to the charge here, with 
Father Walker as Presiding Elder. The first church edifice built at Plainfield 
was by the Methodists, and was erected in 1836. It was a rather small, plain 
affair, compared to the elegant stone church of the present time. In 1854, 
Lockport and Plainfield were united, and so remained for a number of years, 
until the strength of each church became sufficient to admit of their being 
formed into stations. The fine stone church of the Methodists was erected in 
1868, and dedicated by Bishop Simpson. It is built of Plainfield stone, and 
cost about $22,000. The Church numbers upon her records more than three 
hundred members, with Rev. J. A. Phelps as Pastor, and John D. Shrefller, 
Superintendent of the Sunday school. 

The Baptist society was organized October 16, 1834, on the principle of 
total abstinence, and Rev. J. E. Ambrose was the first Pastor. The original 
members were : Leonard Moore, Elizabeth Moore, Rebecca Carmon, Thomas 
Rickey, Jane Rickey and Alfred B. Hubbard, six in all. It was one of the 
four churches that entered into what was called the Northern Baptist Associa- 
tion. The Church at Plainfield is the only one of these that has not changed 
its place of meeting. In the Fall of 1836, the first church-house was built, at 
a cost of $2,500 ; was 26x36 feet, and is now used as a blacksmith-shop. In 
giving place to the following anecdote, in this connection, we intend no sacri- 
lege or disrespect toward this venerable Church : Soon after the completion of 
their church-building, a Baptist minister of the name of Edwards made his 
appearance in the village and announced his purpose of holding revival meet- 
ings. The new church was accordingly placed at his disposal, and he entered 
upon his work. For an entire week did he labor with that " wicked and 

* The Des Planes Mission. 



490 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

rebellious people." Day after day, he went about among them praying and 
exhorting ; night after night, he held up to them the joy of the redeemed, or 
portrayed in glowing words the anguish of the lost. But neither the gentle 
voice of persuasion nor the terrible thunders of Sinai had the desired effect, and 
on the last night of his labors, after an impassioned appeal, in which he vainly 
implored them to "flee from the wrath to come," he declared that they had 
" sinned away the day of grace:" that " Ephraim was joined to his idols," 
and that all that remained for him was to " shake off the dust from off his feet." 
Taking his handkerchief from his pocket, he proceeded ta literally carry out the 
Scripture injunction by wiping the dust from his feet in their presence, strode 
out of the house, and was seen no more in that neighborhood. The present 
church edifice was erected in 1857, and cost between $4,500 and $5,000 ; 
dedicated by Rev. Charles Button. Rev. A. D. Freeman was the first Pastor, 
now residing at Downer's Grove. The present membership is 131, and Rev. 
H. C. First is Pastor, a position he has held for the past four years. Mrs. H. 
C. First is Superintendent of the Sunday school, which has an average attend- 
ance of seventy children. There have been 536 admissions to the Church, by 
baptism and otherwise, since its organization. 

The Congregational Church was organized in September, 1834, by Rev. N. 
C. Clarke, who had been preaching in the vicinity as early as 1832 and 1833. 
The original members were James Mathers and wife. Deacon Ezra Goodhue 
and wife, Andrew Carrier and wife, and Oliver Goss and wife. The first 
regular Pastor of the Church, was Rev. Alfred Greenwood, mentioned elsewhere 
as the first jjreacher in Lockport Township. He remained with the Church but 
a year or two. A resolution appears upon the Church records at an early date, 
requiring members "to abstain from drinking ardent spirits, manufacturing, 
trafficking in it, or otherwise using it, except for medicine." The first case of 
discipline was that of a brother, reported as having sold whisky to the Indians. 
During the first two years the Church did little more than maintain its existence. 
It suffered much from trouble among its members, growing out of land claims. 
A council was finally called to aid in settling the difficulties. As the course 
most likely to bring peace and harmony, and agreeably to the advice of the 
council, the Church disbanded, and out of its elements a Presbyterian Church 
was formed in 1836, by Rev. Mr. Gould. This organization continued about 
seven years, when the form of government was changed, and it again became a 
Congregational Church, with Rev. E. W. Champlin, Pastor. The Rev. Daniel 
Chapman succeeded him, and through his energetic efforts the present church 
edifice was erected in 1850, at a cost of $2,200, exclusive of the foundation, and 
was dedicated in June, 1851. The present membership of the Chui'ch is near 
eighty, and since August, 1878, at which time the Rev. Mr. Ebbs closed his 
pastoral labors, it has been without a regular minister. The Sunday school was 
organized about 1843, with Jonathan Hagar as Superintendent. About sixty 
scholars are in attendance, and Mr. Hagar is still Superintendent. 



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HISTORY OF WILL COUxNTY. 493 

The Universalist Church was built in 1868, at a cost of $6,000, and is one of 
the handsomest cliurch-buildings in the village. It was dedicated by Rev. W. 
S. Balch, of Galesburg, and the first regular Pastor was Rev. Mr. Ilowland. 
The present membership of this Church is small, but flourishing for a small 
village like this. Rev. Mr. Tibbitts was their Pastor until within the past few 
months, when he resigned, since which time they have been without one. The 
Sunday school was organized in 1868, and has a large attendance. 

The Evangelical Church was built in 1855, and cost about $3,000. It was 
dedicated by Rev. Mr. Tobias, Presiding Elder, and the first Pastor was Rev. 
John Kramer, now of Watertown, Iowa. The present Pastor is Rev. Heni-y 
Messner, with a membership of 113. The Sunday school was organized cotem- 
poraneously Avith the Church, and the first Superintendent was David Shreffler. 
The average attendance is about ninety-seven, and P. Y. Dundore is the Super- 
intendent. The Northwestern College was located here in 1851, under the 
auspices of this Church. The building was a stone basement, with a frame, two 
stories high, 46x66 feet in size, and cost $10,000. The founder and originator 
of the school was Bishop Esher, and its first President A. A. Smith, with a 
general average attendance of 180 students. The College was destroyed by 
fire in 1873. Until the year 1869, it was under the patronage of the Evan- 
gelical Church, as above stated. In that year it was removed to Naperville, 
and the building in Plainfield lay idle until 1871, when it was re-opened, and 
changed to the Fox River Union College, and was under the direction of the 
Congregational Church. In March, 1872, it passed into the hands of individ- 
uals, with Mrs. J. D. Field as Principal, under the name of Plainfield Academy, 
under which organization it remained until destroyed by fire. 

The Plainfield Echo was established in 1876, by H. A. Tounshendeau, as a 
family newspaper, and was an excellent little paper during its brief existence. 
It was one of the half-dozen newspapers embraced in the Phoenix confederation, 
as noted in the history of Joliet. The former editor of the Echo is now the 
Plainfield correspondent of the Lockport Commercial Advertiser and has charge 
of the Plainfield department of that paper. Plainfield Lodge, No. 536, A., F. 
& A. M., is located in the village, but we have received no information in 
regard to its organization. The stone quarries of Plainfield are of con- 
siderable importance. While not comparing with those of Joliet, Lock- 
port and Lemont, either in quality or quantity, yet they furnish a very fair build- 
ing stone, which is being much used in the immediate neighborhood. But without 
facilities for shipping, there is no demand for it beyond home supply. A rail- 
road would make Plainfield, in a little while, quite a business town, and a fine 
grain point. Why the Michigan Central does not extend her " cut-off"' railroad 
through to Aurora, via Plainfield, is a conundrum, and we give it up. Such a 
movement would prove a paying enterprise beyond any shadow of doubt. 

Plainfield Cemetery is a beautiful spot, and is eligibly located about half a 
mile southeast of the village. Much care has been exercised in laying out 

Q 



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494 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

and beautifying the grounds. They are inclosed by a substantial fence, and 
many fine monuments and marble slabs, with flowers and shrubbery, testify the 
affection of surviving friends for their beloved dead. It is a beautiful spot, and 
the care taken of it by the citizens, is an honor to them, and to their pretty 
little village. 

NEW LENOX TOWNSHIP. 

In New Lenox Township was embraced the larger portion of what, in the 
early times, was termed the Hickory Creek Settlement — a neighborhood cele- 
brated for its hospitality, and for more pretty girls, perhaps, than any section 
of the county, unless we except Homer's famous Yankee Settlement, and with 
it. Hickory Creek was, in this respect, a foeman worthy of its steel. There 
are many old grizzled fellows still to be found whose countenances become 
animated, and whose eyes kindle with pleasure, as they recall the pleasant 
reminiscences of Hickory Creek Settlement — of the quilting parties, " kissing- 
bees " and miscellaneous gatherings of young and old. How, at those little 
parties and upon those interesting occasions, they followed the poet's advice, 

" We won't go home till morning, 
Till daylight doth appear," 

and throughout the long Winter night kept up the fun, untrammeled by society 
rules or modern etiquette. A newspaper correspondent, writing under the 
name of " Styx," describes a " kissing-bee" he attended there in the good old 
days of the long ago. With such interesting and innocent little plays as " Old 
Sister Phoebe," "Green Grow the Willow Tree," "Johnny Bi-own " and all 
others of like character, laid down in the programme, the night waned, and as 
the first faint streaks of dawn began to gild the eastern horizon, they decided 
to wind up the affair with one grand kiss all around. The girls were placed in 
line, and the boys were each to begin at the head of the line and kiss all the 
girls. As the business proceeded, one little dark-eyed lass, who stood at the 
foot of the line, exclaimed, impatiently, " Why don't you kiss at both ends of the 
line, and get through quicker." This remark brought the performance to a close 
rather abruptly, by some one remarking at the moment, that it was " broad day- 
light and time to be off home." 

New Lenox is known as Township 35 north. Range 11 east of the Third 
Principal Meridian, and is well drained and watered by Hickory Creek and its 
North Fork. These streams, at the time of early settlement, were lined with 
fine forests, much of the timber of which has since been cut away. Perhaps 
one-fourth of the town was timbered, while the remainder is prairie, much of it 
rolling, while some of it is so uneven as to be termed knolly. It is intersected 
by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, and the Joliet Cut-Off of the 
Michigan Central, the history of which is given in another department of this 
work. The township is devoted almost entirely to farming and stock-raising. 
Corn and oats are the principal crops and are grown in abundance, while muck 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 495 

attention is devoted to raising and feeding stock, of which large quantities are 
shipped from this section annually. Taken altogether, New Lenox is one of 
the wealthy towns of Will County. Its population, in 1870, was about 1,120 
inhabitants. 

The first whites to erect cabins in the Hickory Creek timber, were, prob- 
ably, two men named, respectively, Joseph Brown and Aaron Friend, but of 
them very little is known. They were here as early as 1829, and Friend was 
a kind of Indian trader. He always had a rather rough set of French half- 
breeds and Indians around him, and when the latter moved West to grow up 
with the country, he followed them. Chicagoans used to come down, and they 
would get up a ball at Friend's ; and once upon a time, some young fellows from 
Chicago had their horses' tails shaved there. He went to Iowa after the retreat- 
ing Indians, and died there, when his wife came back to Illinois, and went to 
live with her daughter, on what was then called Horse Creek. Of Brown, still 
less is known beyond the fact that he died here in the Fall of 1830. In 1830 
the Summer and Fall preceding the deep snow, several new-comers settled on 
Hickory Creek. Of these, perhaps, the Rices were the first, and came early 
in 1830. They were from Indiana, and consisted of William Rice, Sr., his son 
William, and their families. They laid claim to the place where William 
Gougar afterward settled, and where his son John Gougar now lives. They 
built a log cabin on this place and had broken five acres of prairie, when John 
Gougar came on in the Fall of 1830 and bought them out. After selling out 
to Gougar, they made a claim where the village of New Lenox now stands, put 
up a shanty, and, after a few years, moved out somewhere in the vicinity of 
the town of Crete, where some of the family are still living. In September, 
1830, John Gougar came from Indiana and, as stated above, bought Rice's 
claim. A man named Grover had been hired by the elder Gougar to come out 
with his son and assist in preparing quarters for the family, who moved out the 
next June. William Gougar, Sr., was a native of Pennsylvania, but moved to 
Ohio in 1818, and, in 1822, to Indiana, where he resided until his removal to 
Illinois, and to this township, in the Summer of 1831. As already noted, he 
settled on the place where his son, John Gougar, now lives. William GouwaV, 
Jr., another son lives within a mile of the village of New Lenox. He went to 
California during the gold fever of 1849-50, and remained about three years 
and a half, during which time he did reasonably well in the land of gold. The 
elder Gougar died in 1861. John Grover, who, as stated, had been hired by 
Mr. Gougar to come out with his son in 1830, brought his family with him and 
remained with the Gougars a year or two. He then made a claim in the 
Haven neighborhood, where he lived four or five years, then sold out and 
moved down near the present Will County Fair Grounds. Here he made a 
claim upon which he lived several years, when he finally sold out and removed 
to Iowa, where he died. Mrs. Stevens, a daughter of Mr. Kercheval. men- 
tioned below, remembers Grover and of his being out on the prairie one cold 



496 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

day when the piercing wind caused his eyes to water, which froze on the lashes, 
until he became totally blind for the time, causing him to lose his way, and to 
nearly freeze to death before he succeeded in reaching home. 

Lewis Kercheval came from Ohio and settled in this township, arriving on 
the 19th dav of October, 1830. His wagon was the. second that crossed the 
prairies south of this section of the country. In his trip to the new country, 
in which he designed making his future home, he had no way-marks across the 
trackless prairies but his own natural judgment as to the direction of this 
promised land. The compass, then unknown, except to a favored few, he did 
not have, and thus was forced much of the time to travel by guess. Upon his 
arrival here, he erected a tent in which to shelter his family until he could build 
a house, or cabin, as the habitations of the early settlers were usually called. 
This tent was simply four posts driven in the ground, with slabs or puncheons 
laid across for a covering, and quilts hung around the sides. He cut logs in a 
short time, and raised a cabin when his wife and daughters, who were anxious 
for a more substantial house than the tent, "pitched in" and assisted the hus- 
band and father to "chink and daub" this primitive palace. Perhaps it did 
not deserve the name of palace, but it was their home in the wilderness, and as 
such a palace to them. In two weeks from the time of their arrival, their 
house was ready and they moved into it. Mr. Kercheval seems to have been a 
man of the strongest sympathies and the most tender heart. Mrs. Robert 
Stevens, a daughter of his, now living in the suburbs of the city of Joliet, and 
from whom we received much of the information pertaining to the early settle- 
ment of her father in this section, says she has often seen him shed tears over 
the hardships his wife and little ones were forced to undergo in these early 
times. His first Winter in the settlement was that of the "deep snow," the 
epoch from which the few survivors who remember it, date all important events. 
During the time this great fall of snow remained on the ground, and which was 
four feet deep on a level, he used to cut down trees, that his horses and cows 
might "browse" upon the tender twigs. With little else to feed his stock, 
from sleek, fat animals in the Fall of the year, they came forth in the Spring — 
those that survived the Winter — nothing but "skin and bones." He would sit 
down and weep at the sufferings of the poor dumb beasts, and his inability to 
render them material aid in the way of nourishing food. But it used to exhaust 
his wits to provide food for his family at all times during that first Winter. 
Once they run out of meal, and though he had sent to Chicago for a barrel of 
flour (the mode of communication with Chicago not then being equal to what it 
is at the present day), it was long in coming; and before its arrival the larder 
had got down to a few biscuits, laid aside for the smallest children. Mrs. Ste- 
vens says her father declared if the flour did not come he would take as many 
of his children as he could carry on his back, and attempt to make the settle- 
ments, but good luck or Providence was on his side, and the barrel of flour came 
before they were reduced to this extremity. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 497 

A sad story was told us by Mrs. Stevens, who, though but a little girl of 
fifteen or sixteen years of age at the time, remembers the occurrence distinctly. 
It was of a family who had settled near the present village of Blue Island, and 
during this deep snow their store of provisions became exhausted, and the hus- 
band and father started for the settlements to procure fresh supplies. Being 
unavoidably detained by the snow, the last crumb disappeared, and the mother, 
in the very face of starvation, started for Chicago, as is supposed, to get food 
for her children, and got lost on the prairie and was either frozen to death or 
killed by wolves. The former supposition is probably the correct one, and after 
freezing was devoured by wolves, as nothing was ever found but her bones, 
which were recognized by her shoes. Her children were discovered by some 
chance passer-by when almost starved to death, and were taken and cared for 
by the few kind-hearted people in the country at the time. The husband's 
return was a sad one. His wife dead and eaten by wolves, and his children 
cared for by strangers, it would almost seem that he had little left to live or care 
for. The reader will pardon this digression, but it is given in illustration of the 
privations experienced by the few settlers in the country during the time of the 
deep snow ; and to return to the original subject, Mr. Kercheval, we are informed, 
hauled most of the provisions consumed by his family during the first year, one 
hundred and fifty miles, from the Indiana settlements. He died in February, 
1873, a man honored in the community where he lived, and a much-respected 
citizen. 

Samuel Russell came from the Nutmeg State among the very early settlers, 
and bought land of Gurdon S. Hubbard, of Chicago. He settled in this town- 
ship and lived here for a number of years. Judge John I. Davidson came out 
in the Fall of 1830, and bought Friend's claim. He was originally from New 
Jersey, but had lived some time in Indiana, and after purchasing the claim of 
Friend, returned to Indiana, and removed his family to the settlement in the 
Spring of 1831. He had two daughters, one of whom married a Mr. Thompson, 
and still lives in the township, while the other married a man named Higgin- 
botham, of Field & Leiter's, Chicago, and is living in that city. Joseph Norman 
was from Indiana, and settled here in 1830, before John Gougar, of whom much 
of this information is obtained, came to the settlement. He eventually re- 
turned to Indiana, and died there a number of years ago. A man named 
Emmett was here during the Winter of 1830-31, but where he came from, we 
do not know. He went off with the Mormon Prophets and Elders, and perhaps 
became one of their "big guns." A man of the name of Buck also spent that 
Winter here, and he, too, turned Mormon, and followed the elect to Nauvoo. 
The Winter that Buck spent in this settlement, which was that of the deep 
snow, he had nothing in the way of bread during the entire Winter except that 
made from two bushels of meal, and yet he had a wife and three children. He 
had two cows, one of which he killed for beef, hung her to the limb of a tree, 
and when he wanted meat, would take an ax and chop off a piece of the frozen 



498 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTlf. 

COW. John Gougar gave him half a bushel of corn, which, with his two bushels 
of meal and cow, was all that he is known to have had to keep his family during 
the Winter. Gougar once found him during the Spring in the Woods gather- 
ing what he called "■ greens," and asked him if he was not afraid of being poi- 
soned. He replied that one would act as an antidote to another. John Stitt 
was another Indianian, and settled here in 1831 or 1832. He moved to Missouri, 
where he died a few years ago. Col. Sayre settled here probably about 1829, 
as he was here when John Gougar came, in 1830. He lived alone, was either 
a bachelor or widower, and as he had few associations, living a kind of hermit- 
life, little was known about him. He built a saw-mill near where the Red Mills 
now stand in Joliet Township, though he lived in New Lenox Township. 
Mansfield Wheeler, who settled on Hickory Creek in 1833, went into partner- 
ship with him in this mill. 

Cornelius C. Van Home came from New York, and settled in this township 
in 1832. He was a man of considerable prominence and intelligence, and is 
noticed elsewhere as holding many positions of importance. He died in Joliet 
several years age. The following incident is given in " Forty Years Ago " as 
illustrative of Van Home's bold, outspoken way of giving vent to his honest 
convictions. In 1840, an old man, over six feet high, came through the settle- 
ment, making his way to his former home in Pennsylvania, on foot. He was 
troubled with some kind of nervous affliction which often ended in fits of a rather 
serious character, rendering him entirely helpless and at the mercy of whoever 
might find him. He was found in a fit in an old blacksmith-shop near where 
Samuel Haven lived, when it was discovered that he had a considerable sum of 
money upon his person, and he was taken to the house of one McLaughlin. 
After recovering partially, he went on his way, and nothing more was heard 
until he was found in another fit, near " Skunk's Grove," and in his mutterings 
were something of having been robbed, and search revealed the fact that his 
money was all gone. In a few days he died and was buried by charity. Sus- 
picions rested upon McLaughlin as having robbed the old man. Van Home 
was outspoken and made no hesitation in avowing his belief as to McLaughlin's 
guilt. The matter was taken up by the grand jury and a bill found against old 
McLaughlin's son, principally through the instrumentality of Van Home. The 
young man gave bail for his appearance at court, and when the term came on 
he started on foot for the town, as he gave'out, but he never made his appearance 
at the Court House. The Van Horne party said he had run away to avoid 
trial — the McLaughlins alleged that he had been foully dealt with, and charged 
it upon the Van Homes, whom they charged as being the real robbers of the 
old man, and were afraid to have young McLaughlin's case tried, lest the truth 
should come out. The excitement run high. Old McLaughlin spent days in 
traveling up and down the creek and searching in the woods, ostensibly for his 
lost son, while others, feeling some sympathy for him, assisted in the search. 
In the old mill-pond, just above where the Rock Island Railroad crosses Hickory 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 499 

Creek, was discovered a wagon-track running by a blind road from one of the 
"Van Home's, and from where the wagon track terminated a wheelbarrow track 
to the mill-pond. The wheelbarrow was found in the mill and upon it some 
hair. The pond was dragged and the body of a man considerably decayed was 
found. Old McLaughlin was told of the discovery, and he said that if it was 
his son certain teeth would be missing. The body was examined and found 
to correspond with the old man's description. The excitement was intense and 
public opinion divided. The Coroner held an inquest, which resulted about as 
satisfactorily as such things generally do. Old McLaughlin and his wife swore 
positively that they believed the body was that of their son, while many others 
believed it too tall, aged and too much decayed. But notwithstanding these 
discrepancies, the Coroner's jury found it to be the body of young McLaughlin, 
and while they did not bring a charge against any one, old McLaughlin swore 
■out a warrant and had Van Home arrested. And in the excitement and divis- 
ion of sentiment, many were ready to hang Van Home without judge or jury. 
It became an object to those who sided with Van Plorne, and who did not believe 
the body " sat on " by the Coroner to be that of young McLaughlin, to find 
out whose it was. At length, some one thought of the grave of the old man 
^ho had been robbed, and a delegation was sent to examine, when it was found to 
Jhave been recently disturbed, and when the coffin was opened, it was tenant- 
less. In the mean time, a surveillance had been put upon the post office, and 
a letter having come for old McLaughlin, mailed somewhere in Pennsylvania, 
it was opened by consent of the Postmaster and found to be from the misusing 
son. The tide of public opinion had changed when the discovery was made at the 
grave, and now those who had been so eager to hang Van Home were still more 
eager to hang McLaughlin and his wife. The development of the matter shows 
that old McLaughlin, his wife and son had conspired to ruin Van Home, and 
that they had dug up the body of the old man, taken it to the mill-pond — a 
distance of two miles — examined it closely enough to detect the missing teeth, or 
extracted them on purpose to make it correspond with the son, and then depos- 
ited it in the water. They had taken the wagon of Van Home and drawn it 
to the creek and back to turn suspicion on him. The old man got wind of the 
turn affairs had taken upon the opening of the letter, and made his escape before 
the infuriated people could get hold of him, or perhaps the historian would have 
the melancholy duty to perform of chronicling a sure-enough murder story, 
instead of one Avith the murder left out. 

Samuel Haven was also a New Yorker, and settled in this township in 
1835 or 1836. He had four sons, viz., Dwiglit, Carlos, Rush and Alvin. Rush 
Haven is a physician, and lives in Chicago ; Carlos died here, and was buried 
in the little cemetery of New Lenox village ; and Dwight and Alvin are still 
living in the township. Joseph S. Reynolds was from Ohio, and settled in the 
town in 1833. He had lived some time at Ottawa before coming to this settle- 
ment. He died some twenty-five years ago, but has sons still living in the 



500 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

township, "who are honored and respected citizens. Jason Rugg and David 
Hartshorn came from Vermont in 1836, and settled near where the village of 
New Lenox now stands. They had made arrangements for removing here in 
1832, but rumors of the Indian war going on at that time deterred them, and 
their coming was postponed until the date given above. They have both been 
dead several years, and both sleep in the pretty little village cemetery. James 
C. Kercheval was a son of Lewis Kercheval, mentioned in an earlier part of 
this chapter. Though but a boy, he took part in the Black Hawk war until 
the settlers Avere forced to flee to the older settlements for safety. He died in 
1873, and his widow is still living in the town. 

The Francises came from Ohio, but were originally from England. John 
Francis, an Englishman, removed from England to Ireland in the year 1690, 
settled in the county of Cavan, and married Jane McGrregory, a Scotch lady, 
whose father fled from Scotland to Ireland in the time of the persecution waged 
by the Catholics against the Protestants. They had two sons, William and John. 
William died when a young man. John married Mary Sharp, by whom he had 
five sons — William, John, Richard, Edward and James ; and three daughters — 
Mary, Jane and Margaret. John married Margaret Cranston, of Scotland, by 
whom he had two sons. James married Esther Ingram. William married 
Jane Love, who was of Scotch ancestry ; and Jane married Alexander Meharry. 
William Francis, who married Miss Jane Love, had four sons — John L., Thomas, 
Abraham and Isaac; and three daughters — Jane, Margaret and Mary. Will- 
iam Francis, who married Jane Love, emigrated from Ireland in the year 1815, 
and settled in Brown County, Ohio, where his family all remained until the 
year 1831, at which time Abraham married Mary Ann J. Davison, of Adams 
County, Ohio, and moved with his brothers Thomas and Isaac to the site where 
the widow of Abraham Francis now lives with her son, A. Allen Francis, in 
the town of New Lenox, Will Co., 111. The next Spring, Mary, with her hus- 
band, Aaron Wear, came and settled on the section just west of Abraham 
Fi'ancis. Thomas removed to Bates County, Mo., where he died two years 
afterward. Aaron Wear removed to Morgan County, Mo., in the year 1857, 
where he died a few years later. Abraham Francis had five sons and six daugh- 
ters, of whom four sons, A. Allen, John, Charles and George L., and four 
daughters, Margaret (wife of N. P. Cooper), Mary A. J. (wife of John S. 
Blackstone) Lydia E. (wife of A. S. Haven), and Addie A. (wife of Jesse 
Meharry), are still living, and all but two of them live in their native town, 
New Lenox. Abraham died on the place where his widow now lives, an active, 
intelligent lady, apparently but little beyond the prime of life. She was mar- 
ried when but 16 years of age, and came at once to Illinois, and with her hus- 
band made a home where she still lives, awaiting the summons to join the 
companion of her youth, up beyond the blue sky. She relates the following of 
Father Beggs, the pioneer Methodist preacher: He came to their cabin one 
day, soon after they had settled in the neighborhood, and asked where her 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 501 

father was. She told him he was at home in Ohio. He then inquired what 
she was doing away out here in the wilderness, so far away from her father's ; 
when, with naivete, she answered that she "had come here with her husband;" 
at which revelation he seemed a little surprised, from, her childlike appearance. 
John Francis, another of her sons, is living within a short distance of her ; 
while a married daughter, Mrs. Cooper, also lives in the immediate neighbor- 
hood. The four sons reside on one street, and their farms join each other, 
making a continuous stretch of two and a half miles. Henry Watkins, father 
of the pioneer school-teacher, came from New York and settled in New Lenox 
Township in the Fall of 1831, where he lived until his death, about fifteen 
years ago. Of others who settled on Hickory Creek at a very early period, we 
may mention Michael and Jared Runyon, Isaac and Samuel Pence, Joseph, 
Alfred and James Johnson, and Henry Higginbothara. There were, perhaps, 
others who are entitled to mention as early settlers, but their names have 
escaped the few who survive them. Higginbotham bought out Col. Sayre in 
1834, and the saw-mill firm before alluded to became Wheeler & Higginbotham. 
The Johnsons settled near the line of Yankee Settlement, on Spring Creek. 
The Fences and Runyons were among the very early settlers. The Fences were 
in the settlement before the Sac war, but the exact date of their coming is not 
remembered. Edward Foor, an old soldier of the war of 1812 and of the 
Black Hawk Avar, is living on Maple street with his son, Robert Poor. He 
first settled in Homer Township, where he receives further notice. 

As stated in the beginning of this chapter, settlements were made on 
Hickory Creek as early as 1829, which were among the first made in Will 
County, perhaps Flainfield, or Walker's Grove having a little the precedence. 
As a natural consequence of this early settlement, births, deaths and marriages 
occurred here at an early period. The death of Mr. Brown, mentioned 
as one of the first settlers on the Creek, who died in the Fall of 1830, 
was the first death in this township, and is supposed to be the first person 
who died in Will County. The first marriage was Miss x\nne Pence and 
Thomas Ellis. The marriage took place on the 4th of July, 1834, and was a 
part of the programme of the "day we celebrate," and the happy event was 
solemnized in Joliet, by B. F. Barker, a Justice of the Peace. This wedding 
is graphically described in " Forty Years Ago," to which our readers are re- 
ferred for particulars of the bridal costume and "fixins." It is also supposed 
to be the first wedding in the county. The first white child born in New Lenox 
Township, and perhaps in the county, was Elizabeth Norman, born in January, 
1832, and Margaret Louisa Cooper, nee Francis, was the next child born in the 
township, and was born the 3d of January, 1834. The first practicing physi- 
cian in the Hickory Creek Settlement was Dr. Bowen, now of Wilmington, and 
the first preacher was Father Beggs, or Rev. Mr. Prentiss, who located in 
Joliet in an early day. We are informed by A. Allen Francis, who derived the 
information from the man himself that Joseph Shomaker was the first settler 



502 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

in what now comprises Will County, probably arriving in the Spring of 1828, 
in what is now known as Reed's Grove, in the township of Jackson. We have 
it from Mr. Francis, also, that the first marriage in the county was that of 
Jedediah Woolley, Jr.,of Troy Township, to Betsy Watkins, daughter of Henry 
Watkins, of New Lenox Township, January, 1832; and that Father Walker 
preached the first sermon, in 1832, in the fort or blockhouse, and Stephen Beggs, 
the second. 

The first mill was built by Joseph Norman, on Hickory Creek, about 1833 or 
1834. Col. Sayre's mill was built previously, but was just over in Joliet Township. 
The first bridge was built across Hickory Creek, near John Gougar's. It was built 
of logs, and was a rough affair. The township is well supplied with excellent 
bridges at the present day — having two iron bridges of improved patent, one 
across Hickory Creek, at New Lenox village, and the other across the north 
branch, while there are a number of excellent wooden bridges of substantial 
build. The first road laid out was the State road from Chicago to Blooming- 
ton, but was a little off the direct route, and was never used. The first traveled 
road was from Joliet east to State line, and passed by Gougar's. The first post 
office was kept at Mr. Gougar's, though C. C. Van Home was the Postmaster. 
This was not only the first post office and Postmaster in New Lenox Township 
but in Will County. The mail was carried on horseback from Danville to Chi- 
cago. Sometime after its establishment in 1832, the office was removed to Joliet, 
and Dr. Bowen became Postmaster. The first Justice of the Peace was C. C. 
Van Home. The present Justices are: T. G. Haines and Dwight Haven. 
Township Clerk, Sinclair Hill ; Township Treasurer, T. G. Haines, and John 
Francis, Supervisor. Since township organization, the following gentlemen 
have represented the town in the Board of Supervisors : J. Van Dusen, 1850 ; 
A. McDonald, 1851; B. F. Allen, 1852; G. McDonald, 1853; J. C. Kerche- 
val, 1854-55; D. Haven, 1856-57 ; J. C. Kercheval, 1858 ; D. Haven, 1859-60 ; 
Allen Francis, 1861-63; T. Doig, 1864; D. Haven, 1865; T. Doig, 1866-67; 
D. Haven, 1868; T. Doig, 1869; C. Snoad, 1870-71; John Francis, 1872; P. 
Cavenagh, 1873; John Francis, 1874, and is still Supervisor. 

The first school was taught in New Lenox Township in the Winter of 
1832-33, by C. C. Van Home. In the Summer of 1832, a schoolhouse had 
been built in the timber on Hickory Creek, which was a small log structure, 
and in this building Van Home taught the following Winter. John Watkins, 
the pioneer teacher, taught in this house afterward. He, it is said, taught the 
first school in Chicago. The school facilities of New Lenox have increased 
since that day, as, in 1872, the reports showed 8 schoolhouses ; 366 pupils 
•enrolled; 14 teachers; amount of special tax $2,896.88; amount paid 
teachers, $2,210.13 ; total expenditures for the year, $3,342.57 ; balance 
in treasury, $1,338.96. The first church edifice built in New Lenox 
Township was the Methodist Episcopal Church, erected in 1850, and was called 
Bethel Methodist Church. Before this church was built, services were held in 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 503 

the schoolhouses, and before schoolhouses, in the people's cabins. The Mormons 
were the first who preached in the settlement, and used to promulgate their 
heavenly revelations as early as 1831, and next after them came the Methodists, 
who are mentioned as the first " real, sure-enough " preachers. The camp 
grounds of the Methodist Church, belonging to the Rock River Conference, 
located a little west of the village of New Lenox, in a beautiful grove, are very 
beautiful, and admirably adapted to the purposes for which they are used. 

The name New Lenox was taken from Lenox, N. Y. The first Supervisor 
under township organization was J. Van Dusen, and came from Lenox, N. Y., 
and when asked to name his township by the County Commissioners, gave to it 
the name of his native town. Previous to that it was known as Van Home's 
Point, from a point of timber near the center of the town, and at a still earlier 
date it went by the name of Hickory Creek Settlement. Maple street is a road 
running through the north part of the town from east to west, and was so named 
in consequence of the first settlers planting a number of maple-trees along the 
line of the road. On the political issues of the day, New Lenox is pretty 
evenly divided. Some years ago it was largely Republican, but with National 
Greenbackers and Democrats, the Republican majority has been whittled down 
to the little end of nothing. 

As this is one of the early settled portions of Will County, its history could 
hardly be considered complete without some special reference to the Indians and 
the Sac war of 1832, so often mentioned in these pages. Although nearly a 
half-century has passed since those rather "ticklish " times, and most of the 
participants are gone where ''wars and rumors of wars" come not to disturb 
their peace and tranquillity, there are a few left who remember well the great 
excitement of that period. And the very Indians themselves are almost forgot- 
ten by the masses, or only remembered through the reports from the distant 
West of their robbing, plundering and murdering. But on the 18th day 
of May, 1832, Hickory Creek Settlement, for the small number of inhab- 
itants it contained, perhaps was about as excited a community as one will gen- 
erally meet with in half a life-time. On that day news was brought to the set- 
tlement of the death and destruction being dealt out by Black Hawk and his 
dusky warriors. A committee of a dozen men who had the best horses were 
appointed to go to Plainfield and reconnoiter, andbringbacknewsas to the truth 
of the reports. Thomas and Abraham Francis were on the committee, and the 
news brought back was not calculated to allay the existing excitement in the least. 
On approaching Plainfield, they discovered Indians firing on the fort or block- 
house, and the committee stood not on their retirement, but fell back precipi- 
tately, to put it into the mildest form possible. On their return, they reported 
to the settlers that the Indians were coming and killing everything before them. 
A council of war was called at " Uncle Billy " Gougar's, and it was determined 
to seek safety in flight, and on the 18th of May they commenced the line of 
inarch. The majority retreated toward the Wabash settlements, while some few 



504 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

went to Chicago. The bustle and excitement of getting ready to start, and the mo- 
mentary expectation of hearing the terrific yells of the savages, gave rise to 
some ludicrous scenes, as serious as was the cause of alarm. Mr. Pence's 
girls came to Mr. Gougar and asked him to yoke up their oxen for them. " Yes, 
in a minute," said he ; but before he could get ready to do so, the brave girls had 
yoked the cattle themselves, hitched them to the wagon, and were gone on the 
way toward safety. (Young ladies of Will County, how many of you could 
perform such a feat to-day, if an emergency should arise to demand it ?) The 
first day the cavalcade arrived within four miles of the Kankakee River, where 
they encamped for the night, intending to start at daylight and drive to the 
river before breakfast. But just after starting the next morning, a man named 
Lionbarger came up hatless, riding bare-back, and did "a tale unfold" of Indi- 
ans in pursuit and of murder and carnage, that completely dispelled the appe- 
tites of the already frightened fugitives, and they did not stop for breakfast 
until 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and " thirty miles away " from their encampment 
of the previous night. As the women and children would see the trees along the 
way that had been burned and blackened, they would shriek, Indians ! and thus 
the march or retreat was continued through to a place of safety. It was dis- 
covered afterward that Lionbarger had mistaken fence-stakes for Indians, and 
hence his story of the pursuit and of his own extreme fright. He rode, it is 
said, eighty miles without stopping, bare-headed and without a saddle, a feat 
that has never been excelled, as we are aware of, even by Jim Robinson the 
great bare-back circus-rider. But the storm of Avar soon passed ; the dark and 
lurid clouds rolled away toward the west, and the sun came forth in all his 
glory — the olive-branch of peace waved over the land, and the fugitive settlers 
returned to their claims in July of the same year which witnessed their precip- 
itate retreat, never more to be disturbed in their peaceful pursuits by the red 
men of the forest, who, like Dickens' little Jo before the " peeler," have moved 
on before the "superior race," the white men, and are still moving on toward 
the "golden sunset," where erelong they will hear the roar of the last wave 
that will settle over them forever. 

THE VILLAGE OF NEW LENOX. 

This pretty little village is situated on the banks of Hickory Creek, and on 
the Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, thirty-three miles from Chicago, and 
about six miles from Joliet. It is surrounded by a beautiful grove of timber, 
and grand old forest-trees shade it in Summer and protect it against the storms 
of Winter. The village of New Lenox was laid out in 1858 by George Gay- 
lord, of Lock port, and surveyed by A. J. Mathewson, County Surveyor. The 
village is known on the original plat by the name of Tracy, and was given in 
honor of the General Superintendent of the railroad at the time of the laying- 
out of the village. But with a modesty rarely met with in the present day, he 
shrank from such notoriety, and at his urgent request, the name was changed 



HISTORY OF WILL COUUTY. 505 

to New Lenox, to correspond with the name of the township. A man of the 
name of Robinson built tlie first residence in the village, and Van Ilorne put 
up the next one. Both of these were built before the village was laid out. 
David Letz built the next house, which is now a part of the hotel kept by Doxtader. 
The first storehouse was erected by Paschal Woodward, who owned both 
the building and the stock, though it was managed by a man named Haines. 
The first post office was established in 1858, and John B. Saulsbury was 
appointed the first Postmaster. The mail-bags are now handled by Ward 
Knickerbocker. An excellent grain warehouse was built by Samuel Woodward, 
and is now owned by the railroad company and rented by George Hilton, who 
handles grain pretty extensively. The first schoolhouse was built long before 
the village was laid out, and stood just across the street from Ward Knicker- 
bocker's store. The present handsome school edifice was built in 1869, is a 
two-story frame and cost about $3,000. Prof. Frank Searles is principal of the 
school, and employs an assistant during the Winter season. The following is 
a summary of the business carried on in the village : Three stores — W. Knick- 
erbocker, Tunis Lynk and George Hilton ; three blacksmith-shops, one grain 
warehouse, two wagon-shops, one hotel, one tin-shop, one physician — Dr. F. W , 
Searles. J. B. Saulsbury carries on a butter-factory, which is quite an estab- 
lishment, and adds materially to the importance and business of the village. He 
does not make cheese, but devotes his entire attention to the manufacture of 
butter, and works up from four to five thousand pounds of milk daily, which is 
made up on shares for his patrons. 

The village has two pretty little churches, viz.: The Methodist and Grace 
Episcopal. The Methodist Church was built in the village in 1859, and is the 
same, as mentioned in another page, as being built in the township in 1850, and 
called Bethel Church. It was taken down in 1859 and moved to the village 
and new material added to it and the present edifice erected, at a cost of about 
^1,000. It has about sixty members, under the pastorate of Rev. George P. 
Hoover. Allen Francis is Superintendent of the Sunday school, which ie 
well attended. Grace Episcopal Church was opened to service in September, 
1870. It is a frame building, painted stone-color, and cost $2,000, with a 
membership of about fifty, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Mr. Turner. 
Quite a flourisliing Sunday school is maintained under the superintendence of 
Sinclair Hill. Upon a sunny slope of the village, where the south winds sigh 
through the forest-trees that shade it, is the beautiful little village grave-yard, 
where sleep the loved ones, who have gone to their rest. It is a pretty spot 
and shows many traces of loving hands in the planting of shrubs and flowers 
above the sleeping dead. 

The village of Spencer is situated on the cut-off division of the Michigan 
Central Railroad, about nine miles from Joliet, and is two miles from New 
Lenox village. It was surveyed by A. J. Mathewson, County Surveyor, for 
Frank Goodspeed and Albert Mudge, who owned the land on which it is loca- 



506 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

ted. It was laid out in 1856, about the time the railroad was built through 
this section. The first storehouse erected in the place was the one occupied by 
Russell Kennedy in 1856, the same year the village was laid out. The post 
office was established in 1857, and James Holmes was appointed Postmaster, an 
office he still holds. The first grain elevator was built in 1857 by the railroad 
company, and, on its completion, was dedicated by a rousing ball, in which the 
boys and girls of the surrounding country participated to their entire satisfac- 
tion. In 1875, H. S. Carpenter built another large elevator, and this, like- 
wise, was similarly dedicated. Indeed, this seems to be the usual mode of 
opening elevators in this section of the country. It is now operated by W. M. 
Dudley, who, also, has the other elevator rented, in order to keep other parties 
out of the business at this point. He handles annually something like 800 car- 
loads of grain — principally corn and oats. The general business of Spencer is 
two stores, by N. P. Holmes and Knapp Brothers ; one saloon, a post office, a 
blacksmith-shop, a shoe-shop, two grain elevators and one grain dealer. There 
is neither a church or schoolhouse within the limits of the village. A consid- 
able amount of business is transacted in this little and apparently unimportant 
village — far more than a stranger would imagine at first sight; but it is in the 
midst of a rich and fertile region, and immense quantities of grain and stock 
are annually shipped from this little station. 



FRANKFORT TOWNSHIP. 

"Frankfort-on-the-Main," otherwise Frankfort Township, comprises one of 
the stair-steps of Will County, forming a "jog" in the line, and is bounded on 
the north and east by Cook County, on the south by Greengarden Township^ 
on the west by New Lenox, and had a population, in 1870, of about one thou- 
sand nine hundred and twenty inhabitants. The town is mostly fine, rolling 
prairie, with the exception of a few sections bordering Hickory Creek, the only 
water-course of any consequence. Frankfort Township is termed the summit 
of this portion of the State, and is said to be the highest point between Chicago 
and the Mississippi River. It is described as Town 35 north, Range 12 east 
of the Third Principal Meridian, and is as fine an agricultural region as Will 
County can bOast. 

Forty-eight years have come and gone since white men began to settle in 
the territory now embraced in Frankfort Township. William Rice is supposed 
to have been the first white man whose footsteps marked the virgin prairie in 
this portion of Will County. He made a kind of prospecting tour through 
here in 1828, but did not make a permanent settlement until in the Summer of 
1831. During the Spring and Summer of that year, John McGovney, Will- 
iam Moore, William Rice and a man named Osborne settled near where the 
village of Mokena now stands. Not long, however, were they allowed to 
remain in peace and tranquillity. The notes of war were wafted to them upon 



HISTORY OF WILT, COUNTY. 507 

the prairie winds, and the war-whoops of Black TTawk and his warriors warned 
them that this was no safe abiding-])lace. Karly in the Spring of 1832, safety 
demanded a retreat to a more thickly-settled country, and they accordingly 
returned to the Wabash settlement, or to Lafayette, Ind. McGovney, Moore 
and Rice were from Ohio, and Osborne had come from Indiana, but whether 
that was his native place or not could not be learned. After the close of the 
Indian war, McGovney and Rice came back to their claims, in the Spring of 

1834. Moore and Osborne, it appears, however, were fully satisfied with 
frontier life, and never returned — at least not to this settlement. Mr. 
McGovney pre-empted eighty acres of land, and succeeded in getting a 
"float" on another " eighty," a portion of which is embraced in the present 
village of Mokena. He is considered the first permanent settler of Frankfort 
Township. The land was not in market at the time he settled here, and set- 
tlers chose their locations and " squatted," provided there were no prior, 
claims Range 11 was sold in 1836, and Range 12 in 1838, at Chicago. 
Mr, McGovney died on his original place March 11, 1859. W. W. McGov- 
ney, a son, now lives in New Lenox Township ; another son, Ozias, is 
a prosperous merchant in the village of Mokena ; Thomas G., another son, 
lives in Joliet, and Elijah, the youngest, lives on the old homestead. The 
family consisted of eight children, and all lived until the youngest was 32 years 
old. 

Matthew Van Home settled here, it is said, in 1832, and remained during 
the Black Hawk war. He was from New York, and was good-naturedly termed 
by his neighbors a Mohawk Dutchman. He settled one mile west of the 
present village of Frankfort, in the Hickory Creek timber, where he lived and 
died, and where his widow still lives, in the same old house where they spent 
more than half their lives. Peter Clayes came from New Hampshire, and set- 
tled first in the vicinity of Lockport, but removed to Frankfort Township in 
the Spring of 1837. Orlando and Levi M. Clayes, his sons, came in the Fall 
of 1836 ; Charks, another son, came out and worked on their claim during the 
Winter, and in the Spring the remainder of the family came. They bought 
their claim from one Robert Smith, who was from Vermont, and settled here in 

1835. The elder Clayes is dead, and Charles lives on the homestead place. 
E. Atkins and a brother, John Atkins, came from Vermont, and were among 
the first settlers in the township after the close of the Sac war, and about the 
same time came Weir and Duncan, from the Wabash settlements. Their first 
names are now forgotten. Foster Kane and Archibald Crowl were from the 
same section. It is said that Kane was in the settlement all through the Black 
Hawk war, and settled on the place afterward occupied by Matthew Van Plorne ; 
but this we are inclined to doubt somewhat. Crowl settled near the village of 
Mokena, in 1834 or 1835. He finally moved to Missouri ; Kane moved South 
in a short time after the war was over, and afterward to Missouri, where he 
died many years ago. Daniel Wilson came from Ohio and settled in 1834 or 



508 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

1835. Francis Owen was from Kentucky, and came in 1835. Phineas Holden 
and Trueman Smith were from Vermont, and settled also in 1835. 

Ambrose Doty came from Ohio, in 1834, and settled on the line between 
Frankfort and New Lenox Townships. His land lay on both sides of the line, 
and his first cabin was built just over the line in New Lenox Township ; but when, 
some years later, he built a new and more pretentious residence, he set it on 
the opposite side of the line, and thus became a resident of Frankfort Township. 
As stated, he came from Ohio, but was born in Norris County, N. J. He has 
been living for some years in Frankfort village. Isaac Francis also came from 
Ohio, but was a native of the "Ould Sod," and settled in the town in 1835. 
Allen and Lysander Denny, a Mr. Wood, and David Ketcbum came from New 
York in 1834 or 1835. Wood had two sons, Hiram and Sydney ; one of them, a 
Methodist clergyman, moved to the Rock River country ; the father and the 
other son moved away, also, but where, we could not learn. The Dennys set- 
tled in the Hickory Creek timber — Allen near Mokena, and Lysander on the 
Creek, where he built a saw-mill, and after a time sold out and moved to the 
village of Spencer, where he died. Allen finally returned to New York, where 
he died several years ago. William Knight, also a New Yorker, came in the 
Fall of 1834, and settled in the Grove, but sold out in a few years and returned 
to New York. This includes a number of the early settlers of Frankfort Town- 
ship, and, perhaps, a majority of those who settled in the town prior to the 
[and sale, are mentioned in this list. After the sale of these lands, the com- 
munity rapidly filled up until not a section was left unoccupied. There are no bet- 
ter farming lands in the county, as shown by the following statistics from the 
Assessor's books for 1877. 

ACRES. BUSHELS. 

Corn 5,721 188,900 

Spring Wheat 24 400 

Oats 4,822 175,170 

Rye 2 60 

Buckwheat 7 126 

Irish Potatoes 208 15,170 

Apple Orchard 262 

Flaxseed 125 

POUNDS. 

Grapes ; 1,500 

TONS. 

Timothy Meadow 2,395 3,050 

Clover Meadow 30 30 

Prairie Meadow 1,865 2,380 

Pasture 1,664 (not including woodland.) 

Fat Sheep sold 145 — average weight, 90 lbs. per head. 

Fat Cattle, " 244 " " 1,000 " " 

Fat Hogs " 867 " " 250 " " 

No of Hogs died of Cholera 316 " " 100 " 

No. of Cows kept 835 

Pounds of Butter sold 25,780 

Gallons of Milk sold 185,150 




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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 511 

John W. McGovney, a son of John McGovney, noticed as the first settler 
of this township, was the first white child born in the settlement. He was born 
in the Spring of 1832, just before the settler left the place for the Wabash 
settlements, at the beginning of the Sac war. As to the first death and mar- 
riage, the few survivors of the early days, are somewhat uncertain as to 
who they were, or when they occurred. The first physician who practiced 
the healing art in the neighborhood was Dr. Moses Porter, of Hadlcy ; Dr. 
W. P. Holden was the first resident physician in the township, and practiced 
many years, but has at length retired and given the field to younger men. 
The first mill was built by Matthew A^an Home, about lS.35-36, and was 
originally a saw-mill only, but a run of stones was afterward added, for grind- 
ing corn. A saw-mill was built prior to this by Denny, but it was a saw-mill 
only. 

A store was opened, in 1836, by 0. & L. M. Clayes, which was the first 
mercantile effort in the township. They continued in the business for eight or 
ten years, when they closed out, and one M. C. Farewell opened a store in the 
same house they had occupied. The latter did business under the firm name 
of Farewell & Case. Case lived in Chicago, and furnished the goods, and Fare- 
well conducted the store. A post office was established in 1837, with L. M. 
Clayes as Postmaster one of the merchants mentioned above. The name of 
the office A\as Chelsea, and after the Clayes Brothers discontinued their store, 
the office was moved to Van Home's, and he was made Postmaster, an office he 
held until some years after the post office had been moved to the new village of 
Frankfort, as noticed hereafter. When the office was first established, the 
mail was brought by "horse express fast line" from La Porte, Ind., to Joliet 
once a week. A village was laid out here in 1848-49 by Charles Clayes and 
M. C. Farewell, which was called Chelsea. The former owned the premises, and 
the place had some show of becoming quite a town ; but upon the completion of 
the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad it was abandoned, and the last traces of it 
have now disappeared. 

The first sermon preached in the town was perhaps by Father Beggs, who, 
as noticed in other parts of this work, Avas one of the pioneer preachers of the 
county. The Rev. Mr. Blackwell, another of the early Methodist itinerants, 
formed a class at Mr. Doty's about 1836 or 1837, just over the line in New 
Lenox Township, but at that day was included in this settlement, or this was 
included in that, and all known as the Hickory Creek Settlement. Mr. Dotv's 
residence was a regular preaching-place until the era of schoolhouses, as there 
was no church edifice built until after the village of Frankfort was laid out. 
There is but one church-building in the town outside of the villages — the German 
Lutheran Church^-which is located about three miles northeast of Frankfort 
village. It was built in 1877 ; is a neat frame building, costing about ^^1,500, 
and has quite a flourisliing membership. The church history will be attain 
referred to in the history of the villages. The first schools taught in the town 



512 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

were by Mrs. Knight and Mrs. Hiram Wood, but to which belongs the honor 
of teaching the first, no one can now tell. They both taught in a little log 
schoolhouse, which stood on Section 19, built for school purposes, but afterward 
converted into a dwelling. The school facilities have somewhat increased since 
then, and will compare favorably with any town in the county. In 1872, we 
find there were ten districts and nine schoolhouses. There Avere 652 pupils 
enrolled, and fifteen teachers employed, with two graded schools in addition to the 
common schools. The amount paid teachers was $2,724.90, leaving balance in 
treasury of $2,818.14. Further notice of the schools will be made in connec- 
tion with the history of the villages of Frankfort Township. The first Justices 
of the Peace were Thomas Lang and Matthew Van Home. Lang had the 
precedence by a few years, and after his term Van Home dealt out justice to the 
offenders of the law. The present township officers are John McDonald, Super- 
visor; J. S. Claus and George Morgan, Justices of the Peace; John Cappel, 
Town Clerk, and Moriz Weiss, School Treasurer. 

In 1852, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad was built through the 
town. The first freight shipped over the road was consigned to Ambrose Doty and 
Isaac Francis, and consisted of a couple of car-loads of lumber. There were no 
stations, and when the railroad men asked where they should put it off", were told 
anywhere in the township, said they could leave it one place as well as another, 
and put it off" near the present village of Mokena. In 1855, the " Cut-Off"," or 
Joliet Division of the Michigan Central was completed through, and the town 
has since been blest with unbounded railroad facilities. These roads were built- 
without aid from the township, and so were independent of the town, and the 
town of them. There has, we believe, been another road projected, and, per- 
haps, partly graded, but has been dropped or discontinued. But as the railroada 
of the county are extensively noticed in the general history, we will pass with- 
out further mention of them here. 

The cheese-factory of Messrs. Baumgartner & Co. is an extensive establish- 
ment. It is owned by a stock company, consisting of John and Jacob Baum- 
gartner, George Geuther, Francis Maue and E. Higgens. They have an excel- 
lent brick factory with stone basement, built at a cost of $6,000. It is about 
two miles north of Frankfort village, and was built in 1875. The manufacture 
of butter and cheese is carried on rather largely, but not to the full capacity of 
the factory, owing to the lack of material. About $10,000 is the amount of 
business annually, but much more could be done if a greater supply of milk 
could be obtained. 

This township was named by Mr. Cappel, an old German citizen, for Frank- 
fort-on-the-Main, his native place, a name it has always borne. The town is 
largely Republican, and has always been so. It is remembered by many that 
at one period of its history there were not half a dozen Democratic votes in the 
entire town. But the latter party has gained some strength in the last few 
years, and the National Greenback party at present bids fair to create a revolu- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 513 

tion in its political record. The war history, like all portions of Will County, 
is good, and many brave soldiers are accredited to this township. 

THE VILLAGE OF MOKENA. 

Mokena is situated on the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad, about ten 
miles east of Joliet. The original village was laid out in 1852, before the Rail- 
road was fully completed, by Allen Denny. An addition was made to it soon 
after, by John McGovney, which was surveyed by A. J. Matthewson, County 
Surveyor. Knapp & Smith put up the first building, which was used for the 
double purpose of store and dwelling, and they were the first merchants in the 
place. The first hotel was built by Charles Gall, in 1853, and was the next 
next building erected after Knapp k Smith's store, which had been put up in 
the Winter of 1851-52, before the village was laid out and before the Railroad 
was completed. William McCoy built the first blacksmith-shop, in the Winter 
of 1853-54. Ozias McGovney was the first Justice of the Peace in the villa<ye, 
and was elected in 1850, an ofiice he held for twenty-one years uninterruptedly. 
He is also a lawyer by profession, but has not practiced for a number of years^ 
and at the present time is engaged in the mercantile business. A post office was es- 
tablished in the village in the Spring of 1853, and Warren Knapp was tlie first 
Postmaster, receiving his commission soon after the inauguration of President 
Pierce. Ozias McGovney is the present Postmaster, and has been for the past 
three years. McGovney bought out Smith, of the firm of Knapp & Smith, 
and the firm became Knapp & McGovney, and so continued for a number of 
years. They were the first grain buyers, and bought from wagons and loaded 
into the cars without the aid of elevators. Cross & Jones built a steam-mill 
in 1855, and about 1865, took out the machinery and shipped it to Kansas, 
when the mill building was changed into the Mokena Elevator, and is owned 
and operated by Charles Hirsch, the only grain dealer now in the village. 
Noble Jones speculates in grain and has an office here, but does business mostly 
on the Board of Trade, in Chicago. 

The first schoolhouse was built in 1855, and Avas a small frame, costing 
^1,000. James Pierce taught the first school in it, soon after it was completed. 
The present elegant schoolhouse was built in 1872, is a substantial two-story frame, 
with stone basement, and cost, together with furniture, about $10,000, just ten 
times the amount of the first schoolhouse. Mrs. Sarah Baldwin is Principal of the 
school ; Miss Swalm, assistant teacher, and Miss Clara Williams is teacher ol the 
Primary Department. It is a flourishing school, ably-managed and well-attended. 

The Mokena Advertiser, a spicy little newspaper, was established by Charles 
A. Jones, in 1874, and was published until May, 1877, when he died, and the 
paper was discontinued. His brother, however, carries on a job office in the 
old Advertiser office. 

The village is not incorporated, though containing about six hundred inhab- 
itants. Several efforts have been made to incorporate it, but have always been 



514 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

defeated, and so it still exists under township organization. The business of 
Mokena may be summarized as follows : Five general stores, two hardware 
stores, two dru'^ stores, two blacksmith-shops, two wagon-shops, two harness- 
shops, three hotels, one furniture store, three millinery stores, two butcher- 
shops, and seven lager-beer saloons, grain buyers, etc. There are two physi- 
cians Drs. Alexander and Joy. A large majority of the citizens are Ger- 
mans • are honest, industrious and enterprising citizens, quietly moving on in 
their own easy way, without interfering in the business of others. 

The Mokena Methodist Church was built in 1868, but the society was or- 
ganized several years before, in the schoolhouse. The present Pastor is Rev. 
Richard Gillespie, and the. membership of the Church is rather small. The 
building is occupied every alternate Sabbath by the Baptists, who have quite a 
prosperous society, with Rev. J. B. Dibell as Pastor. He has been in charge of 
the Baptist congregation since 1851, except two years. A large and flourish- 
irio- Union Sunday School of these denominations is carried on under the super- 
intendence of Deacon Rollin Marshall. 

The German Lutheran Church was built in 1859, and is a substantial frame 
building, which cost about $1,500. It was built under the pastorate of Rev. 
Charles Myer. The present minister is Rev. Charles Schwaub, and the society 
numbers seventy-two members. The Church supports an interesting Sunday 
school, with E. Oswald as Superintendent. 

St. Mary's German Catholic Church was built in 1864, under the ministe- 
rial labors of Father Fasbanter, and cost |1,400. About thirty families wor- 
ship at its altar, under the spiritual guidance of Father Francis Sixen, present 
Pastor of the congregation. A good Sunday school is usually maintained, 
though it is having a kind of recess at present. 

This embraces about all of the historical facts pertaining to the village of 
Mokena, which is a neat and tasty little town, though it does not present the 
appearance of a place that is improving and building up very rapidly. 

" FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN." 

The village of Frankfort was named for the township, and the township was 
named for Frankfort-on-the Main, as already noticed. Frankfort village is 
situated on the Joliet cut-off of the Michigan Central Railroad, about twelve 
miles from Joliet, and was laid out in 1855 — the same year the cut-off railroad 
was built through the township. It was laid out by S. W. Bowen, who owned 
eighty acres of land embraced in the village. The first store was kept by a 
man named Higley, a very small affair (the store — not Higley), and did not 
continue long. The next store — and the first really deserving the name — was 
opened by N. A. Carpenter in the Spring of 1855, who also put up the first 
building designed for a storehouse. The first hotel was built by a man named 
Doud in the Summer of 1855, and still does duty as a hostelry under the 
supervision of J. R- Letts. The post ofiice in the village was kept by Carpen- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 515 

ter, as deputy under Van Home, who was mentioned in the township history as 
accepting the Chelsea post office from L. M. Chiyes. After its removal to this 
place, the name of the office was changed to Frankfort. Van Home remained 
Postmaster for three years, but the duties of the office were performed by Mr. 
Carpenter, and after the expiration of the three years, William B. Cleveland 
became Postmaster. At present, Lewis Claus opens the mail-bags and dis- 
tributes the contents to his patrons. Nicholas Fortmiller kept the first black- 
smith-shop, in 1855, and is now a farmer in Greengardcn Township. 

The first grain bought at this place was by N. A. Carpenter, who bought 
for J. L. Hurd & Co., of Detroit. They built the first grain elevator, in 1856, 
which was burnt in February, 1878. John McDonald was the next buyer, and 
is still in the business, a prosperous grain merchant. He bought, for a number 
of years, from wagons, and loaded in the cars. In 1878, he built his elevator, 
one of the best in the county, and which cost between $6,000 and $7,000. 
It has a capacity of about twenty-five thousand bushels, and is supplied 
with steam-power. McDonald has a large trade in grain, and ships altogether 
East, over the " cut-off" railroad. The Frankfort Elevator was built in Decem- 
ber, 1875, by Carroll & Mayer, and at present is owned and operated by D. W. 
Hunter. It cost about $8,000, and has a capacity of 42,000 bushels ; is sup- 
plied with steam-power — Chase's patent. There are from ten to twelve hundred 
car-loads of grain (corn and oats) handled by this elevator annually, all of which 
is shipped directly East. The business of Frankfort consists of four general 
stores, viz.: L. & J. S. Claus, B. Baumgartner, Jacob Mueller and B. Bal- 
chowsky ; A. B. Barker, drug store ; T. Herschbach, hardware and stoves ; 
two hotels, Curtis Williams and J. R. Letts ; Stevens Brothers, manufacturers 
of plows, wagons and agricultural implements, with butchers-shops, blacksmith 
and wagon shops, harness-shops, millinery-shops and several lager-beer saloons. 
Dr. Haas is the only practicing physician since the retirement of Dr. Holden. 

The first schoolhouse in the village was built in 1856, and is now used as a 
dwelling-house. Josiah Carpenter taught the first school after its erection. 
The first school in the village, however, was taught by Miss Lizzie Kent before 
the building of the schoolhouse. The present handsome and well-designed 
schoolhouse was built in 1870 ; is a two-story frame, and cost about $5,000. 
The Principal of the school at present is Prof. 0. P. Blatchly, with Miss 
Raver as assistant teach-er, and an average attendance of about one hundred 
and fifty pupils. The Methodist Church was built in 1856, and was the first 
church edifice in both the village and the township. The society was originally 
organized in the "log schoolhouse," one mile east of the village, and grew out 
of the society formed at Doty's, as elsewhere mentioned. The building is a 
frame, cost about $2,000, and the present Pastor is Rev. George K. Hoover. 
A Sunday school is maintained, of which John Sinclair is Superintendent. The 
Baptist Church was built in 1863, a frame building, costing $1,600. Rev. 
David Letts was the first Pastor, and lives now in Iowa, Rev. Stephen Bar- 



516 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

terick is the present Pastor, and has a membership of thirty or forty. The 
society supports a flourishing Sunday school, of which the Pastor is Superin- 
tendent. The German Evangelical Lutheran (United) Church was built in 
1868. It is a frame building 30x56 feet, cost $2,000, and has a membership 
of about forty. Rev. T. Walter is Pastor, who is also Superintendent of the 
Sunday school, which is attended by from forty to sixty children. Our Chris- 
tian Neighbor is a small religious paper, published monthly in the village, and 
edited by the Rev. George K. Hoover. 

The Frankfort Germania Saengerbund is a society devoted to musical cult- 
ure, and controlled by a President, Vice President and Board of Directors. 
It was organized in June, 1875, and incorporated by act of the Legislature. 
The first Board of Directors were Martin Muff, Jacob Mueller, Charles F. Bau- 
man and George Fink, and the present Board are M. Muff, C. Kuerschner, C. F. 

Bauman and Nettles. Martin Muff is President ; Casper Kuerschner, 

A''ice President, and Ludwig Roehler, Teacher. They have an excellent hall, 
which cost $1,200, and three acres of ground in the beautiful grove north of 
the village, which cost $265. The society numbers twenty-five members, is in 
a flourishing state, and the next annual meeting of the Will County Saenger- 
bund will be held in their hall, in the village of Frankfort. The fee of mem- 
bership is $2, and 50 cents a month, dues. It is a source of much interest to 
the German citizens, who comprise a large majority of the population of the place. 

The oldest citizens of the village still surviving are : N. A. Carpenter, 
A. B. Barker and Mr. Ruggles. Henry Dressier is the oldest German citizen 
of the place. 

HOMER TOWNSHIP. 

The classical land of Homer — the site of the famous " Yankee Settlement," 
and peopled from the old and refined States of the Union, is one of the finest 
townships of Will County. About three-fourths of it is fine rolling prairie, as 
rich and productive as the sun shines on in his daily journey, while the remaining 
fourth is covered, or was at the time of its settlement, with excellent timber, 
mostly white oak. It is bounded on the north and east by Cook County, on the 
south by New^Lenox Township and on the west by Lockport, with a population, 
in 1870, of 1,280 inhabitants. No railroads cross its borders, nor are any large 
villages or towns located within its limits, but it is a thoroughly farming district 
and still maintains its reputation of Yankee thrift and intelligence. It is 
described as Township 36 north. Range 11 east of the Third Principal Meridian. 

The first settlements in Homer Township was before the Sac war, during 
which period some of the settlers fled with their families to the Wabash settle- 
ments and others to Fort Dearborn at Chicago, but returned to the settlements 
and joined Sisson's company in the blockhouse so often referred to in these 
pages. The following names were among those belonging to Capt. Sisson's 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 517 

company in the blockhouse during the Indian war: Benjamin Butterfield, 
Thomas Fitzsimons, James Glover, John McMahon, Joseph Johnson, James 
Ritchey, Edward Poor, Joseph and James Cox, John Helm, Salmon Goode- 
now, Joseph McCune, Selah Lanfear, Peter Polly, David and Alva Crandall. 
Of these, Joseph Johnson and his two sons are supposed to be the first settlers 
in Homer Township. They were from Ohio, and came in the Fall of 1830, 
and were in the town during the Winter of the deep snow, and suffered all the 
hardships of that dreary Winter. The elder Johnson died in the Summer of 
1846. James Ritchey came from Ohio, and settled here in the Spring of 1831. 
He made a trip through the country in November of 1830 and selected his 
location, and moved out in the follcnving Spring. During his first trip to the 
country, in the Fall of 1830, he says, as he wandered through dismal swamps, 
dark forests and lonely prairies, he for the first time in a long trip wished him- 
self safe back at home. He made his claim on Section 9, where he has lived 
ever since, but has recently sold out to his son-in-law, with whom he at present 
lives. Mr. Ritchey is in good bodily health, but has been almost blind for a 
number of years. Edward Poor was a North Carolinian, but had lived for years 
in Tennessee, and came here from Indiana in the Spring of 1831, and is yet 
living in New Lenox Township. He served in the war of 1812, also in the Black 
Hawk war, and is now about 84 years of age. Joseph and James Cox came 
from Indiana in 1831, but whether that was their native State or not we are 
unable to say. John McMahon is the first who settled in what was termed 
Gooding's Grove. He made a claim there and sold it to Gooding, upon his 
arrival in 1832, McMahon came from Indiana, but was originally from Ohio, 
and was here during the Indian war. Salmon Goodenow was from Ohio, but 
had lived some time in Indiana before settling in this township in 1832. Joseph 
McCune was his brother-in-law, and after the war was over, returned to Indiana, 
where he remained for a time and then came back and settled in what was called 
Jackson's Grove. Goodenow moved down about Reed's Grove, where, it is said, 
he got tired of life and finally cut his own throat. John Helm came from Indiana 
and settled in Gooding's Grove in 1832. He went to Indiana during the war, 
and when it was over, came back to the Grove and found James Gooding on his 
claim, and sold it to him for $10, and shook the dust of Yankee Settle- 
ment from off" his feet. Benjamin Butterfield, who lived on the place afterward 
occupied by Jireh Rowley, and which Rowley bought from him on his arrival 
in the country, was an Eastern man, but had been living some time in Indiana 
before removing to Homer. He is noticed in Lockport, also, and as removing to 
Iowa, where he was living when last heard from. Peter Polly and a younger 
brother were in the fort, and came from Indiana in the Summer of 1832. Selah 
Lanfear was from New York, and came to the settlement in 1832. He is said to 
have first settled in Lockport Township. Yankee Settlement extended to the 
river in Lockport Township, and it is a rather difficult task sometimes to keep all 
on their respective sides of the fence. David and Alva Crandall were from 



518 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

New York, and came to the settlement in 1832. Both were in the forty 
and Alva was Orderly Sergeant of Capt. Sisson's company, while David was a 
private in the same command. John Blackstone, or Judge Blackstone, who 
settled at Hadley Post Office, was First Lieutenant of this military company, 
while John Ray, a brother-in-law of Blackstone's, was Second Lieutenant. They 
were from Ohio, and married in the Glover family. Thomas Fitzsimons was 
from New York, and came in 1832. He started to California during the gold 
excitement of 1849 and 1850, and died before reaching his destination. James 
Glover was from Ohio, and settled in the town in 1 831 or 1832. He went to Iowa 
in 1854, and was alive at the last heard from him. Two others belonged to the mil- 
itary band were of the Homer settlers, viz., Ashing and McGahan, but of them little 
could be ascertained. This, so far as can now be ascertained, comprised the 
settlement of Homer Township, or, as it was then called, Yankee Settlement, 
at the time of the Black Hawk war, and the names above given were in the 
blockhouse in 1832, and were members of Capt. Sisson's company. Nearly 
all of them are gone to join that army of white-robed saints over on the other 
shore, where the pale-face and the savage do not war with each other, but sit 
down in peace together in the Father's kingdom. None are known to be alive 
now except James Ritchey and Edward Poor; the former is extremely sprightly, 
except his blindness, for a man of his years, and possesses a most wonderful 
memory. In fact, his recollections of the time spent in the fort are as vivid as 
though of recent occurrence. Mr. Poor, as stated, lives in New Lenox Town- 
ship. Several of the others were alive when last heard from, but as they have 
removed to other States there is no definite information concerning them. 
Their Captain, Holder Sisson, died but a few months ago, as noticed in the 
history of Lockport Township. 

Luther C. Chamberlain came from New York in 1832, and purchased a 
claim to eighty acres of land in Homer Township, and a claim to eighty acres 
of Canal land, then returned to New York, and in January, 1833, came back^ 
bringing his two sons with him. His son, S. S. Chamberlain (now of Lock- 
port), rode an Indian pony through from New York, which his father had pur- 
chased at Plainfield on his first trip. Through representations made by, Mr. 
Chamberlain on his return home from his first trip to this section, when he 
came back in 1833, the following gentlemen came with him to look at the 
country: Ebenezer Griswold, Warren Hanks (a bachelor at the time), Capt. 
Rowley and his son J. B. Rowley (the latter still living in Homer), Oscar 
Hawley (oldest son of Lyman Hawley, and for a number of years clerk. of Will 
County), Abram Snapp (father of Hon. Henry Snapp of Joliet), and Dr. 
Weeks (the father of Judge Weeks of Joliet). The most of these returned for 
their families, and came back and settled in this township, of whom were Dr. 
Weeks, Capt. Rowley and Mr. Snapp ; here they lived, honored and respected 
citizens to the day of their death. Mr. Chamberlain settled where Rev. Mr. 
Cowell now lives, and planted the beautiful row of maple-trees that are now the 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. .'ilf'' 

admiration of all who pass that way, and are said to be the first trees planted 
in Homer Township. He died in May, 1878, at the age of 90 years. S. S. 
Chamberlain says he slept in Lockport for the first time on the night of Feb- 
ruary 27, 1833, and that there is not another man living, so fiir as his knowl- 
edge extends, that can with truth say the same. He remembers to have heard 
his father and Capt. Rowley remark that the prairies of Homer would never be 
settled in their life-time, and they would always have it for the range of their 
own stock, and in four years there was not an "eighty" left vacant. Deacon 
James Gooding, the father of William, Jasper A. and James Gooding, Jr., was from 
New York, and came to this township and settled in Gooding's Grove in 1832. 
He was 60 years of age when he came to the settlement, and lived at the Grove 
bearing his name until his death. His son, William Gooding, who is mentioned 
in the history of Lockport Township, planted a nursery and cultivated an 
extensive orchard here, perhaps the first effort at fruit-growing in the township, 
or even in Will County. Benjamin Weaver came from New York in the Fall 
of 1833, and died in 1870, at the advanced age of 90 years. John Lane was 
also from New York, and came to the settlement in 1833. He was the inventor 
of the first steel breaking-plow ever used in Northern Illinois or in the Western 
country. He has been dead many years. Frederick and Addison Collins were 
from New York State, and were brothers. Addison was a lawyer by 
profession, and had practiced for a time in Rochester before removing West. 
He went to the Legislature from this county, and it is said that it was through 
him that Gov. Matteson's little speculation in Canal scrip was discovered. But 
this is familiar to all our readers, and is withal an unpleasant theme, so we will 
pass it without further allusion. Addison Collins died in this town in March, 
1864. Frederick Collins is still living within a mile or two of where he 
settled some forty-five years ago, and is still an active man for his time of 
life. 

Jireh Rowley came from Monroe County, N. Y., in 1833, and settled 
on Section 19, where he lived about three years, when he sold out and entered 
land on Section 34, where he lived until his death, which occurred in Decem- 
ber, 1844, on the place now occupied by his son, A. G. Rowley. Calvin Row- 
ley, another son, came out in 1832, driving a peddler-wagon all the way through 
from New York. He made a claim, on which he erected a cabin, and in which 
the family moved upon their arrival. Calvin Rowley now lives in the city of 
Rockford. Hiram Rowley, another son, lives in Chicago, and J. B. and 
Phineas K. Rowley, two other sons, live in this township, and are prosperous 
farmers. The Rowleys bought their claim from Benjamin Butterfield, who had 
entered the land where 'Squire Rowley now lives. The elder Rowley had mar- 
ried a second wife before leaving New York — a Mrs. Gray, who had several 
children, and they came West with the Rowley family. There were three 
daughters and two sons ; one of these sons, Charles M. Gray, is freight agent 
of the Michigan Southern Railroad, a position he has been in for the past 



520 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

twenty years. The other son, George M. Gray, is agent of the Palace Car 
Company of Chicago. One of the daughters married S. S. Chamberlain, of 
Lockpoi't. They came round the lakes on their way here, in an old schooner, 
and landed at Chicago, when Chicago was not, but a swampy marsh called Chi- 
cago, since grown into the recognized metropolis of the Northwest. Their 
landing at Chicago, and their trip form there to Homer, is graphically described 
by 'Squire Rowley in an article written about two years ago for the Joliet 
Sun : " On or about the 17th of July, 1833, the sail-vessel Amaranth, anchored 
in Lake Michigan, nearly opposite Fort Dearborn (Chicago), after a voyage of 
three weeks out from Buffalo, N. Y., and having on board about seventy- 
five souls, and among them was the writer, then a boy about 10 years old. The 
vessel was relieved of her cargo by means of small boats, and the passengers 
after being taken on shore, were entertained as best they could be, ' in and 
around ' the residence of Herman Bond, which was built of logs and sods, and 
was located near the foot of Monroe street. Chicago then consisted of the fort 
at the mouth of the river, the house of John Kinzie, and some French shanties 
on the North Side, the hotel kept by Ingersoll, at the forks, a store at Wolf 
Point, the intersection of Lake and South Water streets, the frame of what was 
afterward called the Mansion House, on the north side of Lake, between Dear- 
born and State streets, a few other shanties, and the ' palatial residence ' of our 
host. After taking in Chicago the next day, three of the several families who 
had journeyed together thus far chartered some ' prairie schooners ' and ' set sail ' 
for their destination, in what is now the town of Homer, Will County. This 
colony was composed of the families of Capt. Jireh Rowley, John Lane and 
Charles M. Gray, the latter, now and for many years past, freight agent of the 
Michigan Southern Railroad at Chicago. We made our way as we could 
through the tall rosin weeds, with very little track, to Lawton's (now Riverside) 
and thence to Flagg Creek. Here we found the body of a log cabin, and the 
owner, Mr. E. Wentworth, whose place in after years became quite a noted 
stage stand. We fought the mosquitoes until morning, and after partaking of 
our frugal meal, we launched out upon the prairie, and at noon halted at the 
Big Spring near Lilly- Cache Grove, and upon what is now the faroi of Thomas 
J. Sprague. After refreshments, we moved on, crossing the Des Planes River 
at what was known as Butterfield's Ford, opposite the present town of Lockport, 
and near nightfall arrived at our destination, all weary and sad. Calvin Rowley 
(now of Rockford) who came on prior to the Sac war, was here and had erected 
a log cabin in the timber, about a mile and a half east of the river. Here we 
stayed until other and better places could be provided. On looking around we 
found already here, Selah Lanfear, Luther Chamberlain, Holder Sisson, Capt. 
Fuller, Armstead Runyon, Edward Poor, James Ritchey, John Blackstone, 
John Stitt and a few others settled in what was afterward called the Yankee 
Settlement." We offer no apology for this lengthy extract, but deem it very 
appropriate in these pages. It is but the reflex of hundreds of the early set- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 521 

tiers and their early experiences, as many of our readers will be able to testify 
when they peruse this work. 

Hale S. Mason, another of the pioneers of Homer who is still living, was 
originally from the old Bay State, and came to this settlement in 1834, where 
he lived for twelve years, when he moved into Lockport Township, and located 
about a mile northeast of the village, and where he still lives, an active old man. 
Two years ago he and his good lady celebrated their golden wedding, and to 
them it has been a golden life. Happy in each other's love and each other's 
society, they have gone hand in hand down life's pathway, sharing its joys and 
dividing its sorrows. They came through in wagons from Bristol, Ontario 
County, N. Y., where they had for some time resided, and which, we believe, 
was Mrs. Mason's native place, and were on the road four weeks, arriving here 
on the 6th day of June. Mrs. Mason kept a diary or journal of the trip, and 
no doubt it contained many items of interest — items that would be very 
entertaining to read at this distant period, if it could be fished up out of the 
'• rubbish of forgotten things." Mr. Mason's two sons, who were rather young 
then, enjoyed the trip for the first week, but after that became so tired of the 
monotony that they seemed almost as ready to die as to get into the wagon of a 
morning and start on the journey of the day. Jasper A. Gooding came out 
with the Masons, and a daughter of his soon grew so homesick that she said one 
day she would be willing to go back in a wagon to the old home in New York 
if the road was all like the '• Black Swamp," a piece of road, it seems, that was 
extremely bad, from trees that had been grubbed up, leaving holes on either 
side. But one of Mason's boys spoke up, and said he would not be willing to 
go back in a wagon over such a road as that, " 'cause the wagon jounced too 
much." Mr. Mason went to California during the gold fever of 1849-50, and 
was rather successful Avhile there ; was in Sacramento City, he says, when they 
attempted to illuminate it in honor of the election of Gen. Pierce as President 
of the United States, and burned up nearly the entire place in their excitement. 
James Gooding, Jr., a brother of William and Jasper A. Gooding, came to 
Homer Township before the Sac war, and was one of those who ran away (!) 
in an ox-wagon fi'om the Indians, and took refuge in the fort at Chicago. 

In 1834, Deacon Asa Lanfear came to the neighborhood. He was from 
Cayuga County, N. Y., and settled on what was called " Hawley Hill," the 
first who located there. He remained on this his original claim until his death, 
which took place in 1871, and his widow, who is still living, occupies the old 
homestead. She has been blind for twelve years, but otherwise is quite healthy 
and active. The following new-comers from " York State " were added to the 
settlement in 1834, besides those already mentioned : Alanson Granger, Cyrus 
Cross, Levi Savage, Reuben Beach, Nathan Hopkins, Samuel Anderson and 
Horace Messenger ; and John Ross from the Buckeye State. These are all 
dead except Horace Messenger and Levi Savage. In fact, but very few of the 
pioneers of Homer are left. Mr. Ritchey and Mr. Poor, who were in the 



522 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Stockade with Capt. Sisson, and Savage, Messenger, Frederick Collins, Mason,, 
who came in a year or two after the war, are the only landmarks left of the early 
times. And erelong these, too, will be gone. Already are they on the shady 
side of life, '' descending the hill of existence in the shadow of age," and trem- 
bling on the line that divides two worlds. After this period, the town rapidlj 
filled up, and, by 1840, it was almost entirely settled and fenced. 

The first post office was established in Homer Township in 1836. Thi& 
was the Yankee Settlement, bear in mind, and the Yankees were wide-awake, 
intelligent people, and would not be deprived of their mail and other reading 
matter. The office was called Hadley, for Hadley, Mass., from which some 
of the settlers came Avho were active in getting it, and Reuben Beach was 
appointed Postmaster. A store was opened by Pratt & Howard, and Hadley 
became quite a business place, with some chance of becoming a town. At one 
time it boasted two stores, a post office, blacksmith-shop, church, etc., but rail- 
roads and the canal changed the order of things, and the glory of Hadley 
waned. The post office and church are all that now remain of the once busy 
place. Charles Haley is at present the Postmaster of Hadley. Before the 
office was established here, the settlers of Homer went to the post office on 
Hickory Creek, at "Uncle Billy" Gougar's, for their mail matter, and right 
gladly forked over their quarters (which was then the postage on letters, pay- 
able at the office of delivery) for the long-wished-for letter from the old home 
in the Yankee States. When the post office was established at Hadley, the 
mail was carried on horse-back from Chicago, but a few years later, a mail- 
route was formed between Michigan City and Joliet, and then it was brought 
to Hadley over this route in a kind of open hack or stage. 

The first store in the township was kept by Norman Hawley, on Hawley 
Hill, in 1835. The goods were hauled from Chicago by ox-team express^ 
then the usual mode of transportation. This spot once made some pre- 
tensions toward becoming a village ; but, as Josh Billings said of the attempt 
of the two railroad trains to pass each other on a single track, " it was a shock- 
ing failure." Mr. Lanfear built the first house on the hill ; the first school- 
house in the township was built there, then a blacksmith-shop and the store 
just mentioned. But the only trace of the village still remaining is the hill 
itself. Reuben Beach built a saw-mill on Spring Creek about 1838 or 1839, and 
several years later, Jaques & Morse built a steam saw-mill. These are the 
only eff'orts made in the mill business in this township. Before Beach put his 
mill in operation, the settlers used to haul what little lumber they were forced 
to use, from Col. Sayre's mill on Hickory Creek. With the lumber thus pro- 
cured some of their first shanties were built, while others were built of logs^ 
" chinked and daubed," and had chimneys made of sticks and mud. 

The first school in Homer was taught by D. C. Baldwin, the veteran hard- 
ware merchant of Lockport, and was taught in the Winter of 1834-35, on Sec- 
tion 19, in a little log shanty with stick chimney which had been put up as a 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 523 

*' claim hut " and abandoned. It is said by some that a Miss Sallie Warren 
taught a school before Baldwin, but from the most reliable facts now to be had, 
■we are of the opinion that Baldwin preceded her. The next Summer after 
Baldwin's school, Miss Abigail Raymond taught a school in a building that had 
been put up for a cow stable, on the place of Deacon Lanfear. The first house 
for school purposes was built on Hawley Hill, by the neighbors, who donated 
the time, labor and material. An old settler — but young enough then to shoot 
paper wads in that primitive building — thus alludes to some of the comforts 
and conveniences pertaining to it : '• Our seats and desks were made of split 
puncheons, and our ' persuaders ' and ' reminders ' were the young hickories 
growing around the schoolhouse." Among the scholars who attended this early 
remple of learning, were some of the bi'ightest men of Will County, of whom 
we may mention Hon. Horace Anderson, Hon. Henry Snapp, Judge C. H. 
Weeks, N. L. Hawley, Esq., Judge E, S. Williams, of the Cook County Cir- 
cuit Court, and others. Mrs. Fred Collins, then Miss White, taught a school 
in the settlement in a little log cabin, still standing on Mr. Collins' farm, in 
1838. But the schools of Homer have increased since that day, as we 
find in 1872, there were in the township 8 districts and 9 schoolhouses. 
There were 412 pupils enrolled, 16 teachers employed, at a cost of $2,213.53. 
The total expenditures of the year were $2,683.30, leaving a balance in the 
treasury of $122.67. 

The first church organized in Will County is said to have been the Presby- 
terian Church at Hadley, in this township, by Rev. Jeremiah Porter, the 
pioneer of the American Home Mission Society in the Northwest. The society 
was organized about 1833 or 1834, and Rev. Mr. Porter and Elder Freeman, both 
of Chicago then, preached alternately for some time at this place ; and people 
"of all religious beliefs within a radius of ten or fifteen miles would come together 
and worship God without the restraints resulting from closely-drawn sectarian 
lines, as at the present day. Mrs. Mason says they owned a yoke of oxen and 
Mr. Gooding a wagon. On Sunday they would hitch their oxen to his wagon, 
and both families jump in, and ofi" they would go ten miles to "meeting." 
Churches there were none. Religious services were held in the groves — " God's 
first temples" — and at the cabins of the settlers. The first church was built 
at Hadley about 1838 or 1839, arid was church and schoolhouse combined. The 
The people met in it, of all denominations, and were not selfish nor confined 
to one particular sect. But the church there has passed away and the 
society has drifted into the Congregational Church, near the center of the town- 
ship. This edifice was erected in 1862 ; is a neat frame, and cost $1,500. 
Rev. George Slosser was the first preacher. The membership is rather small ; 
has been decreased by death and removal, but is in a flourishing state. Rev. 
Mr. McKee is the present Pastor, and William Storm Superintendent of the 
large Sunday school. The Baptist Church at Hadley was originally organized 
by Elder A. B. Freeman, as already stated. He was the first Baptist preacher 



524 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

in Northern Illinois, and is said to have baptized the first person on the western 
shore of Lake Michigan, in April, 1834. The church was built there a year 
or two before the Congregational Church above mentioned. It has a large 
membership and a flourishing Sunday school, but no regular Pastor is in attend- 
ance at present. 

The first wedding in Homer Township or Yankee Settlement, of which we 
have any definite record, was Westley Brewer to the widow of Alva Johnson, and 
they were married about 1833 or 1834, by John Blackstone, the first Justice of the 
Peace in the township. The first birth and death are not remembered ; but 
the fact that the population has increased from a half-dozen persons to twice as 
many hundreds is pretty good evidence that there have been births, but the first 
one cannot now be mentioned ; neither can the first death be given with any 
degree of correctness. The first blacksmith was John Lane, and, as elsewhere 
stated, made the first steel plow ever used in the West. He procured an old, 
worn-out saw-blade at Col. Sayre's saw-mill, which he cut into strips about three 
inches wide, and, after making several trials, he succeeded in manufacturing a 
plow which was a great improvement on the wooden ones then in use. In after 
years he became a noted plowmaker, and his son, John Lane, Jr., of Chicago, 
sustains well the father's reputation as a plow manufacturer. C. M. Gray 
manufactured at an early day such articles as grain-cradles, fanning-mills, etc.; 
but the improved reapers and threshers have taken the place of these old-time 
implements. 

As already stated, John Blackstone was the first Justice of the Peace in 
Homer, as well as one of the first in Will County. The first Supervisor after 
township organization, was Samuel Blount, in 1850, followed by Ira Austin, in 
1851 ; A. Collins, 1852-53; Ira Austin, 1854-59; Alanson Granger, 1860 ; 
J. D. Frazer, 1861; S. Knapp, 1862; A. Granger, 1863; A. G. Rowley, 
1864-65 ; Levi Hartwell, 1866 ; Amos Savage, 1867-72 ; J. H. Bandle. 1873 
-74 ; Amos Savage, 1875-76 ; J. D. Frazer, 1877-78. Other township offi- 
cers at present are, A. G .Rowley* and A. A. Ingersoll, Justices of the Peace ; 
Amos Savage, School Treasurer, and also a member of the State Board of Equali- 
zation, and Philip J. Sharp, Town Clerk. Homer is Republican in politics, 
nearly two to one, but was Democratic in the time of the two great parties 
— Whigs and Democrats. However, the reversal and upheaval of political 
parties have changed the general order of things, and the Republicans carry 
the day with as much or more ease than did the Democrats of yore. Taking 
into consideration the fact that in Homer was embraced the very heart of the 
Yankee Settlement, filled up by people who came from the old settled 
States, and were scholars and people of enlightened views, it would be but 
natural to conclude that Homer was named for the famous poet — the author of the 
"Iliad " and "Odyssey." We dislike to spoil sucha pretty little romance, but the 
facts of history demand it. The name was bestowed on the township by Alan- 

*Ha8 held the office uninterruptedly since 1851. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 525 

son Granger, who came from Homer, Cortland Co., N. Y., and gave it in 
lionorof his native place. In the process of naming the townships, the County 
Commissioners asked him to find a name for this one ; he consulted his neigh- 
bors and decided on Homer. Its war history is written in another volume, and 
also on many a hard-fought battle-field of the late rebellion, and we will not 
repeat it here. The Yankee Settlement has furnished the country with some 
able men, but as this part of the subject is mentioned in the general county 
history, we will pass on without further allusion. 

As stated in the introduction to this chapter, Homer has neither railroads, 
large towns nor villages ; but one or two small country stores, a blacksmith- 
shop or two, a post oflSce at Hadley and at Gooding's Grove, and two neat and 
tasty little church edifices. Aside from this, the town is devoted wholly to 
agricultural pursuits, and as to the productiveness of the land, it is not surpassed 
in the county, and scarcely in the State. Referring again to the article in the 
Joliet Sun, already quoted from, the writer very truthfully says : " Standing, 
as we now do, at the close of the year 1876, and looking over the northern 
portion of the State, and thinking of the great change that has been wrought,, 
we are led to wonder how so much could be accomplished in a few short years. 
Chicago grown to be one of the greatest commercial centers on this continent, 
our own city of Joliet numbering its 15,000 inhabitants, with its four railroad* 
and canal giving great commercial advantages, besides being the seat of justice 
of one of the most important counties of the State." 

When Homer was first settled, its prairies were considered the most beauti- 
ful that the enthusiastic Yankee had seen. They were just rolling enough to 
resemble the billows of the ocean after a storm had passed, and the thick grass,, 
three or four feet high, overtopped with fragrant blossoms, might — without 
violence to the comparison — have been taken for the land of Beulah, which 
Bunyan " saw in his dream," lying on the borders of the Celestial City. Mrs. 
Mason says she used to take rides across the prairies, when the wild flowers were 
as high as the top of the wagon, and as the oxen tramped over and the wagon 
wheels crushed them, they yielded a sweeter perfume than " Price's Unique 
Extracts," or the distilled essence of the richest exotics. 



DU PAGE TOWNSHIP. 

This is one of the extreme northern townships of the county, and is bounded 
on the north and east by Du Page and Cook Counties, on the south by Lock- 
port Township, on the west by Wheatland, and in 1870, had a population of 
1,118 inhabitants. The Du Page River waters the northwest part of the town, 
the Lilly-Cache Creek, the southern part, and the Des Planes River clips off a 
small portion of the southeast corner. A sudden widening of the river here 
forms a considerable body of water, called Goose Lake. About two miles of 
the Chicago & Alton Railroad are in Du Page, but as there is no station, it had 



526 • HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

about as well be without a railroad altogether. Romeo Station, however, is just 
over the line, in Lockport Township. The old Indian boundary passes across 
the nortlnvest corner, and the old Chicago and Ottawa stage-route crosses diag- 
onally, very nearly through the center. Du Page is wholly devoid of towns and 
villages, and is devoted exclusively to the dairy business and to agriculture. As 
a civil township it is known as Town 37 north. Range 10 east, and is very fine 
prairie, with the exception of a few small groves along the water-courses. 

The Winter of the " deep snow " found a family or two in Du Page Town- 
ship. In Central and Northern Illinois, the deep snow is a chronological event, 
from which the few old settlers who witnessed it date all important items in 
their history. There are at this date, however, very few left who witnessed that 
great fall of snow, which occurred in the Winter of 1830-31, almost half a cen- 
tury ago. Occasionally we meet one who experienced the privations incident 
to four feet of snow for two months, which was the depth of this "great white 
carpet " we have so often been called upon to notice. To tell of all the sufier- 
ings and trials of the few who bore the brunt of that snowstorm in this section 
of the country, would be to repeat an "oft-told tale." We forbear. As stated 
above, there were a few families here that Winter. Pierce Hawley, Stephen J. 
Scott and his son, Willard Scott, and Ralph Stowell came to this township in 
the Fall of 1830, and settled in the grove of timber bordering the Du Page 
River. Hawley was originally from Vermont, but first settled, after coming to 
the country, in Sangamon County, then embracing nearly half of the State. 
Later, he removed to Holdeman's Grove, and in the Fall of 1830, settled in 
this township, as noted. He was of the Mormon faith, and at the time these 
"Latter-day Saints" concentrated their "elect" at Nauvoo, he joined them 
there, and when driven from that place by the gentiles, he followed the Saints 
to Utah. But when the corrupt organization admitted a plank into their plat- 
form allowing the "faithful" a "plurality" of wives, he threw ofi" the Mor- 
mon faith and left Utah in disgust. He was of a kind of roving disposition, 
and loved wild, frontier life — was Daniel Boone-like ; and when people began 
to get too thick around him, would pull up stakes and move on toward the West. 
From Utah he went to Iowa, where he died. The Scotts came from Baltimore, 
the "Monumental City of the East," and settled, upon their arrival in Illinois, 
at Grose's Point (now Evanston), and in the Fall of 1830, came to Du Page 
Township. The elder Scott went to California during the gold fever of 1849 
and 1850, by the overland route ; was 70 years of age at the time of his going, 
and died in the Golden State. His oldest son, Willis Scott, who came to the 
settlement two years later, lives in Chicago ; and the other son, Willard Scott, 
who came with his father, is a prosperous merchant and banker in Naperville. 
Stowell came from Ohio here ; but whether that was his native State or not, 
we are unable to say. He settled where Glover now lives, and afterward moved 
down on Fox River. He died several years ago. These were the families that 
waded through the deep snow of 1830-31, in this township. They are gone. 




fe'k 




foECEASEO) 
FRAN K f OFT TP. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUIITY. 529 

but have left descendants behind, who recount their early trials and hardshipji 
in the opening-up of -this country. 

In 1831, the settlement was increased by the arrival of Israel P. Blodgett, 
Robert Strong, John Dudley, Harry Boardman, Rev. Isaac Scarritt and Lester 
Peet. Blodgett came from Massachusetts, and settled where Royce now lives. 
He was the father of Judge Blodgett, of Chicago. The Judge is remembered 
in the town as a boy of rather delicate appearance, who was very studious, at- 
tended the public schools, and taught by way of improvement and of defraying 
his own expenses. The result is his present exalted position. The father 
moved to Downer's Grove, where he died some years ago and where his widow 
now lives. Strong, Boardman and Peet were from Vermont. The former was 
born in 1806, and when 8 years old, his father removed to Pennsylvania, and 
five years later, removed to New York. Upon arriving at man's estate, and 
having taken to himself a life-partner, Mr. Strong came to Illinois, arriving in 
Chicago in July, 1831. He at once proceeded to Plainfield, but found the land 
all "claimed" in that section. He says there were then twelve families living 
at Plainfield, or Walker's Grove, and they told him there was " no room for 
any more immigrants." He left his family at the house of Timothy B. Clarke, 
and went out prospecting for a location. He chose the place where he still 
lives, and bought it from two men named Selvey and Walker, who had a claim 
on it. He took possession at once and settled his family on the spot, and for 
forty-seven years they have occupied it. Selvey was an early settler, and was 
here during the Sac war. He was at one time very wealthy and owned a 
great deal of land in this section and a large number of lots in Chicago. Mr. 
Clarke remembers his selling lots on Lake street, in the very heart of the city, 
at $50 a lot ; and his father once bought from Selvey the lot on which the 
Union Hotel now stands, corner of Canal and Madison streets, for $53. But 
being one of those easy, confiding men, he strove to accommodate everybody, 
and, as a consequence, lost all his great property. He died near Aurora, quite 
poor, and has a son in this county who works as a farm laborer, by the month, 
for a living. Dudley was an acquaintance of Strong's, and never really made a 
settlement in the township. Boardman came from New York, and made the 
trip around the lakes, landing in Chicago in the Summer of 1831. He was 
originally from Vermont, but, like Strong, had lived for some time in New 
York before emigrating West. Mr. Boardman was an active man in the settle- 
ment, and favored every enterprise for the good of his town. The first reaper 
used in Will County was bought by him and operated on his farm, in 1846, 
which was the year previous, it is said, to the one used by Granger, in Homer 
Township, mentioned in the " Combination Atlas " of the county. It w'as a 
McCormick Reaper. Boardman had known McCormick in New York, before 
removing to Illinois, and meeting him in Chicago one day, McCormick proposed 
to sell him a reaper. Mr. Boardman had a large crop of wheat, and said to 
McCormick, " Suppose I should buy one of your machines and it would not 



530 • HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 



O 



work, I would lose a large part of my wheat crop." Whereupon McCormick 
proposed to enter into a bond, agreeing to pay the damage if it did not do what 
he claimed for it. Said Boardman, " I don't know that your bond is any bet- 
ter than your word." But finally he bought a machine on those conditions,, 
and McCormick gave a bond, guaranteeing it as above stated. It was shipped 
to him and he cut his crop of wheat, it fully coming up to the guarantee given 
by McCormick. Two of his neighbors bought reapers the same season, and 
thus those labor-saving machines were introduced in the county. He was one 
of the first County Commissioners, an ofiice he filled with credit to himself and 
satisfaction to others. He died in May, 1877. Peet settled here in 1831, 
near the county line, where Swartz now lives, and died a few years after his 
settlement. Rev. Scarritt was a Methodist minister, and came originally from 
some one of the Eastern States, but his wife was a Virginia lady. He settled 
a little east of where Mr. Strong lives, and upon the election of his son, P. P. 
Scarritt, Sheriff of Will County, the elder Scarritt moved to Joliet and made 
a home with his son, where he died, several years ago. This comprised the 
residents in the town at the close of the second year after the first settlement 
was made within its borders. 

In 1832, the year of the Black Hawk war, but few additions were made to 
the settlement here. Seth Westcott, John Barber and John Miller are all of 

\whom we have any account of locating here during the year 1832. Westcott 
came from New York, but was originally from Vermont. He settled on the 
south side of the river, where his son, Seth Westcott, Jr., now lives. The elder 
Westcott has been dead three or four years. John Barber came also from Ver- 
mont, and settled near Barber's Corners. He had twin sons, whose names were 
Francis and Franklin ; ^the latter lives now"^on the old homestead, a pros- 
perous farmer, and the picture of health and vigor. The father died a few 
years ago, after having been confined to his bed for nearly twenty years from 
V rheumatism, and for several years had been blind and incapable of feeding him- 
^ self. John Miller, another Vermonter, settled east of Barber's Corners, and 
was quite a prominent man of the tow'nship. He was the first Supervisor after 
township organization, and was the only Representative that Du Page has ever 
sent to the State Legislature. He died in the Spring of 1851, but a few weeks 
before his term of service as Supervisor had expired. In 1833, Samuel Good- 
rich also from Vermont, settled a few rods west of Strong's. He removed to 
Minnesota a good many years ago, and died there in 1876, or about that time. 
Col. William Smith settled here in 1834. He came from New York, and 
removed to Joliet a few years after coming to the country, where he was long 
known as one of the prominent men of the city, and where he died a few years 
ago. Timothy B. Clarke settled here this year, as noticed in the history of 
Plaiiifield Township ; and his son, B. B. Clarke, of Lockport, still owns a por- 
tion of the land to which his father then laid claim. The elder Clarke was a 
. soldier in the war of 1812, and also during the Black Hawk war. He was at 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 531 

one time offered the School Section in Chicago, which embraced the lot on 
which Field & Leiter's wholesale house now stands, at $18 per acre. But it 
was a low, swampy marsh, tliickly set in willows, and during a large part of the 
year impassable to a horse, and Mr. Clarke had little idea that it would ever be 
worth the taxes. Harry and Philip Lord, two brothers, came from New York 
in 1833 or 1884, and made claims and settlements in this town, but of them we 
could leai-n but little. Jonathan Royce came in 1835, from New York, but was 
originally from New Hampshire. He died here ten or twelve years ago, and 
his son. Abner Royce, now lives on the place where his ftither located, and which 
is the original farm settled by Israel Blodgett. Mr. Royce was a prominent 
man of the settlement, and owned at one time over three thousand acres of land 
in this township. His wife, who survived him several years, seems to have been 
not only a very remarkable lady, but to have sprung from a genuine old Revo- 
lutionary fiimily. When she died, April 25, 1875, the Will County Courier 
thus referred to the event : " The deceased was the relict of the late Jonathan 
Royce, of Du Page, and had lived in Will County for the last forty years. She 
moved with her husband and family into this county in 1835, and commenced 
life in her new home on the farm where her death occurred. She was born at 
Walpole, N. H., May 5, 1784. Her maiden name was Emery. Her father 
was a Revolutionary soldier, who enlisted at the age of 16, and was with the 
patriots until the close of the war. He was one of the minute-men at Concord, 
and participated at Lexington, and received a wound at the battle of Saratoga 
Springs from which he never fully recovered. He was with Washington in all 
his campaigns, being one of that little band of patriots who united at Valley 
Forge and went on that famous march into New Jersey, and the masterly retreat 
across the Delaware River. Mrs. Royce inherited from her father the spirit of 
patriotism which characterized him, and during our civil war was the warm 
friend of the soldier, doing all that she could to aid the cause. She was the 
mother of a large family of children, most of whom are living and citizens of 
this State. She lost her husband about ten years ago, who at his death was 86 
years of age, and has been long anxious to join him. They traveled the jour- 
ney of life together for sixty years, honored and respected in society, and in 
her death society loses one of its most reverenced and beloved members." After 
referring to the funeral services, which were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Porter, 
of Naperville, the Courier notices the fact that she was followed to the grave by 
about seventy blood-relations, forty-seven of whom were her descendants, and 
that she lived to see children of her great-grandchildren. She died .It the age 
of yO, and retained her faculties to the very moment of her death. Thomas 
Williams, living in the southern part of the town, is an old resident and a 
prominent man. He was born in the county of Cornwall, England, and came 
to America in 1825, and to Illinois in 1834, stopping in Chicago until 1836, 
when he came out and engaged in a contract on the Illinois & Michigan Canal. 
He built a portion of the Portage Railroad across the Alleghany Mountains 



532 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

before he came to Illinois, and after quitting the Canal he built twelve miles of 
the Galena Division of the North- Western Railway ; and, later still, with Mr. 
Boyer went to California, where they took a contract to build a levee at Sacra- 
mento along the city front ; also a tunnel 1,900 feet long, by which the city is 
supplied with water. After years of an active business life, he is on his farm, 
quietly resting from his labors, and enjoying the peace of his fireside. 

In 1833, quite a little colony came to the township from Westei'n New 
York, consisting of Andrew Godfrey, Shubel Swift, Peter Stewaird, Hiram 
Warren, Joseph R. Bessey, a family named Clifford, and Hannibal Ward. This 
colony made claims and settlements in the valley of the Du Page River, and all 
are now gone from the township except Hiram Warren. Shubel Swift lives at 
Waukegan, and Steward lives at Naperville. Sylvester Ward, a son of Han- 
nibal Ward, lives near Barber's Corners, and is one of the prosperous and 
wealthy farmers of the county, Hannibal Ward, a cousin of Sylvester Ward, 
is operating the latter's cheese factory, in the southern part of the town. 
Warren still lives on the place where he originally settled. Samuel Whallen 
was also from New York, and came to the Du Page Settlement in 1836. He 
lived to be 94 years old, and died in the township about five years ago. 
Thomas J. Sprague, another New Yorker, came out on a prospecting tour in 
1837 and returned the next year and settled. He lives now at what is called 
Sprawue's Corners, a wealthy farmer. This comprises most of the early settlers 
up to the time when the rush of immigration began. Settlements were made 
here as early as 1830, but, as Du Page possessed but a small scope of timbered 
land there was room for but few inhabitants, until the virtues of the prairies 
were discovered years later. The early settlers all chose timbered localities, 
many believin<y that the prairies would never be of any value save for pasturage. 
Some even ventured the prophecy that their children would never live to see 
the prairies settled. In ten years from the time the first claim was made on the 
Ou Pawe River, there was not a section left vacant in the entire township, 
"^uite a large number of the first settlers of Du Page, perhaps a majority of 
them were from Vermont, and were an intelligent class of people. The only 
one now livini^, of those who settled here previous to the Sac war, is Robert 
Strong, and he, as already stated, is on his original claim. Willis Scott, of 
Chicago and Willard Scott, of Naperville, were here at that time, but were 
bovs or young men. Mr. Strong is the only old landmark left in the beautiful 
valley of Fountaindale, and is a man much respected in the neighborhood. He is 
the oracle, so far as regards the early history of this township, and but for him 
many of the particulars given in this chapter must necessarily have been left to 

conjecture. 

The first mill in Du Page Township was a saw-mill built in 1836 by Alden 
& Scott. In 1840, another saw-mill was built by Ward, a little above the one 
iust mentioned. Both were on the Du Page, and were washed away during a 
season of high water, and the old dams are still observable where these original 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 



533 



mills weve located. The only grist-mill was a little concern by Pierce Ilawloy, 
supplied with horse-power, and used to grind both corn and wheat. The 
"bolting" was done by hand, and we were told that it turned out a very fair 
quality of flour; not in quantity and quality with Norton's mill, at Lockport, 
but then, it satisfied the pioneers, who were often glad to get either flour or corn 
meal, and even that of an inferior quality. Ralph Stowell kept the first tavern 
in the township, where Glover now lives, and also kept the stage-house after 
stages were put on the route between Chicago and Ottawa. Shubel Swift also 
kept a tavern in the early times, at what was called " the Junction," being the 
junction of the Chicago, Plainfield and Joliet roads. Du Page has no village 
within its limits, nor has ever had a store really deserving the name, but a few 
little stands, at various times, merely for neighborhood accommodation. The 
first bridge was built across the Du Page where the Joliet and Naperville road 
crosses, about 1836 or 1837. It was built of logs, and was a rough affair. A 
number of good, substantial bridges span the two branches of the Du Page in 
the town at present. The first post office was established at the stage-house 
already mentioned, and Mr. Stowell was the first Postmaster. The office was 
originally called Fountaindale, but finally changed to Du Page Post Office, by 
which name it is now known. As Du Page Post Office, it has traveled all over 
the township two or three times. Was first kept at the stage-house, then at 
Barber's Corners, at Col. Smith's, at the Junction, again at Barber's Corners, 
and, indeed, it is hard to designate a place in the town where it has not been. 
There was, at one time, another post office in the southwest part of the town- 
ship, called " Long John," and was established during the popular period of the 
man for whom it was named.* The man who made the effort to get the office 

was said to be an Abolitionist, and Long John swore that no Abolitionist 

should have it, but that he would get it for any good Democrat, and so A. C. 
Paxson was made Postmaster, and he made the Abolitionist his deputy, and thus 
whipped the devil around the stump. But, Long John post office has passed 
away, and Du Page is now the only post office in the town, of which Samuel 
Angleman is Postmaster. 

The first school was taught in this township by Josiah Giddings, in the 
Winter of 1832-33, in a little house built for the purpose, a few rods west from 
where Mr. Strong lives. The house was a rude affair, of hickory logs split 
open and notched down on edge with the split side in ; the cracks between the 
logs stopped with sticks and mud, and a chimney of the same material. This 
early pedagogue went to Wisconsin, where he lived at the last heard from him. 
When the first school districts were laid off, Will then being a part of Cook 
County, this original schoolhouse of Du Page Township was in School District 
No. 1 of Cook County, and thus entered in the " book of the law and testi- 
mony." Du Page has always maintained its early reputation for schools, and 
spared neither pains nor expense to disseminate knowledge among its inhabit- 



* John Wentworth. 



534 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

ants. Ill 1872, it liad 11 school districts; 375 pupils enrolled; 22 teachers 
employed, and 10 good, comfortable schoolhouses. The amount of special tax 
levied was ^2,454.31 ; amount paid teachers, $2,350.62. Total expenditures of 
the year, $3,749.23, leaving a balance in the treasury of $435.85. 

The first preachers in this section were Rev. Isaac Scarritt and Rev. Jere- 
miah Porter, both of whom have often been noticed among the early divines in 
different portions of this county. Which one of these ministers preached the 
first sermon it is impossible to say now, but it is supposed to have been Scarritt, 
as he settled here as early as 1831. The first church Society was organized in 
1833, by Rev. N. C. Clark, in the schoolhouse above alluded to, and was a 
Presbyterian or Congregationalist, or a cross of the two. Like Du Page Post 
Office, it fluctuated a good deal, and was sometimes Presbyterian and sometimes 
Congregational. The first church edifice was built about 1854 or 1855, and was 
remodeled about three years ago. It is a very handsome edifice, and is known 
at the present day as the First Presbyterian Church of Du Page. The present 
Pastor is the Rev. J. G. Porter, of Naperville, who has in his charge about one hun- 
dred members. A large and flourishing Sunday school is carried on at the church, 
of which Robert Strong is Superintendent, a position he has occupied so long 
that the ''mind of map runneth not to the contrary." A Methodist Church 
was built at Barber's Corners, some years after the erection of this, but of it 
we could not learn much. The society was, at one time, on the point of dissolu- 
tion. Last year, the Rev. Mr. Hughes, from the town of Crete, preached to 
them, and, to some extent, revived the work at this place. A small Sunday 
school is still maintained, of which Mrs. Derby is Superintendent. The Mor- 
mon doctrine used to be promulgated throughout this township pretty extensively, 
by the Elders of that faith. Mr. Strong says the first Mormon sermon he 
ever heard was preached at Plainfield, in a little while after he came to the 
county. A great many prominent people embraced the faith, and some even 
went to the Mormon settlement at Nauvoo. This, however, was before they 
adopted that broad and liberal platform, allowing a man all the wives he could 
support; and, when this wholesale measure was adopted, many of the more sensi- 
ble became disgusted and threw off" the rotten yoke of Mormonisra forever, 
while a few still clung to their idols, following the Prophet's fortunes to Salt 
Lake City. 

The first death recorded in Du Page Township was a Mrs. Cleveland, who 
had just moved into the settlement and died in 1832, and was buried in the 
cemetery near Mr. Boardman's — the first burial made in that grave-yard, since 
the receptacle of many of the pioneers of this part of the country. The 
first birth occurred in the family of either Willard Scott or Mr. Hawley, as 
both Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Hawley had brand-new babes when Mr. Strong came 
to the settlement, in 1831, and which must have been born in the early part of 
that year. As to the first marriage, there is some uncertainty as to whom it 
belongs. One of the first remembei'ed was a daughter of Shubel Swift to 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 535 

a Mr. Godfrey ; but whether it was the first it is not possible to say with 
certainty. The first Justice of the Peace was the Rev. Isaac Scarritt, 
wlio, it seems, was commissioned to deal out justice to the offenders of the civil 
law as well as the divine law. The present Justices of the Peace are John 
Marvin and Thomas Stanners ; Sylvester Ward is School Treasurer, and 
Thomas Williams, Supervisor. When the county adopted town>-hip organiza- 
tion, in 1850, Joiin Miller was elected the first Supervisor of Du Page. Since 
then, the following have served in that capacity for the years given in connec- 
tion with their names : A. C. Paxson, 1851-52 ; R. W. Smith, 1853-54 ; H. 
Boardman, 1855 ; E. D. Eaton, 1856 ; A. C. Paxson, 1857 ; T. H. Abbott, 
1858-59; B. B. Clarke, 1860; J. P. King, 1861; Robert Strong, 1862; B. 
B. Clarke, 1863; E. Virgil, 1864; R. W. Smith, 1865-67; A. Godfrey, 
1868; J. P. King, 1860; John Royce, from 1870 until succeeded by the 
present incumbent, Thomas Williams. 

The dairy business receives considerable attention in this town. The quantity 
of milk produced is, perhaps, greater than in any other township of the county. 
Besides the amount consumed at the two factories, a great deal is shipped to 
Chicago from Romeo Station, just on the line between Lockport and Du Page, 
and which is said to be one of the best milk stations on the Chicago & Alton 
Railroad. The oldest cheese-factory in the town is the one near Barber's Cor- 
ners. It was built originally at Lemont by a man named Hess, from Plain- 
field. A company was organized at Barber's Corners about 1870, who bought 
the factory and moved it from Lemont to its present location. Last Spring, it 
"was bought by S. R. Richardson, and has cost him about $2,000. It is a 
frame building with a brick basement, and its arranojements for cheese-makinir 
are complete in every detail. He makes up the milk of his patrons on shares, 
and is, at the present time, making, upon an average, eight cheeses per day, with 
a "constantly increasing business. The factory of Sylvester Ward was built at 
Sprague's Corners in the Spring of 1877, and is a large and commodious estab- 
lishment. It is a substantial frame with stone basement, and cost $3,000. It 
is being operated by Hannibal Ward,- a brother of the owner, who is said to be 
an experienced cheese-maker. They have hitherto been making up the milk 
on shares for their patrons, but have recently commenced buying milk, and also 
manufacturing at a certain compensation. 

As stated in the introduction of this chapter, Du Page is pi-airie land, with 
the exception of a few sections of timber along the Du Page River, and a small 
grove in the southeast corner of the town. The prairie is of the finest and 
most productive. When white people first began to settle here, they found 
the prairie teeming with wild flowers, their beauty and fragrance surpassing all 
that they had ever dreamed of floral loveliness. Some of the more romantic of 
them say, that it seemed as if the whole earth had been converted into green 
grass, blue sky, blossoming flowers and glorious sunshine. This beautiful valley 
of the Du Page was originally called Fountaindale, from the numerous springs 



636 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

to be found along the margin of the Du Page River. But upon the adoption 
of township organization, in the process of naming the towns, Du Page was- 
deemed an appropriate title for this, owing to the fact that the two branches of 
the Du Page River are united within its borders. Thus the pretty and roman- 
tic name of Fountaindale was discarded for the less euphonious one of Du Page. 
During the Sac war, the few whites then living in Du Page, were forced to seek 
safety in flight. Some of them went to " Fort Beggs," and some to the fort 
or blockhouse at Naperville. But when the clouds of war blew over and the 
olive-branch of peace was held out, they returned to their deserted homes and 
redoubled their eflforts to open and improve their claims. 

Politically, Du Page is Republican ; but from the information gathered of its 
early history, we are of opinion that in the days of Whigs and Democrats, it 
gave its majorities to the latter party. Its record during the war was patriotic, 
and many of its citizens shouldered their muskets and marched to the front, and 
risked their lives for the Union they loved. 



WHEATLAND TOWNSHIP. 

Wheatland is tlie northwest township of Will County, with Kendall and 
Du Page Counties on the west and north ; Du Page Township on the east, and 
Plainfield Township on the south. It is described as Town 37 north, Range 9 
east of the Third Principal Meridian, and at the last census contained 1,133 
inhabitants. It is watered by the Du Page River and its branches ; the former 
entering its territory at the northeast corner, flows through it a little west of 
south. It is wholly prairie, having but a few acres of timber, and, like the 
surrounding lands of Plainfield and Du Page, is the finest farming and grain sec- 
tion of the county. There are no villages or railroads cutting up and marring 
its beautiful surface, and the snort of the iron horse is never heard, save as faint 
echoes of his voice float over the prairies from the distance. 

Rev. Isaac G. Foster is supposed to have been the first permanent settler in 
Wheatland Township. He came from Watertown, N. Y., and settled here in 
1837. It is scarcely known at the present day whether Mr. Foster was a 
minister or not, although the prefix of Rev. is used, and he was generally termed 
"Priest " Foster. There are none, however, who remember to have heard him 
preach. He now sleeps with his fathers. Chester Ingersoll, who first settled in 
Plainfield Township, settled in Wheatland about the year 1839. He laid off the 
village of Plainfield, as mentioned in that part of this work, and as his history is 
there given at some length, we deem it unnecessary to repeat it here. Joseph B. 
Wightman came from Rome, N. Y., and settled in Plainfield in 1838. In 1840, 
he removed to Wheatland/Township, being the third family to settle in this 
town. Previous to his settlement in Plainfield, Mr. Wightman had lived in 
Kendall County, where he settled in 1834, upon his first arrival in the West. 
George Wightman, a son of his, set*-led also in Wheatland at the same time. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 537 

where he resided until 1805, when lie removed into Lockport Township, and 
located on the farm known as the Sisson Place, west of the village of Lockport. 
Mr. Wightman married the youngest daughter of that old pioneer, Holder Sisson, 
whose history is fully given in the history of Lockport. His father and mother 
are still living in Du Page Township, rather feeble and aged, and the former 
quite deaf. A man known as "Hoosier " Smith settled in Wheatland the next 
year after the Wightmans, on Spring Brook, and in a few years moved away ; 
of him very little is remembered, as he remained but a short time ; he was 
probably from Indiana, however, as he Avent by the name of "Hoosier" Smith. 
Another settler of 1841, was David Cheeny, from Massachusetts, and a man 
named Eddy. It is not known where Eddy came from, nor where he lives at 
present, Cheeny had settled in Plainfield before coming to this section, as did 
several other families, who became residents of Wheatland Township. L. G. 
Colgrove settled in this township in 1839, and, in 1840 and 1841, several other 
families were added to the scattered settlement of Wheatland ; among them, 
Simeon B. Tyler and Anthony Freeland. In 1843 and 1844, they came in 
still more rapidly, including quite a colony from the "banks and braes" of 
"Auld Scotia" dear, among whom may be numbered the McMickens and 
Clows, who are more extensively noticed in the general history of the county. 
This year, there were also added the families of William and A. B. Cotton, 
James and John Bobbins, and many others. In fact, they were coming in at 
this time in such numbers that it was not an easy matter to keep trace of them. 

From the dates above given, it will be seen that Wheatland is recently set- 
tled, as compared to other portions of Will County. That it was not settled 
until so long after other sections, is due to the fact that it is all prairie. We 
v/ere informed by Bobert Clow that the entire township contained but about 
five acres of timbered land ; and at the time of the first settlements made in 
this part of Illinois, there were no such things known in the W^est as board or wire 
fences, and as stock was allowed to run at large, people were forced to put rail 
fences around their cultivated lands. Thus it was that the timbered land was 
taken up before the prairie, and for years the latter was deemed unfit for any- 
thing but pasturage, while many were of the opinion that they would never be 
cultivated. The old Indian boundary or trail, mentioned in another page, 
passes through this township, and was visible long after settlements were made. 
Bobert Clow says it passed through his father's farm, and showed plainly for 
years after they came to the country. 

Perhaps no township in Will County has a more diversified population than 
Wheatland ; very nearly half of it are Pennsylvania Dutch and their descend- 
ants, while the remainder rank as follows, viz. : Forty American families, forty 
Scotch families, twenty-four English families, with two or three families of Irish 
or French nationalities ; and we may add. that many of the model farmers of the 
county are to be found in Wheatland Township. Their handsome residences, the 
neat and tasty manner in which their farms are kept, and the care and attention 



538 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

bestowed on fine stock, all denote first-class farmers. We were told that the 
finest farm lands in the county are embraced in ten miles square in this corner, 
including Wheatland, a part of Du Page and Plainfield Townships ; and having 
been pretty well all over the county, we are quite willing to indorse the 
statement. There are no villages in Wheatland Township, as already stated, 
nor mills, and, in fact, the town contains very little of historic interest beyond 
its actual settlement, and the enterprise and energy of its "sturdy yeo- 
manry." 

The first birth in Wheatland is supposed to have been Levi B. Wightman. 
There are some, however, who are of opinion that it was a daughter of Mrs. 
Russell, formerly Mrs. Ingersoll. Just which is entitled to the preference, we 
are unable to say, but think it safe to say that both were first — that is to say, the 
first two. The first death was a child of E. T. Durant. It, at least, was the 
first burial in the public cemetery, located at the schoolhouse near East Wheat- 
land Post OiEce. The death of an elderly lady of the name of Coburn is 
remembered by some of the citizens as taking place at quite an early day ; but 
■whether it was previous to that of the child mentioned, could not be determined, 
nor much information obtained in regard to her in any way. The first marriage 
was, probably, Rufus B. Olmstead to Juliet Foster, a daughter of "Priest" 
Poster, as the people called him. The date of the wedding is not remembered, 
neither is the name of him who united the happy couple. 

The first schools taught in the township were on Sections 5 and 13, and 
there is some controversy as to which was taught first ; but the preponderance 
of evidence, as the lawyers say, we believe is in favor of that on Section 5. 
However, they were taught very nearly at the same time, and in 1846 or 1847. 
There is another report of a school, believed by some to have been taught prior 
to these, by a Miss Elizabeth Hoag. She, it is said, taught a school in a pri- 
vate house belonging to Ira B. Thomas, on Section 26, before the building of 
schoolhouses. If so, it was probably the first taught in the town. At the 
present time, Wheatland will compare favorably with any part of the county as 
to the excellent character of its schools. At the close of the school year of 
1872, the Superintendent of Schools reported ten schools and an equal number 
of houses, and 868 pupils enrolled. Twenty teachers were employed; five dis- 
tricts had libraries, containing a total of 156 volumes. The amount of special 
tax for the support of schools was $2,176.03 ; amount paid teachers, $2,257.80 ; 
total expenditure for the year, $3,573.12, leaving a balance in the treasury of 
$620.06. Thus it will be seen that the schools of the town are in a flourishing 
condition, well supported and well patronized. 

The first Justices of the Peace in Wheatland Township were Robert Clow, 
the present efiicient Circuit Clerk of Will County, and Edward Lilly, but as 
Mr. Lilly declined to qualify, Mr. Clow was really the first officiating Justice. 
The present Justices of the Peace are John McMicken and Augustus B. Cotton. 
Other township officers are, A. S. Brown, Town Clerk ; Franklin Boardman, 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 539 

School Treasurer, and John McMicken, Supervisor. When the county 
adopted township organization, in 1850, D. W. Cropsey was elected first Super- 
visor, and served during the years 1850 and 1851. Since his time, the list of 
Supervisors and their terras of oflice have been as follows: S. Simmons, 
1852-53 ; F. Boardman, 1854-56 ; Robert Clow, 1857 ; S. Simmons, 1858-60 : 
Robert Clow, 1861-76 inclusive, when he was elected Circuit Clerk of the 
county, and John McMicken, the present incumbent succeeded him. Mr. Clow 
has served his township and county in various offices, in all of which he has 
acquitted himself with credit, and Ave should take this opportunity of giving 
him an extended notice, but know that his modesty and good sense shrink 
from such notoriety. Hence, we pass without further allusion. 

The first regular preacher, unless we except "Priest" Foster, was the Rev. 
Mr. Oburn, who sometimes preached at the house of Mr. Finley,- in the south- 
Tvest part of the town, on Section 30, about the year 1846 or 1847, but what 
denomination he claimed, we do not know. The first church was built by the 
United Presbyterians, in 1855, and was erected on Section 19. It is a substan- 
tial frame building, and cost about $1,500. The Rev. James Buchanon is the 
present Pastor, and has a large and flourishing membership and Sunday school 
«nder his charge. In 1864, the German Lutherans built a church on Section 
14, which is quite an elegant edifice, costing $3,100. It has a flouri>*hing 
membership, and a large Sunday school for a country church. The first 
Directors, or Trustees, were Jacob Fry and John Leppert, Sr. The first meet- 
ings were held at their houses. The first clergyman to preach to them was 
Rev. Mr. Leisman. In 1863, land was deeded to the Church by Robert Clow. 
Jr., and wife, and the present building was erected. Their first Pastor was 
Rev. Ernest Buhre, who remained with them until his death, which occurred 
in 1877. He was a man much beloved by his people. Rev. William Uffen- 
back succeeded him in the pulpit. The present Directors are Jacob Fry, Rich- 
ard Weinhold, John Smidt, Joseph Smidt and Frederick Stultz. The following 
story is told of an old German citizen and member of this Church. About the 
•close of the war, when greenbacks were plenty, and fears manifested by some 
of those who always experience all their woes in anticipation, that greenbacks 
were of little value, this old German friend concluded to invest as many super- 
fluous greenbacks in the church as possible. So, with this idea in view, he 
started out on a tour of collecting, or begging, to obtain money for the purpose 
of adding a steeple and bell to their church, and used for his strongest plea the 
instability of greenbacks, or the uncertainty of their long remaining of value. 
In 1868, the German Evangelical Association, or German Methodists, built a 
church on Section 17, at a cost of between $2,500 and $3,000. It is a hand- 
some frame building, well finished, and presents a modern appearance. A 
flourishing Church and Sunday school are maintained, and ably supported by 
the German citizens of this part of the town. Wheatland has several pretty 
little cemeteries, which are kept in good order, and show much respect for the 



5i0 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

beloved dead. There are two on Section 14, one at the schoolhouse, one at the 
German Lutheran Church, and another on Section 8. 

The first post office established in the township was called East Wheatland, 
but what year we were unable to learn. It is located on Section 1";3, and Tam- 
arack Post Office was established some vears later in the southwest corner of the 
town. There is a store at Tamarack Post Office, the only institution of the kind 
maintained in the entire township. In the early times, prior to township organ- 
ization, Wheatland was known as Oregon Precinct, But in the process of 
naming the townships, as " made and provided " by law, this was called Wheatland 
by a man from the Empire State, whose native place was called Wheatland, and 
the name has been retained ever since. 

Politically, Wheatland Township at the present day, is largely Republican, 
perhaps three-fourths of its voters supporting that ticket. Before the organi- 
zation of the Republican party, however, it was probably Democratic ; but as in 
many other sections of the country, it has changed its base, politically speak- 
ing, in the last decade or two of years. During the late war, Wheatland did 
its duty equally well with other portions of Will County. Its citizens waited 
no urging ; that the old flag had been defied by rebels and traitors, was suffi- 
cient incentive to send them to the army by the score. But as the deeds of the 
Will County soldiery have already been written, we shall not repeat them here. 

The recent settlements of Wheatland Township, and the absence of any- 
thing like towns or villages, leaves but little here to write about, or to make 
history. It is now pretty thickly settled, and that by an intelligent and ener- 
getic class of people, with excellent schools and churches. It has good roads- 
and a number of substantial wooden bridges, but these are of such modern date 
as to be hardly considered an interesting matter of history. Then, with these 
brief pages, we will leave it for some future historian to do it more ample justice. 

JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 

This is one of the earliest settled townships in the county, the date of it& 
first settlement being almost coincident with that of Chicago. Chicago was laid 
out August 4, 1830, and the first settlement was male at Reed's Grove six 
months later. This grove being situated at the corners of Jackson, Channahon, 
Wilmington and Florence Townships, has given rise to no little misunderstand- 
ing as to the location of some of the early settlers of this vicinity ; and we shall 
not be surprised if some of our statements do not receive immediate indorse- 
ment. Several parties, or colonies, who settled in the Grove, though in the 
immediate neighborhood, since township lines have been established have proved 
to be in difierent townships. This fact also makes the narration of events in 
one township, without at the same time bringing in the history of other town- 
ships, quite difficult; and a small amount of repetition will therefore' be 
necessary. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 541 

Reed's Grove received its earliest white settler in 1831. At that time, 
Indians were plenty in this part of the State, and the Grove was one of their 
favorite resorts and dwelling-places. The territory now embraced in these 
townships was occupied by the tribe or nation called Pottawatomies. The rela- 
tions between these people and their early white neighbors were of the most 
friendly character. They hunted, visited and drank together, as peaceably as 
the more modern occupants of the county. 

To Charles Reed belongs the credit of being the first settler, not only of 
Jackson Township, but of the grove which still bears his name. Reed was a 
man of energy and spirit. He had a family of grown up children, some of 
whom were already married ; and, being desirous of seeing them settled in 
homes of their own, such as he was unable to provide for them in the older 
settled States — he resolved to emigrate to this place. 

Accordingly, he with his two sons-in-law, Charles Koons and Eli Shoemaker, 
and Joseph Shoemaker (brother of Eli), set out for this place in the early Spring 
of 1831, and reached the grove March 2 of that year. At that time, but few 
families had settled in the whole section now embraced in Will County. Dwellers 
at a distance of twenty-five miles were considered neighbors. Joseph Shoemaker, 
though mentioned here as a member of this settlement or colony, did not in 
reality settle in Jackson Township. He is usually accredited as the first settler of 
Wilmington Township ; but this, too, seems to be an error, as his cabin was just on 
the north side of the line subsequently located between Wilmington and Chan- 
nahon. Reed, with the balance of his family, removed from the township more 
than twenty-five years ago, and while the country was yet indeed new. George 
Kirkpatrick and brother and James Hemphill lacked but a few months of being 
the first. They came from Ohio, and settled here in May following the advent 
of Reed. Of these, George Kirkpatrick still resides in the township, but the 
other two are dead. James Hemphill died in 1863. 

During the Spring of the next year, two new companies settled in the town- 
ship. Wesley Jenkins, Thomas Underwood — brother-in-law of Jenkins — and 
Jefferson Ragsdale were from North Carolina. Of the "Jenkins Colony," as 
it was called, none are left, all having removed to other parts. Jenkins was 
quite a character — a very loud and emphatic-spoken man, and a great admirer 
of Gen. Jackson, whose gloiy was then at its height. It is related that when 
the matter of naming the creek, which traverses the township, and from which 
it is named, was under consideration, Jenkins swore with violent gesture that 
no personage was worthy of the name but the " Hero of New Orleans," and 
Jackson it was called. 

A Methodist Church was organized in this neighborhood at a very early date, 
and one of its members felt that he was " called to preach." Some doubted 
the genuineness of the calling, amongst whom was this profane Jenkins, who 
accounts for the preacher's determination to proclaim the Gospel, by saying 
that it was his custom to go out early every morning to feed his hogs, and in 



542 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Stentorian tones, which might be mistaken for Gabriel, to call his pigs to their 
morning meal. On one occasion, he says, while performing this work in 
the dim light of the approaching morning, he observed running with the 
hogs, with hymn book in hand, this self-styled preacher, who, he avers, had 
mistaken his voice for the "call to preach." Indeed, the conduct of the 
preacher, as subsequently developed, has gone far toward verifying Jenkins' 
story, the preacher having long since fallen from grace. Jenkins was the life 
of all the house and barn raisings, and enlivened all of the husking and other 
" bees " with his peculiar, though sometimes profane, jokes. 

The Linebarger colony arrived here from Indiana the same Spring with 
Jenkins. The company consisted of Henry, John, George and Lewis. The 
last named, however, settled in the town of Florence, a short distance from the 
others. They were also Carolinians, and had left there years before and had 
resided for a time in Indiana, near the Wabash. Of these, Henry Line- 
barger lived here but four years, dying here in 1836. George Linebarger 
is now a resident of the village of Elwood. He has been a very useful citizen, 
a leader in the Methodist Church, and one of its most pious members. He is 
now in poor health, and waits but for a short time to take up his residence in 
another and better country. John Linebarger, though he came to the township 
at the date named, returned to Indiana a few weeks later, and did not make 
the township his permanent home until 1850. He now resides in Elwood, and 
is engaged in the grain business. 

Peter Eib, with his three sons, George, Levi and Augustus, was from the 
State of Virginia. The elder Eib was very fond of his gun, and an excellent 
marksman. He found here plenty of game on which to practice his skill. It 
was not an uncommon thing to see from fifty to one hundred deer in a single 
drove. Turkeys, wolves and other game were so plenty as to make them 
almost a nuisance. Mr. Eib passed away years ago, but his sons still remain 
and are amongst the best citizens of the community. 

In 1832, emigration to these parts, and indeed to all Northern and Western 
Illinois, received a very severe check. Previously, the whites and red men had 
been on the best of terms ; and especially in this region there seemed to be no 
jealousies existing between the two races. Land and game were so plenty, and 
the white settlers were so few, that the Indians here did not feel as though 
their rights were being encroached upon. And then again, the tribes dwelling 
in this part of the State were of a more civilized character than some others. 
Indeed, some of the leaders or chiefs were so much so that when the proposition 
to build the Michigan & Illinois Canal was being agitated, they were not only 
willing to have the improvement made, but gave it all the encouragement they 
could; and it is said that among the first acts of Congress relating to the proj- 
ect there is a clause permitting the free use of the Canal forever to these 
people. However, before the completion of the work, the stealthy stroke of 
the Indian's paddle, propelling his canoe, had ceased. The causes which led 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTV. 543 

to their removal were just beginning to take shape, when the emigrants whose 
names have been given had barely completed their journey. Black Hawk, of 
whom mention is made on pages 74-79, and his followers and allies had become 
restless and jealous of the white people, who were in that part of the country 
steadily encroaching on both the real and fancied rights of their red brethren. 
These jealousies eventually broke out into actual conflict, and the State and 
national military were called out to quell the deadly trouble that seemed to be 
rising. Of course, great excitement prevailed everywhere, and in sparsely- 
settled neighborhoods like this, with no commensurate means of resistance at 
hand, and with a people in their midst who, though professing friendship, were 
yet known to be of a treacherous nature, the most serious apprehensions were 
entertained. In this state of fear and anxiety the inhabitants of this vicinity 
were living when, about the latter part of May, 1832, news was brought to the 
neighborhood of the massacre of several families and the capture and abduction 
of two young ladies near Ottawa. In those days, this was considered only an 
adjacent neighborhood, and very naturally the alarm created in this place was 
intense. A meeting of all the citizens was immediately called, and it was 
quickly resolved that, in consideration of their utter inability to repel an attack, 
it was best to remove to the more thickly settled country on the Wabash, whence 
many of them had formerly emigrated. Accordingly, on the following night 
at 10 o'clock, there were found nearly twenty wagons and teams gathered 
at Five-Mile Grove prepared to start. At about the time fixed for their 
departure they were joined by some parties who reported the Indians approach- 
ing. This precipitated their flight, and great confusion prevailed. One man 
had loaned his ox-yoke, and had sent for it, as he could not harness his cattle 
without it ; but Avhen the announcement Avas made that the enemy were near, 
he snatched a rail from the fence, and with a half-dozen strokes of the ax fash- 
ioned it into a substitute, which in a moment more was bound on the necks of 
his oxen with withes of hickory, as quickly cut from the brush, and he was one 
of the first to start for the Wabash, 

It had been intended to take the cattle and all of their household goods ; but 
so great was their hurry that everything of the kind was left behind. The gads 
were applied to the hides of the oxen, and the flight was as rapid as possible. 
Their way lay through the townships of Manhattan, VV^ilton and Rockville, 
crossing the Kankakee at one of its fords. After traveling some miles, finding 
that they were not pursued, two of the men determined to return and bring 
forward the stock which had been left behind. However, when they came to 
the settlement no stock could be found, having wandered ofi" into the woods. 
One of the men then bethought him of a bag of maple sugar which had but 
recently been manufactured from the sap of trees which grew here. Throwing 
this across his horse, he, with his companion, set out to overtake the main 
party. They had traveled but a few miles Avhen they perceived, at a distance, 
two real Indians rapidly following them. They very naturally conjectured that 



544 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

these were only scouts of a large party of human butchers, and put spurs to their 
horses. On looking back, they found that the Indians were pursuing them 
rapidly. The bag of sugar was a real burden and diflBcult to carry, so it was 
allowed to slip to the ground. Thus relieved, horses and riders dashed forward 
with increased rapidity. Indians are notoriously fond of sugar, and this was 
quite a prize, and, as they stopped to examine, taste and eat, the pursued parties 
left their would-be captors far behind. As they came up with their friends, they 
were just crossing the Kankakee. As soon as the report that they were being pur- 
sued had spread to the company, confusion was worse than confounded, and the 
alarm vented itself in the shrieks of the women, the cries of the children and the 
curses of the men, mingled with the bellowing of the sharply goaded oxen. One 
team seemed to partake of the excitement, but instead of rushing for the other 
side, stood stock still, unable to move. The driver, in his desperation, believ- 
ing the wagon mired, hastily unhitched the oxen from the load, and, placing his 
wife, who was the other occupant of the wagon, on one ox, he bestrode the 
other, and, applying the lash with renewed vigor, they gained the other shore 
and soon overtook the train. The relation of such incidents, at this date, causes 
no little merriment, but at the time of their occurrence were very serious indeed. 
Even those who were participants tell the story of " Five-Mile Massacre," and 
laugh heartily ; though it is said that the hero of the bag of sugar was ever 
afterward quite sensitive on that point, and, although a man of piety, no man 
could say " sugar" to him without running great risk of being knocked down. 
On the evening of the second day, having found that the last incident related 
was only a scare from some friendly Pottawatomies, the party halted, and it was 
proposed to have supper and a night's rest. But here, again, were enacted the 
scenes of the crossing of the Kankakee. Just as the fires had began to blaze, 
preparatory to cooking the much-needed meal, a horseman galloped into camp 
and stopped just long enough to say that the Indians were after them in ear- 
nest. Thus, their supper and sleep were dispensed with, and not until three 
nights and days had passed did they stop long enough to take a nap, or eat, 
except as they fled. After several days more of travel, during which they 
received no further alarms, they reached Danville, whence they learned troops 
had been sent to take care of the savages, and all fear and anxiety were at an 
end. Soon after, Black Hawk and his people were removed to the other side 
of the Mississippi River ; and, all fear of molestation having passd, most of 
the former residents of this neighborhood returned. They found the most of 
their cattle and hogs, and their crops were unmolested. The cows, however, 
"had gone dry," and the corn was sadly in need of cultivation. The wagon 
was recovered from the bed of the Kankakee, and even the greater part of the 
bag of sugar was restored by the hand of one of the friendly red men, who had 
only pursued them to inform them that there was not the least danger. In the 
Fall of 1832, arrived Jacob and Joseph Zumalt. The Zumalts removed to Cal- 
ifornia some years ago. They were natives of Ohio. 




•v.--. 



Betsey Parker Holden 

(deceased) 
FRANKFORT TP. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 547 

The most systematic and extensive, and at the same time one of the most 
important, settlements of this part of the county was made in 1834. This 
colony consisted of 11. J. Boylan, Peter Brown and two sons — John and Ara — 
and Smith Johnson. These parties were from New Jensey, and came well 
prepared, and with a full understanding of the enterprise in which they were 
embarking. Most pioneers in those days " pulled up stakes," as the saying 
was, and moved with but little previous knowledge of the country to which they 
were going. In many cases they were guided by unreliable reports, sometimes 
seemingly by instinct and sometimes entirely by accident. But in the case of 
Boylan and his company, the greatest care was taken. Maps were consulted, 
the most reliable reports were procured and read, and all of the information 
obtainable Avas procured and used. R. J. Boylan, a practical surveyor and a 
man of excellent judgment, was sent forward to select, survey and locate the 
land. He came to this neighborhood, and having located twenty-one eighties, 
or 1,680 acres, notified the balance of the colony, who came on at once, and 
occupied the land. Hardly a finer selection could be made than this, consisting 
of land on, and in the vicinity of, Jackson Creek. Of the original colonists, 
only Mr. Boylan remains. Mr. Boylan has been a very active man, having 
been identified with almost every enterprise of any consequence in this section 
of the country. He has held many positions of honor and trust, among which 
may be named that of County Surveyor and Township Treasurer, the latter of 
which he has occupied for the last sixteen years. In consequence of this activity, 
united with strictly temperate habits, he now enjoys, at an advanced age, per- 
fect health and the exercise of his full mental faculties. His house is the onlv 
stone dwelling in the township, and is situated on the bank of the fine little 
stream named in honor of the " Hero of New Orleans." Though the origi- 
nal Browns and Johnson have passed away, they have left behind numerous 
descendants and kindred, who occupy the old and original selections, as made 
in 1834. 

Henry Watkins and sons, Henry, Jr., Benjamin and Peter, arrived from 
New York in 1834. None of this family now reside here, all having moved 
away. About the last-named date, a schoolhouse was built at Reed's Grove, 
and Henry Watkins was employed to teach the first school therein. 

Edward Kirk was also one of the oldest settlers in this part of the county. 
He had come to the county a year or two previous to his settling in Jackson 
in 1835. 

Mrs. Adaline Grant is one of the oldest residents of the county, bavins: lived 
here about forty-five years. She is now a resident of El wood. 

The Indian scare having blown over, the country began now to settle quite 
rapidly. Many soldiers who came with Gen. Scott in 1832, to assist in subdu- 
ing the Indians, afterward came to the State to reside. Through their descrip- 
tions of the country, many more were induced to emigrate. The px'oposed 
canal doubtless had much to do with the settlement of this region. 



548 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

As in all pioneer towns and neighborhoods, so in this, there was that notable 
feature of roughness, and yet accompanying it was universal kindness and hos- 
pitality ; so that, while the old settlers are willing to admit an improvement in. 
the manners and qjorals of the people, they are wont to disclaim against the 
lack of sympathy and brotherly feeling as compared with the times when their 
nearest neighbor lived miles away. In those times, they say, if any one was 
sick, everybody within a radius of twenty miles knew and manifested the deep- 
est interest. Did one of the pioneers die, his funeral was attended by every 
inhabitant of the country, and births and marriages were subjects of universal 
congratulation. If a house or barn were to be raised, every man in the neigh- 
borhood was invited to assist and stay to dinner ; and if, perchance, a neighbor 
were overlooked in the invitation, it was taken as cause for serious affront. 

Newspapers were not so plenty as now, and in the pioneer settlements a copy 
was seldom seen. Indeed only one small weekly was published in Chicago prior 
to 1835, and it was a number of years after that when a few copies began to 
find their way to this neighborhood. Not until about 1840, was a post-route 
established through this part of the county, so that the settlement was in a 
measure isolated from the balance of the world. As before stated, about 1840, 
a post-route from Joliet to Danville was established, and an ofifice was located 
on Jackson Creek. James Gager was first Postmaster, and kept the office at 
his house. Though a great convenience to the community, it was a great nui- 
sance to its keeper ; and consequently it had a precarious kind of migratory ex- 
istence of about fifteen years, until it was finally permanently located at Elwood, 
on the completion of the railroad and the location of that town. 

The township of Jackson was one of the first to organize in 1850 as a sep- 
arate precinct. A large number of the present townships contained such a 
limited number of inhabitants that it was found necessary to attach them to 
others until they should be strong enough for separate organization. The first 
election was held April 2, 1850 ; but who the first officers were, or who have 
been their successors, is not so clearly remembered that we feel safe in giving 
them ; and as the township records were destroyed in the Elwood fire in 1874, 
the names are therefore not obtainable. 

The names ot the present officers are : Henry Spangler, Supervisor ; Jona- 
than Hougham, Collector ; Francis Shearn, Assessor ; Albert Linebarger, 
Clerk ; P. F. Dooley and Joseph Tehle, Justices of the Peace ; Robert Barnes, 
Constable ; R. J. Boylan, Jacob Palmer and Cyrus Hemphill, Commissioners 
of Highways, and R. J. Boylan, School Treasurer. 

From the very first, the inhabitants of this township have manifested more 
than an ordinary interest in those two reforming and elevating influences — 
religion and education. Hardly had the early pioneers unloaded their wagons 
before religious services of a public character were performed. Like the Puri- 
tans, when they had but just disembarked from the Mayflower, they fell down 
on their knees and thanked God for tlieir safe journey through the trackless 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 549 

waste. As early as 1833, an organization for religious purposes was effected. 
This consisted of a Methodist class, of which William Thornburg was appointed 
First Leader. Tiiis little organization was what has since developed into the 
El wood M. E. Church. From a paper prepared and read before the Elwood 
Church, by Rev. G. J. Kinne, we are permitted to lay before our readers a com- 
plete though brief history of this oldest Church in the township and one of the 
oldest in the county. 

Soon after the establishing of the class alluded to, a schoolhouse was built 
in the vicinity, and in this services were held for a number of years. Among 
the old pioneer preachers who visited the place and preached to the people, are 
mentioned the names of Jesse Walker, John Sinclair, S. R. Begf^s, S. H. 
Stocking and others. Under their preaching, the Church prospered and o-rew 
in numbers, influence and wealth until, in 1852, they found themselves able to 
build a house of worship. The site selected was nearly a mile west of the vil- 
lage and of its present location. The cost of the building was |1,800. In 
1866, it was determined to remove the building to the village. It was thought 
that the location at the Grove, on account of the growing village at so short 
a distance, was not the most suitable site for an increasing membership. Dur- 
ing the migration of the house which so many had learned to love, meetings 
were held in it daily. Like the travels of the tabernacle, which the Israelites 
carried from Egypt to the land of Canaan, the journey of the old church was 
consecrated from its beginning to its end by the prayers and praises of the peo- 
ple. By October of the year named, the house had been remodeled and was 
complete for re-dedication. At present, the building, inside and out, presents 
a neat and attractive appearance, and will afford accommodations for about two 
hundred and fifty sittings. 

The next year after the removal, this branch was made a separate charcre. 
The organization has continued to increase in numbers and importance. The 
membership is about one hundred, of whom William Clark is present Pastor. 
In connection with the Church is a flourishing Sunday school, under the Super- 
intendence of William Nicholson. The school numbers about one hundred 
members. 

The Baptist Church of Elwood was built in 1859, at a cost of about f!2,000. 
Rev. Mr. Renfrew was the first preacher. For some years past, the society has 
not been in the most flourishing condition, and at times the buildinor has been 
closed. At present, services are held tAvice each month, by Rev. Mr. Bradbier 
of Gardner. A Sunday school is in operation, with Bateman Lloyd as Super- 
intendent. The membership of the Church is about fifty, and of the Sunday 
school, about as many. 

In 1863, the Reformed Lutherans of this township living in the vicinitv of 
Jackson Creek organized and built a neat little church on the southwest cor- 
ner of Section 15, at a cost of ^1,200. Rev. Rufus Smith, Edward Loomis 
S. Bosley, Henry and Christopher Lichtenwater and Christopher Faut were 



550 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

amongst the leading projectors of the work. Rev. Smith was the first preacher, 
and for a time labored in this corner of the Lord's vineyard with good accept- 
ance ; but, by and by, his opinions in regard to the subject of religion under- 
went a change, and with him coincided many of his flock, and it was decided 
to abandon the organization. Accordingly, about five years after the house was 
built, the congregation assembled and a motion was made and carried that the 
house be " deeded to the Lord," and that tie look after its interest in the future. 
The instrument was drawn up in due form and regularly signed, but whether 
delivered or recorded we are not permitted to know. Since that event, the 
house has been occupied irregularly by different denominations; at present by 
the Methodists, Rev. Olif Morse conducting the sei'vices. 

The United Brethren have held religious services in the northeastern part 
of the township for over twenty-five years. In 1865, they erected, on the north- 
east corner of Section 11, their present house of worship, at a cost of ^2,000. 
The building is a neat frame, 30 feet in width by 45 feet in length, and will 
seat one hundred and fifty to two hundred persons. Rev. Mr. Marglist is 
present Pastor, and Isaac Overholser is Superintendent of the Sunday school. 

On the northwest corner of Section 24, stands the German Methodist, or, 
more properly speaking, the Church of the Evangelical Association. This is 
also a frame building, and was erected in 1865. It is 28x36 feet in size, and 
cost ^Ij-iOO. It was erected at the instance of William Poleman, John Gise, 
Isaac Mover, William Kriemier, Jacob Wible and other prominent members of 
the Association. Rev. Rieman Snyder, is the resident Pastor, and M. Moyer is 
Superintendent of the Sabbath school. Preaching and other religious services 
have been held here for over twenty years by this denomination. 

Besides the churches named, church service and Sunday schools are held 
in several of the public schoolhouses in the township. 

As intimated, the church and school go hand in hand in their influence for 
good on the human family ; and so we find in this and many other towns many 
instances where the schoolhouse and the church-building stand adjacent to each 
other, and many more in which one building answers both purposes. In 1834, 
the first school was opened in Reed's Grove, with Henry Watkins as teacher of 
fifteen boys and girls. School has been maintained in the township ever since ; 
and, from the date named until 1870, there was a continual increase in the 
number of persons in attendance at the schools. Since 1870, the attendance 
has remained about the same. We have it on the best authority that the con- 
dition of the schools in this township is very good. 

As an indication of what is being done for the education of the youth of 

Jackson -Township, a few items are here given : 

Number of persons under 21 724 

Number of persons between (j and 21 years 512 

Numberof persons atlcnding school 455 

Number of male teachers 6 

Number of female teachers 12 



HISTORY OP WILL COUNTY. 551 

Number of months taught 88 . 

Number of days' attendance 41,278 

Number of persons between 12 and 21 who cannot read 0(( 

Kstimated value of school property $0,000 00 

Highest wages paid to any teacher 60 00 

Lowest wages paid to any teacher 2C> 00 

Total expenditure for school purposes (1877) 4,730 00 

The attention of the reader is directed to the second and third items. A 
comparison of these two will disclose the fact that nearly 90 per cent of all 
between 6 and 21 have attended school during the past year ; and when we take 
into account that scarcely any over 18 years of age ever attend, the showing 
for those of from 6 to 18 is still better. 

Another expressive item also appears in the table. There is not one person 

in the township between 12 and 21 who cannot read and write. In France, 
Spain, Italy and some other Eastern countries, usually termed enlightened 

nations, and several of the southern States, from 30 to 60 per cent of the adults 
cannot even read. The inhabitants of Jackson Township are proud of their 
schools, as they have good reason to be. 

Jackson Township is bounded on the north by Joliet, east by Manhattan, 
south by Florence and west by Channahon. It is a full Congressional town, 
and is described as such as Town 34 north, Range 10 east of Third Principal 
Meridian. It contains thirty-six sections, or 23,040 acres. Most of the land 
in this township is first-class, of a deep rich soil, well adapted to the production 
of corn, rye, oats and vegetables. 

Nearly all of the land is well farmed, and the neat and, in many cases, ele- 
gant dwellings and other buildings betoken a thrifty and prosperous population. 
Originally, about one-fourth of the township was covered with timber, but the 
early settlers cut off a large portion, not only for fuel, but for fencing, house 
and barn building ; and but for the railroad, which now brings lumber for the 
latter purposes, and the discovery of coal as a substitute for the former, hardly 
a tree would now be left. As it is, probably three or four sections may, with 
propriety, be denominated timber land. The township is well watered by Jack- 
son and Prairie Creeks, the former of which flows through the central part, from 
east to west, and the latter through the southeast corner. The Chicago & St. 
Louis Railroad crosses the township in the western part, entering near the north- 
west corner of Section 4, and diverging toward the west, leaving near the south- 
west corner of Section 31. 

VILLAGE OF ELWOOD. 

The year 1854 was eventful for numerous localities between Joliet and 
Bloomington, as it marks the completion of what was then called the Chicago 
& Mississippi Railroad, now called the Chicago & St. Louis, and the location 
of most of the villages and towns along the line. Before that date, a town in 
Jackson Township was not thought of; and, had it been, any other portion 
■would have been as likely to be fixed upon as its present site. As soon as the 



552 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

road was completed, steps were at once taken to establish a station at this point, 
and this being accomplished, the village followed as a consequence. A conven- 
ient trading-point was at once provided, and the country and its products 
demanded tradesmen, mechanics and professional men. 

The town was surveyed and platted and lots oifered for sale in 1854 and 185r>, 
by Messrs. Spencer, Gardner and Myers, gentlemen interested in the road. 
The first house built in the town was erected by William Turner, formerly of 
New York, but at the date of which we write, a resident of the township. In 
this building he displayed the first stock of goods ever oifered for sale in the 
township. Turner was also appointed Postmaster, and kept the office in his 
store. Joseph Partee, who had also been living in the neighborhood, built the 
first dwelling, and James Barrett built the second. George Blair built the first 
blacksmith-shop. To these were added stores, shops and dwellings, and the 
town grew quite rapidly, so that, in 1869, it was found advisable to incorporate 
the same. Only a few scraps of the original records and lists escaped the fire 
of 1874, so that no complete list of its officers or narration of its public acts can 
now be given. It is, however, remembered with certainty that William Muhlig 
was first President, and R. Spaff"ord, John Linebarger, William Eversoll and 
T. A. Mapps were members of the Board of Trustees. W. F. Keith was first 
Police Magistrate. In 1873, the town was re-organized under the general law 
of the State. The present officers are: John H. Bridge, President; John 
Linebarger, C. D. Wickes, Bateman Lloyd, John Pinneo and J. J. Lichten- 
walter. Trustees; W. H. Kinne, Clerk; and W. W. Gifford, Treasurer. 

On the night of the 28th of May, 1874, a fire swept over the business part 
of the town, which, for destructiveness, taking into account the size of the 
place, exceeded that of Chicago of two years before. The fire bi'oke out in the 
store of William Nicholson, which stood near the center of the business por- 
tion, and in a few hours every store but one and the hotel had given way before 
the fiery element. This was a serious blow to the little town. Prior to this, 
it had been, though slowly, yet steadily increasing. The loss of property was 
estimated at ^30,000, of which not more than $1,000 was insured. Though 
some of the burned district has been rebuilt and business is carried on as before, 
some of the proprietors were so much crippled as not to be able to start again, 
and the village still feels the loss sustained. The present population is about 
four hundred. The schools of the village are in good condition. The first 
term taught in the village was by William Grant, who kept the same in the 
Baptist Church. The schoolhouse, which is the same now in use, was built a 
few years after the location of the town, at a cost of $2,500. In this building 
Thomas Greenlaw taught the first term. At present the school consists of 
three departments, of which S. B. Robins is Principal, and Nelson Wickes is 
Assistant. School is sustained about nine months each year. 

Elwood Lodge, No. 410, I. 0. 0. F., was established at this place October 
11, 1870, with William Muhlig, Sidney M. Stevens, Thomas C. Pennington, 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 553 

Charles H. Eddy and J. S. Hughes as charter members. During the time of 
its existence, but two of its members have died. The number of members now 
belonging is thirty. The present N. G. is A. H. Linebarger ; V. G., G. C. 
Wickes ; Secretary, Nelson Black ; and Treasurer, Robert Spaftbrd. 

The alarm of war, and that the country's life was in danger was not 
unheeded by the citizens of Elwood and of the township of Jackson. Like 
the namesake of the township, on a former occasion, when the serpent of rebell- 
ion raised its ghastly head, the strong men of this vicinity but stopped to utter 
the well-known and expressive sentence, "By the Eternal, etc.," and then 
rushed off to the nearest recruiting office to enroll themselves for " three years or 
during the war." The promptness with which they Hocked to the standard of 
the country was not surpassed by any other township, and many of them sacri- 
ficed their lives to protect it. 



CRETE TOWNSHIP. 

The township of Crete is one of the two largest in the county, being about 
nine sections more than a Congressional town. The Congressional survey des- 
cribes it as Town 34 north, Range 14 east, Avith all of Town 34, Range 15 
^east, lying in Illinois — ^the balance of last-described town lying in the State of 
Indiana. The township is bounded on the north by Cook County, on the east 
by Indiana, on the south by Washington Township, and on the west by Monee. 
Plum Creek, which flows from near the southwest corner and leaves the town- 
ship at the northeast corner, cuts it diagonally into two unequal portions. Ly- 
ing along the banks of this and a small southern branch of the same, is a heavy 
belt of timber, formerly named and still known as Beebe's Grove, from one of 
its earliest settlers. The northwest corner, along Thorn Creek, is also covered 
with timber, and is called Thorn Grove. Ten or twelve sections, therefore, of 
the township of Crete are woodland ; not so heavy, however, as formerly, the 
largest trees having fallen before the woodman's ax. The injunction of the 
poet, ''Woodman, spare that tree," was unheeded by the early settler, and most 
•of the noblest of the forest's representatives entered into the construction of their 
dwellings, or were consumed in the shape of fuel. Strange as it may seem, land was 
actually cleared for agricultural purposes ; though just outside and adjoining 
"were thousands of acres better adapted for farming than the land thus labori- 
ously prepared for the plow ; but then, they had seen it done so in the East or 
South, from whence they had come, and the prairie would have been an experi- 
ment, and they had no time or disposition to try it. 

The soil is varied ; some of the land is very fertile, and in other parts of the 
township the reverse is the case. All of the land is well adapted for the purpose 
of grazing, and dairying for several years has been carried on quite extensively. 

Hogs, cattle, corn and other grains and vegetables, common to this climate, 
are raised. In the southeastern portion was formerly an extensive marsh cov- 



554 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

ering about a section. Successful drainage has redeemed this land and made it 
good pasturage. Prior to 1869, the market was Chicago, with occasional trad- 
ing with Monee, on the Illinois Central Railroad. In the year named, the 
Chicago & Eastern Illinois, or Danville & Vincennes, line was completed through 
the western portion of the township, making a direct outlet for produce. The 
village of Crete had already been laid out and built up : but on the com- 
pletion of this line, it took a new growth, and is now one of the most thriv- 
ing places in this part of the State. Another town in the southwestern part 
also sprang up, and the convenient trading-point of Goodenow was estab- 
lished. 

The original settlements of Crete Township were four, and quite distinct. 
The settlements of Thorn Grove, Beebe s Grove and Wood's Corners, on the 
State road, were almost identical as to time, but divided as to locality more defi- 
nitely than are the townships of to-day. Especially was this the case with the 
two grove settlements ; while Wood's Corners, now the village of Crete, being 
just on the borders of Thorn Grove, partook more of the identity of that set- 
tlement. The German settlement, which began a few years later, though not 
confined to any one locality, was yet distinct, in that the people were from the 
same country and spoke a different language ; and, too, their settlements were 
made mostly on the prairie, the borders of the groves having generally been 
previously occupied. 

If any of these settlements can claim priority, probably the advantage, on 
that score, lies with Thorn Grove, David Haner being the first permanent set- 
tler of that locality. His location here was certainly as early as 1834. There 
may have been some one in that part of the Grove east of the Monee Township 
line ; but, as this family was permanent, members of it still residing here, the 
claim, if for no other reason, appears good. One or two other names have been 
suggested ; but, as the evidence in the one case is conflicting, and in the other 
case the parties having removed at an early date, we give them other places in 
the matter of chronology. 

Mr. Haner died many years ago, perhaps as many as thirty, but his inter- 
ests were closely identified with the neighborhood. He was the first Constable 
in this section, at a period following closely on the organization of the county. 
He was from the State of New York. 

Following soon after, came to Thorn Grove, James Rice and William 
Brooks — Rice from Indiana and Brooks from New York. In the cabin of the 
former are said to have occurred the first death, the first birth and the first mar- 
riage in this township. Very soon after the arrival of these two men, with 
their wives, James Rice, Jr., was born, and almost coincident was the death of 
James Rice, Sr. Very shortly after, Mr. Brooks' wife died, and Mr. Brooks 
and Mrs. Rice each being in want ol a partner, their marriage was celebrated 
in the aforementioned Rice mansion. The united family removed to Minnesota 
some years ago. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 655 

A. R. Starr and Erastus Cole, both from New York, came in 1835. Both 
these men are dead ; but a son of the former now resides in Joliet, and a son 
of the latter still lives here, and is a large farmer of this township. 

In 1838, A, Wilder, formerly of New York, but more recently of Ohio, 
moved into the neighborhood. Mr. Wilder still resides in this neighborhood. 
He has always been and still is one of the most prominent of the citizens of 
Crete Township. 

In the mean time, the State road, mentioned in Washington Township, was 
attracting some settlers. Doubtless from its very publicity, and from the de- 
sire of the human kind for society, or even the frequent sight of his species, 
the "Big Road," all along its extent, became a continuous settlement. Willard 
AVood was the nucleus or founder of the Corners, or what has developed into 
the village of Crete, and, in 1849, laid out the town. Mr. Wood has probably 
been more closely identified with the interests of this vicinity and of the whole 
township than any other man. Willard Wood taught the first school, in the 
Winter of 1837-38, a short distance north of the Corners ; and, in 1840, was 
appointed first School Treasurer. Charles Wood was a brother, but does not 
reside here now, having removed to Minnesota. Luman Hewes came, with a 
large family, from Vermont, in 1837. The family consisted of Mr. Hewes and 
wife, sons John, Austin, William, Benjamin, Luman, Jr., Daniel and Wallace, 
and one daughter. Four of the sons — John, Benjamin, Daniel and Wal- 
lace — are still residents of the township ; the balance are all dead. They have 
all been successful men. All bought farms and improved them, though some 
are at present engaged in other business. 

Enoch Dodge came from New Hampshire, in 1838. He is dead, but the 
family still reside here. Asa Lyttle Avas also an early settler in this neighbor- , 
hood. He was a native of Vermont, and is now a resident of Minnesota. B. 
Boardman, now of California, was also from Vermont. B. Stafford was 
another Vermonter. He was the father of Gov. Stafford, of Arizona, 
and also of Mrs. Dr. Mary Blake, Medical Lecturer in one of the medi- 
cal colleges of Boston. During the late war, Mrs. Blake repaired to the 
scene of battle and engaged in the work of nursing and caring for the sick and 
wounded soldiers, and, in that capacity, gained the enviable title of " Le Petite 
Angel." 

In the eastern portion of the township, where lies the longest stretch of 
timber-land, quite an extensive settlement was being made at the same pe- 
riod. Minoris Beebe is credited with being the pioneer, and his advent was. 
no doubt, as early as 1834. In honor of him the grove was named. He was 
a man of more than ordinary intelligence and worth, and was one of the first 
Justices of the Peace in this section of the county. Following him but a short 
time after, was Hardin Beebe, uncle of Minoris and father of Judge Beebe, of 
Kankakee. Quartos Marsh, with five sons — Edwin, Jonathan, Henry, Nelson 
and Frank — came about the year last named, or a very short time after. Of 



556 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

this family, Nelson was afterward editor of the Joliet Republican. The family, 
as a whole, was one of the best in the township. 

Maj. John Kyle was one of the earliest residents of the Grove, and was the 
first death. He was from the Green Mountain State. His son Merrill was 
Colonel in the late war. He is now a resident of Blue Island, near Chicago. 
Several other members of the family live in the city, and are all wealthy. 

J. E. Burritt and son, Elisha, son-in-law Henry Mulligan, and Norman 
Northrup, came together from Connecticut. Mr. Mulligan subsequently re- 
moved to the western part of the county. His oldest son is Superintendent of 
one of the railroads of Michigan, and resides at Detroit, in that State. North- 
Tup removed some years ago to Monee, where he died. His widow, who after- 
ward married Willard Wood, has also recently died. 

Shipman Frank and James L. Dean were both from New York. Frank 
was the first Postmaster in the township and was commissioned to take charge 
•of the ofiice of Endor, which was the first established. The post office has been, 
with the exception of a couple of years, from 1856 till 1858, in existence ever 
since. Mr. Frank died many years ago. His son, Augustus, is in the Treas- 
ury Department of the United States, at Washington. 

While the war with Mexico brought a large number of settlers to this coun- 
try, they having been in the service and received warrants for land, which they 
located here, so, also, the result of that war having opened up the extensive 
Pacific Slope to emigration, it was the means of removing many others to the 
gold-fields of California. The treaty of peace with Mexico had scarcely been 
signed, when there was almost an exodus from some of the Eastern States to 
dig for the precious metal. Among the number from this section who thirsted 
for gold was James L. Dean. He did not realize his bright anticipations, however, 
but died on the way. His family continued to reside here, until about 1859. 

Rev. David Ripley was the first preacher who located in the township. He 
was from Connecticut, and had been preaching in that State and New York, 
prior to his coming here. By him the first church organization in the township was 
effected, it being that of the Congregational denomination, in 1839. Hiram Rowley 
and John Pease M^ere from New York. The father of Rowley was one of the con- 
tractors for the building of the Erie Canal. It is said of him that on one occa- 
sion, while in the discharge of sume of his duties, Gov. Clinton and some other 
gentleman were on the ground inspecting the works. Mr. Rowley not being 
acquainted with the gentlemen or their business at the place, and noticing that 
they were somewhat in the way of the laborers, ordered them to stand aside, 
and not to interfere Avith the work. Gov. Clinton, instead of taking offense at 
the seemingly rude treatment of His Excellency and companions, complimented 
Mr. Rowley on his zeal and energy in carrying on his business. Pease carried 
the first mail from Chicago to Iroquois, in 1836, at which time the post offices 
of Endor and Crete were established. Moses Cook and John Williamson were 
also here before 1839. They are still residents of the township. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 557 

In the year last named, Samuel Gushing, or Deacon Gushing as he is more 
generally called, arrived from New York. He has a history that would make 
a respectable appendix to "Uncle Tom's Gabin"; and all of the interesting inci- 
dents of his pioneer life, which was at a period when the Antislavery move- 
ment in this country was just beginning to assume shape, and when the under- 
ground railway, for the transfer of colored passengers from bondage to a 
land of freedom, was just being established, would make a volume. Notwith- 
standing the laws of Illinois imposed severe penalties on any convicted of in 
anywise aiding or abetting a fugitive in his efforts to gain his liberty, Samuel 
Gushing accepted the position of agent and conductor, and his house was a real 
station, Mr. Gushing thinks he has helped to place beyond the reach of their 
pursuers, about eighty or ninety of these fugitives. The usual method of opera- 
tion was to receive the " human chattels " from the hands of a former conductor, 
from Wilmington or Joliet, before daylight, keep them concealed in the upper 
room of his cabin through the day ; and then, as night came on, convey them 
to Grown Point in Indiana, arriving there before light the next morning. Many 
incidents of an exciting and interesting character took place, which, but for 
want of space, are worthy of mention here. SuflBce it to say that Mr. Gushing s 
operations finally culminated in 1843, in his indictment and arrest for *' harbor- 
ing slaves." It seems almost incredible that such a proceeding should have 
taken place so short a time ago. Thirty-five years have barely passed, and 
there is not a slave in the land. Then the poor, trembling fugitives came, 
seeking shelter and protection from such as were adjudged outlaws in the free 
State of Illinois. The following is a copy of the original indictment, still in 
the possession of Mr. Gushing, and is certainly, to say the least, considering 
the character of the man, the time and place, and the nature of the offense, a 

great curiosity : 

(Jf the October term of the Will County Circuit Court, in the year of our Lord, one thousand 
eight hundred and forty-three, State of Illinois, Will County : 

The Grand .Jurors, chosen, selected, and sworn, in and for the County of Will, aforesaid, in 
the name and by the authority of the peop'e of the state of Illinois, on their oath present that 
Samuel Cushing late of said county, at the county aforesaid, on the first day of July, in the year 
of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty three, four negroes, then and there slaves, 
and owing service to a person to the jurors unknown, residing in the state of Missouri, one of 
the United States of America, then and there, to wit : on the day and year, and at the county 
aforesaid, in the dwelling house of him the said Cushing then and there situate did harbor, he 
the said Samuel Cushing, then and there well knowing the said negroes then and there to be such 
v-ilaves, and fugitives from service as aforesaid; contrary to the form of the .statute in such case 
made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the same people of the state of Illinois. 

And the Grand Jurors, chosen, selected and sworn, in and for the county aforesaid, in the 
name and by the authority of the people of the state of Illinois, on their oaths aforesaid, do fur- 
ther present, that one Samuel Cushing, late of said county, on the first day of July, in the year 
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three, at the county aforesaid, one female 
negro, and one male negro, there and then being slaves and owing service to a person to the 
jurors unknown, in the state of .Missouri, one of the United States of America, then and there to 
wit: on the day and year aforesaid at the county aforesaid in the dwelling house of him, the 
said Samuel Cushing then and there situate did harbor, he the said Samuel Cushing then and 



558 HISTOIU' OF WILL COUNTY. 

there well knowing the said female negro and the said male negro, then and there to be such' 
slaves and fugitives from the said state of Missouri ; contrary to the statute in such case made 
and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the said people of the state of Illinois. 

And the Grand Jurors chosen, selected and sworn, in and for the county aforesaid, in tiie 
name and by the authority of the people of the state of Illinois, on their oath aforesaid do further 
present that one Samuel Gushing, late of said county, on the tirst day of July in the year of our 
Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three, at the county aforesaid, two colored persons 
then and there .being slaves and owing service to a person to the Jurors unknown in the state of 
Missouri, one of the United States of America, then and there, to wit : on the day and year 
last aforesaid, at the county aforesaid, in the dwelling house of him, the said Samuel Gushing,, 
then and there and then situate, did harbor, he the said Samuel Gushing, then and there well 
knowing the said two colored persons, then and there to be such slaves as aforesaid, and fugitives 
from their said service as slaves aforesaid ; contrary to the form of the statute in such case made 
and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the same people of the state of Illinois. 

P. PALLING ALL, 
States Attorney, Pro Tem. 
Seventh Judicial Circuit. 

On the back of the document appears the following indorsement : 

Will County Circuit Court, October Term, 1843. 

The People of the State of Illinois 

vs, 

Samuel Gushing. 

Indicted for harboring Slaves. 

A True Bill. 

G. G. Van Home, Foreman. 

Witness — Dwight Haven, Carlos Haven. 

Then comes the list of grand jurors : 

G. C. Van Home, John Runyon, John Tanner, Jr., Moses Porter, Jr., J. S. Reynolds, 
William Wigant, Robert Strong, William Rowe, John Robb, .lames Walker, Asher Holmes, Reu- 
ben Willard, George Woodruff, Titus S.Abbott, Dennis Kelly, Lyman Meacham, Lucius Robinson, 
Horace Messenger. 

It would, doubtless, be injustice to some of the names of the grand jurors 
whose signatures are given as indorsing this action, to suppose that they sym- 
pathized with the spirit which incited the movement. On the contrary, some of 
them will be recognized as leaders in the very cause for which Mr. Gushing was 
called upon to answer. On this indictment Mr. Gushing was arrested, taken 
to Joliet and held to bail until the next term of Gourt. At the term mentioned, 
though Mr. Gushing would have acknowledged to ten times as much as charged, 
the Prosecuting Attorney was not ready for trial ; and an immediate trial being 
demanded, a nol. pros, was entered, and the law-breaker allowed to return to 
his work of " aiding and harboring slaves, contrary to the form of the statute 
in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the peo- 
ple of the State of Illinois." At the session of the grand jury mentioned, Gol. 
Peter Stewart, of Wilmington, was indicted for a like offense and with like 
results. Fifty years hence, in the absence of records, it would be exceedingly 
hard to convince any one that such proceedings ever took place ; and, indeed, at 
the present time the relation of the event sounds like a story of a century past. 
Mr. Gushing still resides here at an advanced age, and expresses no regret for 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 559 

the part he took in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and sheltering the 
cold and weary, worn traveler, remembering that the Master had said, " Inas- 
much as ye have done it unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me." 

The first German who made his appearance on the prairie was William 
Rinne. His first habitation was. if anything, of a more primitive character 
than any of its time. It consisted simpl^^ of what might be denominated the 
rellar of a house, lacking the very material part, the building, or, in other 
words, simply a square hole in the ground, with a low wall of sods built above 
the surface and covered with prairie grass, supported by poles. In this burrow 
he lived five or six years, the while toiling and economizing until he had not 
only paid for his land, but had saved sufiicient to build a more comfortable 
abode. 

John 0. Meier, the present Supervisor of the township, came in 1844, and 
is next to the wealthiest man in this part of the county. 

John 0. Piepenbrink is one of the richest, if not the wealthiest, men in the 
township. He came to the township in 1849, and began the manufacture of 
butter and cheese. The business, though at first a small matter, has developed 
into a concern of large proportions, from which Mr. Piepenbrink has realized 
a fortune. 

John and Christopher Scheiwe came about the same time, and have been 
exceedingly successful in business. 

Conrad Tatge was one of the first German settlers, and, through his influ- 
ence, probably, more of that people have come to this neighborhood than 
through that of any other man. Mr. Tatge served the county for eight years 
as Circuit Clerk, in which position he merited and gained the esteem of all 
with whom he transacted business. The German settlement grew most rapidly 
from 1848 till 1856, at the end of which period most of the Government, rail- 
road and speculators' lands had been bought by them. Since then the German 
population has steadily increased by settlers in the village, and also by those 
who buy out the original purchasers of the land, they, in turn, removing to 
newer localities further west. The German people of Crete Township have 
proved to be most industrious, intelligent and honorable citizens, and the indi- 
cations of their prosperity are observed on every hand. 

Gustavus Brauns was the first German merchant. He came to Crete and 
opened a store in April, 1857. He has been a very successful man in business, 
and has the confidence and respect of not only his own people, but of all of 
his fellow-citizens. Beside these already named, among the early German set- 
tlers, were John VVindheim, Conrad VVeinhoffer, Henry Scheiwe, Philip Jurd- 
ining, Henry Ohlendorf, Conrad Hecht and Christopher Batterman, settling in 
various portions of the township, and mostly before the year 1850. 

The history of the churches of Crete Township is almost a history of the 
township itself, as nearly all of the leading citizens — especially of the early 
ones — were, directly or indirectly, connected with these enterprises ; and to 



560 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

this fact, in connection with the deep interest taken in educational matters, 
must be attributed the excellent state of morals and intelligence found here. 
Like the Puritans, when they landed from the Mayflower, the first thing was 
to set up the altar in the wilderness ; and, like the Israelites, when they had 
safely landed on the borders of the promised land, they erected to God -a tab- 
ernacle. 

Though, as before stated, Rev. David Ripley organized the first church — 
that being a Congregational society — the Methodists really organized the first 
class for religious culture and teaching. A class of this denomination was 
formed by the noted pioneer preacher, S. R. Beggs, at Thorn Grove, in 1836, 
with fifteen members. This was the first religious organization in the east end 
of the county. Five years later, it was transferred to the village of Crete, but 
no building was erected until 1852, the meetings of the society in the mean time 
being held in schoolhouses and, in warm weather, in the open air in the grove. 
The building erected at the date named cost $1,500. The present Pastor of 
the Church is Rev. U. C. Reynolds. I. C. Reed is Superintendent of the 
Sunday school. The present membership of the Church is 123, and of the 
Sunday school, about as many. 

The Congregational Church at Beebe's Grove was organized in 1839 by 
Rev. David Ripley, with Nathaniel Frank and wife, Mrs. Beebe, James L. Dean 
and wife, Moses Cook and wife, John Kyle and mother and Samuel Cushing 
and wife as members. Of these original members, Cook and Cushing and their 
wives are all that are now living. Soon after the organization of the Church, Rev. 
David Ripley died, and Rev. J. Thompson was called to fill his place. It is rela- 
ted that once the minister's horse strayed away from his stable, and, for over a 
week, no trace of him could be found. At the end of the period named, however, 
some one, in passing the church-building,* heard a noise within, and, supposing 
some one was inside preparing the room for Church services, pushed open the door. 
when lo ! the poor horse confronted him with looks and actions which indicated, 
that, though he had not been holding religious meetings, he had heen fasting for a 
long time. The horse, after leaving home, had, doubtless, from force of habit, 
taken the road to the church, and. finding the door ajar, had pushed it open 
and walked in for the purpose of protecting himself from the inclement weather. 
" Old Dick " was always afterward dubbed the "Pious Horse." 

Six years after the organization at Beebe's Grove, another church of the 
same denomination was started at Thorn Grove, by Rev. E. C. Brige. Eight 
or ten years later, the two organizations were united, and steps taken to erect a 
building for religious worship at the village of Crete. The building was com- 
pleted a short time thereafter, at an outlay of $2,000. The membership at 
present numbers about sixty persons, though more than one hundred others 
have been dismissed by letter to other organizations. Rev. J. F. Smith is 
present Pastor, and Mrs. Smith is Superintendent of the Sunday school. 

*Tbe Bchoolhuuse was then used for church purposes. 



HISTOR'i' OF WILL COUNTY. 561 

The German Lutheran denomination has been exceedingly prosperous since 
its establishment here. Trinity Church, of this denomination, is the result of 
the union of two branches — the one at Beebe's Grove and the other near the 
village. Rev. C. Weil was the first minister, .and preached here a year, in 
1849. He was succeeded by Rev. August Selle, who labored with the Church 
for eight years, and did most of the work in systematizing the enterprises with 
which the society has since been connected. Mr. Selle organized the first 
Lutheran Church established in the city of Chicago. In 1860, their present 
house of worship was erected. It stands nearly a mile south of the village of 
Crete, is a neat structure of the kind and cost $2,640. The society also owns 
two schoolhouses, one southeast and the other southwest of the village, in which 
schools are kept open the most of the year. At each of the schoolhouses, and 
at the church, they have ten acres of land. They, also, by special agreement 
with the school authorities, have a school in the public school-building in the 
village, in which the religion of the Church, the German language and some of 
the primary branches taught in the common schools are learned. Rev. Gottlieb 
Traub has been, for the last twelve years, Pastor of the Church. At its first 
organization, the Church consisted of thirteen families; the present membership 
is 131 families. The Albright Evangelical Church, located in the southeastern 
corner of the township was established in 1856, by Rev. George Fetters, with 
twelve familes. The society has not been very prosperous, the Lutheran Church 
located a quarter of a mile south, in Washington Township, completely over- 
shadowing it. In 1862, under the pastorate of Rev. Noah McLain, a small 
house of worship was erected for ^800, on land owned by Conrad Hecht. 
Seven families at present belong to the organization, and Rev. William Gross 
is minister. Willard Wood. Esq., now a resident of the village of Crete, taught 
the first school in the township, in the Winter of 1837-38, and public action 
looking toward the establishing of a public school system was taken in 1840. 
On April 11, of that year, the school township was organized, with Luman 
Hewes, M. H. Cook and Norman Northrup as Trustees, and James L. Miner as 
Treasurer and Clerk. Miner, however, refused to act, and so Willard Wood 
was chosen in his place, and continued in ofiice until 1846, when Richard Brown 
was appointed. The first business done by the Board was the division of the 
township into three school districts, with the six northeast sections, or Beebe's 
Grove, as District No. 1 ; the northwest twelve sections, or Thorn Grove, as No. 
2, and the south half of the township as No. 3. The first two of these districts 
organized at once, and under the public system Miss Eliza Burrit taught 
during the Summer of 1840 at Beebe's Grove. This was the first term taught 
in this neighborhood, and was held in the schoolhouse previously mentioned, in 
which Elder Thompson's " Pious Dick " kept his forced fast. This school- 
house was a very simple affair indeed; and, as it was a fair sample of the 
architecture that prevailed in those days, a brief description of it will doubtless 
prove interesting. 



,562 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Interested parties to the number of eight or ten came together by appoint- 
ment, bringing with them their axes, saws and whatever implements they hap- 
pened to possess, and built it on the mutual assistance plan. Small trees were 
felled and cut to the length of twenty feet. Notches were cut in each end to 
admit others designed to rest thereon. Then the logs were laid up, in the 
manner of constructing a rail pen. When the building had been raised to a 
suflScient height, openings were cut for a door, fireplace and windows. The 
cracks between the logs were "chinked" — that is, partially filled with small 
pieces of Avood, wedged in, and then daubed with mud. The roof was made 
of "clapboards," or very large shingles, split from the bodies of straight- 
grained trees, and these were held in their places by the weight of poles laid 
thereon. In the building of King Solomon's Temple, it is found worthy of 
record that it was constructed " without the aid of ax, hammer, or any tool 
of iron." In our temple of learning it is worthy of note that, with the excep- 
tion of a few nails in the door, not a piece of iron entered into its composition. 
The door was made of the boards of which, formerly, a dry goods box had been 
constructed ; was hung on wooden hinges, and fastened with a wooden latch, 
which only the ingenuity of the backwoodsman could invent, being raised by 
means of a leather thong attached to it, and hung through a small auger-hole a 
few inches above. The floor was made of "puncheons," or logs split in two 
parts, each of which, with it flat surface turned upward, rested on the ground. 
The desks were broad boards, resting on pins driven into the wall. The seats 
were constructed of slabs, into the ends of which were inserted wooden pins, 
serving as legs or supports. These benches were placed in front of the desks, 
and while the children studied from their books the sharp edges of the desks 
served as supports for their backs. The chimney and fire-place were composed 
of small sticks, built up after the manner of the house, and plastered with 
mud, the fire-place being very ample to admit of large logs used for fuel. The 
same Summer that the public school was opened at Beebe's Grove, a school was 
taught by E. Smith in District No. 2. The next year (November, 1841), Dis- 
trict No. 3 was organized and school established there. The school land, being 
the section cornering with the village of Crete, on the southeast, was sold in 
1841, at an average of about $2.00 per acre. In 1850, the number of districts 
had increased to six, since which time no new districts have been formed. 

The following items, extracted from the books of the Township Treasurer, 
Willam L. Adams, and of the Treasurer of the fractional township, J. C. 
Doescher, will doubtless prove interesting to many readers, as indicating the 
present condition of the schools : 

Town 14. Town 15. 

Number of schools 1 

Number of persons umlor 21 744 124 

Number of persons between 6 and 21 407 88 

Number of months taught during the year 40 8 

Value of school property $8,250 $300 

Amount paid for teaching 1,865 235 

Total paid for support of schools 2,696 264 



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CHICAGO 
FORMERLY OF FRANKFORT IP. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 565 

By no means least among the enlightening and elevating influences in a 
community is a good newspaper, and as such deserves to be classed with the 
pulpit and the rostrum. The Enterprise, which is all that its name indicates, 
was established at Crete in 1875. Its first number appeared on the 25th of 
December of the year named. C. E. Carter, who had been in the newspaper 
business in Wisconsin, originated and founded the paper, and by him it has 
been edited and published ever since. The JEnteyyrise is a sprightly eight- 
column quarto, full of local and foreign news, and enjoys a good patronage, 
both by way of subscriptions and advertising. It is issued every Friday. It 
is independent in politics and religion. 

The Crete Sash, Door and Blind Factory, located at the village, is worthy 
of more than a passing notice. This institution was founded in 1869 by Messrs. 
Conrad Tatge, Christopher Knabe, William Hahnlein and F. Sennholtz. Two 
years later, a stock company was formed, with a capital of ^21,000, with Walter 
Loock as Manager, and Gustavus Brauns as Secretary and Treasurer. Twenty 
hands are employed in the manufacture of the articles before mentioned, and 
also of moldings and stair- rails. Lumber for use is brought directly from the 
pineries. The product, of the factory finds sale in the southern part of the 
State and in Indiana. 

A fire insurance company, called the Crete Farmers' Mutual, with a capi- 
tal of $20,000, is one of the institutions of this township. Conrad Tatge, 
Henrv Scheive, John 0. Meier and Gustavus Brauns were the originators of 
the scheme, the last-named being the first Agent and Secretary. Its province 
is to insure farm-buildings and other careful risks, the rate being about 1 per 
cent. 

The call of the President for soldiers to suppress the rebellion was heard 
by many in this township, and hearing, they left all — homes, firesides, friends 
and kindred — and followed the beat of the drum to the field of battle. A 
number of the brave bovs who left us never returned. Their bones lie mingled 
with the soil of the country which they went out to rescue from the hands of 
traitors. The names of some of them are here given. Among those who were 
killed or died of wounds or disease contracted in the army are remembered : 
A. Quackenbush, John W. Cole, Robert Cave, M. H. Cook, Orlando Hewes, 
William Conskay, Conrad Ingleking, August Myer and James M. Mulliken. 
Whether there were others or not, we could not learn, but surely this was 
enough ; and, though the prayers of brothers, sisters, parents and friends 
ascended day after day for their safe return, the sacrifice was demanded, and it 
had to be made. 

In 1850, the township of Crete, embracing all of what now constitutes the 
townships of Crete and Washington, was formed. The first township election 
occurred on the 2d day of April of the year named. The meeting was called 
to order by Willard Wood. Moses H. Cook was elected Chairman or Moder- 
ator, and E. W. Beach was chosen Secretary. They were sworn to perform the 



566 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

duties of their offices according to law. by J. Marsh, a Justice of the Peace. At 
this first election, there were 109 votes cast, of which the following persons 
received majorities for the respective offices : N. Brown, Supervisor ; Z. Han- 
derson, Clerk ; J. Luce, Assessor ; D. Wilkins, Collector ; Horace Adams, 
Overseer of the Poor ; A. Wilder, S. W. Chapman and William Hewes, Com- 
missioners of Highways ; H. E. Barret and 0. H. Barret, Constables, and H. 
Sprague and J. Marsh, Justices of the Peace. 

The present voting population of the township is not less than three hun- 
dred and fifty, though the highest vote ever cast has been but 334. 

The present township officers are : John 0. Meier, Supervisor ; Emil 
Walter, Clerk ; Henry Hattendorf, Collector ; Henry Cole, Assessor ; A= 
Darling, William Diersen and H. N. Doescher, Highway Commissioners ; 
Charles Smith and D. E. Hewes, Justices of the Peace, and Frank Pease and 
Lorenz Tillotsen, Constables. 

VILLAGE OF CRETE. 

The village of Crete was laid out in 1849, by Willard Wood, who lived here, 
occupying the site since 1837. Mr. Wood built at the place now occupied by 
the Hewes House, at the last-named date, and kept the house as a hotel. As 
mentioned in the history of Washington Township, places for the accommoda- 
tion of the traveling public sprang up all along this great highway, and among 
the number was the Wood Tavern. Of course it was not the commodious hotel 
that now occupies the corner, but a small log structure ; though the use of 
that corner, with numerous changes and additions, has always been devoted to 
that purpose. Until about the time of the laying-out of the town, the same 
log cabin was the hotel ; but, at the date named, it gave place to a more pre- 
tentious affair. Wood then erected a building 26x36 feet, which he occupied 
until 1865. In 1873, the Hewes brothers, Daniel and B. F., came into pos- 
session, and built the main part of the house, and have occupied it ever 
since. 

The first merchant to locate here was H. H. Huntley. He opened his store 
directly after the town was laid out, in 1849. Z. Hariderson came in a year 
later, and opened another store. George Gridley had been blacksmithing here 
for some years before the town was laid out. 

Dr. H. H. Hitchcock, now of Chicago, was the first physician at the Cor- 
ners, but removed from here about the time the village started. Dr. G. W. 
Minard, who still resides in the place, was a student of Hitchcock's, and suc- 
ceeded to his practice. 

The post office was established at the Corners in 1836, and was named Crete ; 
and from this the village, in 1849, and the township, in 1850, have derived their 
names. Crete is one of the most enterprising towns on the line of the Chicago 
& Eastern Illinois Railroad. It is composed of men of ability and thrift, as 
indicated by buildings, both public and private, which are of a superior charac- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 567 

ter. Some of their fine stores and private residences would appear respectable 
in towns of ten times its size and pretensions. 

VILLAGE OF GOODENOW. 

This town was the direct product of the building of the Chicago & Eastern 
Illinois Railroad, and was laid out by George W. Goodenow the same year. 
Mr. Goodenow, at the same time, built a storehouse and put in a general stock 
of merchandise. The same year, William Kophmeir erected a hotel and saloon, 
and Herman Brinker built a wagon-shop and dwelling. 

Next year James Darling built a blacksmith-shop, which wa.-< at once occu- 
pied by Samuel Rose. Darling removed to Kansas. Mr. Goodenow was first 
Postmaster, and still occupies'the position. The village is situated on the south- 
east corner of Section 32, about four miles south of Crete. It is a fine location 
for a town, and but for the hard times which have intervened since its beginning, 
would doubtless by this time present a greatly improved appearance. 



MONEE TOWNSHIP. 

The "war of the races " came to a crisis in 1832. Probably no year in the 
history of Illinois has been more eventful than the one named. Certainly, no 
year has brought so much anxiety and excitement to Northern and North- 
western Illinois, as did the year 1832. Previous to this time, it is true, there 
was considerable unrest and fear experienced by the inhabitants from their red 
neighbors, the Indians. Though to all outward appearances they were on 
friendly terms, yet the farmers, conscious that they were encroaching on the 
assumed rights of the others, and knoAving full well their treacherous dispositions 
and their sensitiveness on the subject, were all the while apprehensive of trouble. 
During the year named, all their forebodings and much more were realized. 
Black Hawk and his allies had been wrought up to such a pitch, that neither 
threats nor promises by the Government or the State would longer avail, and 
war between the two races seemed inevitable. The State and nation were 
prompt to deal with the belligerents, but not until a number of wholesale butch- 
eries had been perpetrated were the Indians brought into subjection and 
removed from the State. In the mean time, though no actual demonstration 
occurred in this section, yet all were in such a state of suspense and anxiety 
that the county was for a time entirely deserted, some going to the nearest for- 
tifications for protection, and others returning to the East to be out of harm's 
way until the trouble might blow over. After peace and order had been re- 
stored, those who for a time had left their pioneer homes returned, bringing 
with them many new settlers. Among the number who emigrated to this 
county soon after the close of the troubles alluded to, were a number of fami- 
lies from Ohio. John S. Dilly, John M. Chase, S. W. Cooper, S. W. Gaines, 
Nicholas Young and Aaron Bonell, were the original and first settlers of Monee 



568 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Township, and, like all early emigrants from the heavily timbered regions of 
the East, sought the neighborhood of the little groves, found here and there 
throughout this part of the State. All of these men, with their families, settled 
in the northeastern part of the township, in the vicinity of Thorn Grove. A 
notable feature of many pioneer settlements is the rough character of its mem- 
bers. Many early settlers have been people who, having been reduced in means 
and character in their original dwelling-places, have fled to a strange and new 
country, in the hope of recuperating their fortunes, and either to run away 
from their characters or reform their doubtful habits. Then, too, in a new 
country, the restraining influences of church and society, added to which may 
be counted that of the law, are much less felt than the older settled sections. 
But this settlement seems to have been a notable exception to the rule, every 
man of the primary settlement proving himself worthy of the name of a " good 
citizen." Indeed, one of the number bore the title of Parson, and as such min- 
istered to the people in things spiritual, while he at the same time cultivated 
the soil. Of these old pioneers only two still remain. The rest are all gone to 
other parts, or have departed to that "bourn from which no traveler returns." 
S. W. Cooper still resides on the old place. He has from the first been ranked 
as one of the soundest men in the township, and as such has enjoyed the respect 
and confidence of his fellow-citizens to an unlimited degree. He was the first 
Supervisor of the township when the two townships now denominated Monee 
and Will were a single precinct, and were known as Carey. S. W. Gaines is 
the other survivor. Whatever can be said of a man of good reputation also 
attaches to his name. He has accumulated a handsome property, and now 
enjoys the fruits of his hard toil and early hardships incident to a pioneer life. 

John M. Chase is credited with building the first house in the township. 
Chase was a well-to-do farmer, and a man who enjoyed the confidence of his 
neighbors, as witnessed by his election to the_ofl5ce of Justice of the Peace and 
several other honors conferred upon him. However, he did not remain here 
long enough to merit the title of permanent resident, but sold out his improve- 
ments after a few years' residence and returned to Ohio. 

Aaron Bonell and sons continued to reside here for a number of years, and 
then removed to the southern part of the State. Dilly and Young are both 
dead. Young was the preacher alluded to. After his death, the balance of the 
family all removed further West. 

In 1834, William Hollis Newton came from the State of New Yox'k. He 
is also dead. He was a good citizen, and was well liked by all who knew him. 
W. H. Newton, Jr., is one of the wealthiest men in the township, and enjoys 
the reputation of being the model farmer in this portion of the country. His 
residence, with the numerous houses and barns for poultry, stock, grain and 
tools, almost equals the number found in a respectable-sized village. 

Otis Phillips was also from New York, but came a year after Newton. He 
lived here several years jand then removed to Wisconsin, where he has since 



HISTORY OF WILL COUiNTY. 569 

(lied. He is, without doubt, entitled to the honor of being the pioneer edu- 
cator, as he taught the first school established in this part of the grove. J. E. 
Phillips, now residing near the village of Monee, came from New York the 
next year — 1836 — and settled at Thorn Grove. Mr. Phillips hsxa proved to be 
one of the reliable citizens of this section, and has been as intimately associated 
with all of the events transpiring in this vicinity as any other man ; and to him 
we are, in a great measure, indebted for whatever may be valuable in this nar- 
rative. The same year, came from Ohio, William Kinney. He was a farmer, 
in moderate circumstances, but spent much of his time in hunting. Indeed, 
we may well believe that many of the early residents were wont to obtain a 
subsistence from the use of the rifle. 

Thorn Grove, in the time of which we write, abounded with game of dif- 
ferent kinds, and the tables of the early settlers were generously spread with 
meats that are now rare, and are only eaten as a luxury. And yet, while thus 
well supplied with venison, turkey, wild chickens and ducks, many articles of 
food, now common, were almost entirely dispensed with. Tea, coffee, most 
spices and sugar were obtainable at greater expense than many of them could 
afford, and home-prepared substitutes took their places. Rye coffee, sassafras 
tea and corn bread instead of wheaten, with mush and milk, constituted their 
fare. In the matter of clothing and furniture, their allowance and quality were 
still more primitive. Silks and broadcloths, furs and kids, were reserved fqr a 
later generation. There were no fine carpets on their puncheon floors, no 
expensive pictures on the walls or tapestry at the windows. Such luxuries 
were neither obtainable nor desired. The little marketing that was done 
required long journeys to the nearest stores ; and goods of every kind, owing to 
slow and expensive transportation, were very dear. 

The houses of the pioneers were not stately or imposing structures, such as 
have more recently taken their places. A one-story, one-roomed log cabin was 
about the most stylish house in the neighborhood. In the construction of the 
first houses, there was not used a sawed board in the whole building, and, in 
some, not a single piece of iron — not even a nail. Wooden hinges and latches 
(with the string out) for doors, puncheons for floors, clapboards for roofs, and 
wooden pegs, on which to hang clothing, were some of the makeshifts to which 
they were obliged to resort. Perhaps none but those who have experienced 
the events witnessed and passed through by them, are fully competent to 
describe them ; and, certainly, none but such as have witnessed them can fully 
comprehend the changes which have taken place, both in the appearance of the 
country and the condition of its inhabitants. The people are accustomed to cry 
"hard times;" but if they could be placed back in time forty years, and be 
required to fill the places of those old pioneers, deprived of all social and com- 
mercial privileges, as were they, they would learn a lesson that neither essays 
nor speeches can teach. Even in the new settlements of the now Western 
country, things are very different. Now the railroad and telegraph precede 



570 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

emigration, and postal facilities are coincident. For these our fathers were 
obliged to wait twenty years. 

The year 1837 was one of the worst in the financial history of the country, 
and especially of Illinois, that ever occurred; and for a time emigration to 
these parts Avas, in a measure, checked. Occasionally a new settler made his 
appearance. Guided, some by letters and others, as it were, by instinct, they 
dropped in from time to time, but not for several years after the earliest 
date mentioned did the township settle rapidly. At first, all the settlements 
were made in the edges of the timber, but when all of the land in the vicinity of 
the wooded portions had been occupied, shanties here and there on the prairie 
began to appear. By the year 1850, seventeen years after the first settler made 
his appearance, the following additional residents are noted: John S. Holland, 
Stephen, Jacob and James Goodenow; George, Emerson and Minet E. Baker; 
A. J. Smith, Eugene Lashley, August Klien and Simeon Abbott. Of these, 
some are dead, some have removed further west or returned to their native 
States, and some are still residents of the township. 

The Bakers were from Ohio. They lived here a few years after the date 
last named, and then again took up their line of march toward the setting sun, 
their last resting-place being in the State of Iowa. 

John S. Holland came here in 1845, made some improvements, and died a 
few years after. The family have all removed — ^one son to Chicago, where he 
now resides. 

A. J. Smith was here before 1845, and resided in the township until about 
1855, at which date his death occurred. He was a native of Ohio, was a good 
man, and was one of the earliest Justices of the Peace. 

Ebenezer Lashley, for the last fifteen years a resident of Douglas County, 
of this State, came to this township from Ohio. He was one of the best 
informed of the early residents of the county, and his removal was a source of 
regret to all his neighbors. 

Stephen Goodenow and brothers (Jacob and James) were from the several 
States of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Indiana, and came to this part of the 
country about 1845. George and Franklin Goodenow, relatives of the above, 
settled in the adjoining township, the former of whom is proprietor of the town 
of Goodenow, on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. Stephen Goodenow 
now resides in the village of Monee. 

As before intimated, the first land occupied was that in the eastern portion 
of the township, in the vicinity of Thoi'n Grove. In 1854, however, the 
Illinois Central Railroad was completed, and a station being established in the 
western part, on that line of road, improvements began to be made in that 
neighborhood. Since that date, the west side of the township has taken the 
lead in population. By an act of Congress, each alternate section of land in 
this and other townships through which this railroad passes (excepting lands 
already entered, the school section and the "reservation") was transferred to 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 571 

the Illinois Oentral Railroad Company to assist in building the road. In 
transferring the land to the Company, the price of the remaining Government 
land was raised to ^2.50 per acre, being double its former price, and at that 
price nearly one-third of the land was purchased by settlers. The lands occu- 
pied by settlers prior to the road was bought at .1^1.25 per acre, and that from 
the Railroad Company from $2.50 to $10.00, according to location and date of 
purchase. The Indian reservation, sometimes called Coon Grove, consisted of 
about three-fourths of Sections 28, 29, 32 and 33. This land had been deeded 
by treaty to a small family or tribe of Indians, and by them was held until a 
comparatively I'ecent date, when it was put upon the market by their agent, 
Henry M, Ward, and sold to different parties who now occupy it. The ancient 
aborigines, to whom the land belonged, have long since removed from this part 
of the country. 

Monee Township is bounded on the north by Cook County, on the east by 
Crete, on the south by Will and on the west by Greengarden. About one- 
fourth formerly consisted of timbered land : but the supply of fuel and building 
material in former times demanded the sacrifice of a considerable portion, and 
the amount of woodland is now much smaller. In 1850, the township was 
included with Will in a single precinct, though not that Will added anything to 
the voting population, for at that date Will had not within its bounds a single 
inhabitant. So, in reality, considering the population, Carey Township was what 
is now called Monee. The township of Carey was organized, with all others 
of the original townships named in the first division of the territory, in 1850, 
on the 2d day of April of the year named. From a few miscellaneous papers 
still in existence in the Clerk's office, we find that C. W. Cooper was first Super- 
visor ; J. E. Phillips, Assessor, and W. H. Newton, Clerk. The records of 
Carey Township have been lost, and we are, therefore, unable to make any fur- 
ther definite statements in regard to the first organization. In 1859, that por- 
tion of Carey now known as Will was struck off", in accordance with the wishes 
of its inhabitants ; and, the village of Monee having been established and so 
named, the old name of Carey was dropped and the name to correspond with 
the village was adopted. The organization of the township, as at present con- 
stituted, is : John Kolstedt, Supervisor ; E. R. Freese, Clerk ; Fred. Rave, 
Assessor; Jacob H. Barlage, Collector; Adam Gorman, Henry Deters and 
George Kolstedt, Commissioners of Highways ; John A. Heins and Henry 
Conrad, Justices of the Peace ; Peter Bischman and Gustav Kettering, Con- 
stables, and August Ehrhardt, School Treasurer. 

As before intimated, the first school was taught at the "Grove" by Otis 
Phillips. Like the township records, the school records of the township have 
been lost, and nothing positive can be stated in regard to this school except that 
it was in a little cabin owned by Mr. Phillips, the teacher. The date was, no 
doubt, about 1836. All schools in the State of Illinois at that date were sup- 
ported by private means, and of course this was a subscription school. It is 



672 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

further remembered that Mr. Phillips was not only a good teacher, but a good 
man and well wortiiy of the title of "pioneer schoolmaster." 

In 1855, a system of reports from Township School Treasurers was adopted, 
and from an old report, dated 1858, from the Treasurer of this township, we 
are able to give some interesting statistics, indicating the condition of schools 
at that time. It is therein stated that there were in the township : 

Districts, in each of which were schoolhouses 4 

Male teachers 2 

Female teachers 7 

Persons between the ages of 6 and 21 years 328 

Persons under 21 472 

Months of school taught 34 

Average monthly wages paid male teachers $ 34 00 

Average montly wages paid female teachers 17 oO 

Whole amount paid teachers 870 00 

Whole amount paid for support of schools 1,238 59 

Some corresponding figures, indicating the present condition of schools, 
give additional interest : 

Number of schools 7 

Number of persons between 6 and 21 668 

Number of persons under 21 038 

Number of months taught 73 

Highest wages paid any teacher per month .$ 75 00 

Whole amount paid for teaching 2,913 00 

Whole amount paid for support of schools 3,405 00 

Estimated value of school property 5,500 00 

Formerly, churches were organized at the Grove ; but since the towns of 
Crete and Monee have been established and movements made toward organizing 
church societies there, these organizations have either been abandoned or 
removed to the villages. 

The war record of this township is bright with many honored names. A 
large number of the best and strongest men, when the call for troops to suppress 
the rebellion was made, entered the army and followed the old flag even to the 
mouth of the cannon, and some into the very jaws of death. John Clark, 
Isaiah Cook, Charles Bergen, C J. Garret, T. J. Kemp, G. A. Baker and 
A. F. Clark were among; the number who lost their lives to save the life of the 
Union. Henry Carstons was reported missing, and, as supposed, was killed. 
There were, doubtless, others, but we are unable to learn their names. Surely, 
these were a large and costly sacrifice, and worthy of the cause in which they 
fell. 

VILLAGE OF MONEE. 

The year 1853 was an eventful one for this section of the State, which had, 
prior to that time, been without commercial privileges, except as carried on, by 
means of wagons, with Chicago. The entei"prise of building a railroad through 
this part of the State had long been talked of, and some legislation had resulted. 



HISTORY OF WTLI, COUNTY. 573 

therefrom ; though but few realized the importance of the scheme until the road 
was completed. In a few years, towns sprang up all along the line, and lands 
heretofore unoccupied were taken up in a short time. In a very few years, this 
Avhole region was almost as thickly settled as it is to-day. The western part of 
the township soon became the most densely populated, and the town of Monee 
has sprung up from what was, prior to that event, an open plain. 

The village of Monee was laid out by Henry M. Ward, for August Her- 
bert, in 1853. August Herbert was in the Mexican war, and, being honorably 
discharged at the close, he was given a warrant entitling him to 100 acres of 
the unoccupied Government land, wherever he might choose to locate. So, in 
1849, he found his way to this township, and located the southeast quarter of 
Section 21. When the railroad was located, though it di"d not run through 
Herbert's land, it ran so close that his land became available as a part of the 
town site. He therefore sold to the railroad company forty acres ; and this, 
together with what Herbert laid out, embraces the principal part of the village. 
In 1853, Herbert built the first house in the village. He also built, in partner- 
ship with others, a warehouse ; built a storehouse and opened a general store, 
in which he continued until about two years ago, when he removed to Grant Park, 
where he now resides. Though Herbert erected the first building (now a portion 
of Kettering's Hotel), a house had been brought by Simeon Abbott, from the south 
part of the township, which was used by the employes of the railroad company 
as a lodging-house. This house is still standing and occupies one of the most 
prominent corners in the village, and is used by Messrs. Sonneborn & Son for a 
tailoring establishment. Mr. Abbott lived in the house for a time, and then 
removed to Iowa, where he still resides. The first store building was erected 
in 1853, by 0. B. Dutton, the same now being in use by August Schiffer. 
Among the other early residents of the village Avere Adam Vatter, Bronson 
Wiley and Theodore Wernigk. Of these, Vatter was a carpenter, who gave 
most of his attention to the erection of churches ; and nearly all of the German 
churches in this, Greengarden, Peotone and Crete Townships are works of 
his. He still resides here. 

Wiley was the first blacksmith, and Wernigk was the first physician. Laban 
Easterbrooks is also one of the oldest residents, having resided in the village for 
twenty-one years. " 'Squire Brooks," as he is familiarly called, is a native of 
Rhode Island, and has always enjoyed the friendship and business relations of 
Gen. Burnside, of that State. Mr. Easterbrooks was a carpenter, and Burnside 
was Cashier of the Land Department of the Illinois Central Railroad ; and, 
through that relation, came to possess large tracts of land in the township of 
Greengarden. The General, having been acquainted with the 'Squire, and 
wishing some improvements made on his land, employed him to look after his 
estate — have it fenced and build houses on the same. 

The post office was established here in 1853, with 0. B. Dutton as Post- 
master. 



574 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

The schoolhouse Avas built in 1854, and Margaret Wilson was installed as 
first teacher. Five years ago, an addition of one room was made to the orig- 
inal building, and three teachers, of whom F. Stofflet is Principal, are now em- 
ployed. In 1856, Joseph Koenig and Oscar Kohler built a steam grist-mill ; 
but the enterprise did not prove a great success and it has not been in use for 
several vears. 

In 1865, August Schifi'er built a warehouse and began handling grain. 
Two years later, Messrs. Tatge, Miller & Herbert erected their building for 
handling grain ; and following them, in 1872, F. Luehrs, of Greengarden 
Township, also erected a warehouse. 

In 1865, G. A. McGilvery built a hay -press, which is still in use, being 
operated by J. I. Rice, of Peotone. 

An attempt to establish an academy for a higher and special course of 
instruction was made in 1872. The building, called the Monee Academy, was 
erected in that year, named by Messrs. Janzen & Stassen. Prof. Janzen was 
put in charge of the institution, and hopes were entertained that this would de- 
velop into one of the leading institutions of the country. But after a short 
time, it was found that the encouragement received was not sufficient to warrant 
its continuance, and was abandoned. 

The leading church of the village is the Lutheran. The German element 
is largely in the majority, and nearly all adhere to that faith. The Church 
was established in 1857, by Rev. William Schaefer, and a house of worship 
erected in 1858. The cost of the house was $1,500. It stands in the midst 
of the burial ground, where lie the remains of Christian Schurz and wife, 
father and mother of Carl Schurz, now a member of President Hayes' Cab- 
inet. The congregation consists of about eighty families, of which Rev. C. F. 
Hafheing is Pastor. 

The Congregational Church, which stands in the north part of the village, 
was the second built, and the society was the second organized. The house was 
built at an outlay of $2,100, in 1866, the society having been formed five years 
earlier by Rev. W. B. Atkinson. Rev. George Dunlap officiates as minister. 

The M. E. Church was organized by Rev. Mr. Ross, and the building 
erected in 1868, at an expenditure of $1,500. The building stands in the west 
part of town, and is occupied part of the time only, by Rev. W. H. Crawford. 
This society has not been in as flourishing a condition as formerly, and, for a 
time, the house was closed. 

Rev. Charles Steisaberger 'organized the German Catholic society of this 
place in 1866, and two years later they built their house of worship. The 
building cost $1,500, and stands in the eastern part of the village nearfthe 
Congregational Church. This society has never been strong here, and services 
are now held only occasionally. 

Some years ago, perhaps about 1860 or 1861, a newspaper called the 
Monee Hagle, was started here by J. G. Scott. The Eagle soared high for a 



HISTORY OF WILL ("OUIITY. 575 

while. It continued its flight for about three years, when it drooped, folded its 
wings and died. The village of Monee was incorporated in 1874, by the elec- 
tion of officers on the 9th of November of that year. The first Board con- 
sisted of Edward Wernigk, President ; Henry Hoffman, Charles Plagge, 
Philip Vollmar, Christopher Schoenstedt and August Schif!er, as Trustees ; 
William T. Hutchinson was Clerk, and B. Hayen, Treasurer. The present 
officers are Simeon Miller, President ; John A. Heins, Charles Mertz, Chris- 
topher Schoenstedt, Gustav Jordans and William Kohlstedt, Trustees ; Charles 
Prawst, Clerk ; John Kohlstedt, Treasurer, and Laban Easterbrooks. Police 
Magistrate. 



~a 



FLORENCE TOWNSHIP. 

It is claimed for this township, that it is the best, in many particulars, in 
the whole county. In soil and in society, in thrift and in intelligence, the 
inhabitants of Florence acknowledge their superiority. After a careful 
examination into the several items enumerated, we are not disposed to attempt 
to change public opinion, in regard to the good qualities of this locality, for 
certainly a finer place for the display of all that is desirable in a farming com- 
munity would be hard to find. The land is exceedingly rich, and the soil deep 
and very productive. The surface is gently undulating — -just sufficiently so to 
render drainage easy, and, at the same time, prevent the washing from heavy 
rains incident to rolling or broken ground. Thrift and prosperity are mani- 
fested on every hand, in the well-cultivated fields, fat and fine-bred stock, com- 
fortable and, in some instances, elegant dwellings, and in the well-graded and 
well-kept highways. The queerest part of the story, perhaps, is that much of 
the best land in the township was not occupied until long after the little strips 
of timber along the streams — though of a greatly inferior character of soil — 
was occupied and improved. The reason for this becomes apparent, when it is 
considered that the first inhabitants of this country were all from the heavily- 
wooded States, that it was then apparent that the little bits of timber here and 
there must answer for both fuel and building purposes, until artificial forests 
could be grown, and that the prairie land was as dear as the timbered. In the 
minds of many Eastern people contemplating emigration, the timber question 
is yet an important one. Now, however, inhabitants of the prairie experience 
but little inconvenience from the lack of this former essential, the "depths"' 
producing an unlimited amount of fuel, and the railroads supplying from other 
sections building material of a better character than ever was produced here. 
In early times, a saw-mill was one of the first institutions to appear in the new 
-settlement. These have nearly all disappeared — not because the timber is 
completely exhausted — but rather that the lumber brought from the pineries of 
Michigan and Wisconsin is more easily worked and of a more suitable quality 
for building. The whole township is devoted to farming in connection with 



576 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Stock-raising and dairying. Immense crops of com, oats and rye are produced : 
considerable pork is raised, and within the past few yeai's, a good deal of 
attention has been devoted to butter and cheese making. 

The township is a full Congressional town, containing thirty-six full sections, 
and is described in the survey as Town 33 north, and 10 east of the Third Princi- 
pal Meridian. It is bounded on the north by Jackson Township, on the east by Wil- 
ton, on the south by Wesley, and on the west by Wilmington. It is watered by 
Prairie Creek flowing through the northwestern part, and by Forked Creek and 
its branches flowing through the southern portion. These furnish excellent 
stock water to the farms lying adjacent. Stone, adapted to foundations for 
houses and for making lime, is found in some parts, and quarries are worked 
for these purposes. Some dispute as to who was the first settler of this town- 
ship has arisen in consequence of the nearness of some of the first settlements 
to the northwest corner, across the line from which other early settlements were 
made in adjoining townships. We have no doubt, from close investigation, that 
Le\^is Linebarger is justly entitled to that honor. Several others of the Line- 
barger family came to Jackson Township in the year 1832, and, as we have 
seen in the history of that township, returned to Ijidiana on the appearance of 
the Indian troubles. The next Spring, Lewis moved out and settled at what 
has since been known as Starr's Grove, though the neighborhood was then 
really considered a part of Reed's Grove. Perhaps, from this circumstance, 
Linebarger has been incorrectly accredited to Jackson Township. Linebarger 
built a log cabin, which was the first, and made other improvements. He did 
not enter the land, but subsequently sold his claim to Arthur Potts, and removed 
to Oregon, where he still resides. 

Arthur Potts, though not the next to make his appearance as a settler, was 
yet in the township of Wesley in 1834, and moved on the claim purchased of 
Linebarger a year or two later. Potts was a native of Indiana. He lived hei'e 
until 1854, and then removed to Iowa, having sold his farm to Duncan Mcln- 
tyre. 

Another of the Linebargers also settled in here in 1834. He, too, has 
removed to Oregon. Henry Moore was here in 1834. He Avas a native of 
Indiana, a good farmer, and removed to Iowa a number of years ago. 

In 1835, the township received an addition to its population that proved to 
be an addition, not only as to numbers, but in worth, in energy, in industry, 
and in general benefit to the community. Henry Althouse is a native of Prus- 
sia. He came to this country in 1819, landing in Baltimore that year. All 
that he had in the world, when he stepped ashore, was the clothes on his back, 
plenty of energy and a thorough knowledge of the baking business. In the 
business of baking he engaged, working at the trade in Maryland, Virginia and 
Ohio. In 1821, he married the lady with whom he has now lived fifty-seven 
years. In 1835, he concluded to turn farmer, and, with that intent, came to 
this place and laid claim to a piece of land. To this he has, by the utmost energy 



HISTOKV Ol' WILL COUNTY. 577 

and industry added, until, at one time, he has owned 1,500 acres. He wouhi 
own it now, but having a view to the comfort and welfare of a large family, has 
divided it up and given to each of the nine surviving children a good farm and 
other property of value. He now resides at Wilmington, occupying the fine 
residence of the former banker, Daniels. He is 80 years of age ; but, with 
the exception of his loss of sight, 'retains his faculties, and seems a quarter of 
a century younger. 

John Kahler was also one of the earliest citizens of this vicinity, having 
settled here in IS'65. 

James Martin came in 1836. He was a native of Ireland, and proved to 
be a iirst-cla.ss citizen of this community. When he first came to the neigh- 
borhood, he assisted in the building of Dr. Bowen's mill at Wilmington. The 
school records show him to have been one of the first School Trustees, in 1842. 
His son William still occupies the old homestead, though the father has lain in 
the cemetery seventeen years. James W. Martin, another son, has filled the 
oflBce of County Treasurer to the satisfaction of all parties. 

About this time came Walter and Thomas Monteith. They were from New 
York. They lived here about ten years, and then removed to Oregon. Since 
their removal to that State, report says they have become very wealthy. David 
Bell was one of the next to settle here. He is a native of New York, and 
came first to Wilmington, where he earned a little money working at the trade 
of carpenter, bought a little land in the southwest part of the township, and by 
constant industry and good management has become wealthy. 

In 1837, Duncan Mclntyre and Daniel Stewart came from New York. 
Mclntyre took a claim on Section 28, the farm now belonging to Selah Morey, 
and built a cabin. Being unmarried at the time, he took to live with him Nel- 
son Wright and family, who had emigrated from New York with him. Subse- 
quently, Wright removed to Oregon, and Mclntyre sought elsewhere for a 
housekeeper ; and in this connection a little romance is related. Some years 
before, Mclntyre and some friends, while on a tour of inspection in the neigh- 
boring township of Wesley, were suddenly surprised by seeing coming toward 
them a man leading a little girl, then a mere child. The man informed them 
that they were emigrants from Michigan, and had just arrived at the place; 
that their wagon, with the balance of the family, had been left a little way 
behind, and they were seeking a place to spend the night. The man was 
Joseph Hadsel, and the little girl was his daughter. All of the gentlemen were 
struck with the quiet and simple beauty of the little girl ; but no one dreamed 
that this was to be the future Mrs. Duncan Mclntyre. But when Mr. Mcln- 
tyre's tenants, the Wrights, left his place, he then brought to mind the modest, 
intelligent face of Joseph Hadsel's daughter, who was then living with her 
lather in the adjoining township. An opportunity was not long in presenting 
itself for Mclntyre to renew the acquaintance of the now young lady, and his 
estimation of her growing as their acquaintance increased, and her regard for 



578 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

hiin being of an equally high character, they were married in 1840. Three 
years later, Mclntyre and his wife returned to New York, where they lived four- 
teen years, and then returned to Florence, where he died some years later. Mrs. 
Mclntyre still resides at Starr's Grove, and with her lives her mother, the 
former Mrs. Hadsel, now verging on to her fourscore years, aad one of the 
oldest residents of this part of the county. 

Daniel Stewart, mentioned in Wilmington Township, was one of the 
stanchest and most honorable citizens of this neighborhood. In his line of 
business he was most successful, and accumulated a large amount of property. 
His death occurred about three years since. 

Walter W. Monteith, cousin of the Monteith before mentioned, came about 
the year 1841, and worked for a time in Gov. Matteson's woolen-factory at 
Joliet. On coming to this township, he settled near the center. He was one 
of the most popular (and deservedly so) citizens. He was the first Supervisor 
of the township, and held numerous other positions of honor and responsibility, 
in all of which he discharged the duties of the same in a most satisfactory 
manner. He has been dead about eighteen years. 

Charles Starr, after whom the little grove on Prairie Creek was named, was 
native of Nova Scotia. He was the father of Judge C. R. Starr, of Kankakee. 
Mr. Starr came to this country and to this township in 1842. He died a few 
years ago at a very advanced age — nearly 100 years old. In the same 
year, William Van der Bogert arrived from New York. He was elected, the 
same year, a Trustee of schools in this township, being one of the first 
three. 

Isaac Jackson also arrived in 1842. He was a native of Nova Scotia, and 
came with his family to Starr's Grove, having purchased 100 acres of land at that 
place. Mr. Jackson was a Quaker preacher, though in some points he differed 
from the orthodox Quakers. Before removing from Nova Scotia, he had built, 
at his own expense, a church, in which he preached his peculiar doctrines to all 
who desired to hear him, free of expense to his auditors. On leaving that 
country, he donated the house of worship to the congregation. After coming 
to this country, he frequently held religious services at schoolhouses throughout 
the county. Mr. Jackson was a most profound mechanical genius; and whether 
the circumstances called for the shoeing of a horse, the framing of a house, the 
building of a carriage in all of its parts, or the transforming of a piece of iron 
into the delicate hairspring of a chronometer, he Avas always found equal to 
the occasion. At his son Delancy's may be seen some of the instruments 
manufactured by him for his own use, which are pronounced by experts to be 
of the very finest character. He died iiere in 1875, at the advanced age of 
90 years, his wife having preceded him in 1856. Enoch Jackson, a son of 
the above, served for eighteen consecutive years as Justice of the Peace in this 
township, during which time not a single one of his decisions was ever reversed 
by the higher courts. 



HISTORY OF WILI, COUNTY. 579^ 



« 



By the year 1848, quite a number more permanent settlements had been 
made, so that the population had become nearly one hundred. Among the 
principal ones who arrived during the years 1842-48, are remembered John 
Jordan, Rufus Corbett, George A. Gray, Adam White, EdAvard Gurney, the Bas- 
kerville family, Selah and Leonard Morey, William Barret, Dr. E. H. Strong, 
Adam White and sons John and James, C. G. Jewell, R. H. Nott, Andrew 
Layton, Henry Hand and Hezekiah Warner. 

The first move looking toward the organization of a means of educating the 
youth of this township originated with Henry Althouse, the next Winter after 
arriving here. The school consisted of only his own children and a child or 
two belonging to one of the neighbors. The school was taught in a room of 
Althouse's dwelling, by a young lady employed by him, and was more on the 
nursery style than conforming to the strict rules of the modern public school, 
the young lady being employed as much for the purpose of taking care of the 
children as for instructing them. In 1841, the first steps were taken to estab- 
lish a school for general and public instruction. A petition was prepared, and 
at the meeting of the Board of Trustees of Wilmington Township, in the Spring 
of the next year, presented to that body praying to be admitted as a part of the 
Wilmington District. The petition was considered favorably, and a school was 
established within the bounds of Florence, during the Winter of 1842-43. The 
attendance was only six scholars, and the term lasted but thirty-five days. 
Sarah Fisher is entitled to the credit of being the pioneer educator of the pub- 
lic school system of this township ; and for her services, as Principal of this 
Florence Academy, or Starr's Grove institute, or whatever it was called, she 
received $11.50. 

In 1845, the number of scholars in the township, living near Starr's Grove, 
liad increased to twenty-four, and Town 33, Range 10, was set of!" as a separate 
district. No schoolhouse had yet been erected, but schools were held in such 
rooms of private houses as could be spared. The first schoolhouse was erected 
in 1849, and was built by Selah Morey, for $250. The building, though not 
occupied at present for its original purpose, has been reconstructed, and is now 
in use as a dwelling. James Martin, John Kahler and William Van derBogert 
were the first Trustees. 

In 1865, the number of schools had increased to six; and at the present 

writing there are eight. In 1865, there were 482 persons in the township 

under 21 years of age, 342 of whom were between 6 and 21, and 284 of whom 

attended school during that year. The total amount expended that year for the 

support of schools was $1,174, of which $1,140 were paid as teachers' wages. 

These items are given for the purpose of comparing with like figures at the 

present time, which, with additional items showing the condition of schools at 

present, are given below : 

Number of schools ° 

Number of persons under 21 4*^9 

Number attending school 243 



^80 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Number of teachers 14 

Number of days attendance 24,f>47 

Highest wages paid any teacher § 48 00 

Whole amount paid teachers 2,082 00 

Total expense of supporting schools 2,i'>32 00 

Estimated value of school property 3,852 00 

It will be seen by the above, that in 1865, the township had just reached 
its maximum, as to school population, and that since then, though the number 
of children has really decreased, additional school facilities have been provided, 
and although Avages, gold, interest, and every commodity has decreased to one- 
half, the amount expended for the sustenance of schools has been almost 
doubled. This would indicate almost 400 per cent increase in expenditures — 
taking into account the depreciated values of other items — which, if an indica- 
tion of an equally increased efficiency in the system, should be a source of con- 
gratulation to all patrons of the system. We are reliably informed that the 
schools of this township rank among the highest in merit in the county. 

The first year after the township organization act was in force, in this county, 
the township of Florence voted with Wesley and Wilmington, and John Frazier, 
of Wesley, was first Supervisor of the three. In 1851, however, the inhabit- 
ants of Florence determined to "set up a government of their own "; and, a 
petition to the Board of Supervisors having met with favorable consideration, 
an election was called to choose township officers, on April 1, 1851. W. W. 
Monteith was chosen Modei-ator of the meeting, and John Kahler, Clerk. There 
were 42 votes cast, of which the following persons received majorities 
for the respective offices, and were declared, elected : W. W. Monteith, Super- 
visor; William Van der Bogert, Assessor; Leonard Morey, Clerk; C. G. 
Jewell, R. H. Nott and G. A. Gray, Highway Commissioners; Charles Starr 
and Hezekiah Warner, Justices of the Peace ; Henry Hand and Andrew Lay- 
ton, Constables; Rufus Corbett, Overseer of the Poor; and Henry Hand, Col- 
lector. The voting population of the township has increased to about two 
hundred. The present officers of the township are: Royal Corbin, Supervisor; 
W. P. Strong, Clerk; William Nelson, Assessor; Peter Ohlhues, Collector: 
Cornelius Murphy and Edward Gurney, Justices of the Peace; Wesley Cook 
and William G. Cutshaw, Constables ; Patrick Naughton, David Forsythe and 
John Hay den, Commissioners of Highways'; John M. White, William Kerr 
and David Forsythe, School Trustees, and W. P. Strong, School Treas- 
urer. 

Florence Township was no idle spectator to the struggle of the country 
during the years 1861-65, to maintain the Union, but gave many noble sacri- 
fices, that the Government might live. The township was not drafted during the 
whole war, but furnished its full quota at every call. " Among those who not 
only risked their lives in the service of their country during this momentous 
period, but of whom even that was demanded and freely given, are remembered : 
Walter Van der Bogert, killed by a shell ; Charles Morey, died of disease con- 










,^' 




CHICAGO 

fOffMERLfOr NEW LENOX Tf? 



'>U^. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 583 

tracted in the array; Henry Ohlhucs, killed; Daniel Linebargcr,* killed at 
Ohickaraauga ; Norman Kahler, died of wounds ; Tliomas Martin, died in the 
army ; Charles Jackson, died of disease ; Thomas Stewart, died of army dis- 
ease ; William and John Shoemaker, died of disease ; Albert Wilkins, of dis- 
ease ; Almon Merrill, killed. A number of these names will be recognized as 
descendants of the old pioneer stock, named at the beginning of this article. 
Their fathers had braved dangers and suffered hardships to subdue the country, 
and make them homes, and now, when every fireside seemed to be in danger, 
they rose up with one accord to protect them. 

The only church-building within the boundaries of the township is the one 
erected by the German Evangelical Association, in 1874. The house is located 
on the southwest corner of Section 10, and is a neat frame structure, 32 
feet in width and 43 in length. It is completely finished and paid for, 
having cost the Association $2,965. These people have had preaching in the 
vicinity for the last fifteen years, in schoolhouses and at private residences. John 
Jacob Asherwas the first minister of this denomination who held religious serv- 
ices here. Nicholas Witcshie and wife, Henry and John Rockey and J. Tay- 
'lor were the first members of the organization which was efiected twelve years 
ago. When the house was completed, B. C. Wagner was the first minister 
employed to fill the pulpit. The present membership is about thirty, with Rev. 
Riemen Snyder, of Jackson Township, as Pastor. The northwestern and 
southwestern portions of the township, being adjacent to the towns of Elwood 
and Wilmington, are well provided with church privileges, though no houses of 
worship are to be found in those localities. 



GREENGARDEN TOWNSHIP. 

This township, until 1853, was included with Manhattan in what was known 
as Carey. Three years before the date named, the township of Trenton had 
been formed, and prior to that the territory of Greengarden had been in one 
precinct and another, as suited the convenience of its few inhabitants and the 
fancy of the courts that were authorized to appoint polling-places. Business 
now transacted within the limits of the township was done directly with the 
county authorities and at the county seat. By and by, the old county system 
became burdensome, and the business of each locality was delegated to local 
authorities. The mapmakers have always had a hard time of it. No sooner 
have they succeeded in getting a creditable article ready for the market, than a 
new boundary line, a new railroad or a new town would be located, and the sale 
of their works was thenceforth a drag. It is not only interesting and instruct- 
ive to look over a map of the olden time, but, in a sense, quite amusing. If 
we compare a map of the eastern coast of the United States, as published by the 
authority of the British Government, in the year 1700, with the more modern pub- 

* He was never seen after the battle and is supposed to have been killed. 



584 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

lications of like character, we shall find features so different in the two as would 
not only be surprising to people ignorant of the history of the country subse- 
quent to that date, but which would cause no little astonishment in the minds 
of the well informed. Jjook at a map of the Northwest during a period just 
prior to 1765, and you will find it marked as "French Territory." Then this 
.same territory, from the date named until 1778, is delineated as. a "British 
Province." After this, from 1778 until 1787, what is now the State of Illi- 
nois appears as a part of Virginia. After this, for thirteen years, it is called the 
"Northwest Territory." In 1800, when our grandfathers were going to 
school, they were taught to call the whole of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and 
Michigan by the name of "Indiana Territory," and by this title it was known 
until 1809, when the mapmakers again had to change, and Illinois and Wis- 
consin Avere called the "Illinois Tei'ritorv." In 1818, when our fathers began 
to study geography, the atlases in which grandfather and grandmother studied 
would no longer answer the purpose, for Illinois had then become a State, with 
boundaries jco-extensive with what we now find them. The changes which 
have come to the State, in its geographical features, since its admission into 
the Union, are equally noticeable. The original number of counties was only 
fifteen. These have been divided and changed so that we now have one hun- 
dred and two, each change being a source of grief to the map publishers. 
Originally, the county Avas divided into voting precincts, then into townships, 
and the townships have been changed and divided to suit the wishes and con- 
venience of the inhabitants, with not the least regard for the feelings of those 
whose business it was to furnish the people of the county with maps. The 
township of Greengarden, like many others, has worried the mapmakers. 
But little more than thirty yeafs ago there was nothing here for the artist to 
sketch but the two little creeks and a boundless sea of grass ; but since then 
the changes in school districts, roads, farms and buildings have been so frequent 
and marked, that, almost before a chart of the township was off the press, a 
new one was required. Probably, however, the description of the township 
which follows will remain the same for many years to come, as, at present, the 
whole of it is settled up, and no moi"e changes are likely to be made for many 
years. Greengarden Township is bounded on the north by Frankfort, on the 
east by Monee, on the south by Peotone, and on the west by Manhattan. It is 
described in the Congressional survey as Town 34 north, Range 12 east of the 
Third Principal Meridian. It is a full Congressional town, containing thirty- 
six full sections, or 23,040 acres. 

The land in Greengarden will not suffer in comparison with any other town- 
ship in the county. Scarcely an acre, except what is taken up by the beds of 
Prairie and Forked Creeks, is untillable. The surface is gently undu- 
lating, none being either too rolling or too flat for successful cultivation. 
The soil is all that the agriculturist or the G-ardener could desire, being deep 
and rich, and capable of producing enormous crops of corn, oats, hay and vege- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 685 

tables of every kind. The two creeks named both rise near the center, and 
afford stock-water to the adjacent farms, except in the dryest seasons, when 
they are sometimes dried up. The township is entirely devoid of a natural 
growth of timber, and this accounts for the tardiness of its settlement. When 
the township of Crete, in the eastern part of the county, and all of the western , 
portion of the county had been well settled, this vicinity was just beginning to 
receive a few apparently unwilling squatters. They came from the heavily 
wooded States of Vermont and New York, or the equally densely timbered 
countries of the old world, and, finding the land adjacent to, the little belts of 
timber already occupied, were loath to venture out upon the prairie, as the lands- 
man is reluctant to venture upon the untried waves of the great ocean. The 
absence of timber for fuel, fencing and building purposes was certainly a great 
drawback. Not until 1865 was it known that within a few miles was a con- 
densed forest of fuel that would supply all this country for ages to come. Then, 
too, the prairie, as a field for farming operations, was only an experiment. It 
looked much to them as if an absence of timber might indicate a dearth in those 
qualities of soil necessary to produce good crops. The subjugating of the 
prairie, though, in comparison Avith the clearing of the eastern farms, a trifle, 
was, in their eyes, no small matter. The little bar-share plow, with the wooden 
mold-board, in common use in the East, was not to be thought of to turn over 
the thick prairie sod, matted with grass-roots, as hard almost- as hickory withes. 
But soon the inventive genius of the Yankee supplied an article, though some- 
what rude and unwieldy, with which most of these prairies have been brought 
to cultivation. The original "sod-plow " is now seen no more forever, as it has 
long since outlived its usefulness. It consisted of a large share, cutting a furrow 
two feet in Avidth, with iron bars for a mold-board. The beam of the machine 
was fifteen feet in length. No handles were needed, though sometimes they 
were attached, but were used only for the purpose of starting or throwing it out 
of the ground. To this immense machine were hitched from five to eight yoke 
of oxen. The breaking was usually done late in the Spring ; and, with the 
turning-over of the sod was deposited seed, which produced an inferior crop of 
corn the first year, growing and ripening without further attention. From tliis 
crop has come the brand of a favorite drink in the Westei'n country. Hay was 
cut with scythes and gathered with hand-rakes. Wheat was cut with cradles 
and threshed by causing horses to treAd upon it. These ancient landmarks 
have all passed away, and but few who wielded them remain to tell us the story 
of these and the many other peculiar institutions of the olden times. Here and 
there is seen a whitening head. Here and there we behold a tottering frame. 
Erelong, they too will have passed from earth, and their places will be filled 
with the more modern style of humanity. The first to venture out on the almost 
unknown waste of the prairie of Greengarden Township was M. F. Sanders, 
from Vermont. The date of his advent was 1847, and he has consequently been '^ 
a resident thirty-one years. The '''Squire," as he is fiimiliarly called, is well 



U<2^ 



586 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

off in this world's goods, having not only survived the hard times incident to 
pioneer life, but has something "laid by for a rainy day." He was the first 
Justice of the Peace, and, in that capacity, performed the first marriage cere- 
mony in the township. 

G. M. Green, or " the Deacon," as he was generally called, was also a native 

'of Vermont, and came to the place about the same time. He was a man of 
good (qualities and well worthy to bear the cognomen universally bestowed 
upon him. He removed from this place to Joliet, where he died some years 
ago. ;.•' - ■■-^^^- ' ^^'' /i'.^A.Uuj 

X Following these two^ families, and mainly through their influence, were a 
number of families from the same State. Within three or four years, Rev. 

t<'James Hudson, Daniel Haradon, David McClay and Hiram Twining arrived 

' from Vermont and settled in the same neighborhood — the northwest part of the 
township. These people, it seems, were mostly of one religious faith — being 
that denominated Christians — not the branch sometimes called Disciples or 
Campbellites, but the branch founded by Smith and others some seventy-five 
years ago, and who would under no circumstances acknowledge any other 
name but that of Christian. In Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and some of the 
Eastern States are many of this persuasion ; but in this section a church of this 
faith is rare. Horace Mann, one of the greatest acknowledged educators of 
this countrv, did his last work as President of Antioch College, at Yellow 
Sprino-s, Ohio, the college then being one of the educational institutions of the 
denomination. Elder Hudson, soon after his arrival, organized the little com- 
munity into a Church ; and as such it was very prosperous for a few years, and 
drew around it a large number of enlightened and substantial people. But the 
good man's labors were not of long duration. His body was laid away beneath 
the priiii'ie sod soon after his work in this wild field had been successfully 



inaugurated. 



Hiram Twining still resides on the old place. His house, built before roads 
or partition lines were definitely known, proclaims itself to be one of the ancient 
landmarks, bv not "being placed due east and west," but varying from that 
usually accepted rule several degrees. In this house many of the early religi- 
ous and other meetings were held. The first township and school elections took 
place here, it being nearer the center of population than others of sufficient size 
for the purpose. 

About the same time, the Baileys and the Bemiss family arrived — the 
former from New York, and the latter from Michigan. Morrison and Martin 
Bailey were brothers. They were men of intelligence, and were counted as 
leaders in society and politics. Morrison Bailey was the first teacher that ever 
presided over a school in the township. At the first township election, held in 
1853, Martin was elected Moderator, one of the four Overseers of Highways, 
Justice of the Peace and Supervisor. Morrison Bailey was the first Township 
Clerk. The Baileys removed a few years later. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. • 587 

The Bemiss family consisted of Simeon and tiiree grown sons — Ejiliraim, 
James and Edwin. In the first election, this family was also honored with six 
offices. Simeon was elected Commissioner of Highways ; James, Clerk pro 
tem, and Justice of the Peace ; and Edwin, Road Overseer, Collector and Con- 
stable. This family also removed from the township after a short residence. 

Augustine Hauser, John Young, A. A. Angell, D. G. Jaynes and William 
Hutchinson were also early settlers. Hauser was a native of Switzerland, and 
came here with a little fortune, which he proposed to double in a short time in 
the manufacture of cheese. But it seems he was a little ahead of the time ; for 
the business, which to those embarking in a few years later was the means of 
realizing to them fortunes, was the means of his complete failure, and he left 
the township sevei'al thousand dollars poorer than when he came. The article 
manufactured by him was, it is said, of a superior quality ; but the reputation 
of Western cheese was not yet made, and, on account of the prejudice of dealers 
and consumers for the Eastern product, Hauser's scheme proved a failure. 

In the mean time, while the settlement in the northwestern part of the town- 
ship was well under way, another settlement was being formed a little further 
east and south. The first settlement was, in every respect, a Yankee enter- 
prise, while the other was as positively German ; and, while the former had for 
its central point its church organization, so also had the latter. 

The Dierks family and the Strassens, though not the earliest German set- 
tlers, came about 1851, bringing with them a preacher of their own faith, and 
immediately set about the organization of a society, and subsequently of erect- 
ing a house of worship. Probably, the very first German in the township was 
John T. Luehrs, now of Monee, who had come to this vicinity three years be- 
fore. Following him, in 1849, was his brother, F. Luehrs. The Dierkses 
were cousins to Luehrs, and came over at the instance of their relatives who 
had preceded them. The Dierks family consisted of Simon, Fred and G. A. 
Dierks, who have since all removed to Nebraska. On the recommendation of 
Luehrs, amongst numerous other families scattered all over this part of the State, 
came to the township in 1850, 0. H. Remmers, B. B. Henry, A. and G. G. 
Beiken. Peter and William Young, from the same country, but who had been 
living in Ohio, also came in 1850. The Y^oungs were not satisfied here, and 
sold out, William returning to Ohio and Peter moving further south. Fred 
Hassenjager and Peter Bowlander, the latter now a resident of Monee, were 
also among the earliest Germans. Hassenjager is an example of what industry 
and economy may accomplish in the face of deprivations and hardships incident 
to a pioneer life. When he came here, he was as poor as the poorest, now he 
is among the wealthiest citizens of this part of the county. 

One of the most important public acts of the township occurred about the 
close of the period of the two settlements named, and was the separation of the 
two portions of Trenton Township, now designated as Manhattan and Green- 
garden. It seems to have been the understanding from the first that, when 



588 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

V 

both sections should have attained to a population sufficiently strong for sepa- 
rate organization, such division should take place, though it was hardly ex- 
pected that it would take place so soon. However, owing to the rapid filling-up 
of each, it was found not only feasible, in 1853, but there were many reasons 
adduced for separate organization, and thus a " peaceable secession " was accom- 
plished. 

Petitions were, therefore, presented to the proper authorities, and, by them, 
a division was made, accompanied with an order to hold elections. The elec- 
tion was accordingly held in this township, the first meeting taking place at 
Hiram Twining's house, on the 5th day of April, 1853. Martin Bailey was 
chosen Moderator and J. N. Bemiss, Clerk, pro tem. The result of the ballot 
was the election of Martin Bailey, as Supervisor ; Morrison Bailey, Clerk ; 
Edwin Bemiss, Collector ; George M. Green, Assessor ; A. A. Angell, Over- 
seer of the Poor ; Martin Bailey and J. N. Bemis, Justices of the Peace ; Ed- 
win P. Bemiss and A. A. Angell, Constables, and John Young, Simeon Be- 
miss and D. G. Jaynes, Commissioners of Highways, Of these, Martin Bailey 
had been Justice before, during the union of the two townships, and adminis- 
tered the oath to the judges and clerk on this occasion. 

The present officers of the township are: H. H. Strassen, Supervisor; 
Andrew Murdie, Clerk ; August Voigt, Assessor ; Peter Kenepper, Collector ; 
Jacob Froehner, Martin Sippel and Henry Hoppe, Commissionei'S of High- 
ways ; Henry Strassen and John Bobzine, Justices of the Peace, and George 
Jacobs, Constable. 

At the first election, there were twenty-seven voters present ; at the last, 
204. It will be noticed that most of the present officers are German, while the 
first corps of officers were as decidedly Yankee. During the first few years, 
the settlement was marked by a preponderance of Americans ; but of later 
years, the German element has not only increased more rapidly, but, in reality, 
most of the Yankee population has disappeared, having sold out their farms to 
the Germans. 

In 1851, a post office was established in the Yankee settlement, Avith B,ev. 
James Hudson as Postmaster. The office was called Greengarden, and has 
been in existence ever since, though for the last two or three years its location 
has been within the bounds of Manhattan Township. These country post 
offices, like some orphan children, have a kind of vagrant existence, with no 
certain home, but travel from place to place at the pleasure or forbearance of 
their keepers. Greengarden Post Office has been no exception, as it has had 
many homes. Sometimes it has been sought, and at other times it has not had 
where to take up even a temporary abode. 

Due attention has been given to the intellectual and moral wants of the 
people and to the youth, and schoolhouses and churches abound. 

In the Winter of 1850-51, Morrison Bailey taught the first school, which 
consisted of fifteen or twenty scholars. Eight years later, from a report made 



HISTOKV OF WILL COUNTY. 589 

to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, we learn that three schools 
had been organized, and in two of them schoolhouses were built. In the same 
year, 102 scholars were attending, out of 262 entitled to school privileges, that 
is, between 6 and 21 years of age. 

The present condition of the public school system in Greengarden Town- 
ship may be gathered from the following items extracted from the books of 
Township Treasurer F. Luehrs : 

Whole number of scliools 

Number of persons between 6 and 21 o76 

Number of persons under 21 TM 

Number of months tauglit during the year 58 

Highest wages paid fo any teacher ?4G 00 

Amount paid out to teachers 1,752 30 

Total paid for support of schools 2,438 20 

Besides the instruction given in these schools, two private schools within 
the limits of the township, and another just in the border of an adjoining town- 
ship, afford school accommodations for quite a number of children. 

There are four church buildings, three of which have organizations. The 
Ohristian Church, already alluded to, is the oldest, being organized in 1847, 
and a building erected in 1861. The original members of the Church were : 
Rev. James Hudson, Samuel Bowen, Abel Perkins, Sr. and Jr., and Daniel 
Haradon, with their wives. In 1861, when the building was erected, the mem- 
bership embraced about forty persons. The house was raised on the 4th day of 
July of the year named, and dedicated soon after by Rev. Noah Johnson, under 
whose pastorate it had existed for some time, and who was mainly instrumental 
in having the building erected. This, it will be remembered, was the begin- 
ning of the rebellion, and most of the strong men of this neighborhood fought 
as they professed, and enlisted in the army. Therefore, during the balance of 
the struggle, the Church Avas weak. After the war was over, quite a number 
•who had been spared to return removed further west ; and, one drawback after 
another following, the organization continued to weaken until it was finally 
abandoned, and the building has not been occupied for two or three years. 

The German Baptist society was organized by Rev. H. Jacobs, who had 
emigrated from Germany with some of the founders of the Church. The date 
of the organization, though we are not able to state precisely, was about 1855, 
and the building was erected about six years later. The cost of the building 
was ^1,400, and of the parsonage, $800. The church was erected during the 
pastorate of Rev. Mr. Janzen. It is a neat little frame, and stands on the 
southeast corner of Section 14, in an inclosure in which are deposited the 
remains of many of its early supporters and members. This church has also 
decreased in numbers, many of them having removed further west. The 
present Pastor is Rev. S. Kornier. 

St. Peter's German Evangelical Lutheran Church, situated two miles further 
north, was erected in 1867, at a cost of $2,000. Previous to this, for four 



590 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

years, services and school had been conducted in the parsonage, which had been, 
built in 1863. The Church was organized at the last date named, by Rev. 
William Schaefer, with about twelve families. Four years ago, a new church- 
building was determined upon, and a fine edifice was erected at a cost of $3,000, 
and the old building has since been used as a schoolhouse. Rev. S. Lang is the 
present Pastor and teacher. The congregation numbers^about forty-three fam- 
ilies. School is sustained six months in each year. In 1871, the German 
Methodists erected a neat little church and parsonage near the middle of the 
northern portion of the township, at a cost of $1,200. The first Pastor was 
Rev. Carl Stelner. The present Pastor is Rev. Oust Peter, and the member- 
ship of the Church consists of about twenty-five families. School is kept open 
about six months each year. German, the common branches of education, and. 
the religion of the denomination are tanght. 

Throughout Will County, Greengarden is noted for its societies and mutual 
organizations, important among which is the Greengarden Farmers' Mutual. 
Insurance Company, protecting against losses by fire and lightning. This Com- 
pany is composed of about one thousand two hundred members. It was organ- 
ized in 1867, under the then existing township insurance law, and received its 
charter in 1869. The ofiicers of the Company are composed of a president and 
vice president, secretary and treasurer, who are and must be residents of the 
township of Greengarden, and of a director from each township aside from itself 
where said township shall have acquired a membership of thirty members. Its 
first local officers were : President, Henry Stassen ; Vice President, Frederick 
Buchholz; Secretary, Henry Vischoever, and Treasurer, H. H. Stassen. Its 
first oflBcers outside the township, which then consisted of its directors and 
solicitors, were : Henry Suhl, H. H. Stassen, Sr., Henry Engleman and Peter 
Conrad. Its present local officers are : President, Henry Eisenbrandt ; Vice 
President, Christian Buck; Treasurer, H. H. Stassen, and Secretary, August 
Voigt. Its present officials in and outside the township, which consist of its 
directors and solicitors, are : William Beutien, Nikol Eyrich, John Schoops, 
Andrew Holl, Henry Engleman, Diedrich Thiesfeld, August Stoekig, Hasch 
Siemsen, Charles E. Holstein, Henry Vischoever and John Stassen. The first 
application was made April 11, 1867, by Rev. Frederick Boeber, of Green- 
garden Township, policy $1,000. This is the cheapest insurance company in 
the State. Its motto is a union of many for the protection of the individual 
member, minus a profit to a third party. It insures farm property only, and. 
charges a one-half-per-cent cash premium, besides a premium note of 3 per cent 
on the one hundred dollars' worth of property insured by its members. Out of 
the one-half-per-cent cash premium charged, this Company has defrayed all 
expenditures, such as salary to officers, incidentals, etc., accompanying the 
organization of a company, and all losses incurred up to the present date, 1878, 
and has yet a cash balance on hand large enough to warrant the assertion that 
it will not make an assessment for a number of years to come. This Com- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 591 

pany is chartered for fifty years, at the expiration of which time, according to 
stipulations in contracts, its renewal can be obtained. 

Den Werth einer Sache weis man am besten zu schiitzen, wenn man es nicht hat. 

For a new township, and thinly settled as was this in 1861, Greengarden 
did a noble part in the late war ; and its record compares well with that of other 
portions of the county and State. Quite a number lost their lives in the service 
of their country, amongst whom are called to mind John Depuy, Stephen C. 
Kenny, George W. Holmes, Matthew Bush, Ellery B. Mitchell, E. J. White, 
Albert E, Devereaux, J. D. Blanchard, Albert Haradon and Erastus Rudd. 
''''Requiem eternam dona eis Domine." 



CHANNAHON TOWNSHIP. 

Channahon is an Indian word, signifying the "meeting of the waters," and 
alludes to the confluence of the Des Planes and Du Page Rivers, which occurs 
near the center of the township, and was bestowed on the town by Judge Peck, 
one of the early settlers of the country. It is described as Township 34 north, 
Range 9 east, and is one of the best watered and best drained sections of the 
county. The surface is uneven and rolling, in some portions rising into bluffs, 
but upon the whole containing much fine farming land, though very little open 
prairie. At the time of the first settlements in Channahon, much of it was 
timbered, and what is termed in other States, "open barrens." It lies in the 
western tier of townships, adjoining Grundy County, and is south of Troy and 
north of Wilmington Township, with a population in 1870, of 1,164 inhabit- 
ants. The Illinois & Michigan Canal, and the Chicago, Pekin & Southwest- 
ern Railroad pass through the town, and afford excellent shipping facilities for 
the large amount of grain and stock annually produced by its enterprising cit- 
izens. Upon the whole, Channahon may be set down as one of the wealthy 
and prosperous townships of Will County. 

Joseph Shoemaker is supposed to be the first white settler in Channahon 
Township. He came from Ohio, and made a claim here in 1831, and is still 
living in the corner of the town, but has traveled around considerably since his 
first settlement in this section ; has made a trip to California, and to Nebraska, 
but finding no place better than Illinois has returned and settled in his old 
township. The Tryons and Knapps came from Vermont in 1833, and settled 
on Section 8, between the Des Planes and Du Page Rivers. The colony con- 
sisted of George and Russell Tryon, who were both single men at the time, 
and Dr. Ira 0. Knapp, his wife and Miss Knapp, a single sister, now the wife 
of Lyman Foster of Plainfield. Dr. Knapp is a nephew of th« Tryons, and 
his wife and sister comprised the only ladies of their party. He built a log 
house on his claim 18x20 feet in size, in which all lived for two or three years. 
Dr. Knapp says he at one time had eight boarders in this little house, as other 



592 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

early settlers would come in, and he would entertain them until they found 
locations and provided other accommodations. His description of this prim- 
itive residence shows what the early settlers had to put up with forty years ago, 
and were contented if even a shelter could be procured. As stated, the house 
was 18x20 feet, and three sides of it were of logs, while one end was left open 
for a fire-place, which was the usual mode then of cabins and fire-places, and 
the only sawed boards were what the door was made of, the floors and roof 
being of "shakes" or "clapboards," and puncheons or slabs split out of trees. 
Dr. Knapp and George Try on still live upon their original claims ; Russell 
Tryon died about three years after their settlement here. The party stopped 
first in Plainfield, or Walker's Grove, and finding the timbered land all claimed 
in that region started out on a prospecting tour, and came down through the 
present township of Troy into Channahon, west of the Du Page River, where 
they selected locations, and returned to Plainfield for the purpose of removing 
their efiects to their claims. In coming back to the place selected, they met 
with a irf&n named McGill, mentioned as an early settler in Troy Township, 
who volunteered to come with them and show them eligible points for settle- 
ment. Instead of allowing them to go to the west side of the river, where they 
had selected claims, he conducted them to their present places, and told them 
the land was far superior to that on the opposite side, a fact that subsequent 
developments have proved to be true. 

New York State furnished Channahon a number of its early settlers, and 
some of its most enterprising and worthy citizens. Among them we may men 
tion Michael Morehouse. J. N. Fryer, Isaac Jessup, E. C. Fellows, Dr. Scher- 
merhorn and his brother, Barant; Judge William B. Peck, Peter McCowan, 
Burke and Isaac Van Alstine, H. D. Risley, Jedediah, Gerry and Walter. 
Fames, and a man named Baurlyte. Dr. Schermerhorn was a practicing physi- 
cian, and settled in the town in 1834. Jacob B. Schermerhorn, a son of his, 
also came this year, but before the old gentleman, and made a claim on Section 
8, where he died about fifteen years ago. Barant Schermerhorn, a brother to 
the Doctor, came the following year, and settled in the neighborhood, where he 
died many years ago. The Doctor, after practicing his profession here several 
jear?, removed to Ottawa. He died some years ago, but his widow was still 
living there at the last known of her. Morehouse settled on Section 17, in 
1834, where he died in 1875 at the age of fourscore. He was a married man 
when he came to the settlement, but boarded with Dr. Knapp until he made 
his claim and built a house. J. N. Fryer was a son of Mrs. Morehouse by a 
former marriage, and came here with them. He is living near the village of 
Channahon, and is one of the most prosperous farmers and citizens of the 
township, and withal one of the popular and public-spirited men of the day, as 
evidenced by the fact that he has held the office of Supervisor of the town since 
1866 without interruption. Isaac Jessup and family settled in the town in 1834, 
in good time to raise a crop of corn that season. The first flour they used in their 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 503 

new home was procured from Thornberg's, who settled here the previous year. 
John S., a son of Isaac Jessup, and who was rather young wlien they came to the 
country, is now a merchant in Wihnington. Another son is an Episcopal 
clergyman in New Orleans. It is said that Butler, when in command at 
New Orleans during the war, arrested and imprisoned him at Fort Pickens 
because he would not pray for the President of the United States according to 
Ihe Episcopal Creed. The other sons of William Jessup are dead, but several 
daughters are still living. He died in 1853. Judge William B. Peck settled 
in the town in 1835, a little north of the present village. He received his title 
of Judge while living in New York, and was what was termed a "Side Judge," 
corresponding, we presume, with the Associate Justices of other States in the 
olden time. E. C. Fellows and George Tryon married daughters of Judge 
Peck. The wife of the former is still living, and two sons of the Judge are 
living, one in New York and the other in California ; but the old gentleman 
died some twenty years or more ago. E. C. Fellows settled in the town in 
1836, but soon removed to Joliet, where for some time he was a prominent 
lawyer, and where he is noticed as one of the first lawyers in that city. Burke 
and Isaac Van Alstine settled northeast of the village of Channahon in 1835. 
The former is still a resident of the township, while Isaac lives in the village. 
Peter McCowan settled in 1835 on Section 5, where he died about fifteen years 
ago. H. D. Risley settled in the town in 1834, and was a prominent man and 
served a terra as Sheriff of the county. He died about 1856 or 1857. Jcde- 
diah, Gerry and Walter Eames, three brothers, settled in this section in 1834, 
and are all dead. Baurlyte settled here in 1834, but after a residence of a year 
or two, became disgusted with the wilderness of the West and returned to New 
York. 

Robert Thornberg, Seymour Treat and a man named Greggs came from 
Indiana in 1833, and are numbered among the very first settlers of Channahon 
Township. Thornberg died several years ago, but his sons are still living in 
the neighborhood. Greggs moved to Iowa in 1836. Treat and his two sons, 
Isaiah and Stephen (one of them a doctor), settled in this township as above 
stated, and built a grist-mill at the foot of the island, which is called by their 
name. The Lewises came from the chalky cliffs of Old England, and first settled 
in Grundy County, just over the line. Joseph Lewis has long been one of the 
prominent business men and merchants of Channahon. He settled in Grundy 
County in 1834, and, in 1850, removed to the village of Channahon, where he 
still lives. Henry Lewis and Dr. William Lewis, his brotliers, came to the 
country in 1833, the year before Joseph came. Dr. Lewis was one of the early 
practitioners of this section of the country, and died in Grundy County, and 
Henry was drowned some years ago in the Kankakee River. Gibson Willard 
came here in 1834 and made a claim, but did not bring his family until the 
next year. Reuben G. Willard, a nephew, came with him, and, several years 
later, Reuben Willard, a brother to Gibson Willard, settled in the town. They 



594 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

are all gone now, either dead or moved away, except some grandchildren, who 
still live in the neighborhood. Hosea Buel settled on Section 5 in 1835, and 
died twenty or twenty-five years ago. Joseph McCune settled in this township, 
east of the Des Planes River, in 1832 or 1833, where he died a few years ago. 
John Troutman settled in the same neighborhood about the same time of 
McCune. John Ward settled in the town in 1834, but of him but little could be 
learned. In giving the list of settlers in Channahon Township, we should not 
omit the mention of a small part of the Fifteenth Amendment, whom many of 
our readers will remember as " Nigger Dick." This comprises the names of 
the early settlers so far as they can now be obtained. Any omissions of names 
entitled to mention as early settlers, result from the fact that the few pioneers 
left have forgotten them. Forty years is a broad expanse, over which the 
memory may not always travel with clearness, and that many should be for- 
gotten is but characteristic of human nature. 

Channahon Township was, previous to its settlement by the whites, a favor- 
ite abode and hunting-ground of the Indians of the Pottawatomie tribe, and 
many of them were to found here after white men began to settle in the town. 
They had a village here at one time, traces of which long remained, and 
mounds, where they buried their dead. Judge WoodruiF mentions the grave 
of one, in his "Forty Years Ago," near the residence of Mr. Treat, who was 
buried in a sitting posture, and supposed to be one of their prominent men, as 
they always took great pains to visit it in passing up and down the river. They 
made a visit to Chicago to receive their wampum, before leaving for the " Far 
West," and returned to Channahon for a farewell look at the homes of their 
youth. It is said that many shed tears on leaving forever the spot where their 
lives had been passed, and that all appeared downcast and sad. If this be true, 
it shows up a new phase of Indian character, and proclaims them, after all, 
tinged with a light touch of humanity, though there are many who are a little 
skeptical as to the feeling said to have been displayed by them on leaving this 
section, and say that most of them manifested the most childish enthusiasm at 
the " change of base." But on one point they generally agree, and that was, 
their loneliness after the departure of the Indians ; for quite a sociability had 
sprung up between the two races, particularly between the female portion, and 
the squaws would frequently visit the whites and bring their papooses with 
them, and seemed to enjoy, with the most unbounded delight, the hospitality 
extended by their pale-face sisters. The chief, Bourbonnais, or, as called by the 
French and Indians, Bil-bo-nee, with the accent on the last syllable, had a great 
many ponies, and seems to have been quite a lover of horse-flesh. The Indi- 
ans were great gamblers and horse-racers. "Bil-bo-nee" had a race-course 
near his village, where they used to race a great deal, and would sometimes bet 
high on the speed of their ponies. Their track was straight and very level, and 
did not circle, like those of their white and more refined friends. The chief 
was a great friend to the white people as long as he remained here, and parted 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 595 

■with them with apparent regret. And, as stated above, a kind of lonely feel- 
ing settled over the comnmnity after the Indians had gone. For, with a feel- 
ing somewhat akin to that of the poet, who wrote within a gloomy prison : 

" With spiders I have friendship made, 
And watched them in their sullen trade ; 
Have seen the mice by moonlight play — " 

and for a lack of a sufBciency of copnianionship in this, their wilderness, a warm 
friendship had originated between the races ; and when the Indians departed, 
it left quite an opening in the country, and some few there were who mourned 
their absence. 

The first white child born in the township was George Knapp, a son of Dr. 
Knapp, and was born in July, ]834r. This, at least, is the first that can now 
be recalled. Jedediah Eames was killed by lightning in April of 1835 or of 
1836, which was probably the first death which occurred in the small settle- 
ment. Just who were the first parties to commit matrimony, cannot now be 
ascertained. Judge Peck's daughters were married very early in the history of 
the settlement ; but whether George Tryon and Miss Peck were the first mar- 
ried in the town is not known, but they were among the first. Dr. Knapp was the 
iirst practicing physician, and Dr. Lewis was the next and very soon after 
Knapp, while Dr. Schermerhorn was also one of the early doctors of the town. 
Dr. Knapp retired from the practice of medicine more than twenty-five years 
ago. The first preacher " crying in the wilderness " of Channahon was the 
Rev. Mr. Perry, who proclaimed the Word here as early as 1836. He was a 
Congregational or Presbyterian minister, and was said to be the laziest man the 
township ever knew. Dr. Knapp went fifteen miles for him to come and preach 
in their neighborhood. Services were held in the house of Russell Tryon, who 
•was unmarried and gave the use of his residence for a chapel and schoolhouse. 
The following story is told in illustration of Mr. Perry's " native indolence : " 
He cut his foot one day, very slightly, with an ax, a wound that an ordinary 
man would have paid no attention to. But he bundled up his foot with several 
pounds of rags, dismissed his school, and declined to preach the first Sunday 
after it occurred. The next Sunday, however, he appeared, with foot well bun- 
dled up, hobbling along with a cane, and when commencing to preach, put his 
foot on a chair, while he bore his entire weight on his well foot. During his 
sermon he became somewhat excited, forgot his wound, set his lame foot on the 
floor and the well one on the chair, which so amused the audience that the good 
effect of his sermon, if there was any, was lost. He also taught the first school 
in the township, which commenced simultaneously with his preaching, and was 
taught in Russell Tryon's house, which, as above stated, was used both as a 
church and as a temple of learning. 

The first schoolhouse was built in 1837-38, on Section 8, near Dr. Knapp's, 
and was a frame building, something uncommon for school edifices at that early 
•day. In 1872, the school record was as follows: Nine school districts; 415 



596 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

pupils enrolled; 13 teachers employed; 1 graded school; 5 schoolhouses ; 
special tax for support of schools, $12,000 ; amount paid teachers, $3,357 : 
total expenditures for the year, $5,375.95; balance in treasury, $310.80 — 
which statistics have not materially changed since that report. 

The first church edifice, and the only one in the town, was built in the vil- 
lage, where it is again referred to. The first mill was built on the Des Planes 
River, by Seymour Treat and his son, as already noticed. It was a log struct- 
ure and ground wheat and corn. It was built-in 1837-38, and has long since 
passed away; "But," says Dr. Knapp, "when we got that mill in operation 
in our settlement, we thought we had a big thing." The first post office was 
established in 1836, through the instrumentality of Judge Peck, who was the 
first Postmaster. The name of the office was Du Page, a name it bore until 
the laying-out of the village of Channahon, when it was removed to the village 
and the name changed to Channahon. Judge Peck was also the first Justice of 
the Peace, and was appointed or elected to the office about 1837. At present, 
J. N. Fryer and Albert Randall are Justices of the Peace ; J. N. Fryer, Super- 
visor ; Dr. Joseph Fitch, School Treasurer, and Timothy Gorman, Town Clerk. 

The first road laid out, passed through the southwest corner of the township 
to Joliet, and the first bridge Avas built across the Du Page River, on Section 
18 ; and was built by the people, of logs, and a rather rough affair. The town 
is well supplied with bridges at the present time, over the Du Page, Des Planes 
and the Canal, though none of them are iron bridges. They are substantially 
built, however, with stone foundations, and answer all practical purposes. The 
first store is noticed in the history of the village. The first blacksmith 
was Julius Sackett, who kept a shop in the town as early as 1838 or 1839, though 
of him, little could be learned. The first Supervisor of Channahon, after town- 
ship organization in 1850, was George Tryon, who served for 1850-51. Since 
then the following gentlemen have served in that capacity : H. Henderson, 
1853; J. B. Schermerhorn, 1854-56; Charles C. Smith,' 1857-61; E. H. 
Jessup, 1862; John T. Randall, 1863-65; J. N. Fryer from 1866 to 1878, 
inclusive, and is the present incumbent. His long service as Supervisor is the 
most satisfactory evidence as to his efficiency in the office he fills. 

The sandstone quarries of Channahon furnish a very superior quality of 
building-stone, and were opened originally by Joseph Lewis, long one of the 
prominent business men of the village of Channahon. Another quarry of a 
similar character was opened and worked for a time by Patrick Conroy. None , 
of these quarries are now in operation, a fact that seems strange, when we con- 
sider the excellent and cheap transportation of freights by way of the Illinois 
k Michigan Canal. With the apparently inexhaustible supply, the ease with 
which the stone is reached, it would be natural to suppose that this would be 
the leading business of the town. Quite an item of importance in the history 
of this township, is the cheese-factory and creamery. It is owned by Charles 
C. Smith, one of the wealthy and solid men of the place, and George Alexan- 



HISTOKY OF WILL COUNTY. 597 

der. The factory was built in the Spring of 1877, and has since done a large 
and extensive business, which is increasing rapidly in volume. They manufiict- 
ure both cheese and butter, purchasing a large quantity of the milk used, while 
some is made up for their patrons. A grain elevator was built some years ago 
by H. S. Carpenter, on the Canal, a short distance above the village of Channa. 
hon, which is now owned by a man named Knapp,* but is at present standing 
idle. The business has, during the past Summer, been transferred to the Rock 
Island Railroad which passes within a few miles of the place. The building is 
an excellent one, provided with steam power, and it seems a pity that it should 
remain closed and tenantless. 

The township is pretty evenly divided on political issues, a small majority, 
however. Democratic. In the old times of Whigs and Democrats, it voted solid, 
almost, for Andrew Jackson, and many there are who still vote for the old hero 
of New Orleans, notwithstanding the great revolution of political questions. 
Its record during the late war was patriotic, as was every portion of Will 
County. But as their lijstory and patriotism have been ably written, we shall 
not attempt to repeat it here. 

VILLAGE OF CHANNAHON. 

The village of Channahon is situated on the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and 
on the Du Page River, a little above its junction with the Des Planes, and has 
the double advantage of a most excellent water-power, and a cheap freight trans- 
portation. It was laid out by Myrvin Benjamin, in 1845, and -was called Du 
Page, after the first post office established in the township. During the build- 
ing of the Canal, it is said that the Canal Trustees had something to do with 
the village, in some way or other, and called it " Swifton," after one of their 
number ; but this story is disputed by some of the old citizens of the place, who 
say that its name still stands upon the records as Du Page, although the name 
of the present post office is Channahon, and the village is usually called by the 
same name. The first house erected in the village was put up by Benjamin, 
about the time of the laying of it out, and was used as a hotel by Mrs. Story. 
It is now occupied as a residence by David Billsland. Chauncey Stickney opened 
the first store in the village in 1845, which was the first mercantile venture in 
the township as well as in the village. After the laying-out of the village, Du 
Page post office was removed into it and the name changed to Channahon, and 
at present Charles Fowler is Postmaster. The following is the business sum- 
mary: Four stores, by C. & C. E. Fowler, J. Lewis, Dr. Joseph Fitch, Timothy 
Gorman ; one grocery store ; two blacksmith-shops ; one wagon-shop and hard- 
ware store. For a small place like Cniannahon, there is quite an extensive 
business carried on, and a good trade maintained. They have the advantage of 
a daily mail, which is brought across the country from Minooka, a point on the 
Rock Island Railroad. The Channahon Mills were built by Joseph Lewis, and 

* No relation to Dr. Knapp of this township. 



598 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

after passing through the hands of several parties, are now owned by a man 
named Sprague, and at present operated by a Mr. Eversoll. They are frame 
buihlings, containing two runs of buhrs, for flour and feed, and run by the water 
power of the Canal. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church, located in the village of Channahon, is 
the only church edifice in either township or village. It was built in 1852-53, 
and is a large and handsome frame building. Rev. R. K. Bibbins was the 
Pastor last year, but the session of Conference just closed sent to the charge 
Rev. Mr. Gillespie. There is a membership of between eighty and ninety, with 
a Sunday school equally strong, under the superintendence of Dr. J. Fitch, 
Although this is the only church-building in the township, religious services are 
frequently held in the schoolhouses, as well as Sunday schools. The first 
scboolhouse built in the village of Channahon was in 1839, before the village 
was laid out, and is now degraded by being used as a stable ; the next one was 
built in 1864, and burned in 1868, when the present handsome edifice was 
erected and opened in 1869. It is an elegant and substantial two-story frame 
building, finished off in the most approved modern style. The school is graded, 
with a high-school department, and is in charge of Prof. Layburn, assisted by 
Misses Brown and Blount. 

The Masonic Order is represented by Channahon Lodge, No. 262. It was 
chartered in 1857, and the present officers are as follows : Albert Randall, 
Worshipful Master ; Nelson Bedford, Senior Warden ; R. C. Miller, Junior 
Warden, and C. Fowler, Secretary, with forty-five names on the roll of mem- 
bership. 

This comprises the history of the pretty little village, nestled among the 
bluffs of the Du Page and Des Planes Rivers. It is a beautiful location for a 
town, but, owing to the railroads which pass within a few miles of it, there is 
but little probability of its ever growing to the size of Chicago. 

Shermanville is a place only in name. A stone quarry was opened here a 
few years ago, and an effort made for a village ; but for some cause the quarries 
were discontinued, and the prospects of a town became extinguished. There is 
not, we are told, a house or even a cabin to designate the spot laid down on the 
map as Shermanville. Gravel Bank Station is another place of like propor- 
tions, and consists chiefly of a side-track on the Chicago, Pekin & Southwest- 
ern Railroad, for shipping grain and stock. 



WESLEY TOWNSHIP. 

The alarms of cruel butcheries and inhuman massacres by the Indians had 
but ceased to echo through the State of Illinois, and the tracks of the red men 
were still visible in the soil — the Government having but recently removed them 
to reservations beyond the Mississippi — when emigrants from all portions of the 
East and South came pouring into the State. Prior to 1832, many settlements 





& ,,,r^ju LENVX TR 




NEW 



S-^*-T^l^. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 601 

had been made in the southern and northwestern portions of the State ; and, 
in tlie part of the State now embraced in Will County, a few white people had 
settled among the Indians. But in the year named, owing to the troubles 
alluded to, this county, with others near the scene of hostilities, was entirely 
depopulated, and immigration was temporarily checked. As soon, however, 
as it was apparent that the danger was past, the tide again set in with redoubled 
volume. ' 

Before the Black Hawk troubles, probably, no white man had ever con- 
sidered the part of the county now called Wesley Township his home, no traces 
of white men's cabins, or other improvements being detected two years later. 
John Williams, who still resides in the township, says that, when he first visited 
the place, in the Fall of 1833, there were no indications that it had ever before 
been inhabited except by Indians, and that his little cabin, erected at that time, 
was the first domicile of that nature ever erected here. Williams was from the 
Old Dominion, formerly, but had come to the vicinity of Danville in 1831, and 
■was living there when the war broke out. lie remembers quite well seeing 
the troops leave Danville, on their march to Rock River, where Black Hawk 
was gathering his allies, preparatory to taking possession of that region, and 
sweeping off the white population who had dared to encroach upon his domain. 
In 1833, he came to Joliet, and from there out to this place, to select some 
land, split rails and build a cabin, preparatory to making a permanent settle- 
ment the next Spring. In May of the next year, 1834, he moved to the place, 
occupied his land and began making other improvements. Mr. Williams was 
then 33 years old, being born in 1801. He still lives at the age of 77, with 
body and mental faculties unimpaired, and it is to him that we are indebted for 
most of the early history of the township. 

Though Williams was the first to make an improvement in Wesley Town- 
ship, he was preceded two weeks in its occupation. When Williams came to 
occupy his new home, he found George M. Beckwith, Andrew Pettijohn and 
Absalom Heyworth already here, and learned that they had left Indiana about 
a month before, and had arrived here after a journey of twelve days. Beck- 
with's brother, Daniel W., had been employed by the Government to survey 
this portion of the State, and from him he had learned of the character of 
the country, and had moved out. George M. Beckwith was a lawyer, 
or at least practiced a little in the lower courts, and before Justices of the 
Peace. He was also a good farmer. He died in 1845, of what is sometimes 
termed "milk-sickness." His widow afterward married John Frazier, who was 
also one of the early citizens in this neighborhood. 

Daniel Beckwith, to whom allusion has just been made, took a severe cold 
Av'hile engaged in the work spoken of, from which he never recovered, but died 
in 1834. 

A few weeks after Williams settled in his new home, John and Alexander 
Frazier and James W. and Joseph Kelly, from the same neighborhood in 



602 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Virginia, made their appearance in the community. These were men whose 
coming would be a source of congratulation to any neighborhood and at any 
time ; but at the time of which we write were they especially welcome. John 
Frazier was a man of education, and proved to be one of the most useful and 
influential citizens of the township. He was the first Supervisor of AVilming- 
ton Township, when Wesley constituted a portion of it ; and, upon the division, 
he was elected to the same office from this precinct. There was hardly a posi- 
tion of responsibility and trust but that he has filled, and that with credit to 
himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He died September 13, 18G8, and 
his brother Alexander about two years later. Arthur Potts and Robert Wat- 
kins, from Virginia, and Hamilton Keeney, from the same State, emigrated to 
this place a little later, arriving in the Fall of 1834. Watkins was a man of 
good judgment and some education. He was one of the early Justices of the 
Peace, being elected to the office before the township was organized. Hamilton 
Keeney was also a leading man. 

During the year 1835, quite a number of new settlers made claims and 
occupied land, among whom are remembered J. T. Diivis, George Gay, T. 
McCarty, Wesley Carter and Griffy Davis. J. T. Davis was an old veteran of 
the Revolutionary war; was in Washington's army, and in the important 
capture of the Hessians at Trenton. He used to relate the circumstances at- 
tending this movement with great minuteness and much interest. One of his 
greatest enjoyments was in thus "fighting his battles over again," and many 
a pleasant hour the younger folks enjoyed in listening to the old soldier's 
stories. The other Davis, "Griffy," was not a relative of the veteran. He 
came from Ohio, with his young wife, who took sick almost as s Jon as she ar- 
rived, lingered for six months, and died. This was the first death that occurred 
in the neighborhood. Rough but kindly hands laid her away in the soil of the 
strange land, and Davis returned to his native State. The place of burial was 
marked with only a slight wooden headboard, and, it having long since decayed, 
the spot is not now known. David Blackwell, though not a permanent settler, 
being a Methodist preacher, came in this year, and organized the Church 
of that denomination. 

William Forbes, William Goodwin, John Strunk, Henry Moore, Joseph 
Hadsel, Daniel McGilvery, John G. Putnian and Elias Freer came in during 
the two years ending 1837. Forbes was a soldier of the Avar of 1812, and, like 
Davis, was fond of entertaining his friends with incidents of his soldier life. 
He was a millwright, and in this trade he is said to have excelled. He was 
subpoenaed in the great Parker wheel suit, as a witness against the patentees ; 
and, though they had successfully contested the rights of many millers to use 
their device on account of its "back-action" feature, Forbes showed so con- 
clusively to the Court the fallacy of their claim that not only did they lose this 
suit, but never afterward attempted to enforce a claim against an infringer. 
One of the counsel for the plaintiffs declared that Forbes knew more about 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 603 

liydraulics than any other man in America. John Strunk was a son-in-law of 
Forbes, and was also a miller, lie worked in the mills at Wilmington for a 
time, and afterward moved to Momence. and bought the mill at that place. 
He died at Momence, about fifteen years ago. ^yilliam Goodwin was one of 
the most substantial farmers of Wesley Township. His farm, near the center 
of the township, is one of the most valuable in this vicinity. William Good- 
win died about* a year ago, at the age of 68 years, leaving a very large estate. 
Daniel McGilvery was a Scotchman. He died of consumption, in 18r)G. All 
of his family have since been taken away by the same disease. Joseph Hadsel 
was a native of New York, but had lived for a time in Michigan. His family 
consisted of himself, wife and six children, all of whom, except his wife, now 
verging on to her fourscore years, and a daughter, wife of the late Duncan 
Mclntyre, of Florence Township, are now dead. One son, Charles, met a 
torturous death at the hands of the Indians, in New Mexico, whither he was 
traveling in 1862. Two other sons, Thomas and William, both died the same 
day, in this township, one of consumption and the other of pleurisy. The older 
Hadsel passed away in 1852. Elias Freer was a native of New York. His 
son. Dr. Freer, was one of the most prominent physicians of the Northwest, 
being, at the time of his death, a couple of years ago, President of Rush Med- 
ical College, of Chicago. Another son, L. C. P. Freer, is a prominent lawyer 
of the same city. Elias Freer removed from the township some years ago. 

Some of the old settlers will remember Adam Reinish, of Reinish Creek. 
Could his history all be known, it would, doubtless, prove an interesting one, as 
he served in the war between the French and Russians, and was with Napoleon's 
army in the retreat from Moscow. No one familiar with that wonderful cam- 
paign can doubt but that Reinish saw sights that neither pen nor words can 
faithfully describe. John G. Putnam, mentioned among the early settlers of 
Wilmington, was also an early settler here, being in this neighborhood as early 
as 1837. 

By the year 1845, many more had joined the settlement, prominent among 
whom were James Gould, John Kilpatrick, Anson Packard, David Willard, 
B. F. Morgan, Richard Binney, Robert Kelly and William Killy. Their 
names are given as nearly in the order of their coming as can now be remem- 
bered. James Gould was one of the most solid men of the township. He 
grew quite wealthy, and when he died, left a large estate, all of which was 
accumulated here. John Kilpatrick was also a good citizen, and left to the 
world a legacy of value — a good family. Hon. David Willard is a native of 
New York. When he first came to the county, he was employed as a laborer by 
Peter Stewart. He is a man of high standing, politically and socially. He 
has served the county eight years as County Judge, and in the discharge of his 
duties jjave the most eminent satisfaction. B. F. Morgan is also of New York. 
He has gained the enviable reputation of being a good citizen. Richard Bin- 

* June 18, 1877. 



(304 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

ney was a native of New York. He was a man of worth and a successful farmer. 
He died in 1856, leaving a wife, who still survives him. William Killy was 
from the Isle of Man. All that can be said of a good citizen can be truthfully 
said of him. He died about eight years ago. His son John occupies the farm. 
Robert Kelly came from New Orleans. A little incident is related of his com- 
ing, which is at the same time interesting and amusing. When Kelly came to 
the neighborhood, it was with the object of purchasing a piece of land, with a 
view of making it a home. Having fixed upon a tract belonging to John Kil- 
patrick, which land was for sale, a bargain was struck, the deed made and the 
purchase-money paid down — $800, all in Mexican dollars. Kelly, having 
bought his home, went his way, intending to return the next season to put out 
a crop and make improvements, and Kilpatrick pocketed his cash, congratulat- 
ing himself on having made a good sale. By and by Kilpatrick wished to use 
some of the money, and it was paid out in various ways — some of it paying 
bills at the store and other amounts being loaned to neighbors, who used it for 
different purposes, so that, in a short time, it was all in circulation. All at 
once it was discovered that the whole lot of coin was bogus. In those times, 
money did not leave a community and circulate so rapidly as now, so that, 
although the $800 had all been paid out, it had not left the neighborhood, and 
small amounts were in the hands of almost everybody. By common consent, 
and a suspicion that, perhaps, after all, the money was genuine, it continued to cir- 
culate and was paid out and taken at par. Gradually the coins became scarcer, 
indicating that they were finding their way out into the world : but " Kilpatrick 's 
currency " was a standing joke for years after the last piece was seen. Kilpatfick 
and Kelly were both innocent parties, having both received and paid out the" stufi",' 
supposing it to be good. Kelly returned in the Spring following and occupied his 
farm, and was much surprised to learn that it had been bought with counterfeit 
money, and gratified that it had been placed beyond redemption. 

Nearly all of the settlers of this neighborhood were Methodists, and one of 
the first public acts was to organize a society for the purpose of holding religious 
services. In the Winter of 1834-35, meetings were held, and Rev. David 
Blackwell was sent by the M. E. Conference to preach. A Church and Sunday 
school were organized, and these have both continued in operation ever since. 
Although this society is the only religious organization in the township, and, 
although it has been quite strong and wealthy, no exclusive church-building has 
ever been erected. For a number of years, services were held in the little 
schoolhouse. After a time, when the congregation had outgrown its narrow 
quarters, it was proposed to build a new schoolhouse of such dimensions as 
would answer both purposes, and this building has ever since been occupied by 
the society and the school. The first members of the society or class were 
John Frazier. James W. Kelly, Hamilton Keeney, John Williams and John 
Kilpatrick, with their wives. Rev. Mr. Meedham is the present Pastor of the 
Cliurch. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 605 

The first school taught in the township was in John Williams' log kitchen. 
The school was taught by John Frazier, in the Winter of 1836-37. The next 
Summer it was deemed expedient to build a house for that purpose. This was 
the first schoolhouse erected on either bank of the Kankakee River, in what is 
now Will County. The building is still in use, but not as a schoolhouse. It now 
serves the ignoble purpose of a lumber-room, on the farm of Frank Childs. 
The earliest record of schools dates back to 1841, and shows three schools in 
operation at that time. Of these, Timothy McCarty, James Iladsel and Joseph 
Dunlap were Directors of District No. 1 ; James W. Kelly, Robert Watkins 
and John Williams, of No. 2 ; and G. M. Beckwith, John Kilpatrick and 
Nathan Smith, of No. 3. 

The school township then, as now, occupied all of Town 32 north, Range 10 
east ; and, consequently, all of that portion of Custer Township, then settled, 
was embraced in District No. 3, Nathan Smith being the Director from the 
" other side of the river." The arbitrary formation of all Congressional towns 
into school towns, while townships are bounded in many cases, as in this, by 
different lines, makes it impossible to give exact statistics. At the date named, 
there were in the school township, 132 children, 45 of whom were in District 
No. 1 ; 51 in District No. 2 ; and 36 in District No. 3. The first name 
appearing on the record as School Treasurer, is that of David Willard, who 
continued to exercise the functions of that office until 1865. In 1846, a new 
district, designated as No. 4, was formed of that portion of No. 3 which lay in 
Custer, or south of the river. The following tabic will serve to show the con- 
dition of schools at this date : 

No. of schools 10 

No. of persons between 6 and 21 354 

No. of children attending school 317 

Amount paid teachers 51,8'24 (lO 

Total expenses for sustaining schools 2,394 OU 

The first year after the township organization act was in force in this county, 
Wesley Township was a part of Wilmington, as was, likewise, Florence. Of 
these three, John Frazier was elected Supervisor. The next year the township 
of Wesley was formed and township officers elected. The first election was 
held at the schoolhouse, in District No. 2, April 1, 1851. Henry D. Childs 
was Moderator, and H. B. Putman, Clerk. Fifty-eight votes were cast, of 
which majorities were declared for John Frazier as Supervisor ; Elias Freer, 
Clerk ; David Willard, Assessor ; Anson Packard, James Gould and Daniel 
McGilvery, Commissioners of Highways; B. F. Morgan, Collector; David 
Willard and Alfred Warner, Justices of the Peace ; Daniel Ferris and Palmer 
Robinson, Constables ; and Samuel Jewet, Overseer of the Poor. The present 
officers are as follows: Harvey Warner, Supervisor; Levi A. Richardson, Clerk ; 
D. B. Ritchey, Collector; II. H. Jones, Assessor; John Ritchey and Amasa 
Richardson, Justices of the Peace ; Charles Muncey, Constable ; Joseph John- 



(506 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

son, George Binriey and Thomas W. Jones, Commissioners of Highways ; and 
Schuyler Ackerman, School Treasurer. 

The notes of the bugle, summoning the loyal men of the country to come 
forward and rescue the country from the hands of those who would destroy it, 
were heard and heeded by the brave boys of Wesley ; and scarcely had the first 
blast broken the peaceful stillness which usually precedes the storm, when many 
who loved country more than homes or kindred, were on their way to the front. 
Some of them never returned, but their bodies lie in the soil beside those with 
whom they struggled ; others were permitted to return^ disabled by wounds or 
disease, to die at their homes and be laid to rest by friendlier hands, in the 
little cemetery whither their fathers and kindred had preceded them ; and, with 
thanks to God, who had preserved them through all of the dangers and hard- 
ships of the campaign, others returned at the close of the war and are still 
spared to their friends and to the country which they served so faithfully. 

The township of Wesley consists of about twenty-nine sections, being all 
of Congressional Towns 32 north. Ranges 9 and 10 east of the Third Prmci- 
pal Meridian, lying east and north of the Kankakee River. The land in the 
north and east parts of the township is first-class, being of rich, deep soil and 
very productive of corn, hay, rye and oats, large crops of which are raised. 
The south and west portions are broken by sand ridges, and these are, in a 
measure, barren. Wheat is grown here to some extent ; and John Kelly says 
that his farm has produced fair crops every year for thirty-nine years. 

Of late years, many of the farmers have been giving attention to dairying 
and a cheese and butter factory has been recently built in the eastern part, by 
Elnathan Wright, of Manteno, to accommodate that industry. Stone of a good 
quality, but rather difiicult to quarry is found along the bank of the Kankakee. 
Forked Creek which enters the township in the northeast corner and leaves at 
the northwest corner, flows, with long and gradual bend, through the central 
part, afibrding fine stock-water to the farms in its vicinity. Nearly one-half 
was formerly covered with timber. Much of the best timber, however, has 
been cut down, and the most of that remaining is valuable for posts and fuel. 
It is hardly necessary to inform our readers that the township was named in 
honor of the great apostle of Methodism, John Wesley. The pioneers of this 
vicinity were nearly all of that persuasion ; and when a name was required for 
it, they bestowed upon it that name which, next to the saints, is dear to every 
Methodist. 



CUSTER TOWNSHIP. 

Although this is the newest township in regard to name, it was, neverthe- 
less, one of the first organized. The territory now embraced within its bound- 
aries was, in reality, Reed Township, though the portion containing eighteen sec- 
tions of the original forty-four sections recently struck oft" from the west side now 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 607 

bear that name. Tlie earliest settlements were all made along or near the bank 
of the Kankakee River, and when the organization of Reed was effected, there 
was scarcely an inhabitant in Reed outside the present boundaries of Custer. 
However, as the proposition to "secede" came from the eastern portion, the 
west end retained the name of Reed, and the east end was left to seek a new 
one. As Custer Township (it having existed as such only two years), its story 
would be soon told; but its early history not being included in the one headed 
Reed Township (that being but little else than the history of Braidwood, whose 
interests and peculiarities are entirely different), we find it necessary to go back 
many years. The history of this portion of the county, though not so ancient 
as that of some others, is yet sufficiently so to give it that desirable flavor 
which makes a narrative of this kind interesting; for to repeat only what 
everybody already knows is a task quite as irksome to the writer as it would be 
tedious to the reader. The township, as now laid out, consists of all that por- 
tion of Congressional Towns 32 north and 9 and 10 east, lying southwest of 
the Kankakee River and east of the section line separating Sections 3 and 4, 
in Range 9 ; and is bounded on the north by Wilmington Township, on the 
east by the Kankakee River, on the south by Kankakee County, and on the 
west by Reed Township. But little can be said in favor of the soil, as it is usu- 
ally of a poor quality. Some good farms are interspersed with the sand ridges, 
but for the most part the land is adapted only for grazing. Doubtless, a con- 
siderable portion of the west side of the township has, underlying its surface, a 
deposit of coal of the same character and quality as that found at Braidwood, 
and only awaits the miners pick to make it of equal value. The township is 
watered by the Kankakee, Horse Creek and another small branch of the Kan- 
kakee. The Chicago & St. Louis Railroad crosses the northwestern corner, 
•cutting off an eighth of a section, and furnishing, at Wilmington and Braid- 
wood, commercial facilities for the Avestern part. The Kankakee being nav- 
igable for small steamers to the eastern point, an outlet is thus furnished for. 
the upper portion. Though navigation has been improved by the building of 
the dams at Wilmington, it has in reality been used for that purpose during wet 
seasons since the earliest settlements of the adjacent country. As early as 
1834, the products of the farm were boated down the Kankakee to the Des 
Planes, and up the latter river to Chicago. It is related that during the year 
named some parties loaded a boat on Sugar Creek, a tributary to the Iroquois, 
with 300 bushels of oats, 300 bushels of wheat and some hams, with the 
design of taking them to Chicago to supply the garrison stations there. The 
trip down the Kankakee was accomplished without accident or unusual trouble; 
but after entering the Des Planes, when near Treat's Island, the boat dipped 
water and so dampened the grain that they were obliged to unload and try to dis- 
pose of their produce at that point. At that time, settlers were arriving in that 
neighborhood quite rapidly, and they had no trouble in disposing of their whole 
cargo — the oats at 50 and the wheat at 75 cents per bushel. At present, small 



608 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Steamers owned by Messrs. Small, of Wilmington, and Stephen F. Hanford, of 
Warner's Landing, ply regularly between these points and Chicago, carrying 
to that city corn, oats, rye and other products, and bringing back lumber, salt 
and other heavy articles. The "Landing," which is located near the eastern 
point of the township, is considered the head of navigation during the dry sea- 
son, but when the river is ordinarily full, boats can run much higher. 

In 1871-72, considerable work was done on the proposed Decatur & State 
Line Railroad, which was to cross the river at a point a short distance above 
the landing. Large sums of money were expended and a good portion of the 
road was ready for the ties. At this time a dozen huge pillars rear themselves 
from the bed of the Kankakee, over which the trains were to pass, like great 
monuments, reminding one of both the sincerity of its projectors, and of what, 
must be the disappointed hopes of them and of the inhabitants of this vicinity. 
About the time that this work was in progress, the great fire in Chicago occur- 
ring, so crippled some of the friends of the enterprise that work had to be sus- 
pended. Then it was proposed to interest some Boston capitalists, but before 
arrangements were complete, a repetition of the Chicago catastrophe also 
occurred in Boston ; and, other reverses following, work has never been 
resumed. Some hopes are still entertained that the line will yet be completed. 

The very earliest settlements occurred between the years 1836 and 1840.. 
Andrew Yeates, Thomas Hatton, Samuel Taft and Nathan Smith were the first 
who could, with propriety, be called permanent settlers. There were a few 
others during this period, but as they did not remain long, their mention is 
not a matter of importance. 

Andrew Yeates was a native of Ireland. He was a man of means and 
ability. It is doubtful if he was ever fully appreciated in the community, as 
it was not generally known that his education and capabilities were of a supe- 
rior character. Unlike most emigrants from foreign lands, who come to this 
country on account of poverty and for the purpose of simply gaining a liveli- 
hood, Yeates came with plenty of money, and could have lived without work. 
He removed to Kankakee County some years ago, and has since died. His 
widow is still an inhabitant of the township. 

Thomas Hatton was a brother-in-law of Yeates. Samuel Taft was a native 
of New York. Like many others, he was attracted to this neighborhood by 
the abundance of game, and made its capture and destruction a means of live- 
lihood. At that date, this was one of the easiest means of subsistence. The 
woods swarmed with deer, turkeys and other game ; and the hunter could, in 
one day, bring down enough to last his family for weeks. The skins of the 
deer and coon, and the scalps of wolves brought a small revenue, that supplied 
him with such clothing as the pioneer customs of the country demanded. The 
river teemed with fish, and these could be caught at all seasons of the year. 

After Taft's death, which occurred many years ago, his wife married Dar- 
win Dodd, by whom she has had twenty-four children, all of whom are alive 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 609 

and well. They live in Minnesota. It will not be surprising to learn that Mr. 
and Mrs. Dodd nre thorough "grangers," and believe in ignoring the small 
merchants and middle-men. They buy directly of manufacturers, hats, shoes, 
calico and all kinds of eatables not produced on the farm. Nathan Smith, now 
a citizen of Wilmington and Police Magistrate of that city, is a native of Ver- 
mont. He was for a few years a citizen of Wesley Township, and his name 
appears as one of the first School Directors of District No. 3 in 1841. James 
Hines came to the township in 1846,by which time had also arrived John S. Iloyte, 
Joseph Wood, Jeremiah Gray, Elias Winchell, Patrick Judge and R. S. Noble. 

Henry Hudson, from Ohio, also came in 1846, and still resides in the town- 
ship. Hudson carried the mail from Wilmington to Pontiac for nine years, 
ending in 1854, at which date' the Chicago & Mississippi Railroad was com- 
pleted, and Hudson's services were no longer required. 

Stephen F. Hanford is a resident of thirty years. In 1848, he came to this 
place, and entered, with soldier's land warrant, a large tract of land, of which 
he still owns over one thousand acres. He is a native of Ohio, and came to the 
State six years before his advent to this place. 

G. H. Blanchard, John Wing, Orlin Miller and Abram and John Wurts had 
also settled here by 1846. 

One of the most prominent and able men who ever resided in this part of 
the county was Richard Warner, a native of Ohio, who came to this township 
in 1853. Warner had been a member of the State Senate of Ohio, and had 
filled other positions of honor. He was for several years Supervisor, and it 
was largely due to his influence during his occupancy of that office, that the 
magnificent bridge across the Kankakee at Wilmington was erected. His 
death, which occurred nineteen years ago, was considered a public calamity. At 
the time of his demise he was possessed of a large estate. 

John Kahler, now a resident of Wilmington, but prior to coming to this 
county a resident of Pennsylvania, was also an early settler. He farmed 
here for many years, but old age compelled him to give up agricultural pursuits 
and engage in lighter work. 

Religion in this township is not indicated by church spires, but we do not 
doubt that there is real, genuine piety here. Though there are no church build- 
ings or organizations, the inhabitants are not without church privileges. On 
every side in the adjoining townships are churches and buildings — especially at 
Braidwood and Wilmington — where many of the religiously inclined attend. 
There being no village within the limits, it has not been a natural abiding place 
for lawyers or doctors, the people supplying themselves with law, physic and 
theology at the neighboring towns. 

Due attention is given to the subject of education, and five schools are in 
successful operation, the first of which was established in 1846. 

Full school statistics in regard to this township are not obtainable from 
reports, as the territory embraced in Custer lies in two Congressional towns. 



610 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

In 1876, the citizens of the eastern portion of Reed Township, seeing that 
their interests were entirely different from those of the* western portion, and 
that the tastes, habits and pursuits were somewhat inharmonious, petitioned to 
the Board of Supervisors to be set off as a separate precinct. A majority of 
the Board coincidino; with the views of the petitioners, a division was made as 
described, and an election of township officers ordered. The tragedy of the 
brave Gen. Custer and his troops being fresh in mind, the township was named 
in his honor. The first officers elected were : George Petro, Supervisor ; M. 
L. Russell, Clerk ; I. T. Palmer, Assessor, and John Evans, Collector — all of 
whom continue to hold the respective offices. John Meadern and Lewis Mon- 
teith are Justices of the Peace ; James Bradford, Constable ; Henry Miller, 
A. G. Taylor and Ira Smith, Commissioners of Highways. The highest vote 
yet polled was 103. 

Warner's Landing, though not a laid-out village, contains a store, black- 
smith-shop and other conveniences common to a small country town. Grain is 
shipped from here in large quantities, as indeed it is the exclusive market for 
the products of the farm for this neighborhood. 

Horse Creek Landing answers about the same description, and affords the 
same facilities for shipping grain, etc. 



TROY TOWNSHIP. 

Jedediah Woolley, Sr., was one of the earliest settlers of Plainfield, but of 
that township it could hardly be said that he became a permanent resident, as 
he removed from it before the land came into market. He, however, lived 
there some time, and there experienced some of the trials and privations of 
pioneer life incident to this country at a period prior to 1835. In the year 
named, he removed to Troy Township, made a claim and settled permanently. 
His son, Jedediah Woolley, Jr., had already made some improvement, having 
built a saw-mill on the Du Page, which flows through the township. The saw- 
mill was completed and in operation by the Fall of 1834. His was the first 
mill enterprise in Troy, and one of the very first in the county. It was looked 
upon as a great addition to the industries of the community, and furnished lum- 
ber for most of the early buildings in this vicinity. The canal and railroad, 
though dreamed of, had not been built, and the only commercial communication 
with the village of Chicago was by means of wagons, and so most of the houses 
prior to that date were built entirely of logs. A dwelling of the character in 
use in those days would be almost a curiosity now ; and, as compared with the 
fine farmhouses and almost palatial residences of Troy and vicinity, would, at 
least, be considered a novelty. They generally consisted of a pen, from six- 
teen to twenty feet square, built up of small logs, notched at each end, to admit 
of Others lying thereon. The pen was built to the height of about ten feet, 
and divided into a lower and upper room by joists of small logs covered with 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 611 

"boards split from the bodies of straight-grained trees. Sometimes the upper 
room was dispensed with, and the single room answered the purpose of kitchen, 
pantry, parlor, dining-room, bed-room and cellar. Floors were not considered 
indispensable, and Mother Earth herself was the floor and carpet. A bedstead 
has been described to us as consisting of two poles driven into holes bored into the 
logs which formed the wall of the building, and supported at the other ends by 
a stake driven into the ground. A bed-cord was made of bark stripped from 
the body of a hickory-tree. Windows were glazed with panes made by satu- 
rating strong white paper with grease. This made a fine substitute for both 
glass and curtains, for, while it admitted the light, it also prevented the direct 
rays of the sun from entering, being translucent without being transparent. 
The roof of the dwelling was constructed of split shingles — an article scarcely 
known at the present — held in their places by poles laid thereon. 

Jedediah Woolley, Jr., was County Surveyor when Will was a part of Cook 
County, and surveyed the county. Both he and his father are dead. A man 
named Chipman was partner with the younger Woolley in the saw-mill. Chip- 
man was from the State of Ohio. He did not find the country all that he had 
anticipated, and, after a short residence, he returned to the Buckeye State. 

Alford McGill, a son-in-law of the Elder Woolley, moved to the township at 
the same time. He is spoken of as kind-hearted, big-souled man, and well 
liked by all who knew him. It was such men who made the pioneer life toler- 
able to those whose former lives had been spent in localities where social advan- 
tages had been somewhat superior to what they found in their new homes. It 
was McGill who guided the Knapps and the Tryons of Channahon, to the place 
of their location, and recommended it as the finest soil in the country. Like 
many other great-hearted, social fellows, he had one fault developed by the in- 
fluence and habits of pioneer life. The cup, to which he was most friendly, 
was his worst and most relentless enemy, and finally overcame him entirely, 
dragging him down to an untimely grave. Cary Thornton was a native of 
Pennsylvania, but had lived in the State of New York prior to coming here, in 
1835. At that date, he came West, and attended the land sale and purchased 
a half-section of land. The next year, 1836, he, with his brother William, 
moved from New York to the land purchased the year before, each occupying 
one-half. The location of the land was in the southern part of the township, 
and is now known as the Farnsworth property. Cary Thornton removed to 
the city of Joliet, in 1866, where he still resides, an active old gentleman of 
79 years. William Thornton removed to Lake County, where he died about 
six years ago. 

Josiah Holden, a brother of Phineas Holden, who settled in New Lenox at 
an early date, was in the township as early as 1836. He moved away and died 
many years ago. Dr. Alexander McGregor Comstock, whom, from the name 
"we imagine, to have been a Scotchman, came here from New York, about 1837. 
He moved to the city of Joliet and died of cholera, during the reign of 



612 HISTORY OF WILL COUMY. 

that fatal plague years ago. He was the first resident physician, and a man 
of much intelligence and of excellent attainments. Horace Half was from the 
Black River country, of New York, and settled in this township about 1837. 
By him the township was named West Troy, probably from the city of the same 
name, near which he had formerly lived. A portion of the name was afterward 
dropped, leaving it as we now have it. Andrew and Marshall King came to 
this place from Indiana, and settled in the north part of the township. Andrew 
died here, October, 1849, Marshall moved to Texas, where he died several 
years ago. A son of Andrew King is a resident of Joliet, and is engaged in 
the lumber trade. The Kings were natives of Kentucky. 

After the settlements already mentioned, but few additional were made for 
some years. The panic of 1837, continuing for several years, put a check upon 
immigration, and not until the completion of the Canal, which passes through 
the southeast corner, did the township again grow in population. In several 
ways, the Canal contributed to the rapid development of this part of the State. 
The works were pronounced complete in 1848, and boats began to ply along the 
line. Formerly, grain and produce of all kinds had to be hauled by wagon 
over bad roads, to the nearest market, which was Chicago, and supplies of gro- 
ceries and other necessities had to be obtained there by the same means, and, 
consequently, emigrants looking for homes, located at points where commercial 
advantages were more convenient. When the Canal was completed, bringing 
these facilities to this portion of the State, immediately a new impetus was 
given to the settlement of Troy Township. Again, a number of the laboreis 
on the works being now out of employment, and having saved some of their 
earnings, located on the adjacent lands. Quite a number of our Irish citizens 
date their arrival in the township, with the completion of the Canal. 

The subject of education has received its share of attention by the Trojans. 
The first school was taught in a litte log structure, erected for that purpose, on 
Mr. Thornton's place. This was about the year 1836 or 1837, but who was 
the pioneer educator is not now remembered. The first teacher whose name can 
be recalled with sufficient distinctness to fix dates, was Miss Rebecca Boardman^ 
who taught here in 1840-41. From this small beginning has developed, in 
proportion to the development of the country, a system of education in this 
township, that compares favorably with any township in the county. As indi- 
cating the progress in this direction, it may be mentioned that tgn years after 
the completion of the Canal there were in the township six organized schools, 
with three hundred and two persons of proper age to receive their benefits, of 
which number two hundred and thirty were in attendance. A few additional 
items extracted from an old report to the School Commissioner, at the date indi- 
cated, 1858, will prove interesting: 

Number of schools 6 

Number of months taught 42 

Number of children in schools 230 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 613 

Number of i>ersons under 121 400 

Number of persons between G and 21 '■'>02 

Average salaries paid teachers per month $ 24 00 

Whole amount paid for support of schools 1,808 00 

In 1872, the school popuhition had reached its maximum, as had, also, the 
number of schoolhouses ; and, as other statistics for that year do not vary 
greatly from the present, some of the most essential are appended : 

Number of schools 10 

Number of teachers employed 18 

Number of months schools sustained 72 

Number of children enrolled 376 

Number of persons under 21 IGO 

Number of persons between (1 and 21 tt27 

Whole amount expended for school purposes $2,210 00 

In each of the districts is a comfortable schoolhouse, nearly all of which 
are furnished with the improved desks, maps and the simpler pieces of school 
apparatus. 

Though the Gospel was preached at an early date in this township, owing 
to its proximity to Joliet, and other points whefe churclies and all the means of 
affording religious advantages abound, no church-buildings are to be found here. 
Preaching in the schoolhouses is had occasionally, and Sunday schools are 
sustained. Dr. Comstock, before mentioned, was also a preacher, and, as such, 
not only offered to his patients, sick with the infirmities of the body, remedies 
for their corporeal diseases, but pointed the people to the Great Physician who 
heals both body and spirit. The following anecdote is told of him in the 
"Forty Years Ago:" " Dr. Comstock will be remembered as one of our most 
respected citizens and physicians. He was somewhat eccentric, and many 
anecdotes could be told of him. He was a man of strong mind and of con- 
siderable culture, both literary and professional. He could repeat the standard 
poets by the yard, and was at home with Virgil in the original. He was not 
remarkable for his style, either in dress or equipage. He was also a local 
preacher of the Methodist Church, and often supplied acceptably the pulpit of 
his own and other churches, in the absence of the regular preacher. He had 
a brother living in Michigan who often came to visit him, and who was in some 
respects very much like him, while in others he was very unlike. He had held 
the position of Chaplain to Congress at one time, and was always very sleek 
and well dressed, and carried a gold-headed cane. He was also a physician, 
and also a preacher, but of the Baptist faith, although not of the ' hard-shell ' 
variety. I used to think of Dickens' Cheeryble Brothers whenever I saw them 
together. They were very much attached to each other ; and our Methodist 
Doctor always marked with a white stone the day when his brother came to visit 
him. On one occasion as our Methodist Doctor was in front of his house, about 
getting into his old wagon for a professional tour — house, horse and wagon very 
much alike in their general make-up, the Baptist Doctor drove up in a splen- 



614 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. I 

did new ' sulky,' one of those unsocial vehicles which will hold but one. The 
Methodist Doctor saw him coming, took in at a glance the whole rig in such 
marked contrast to his own ; and although longing to rush up and take his 
brother by the hand, he coolly folded his arms, surveys for an instant the 
Baptist and his 'turn-out,' and with a merry twinkle of the eye exclaims: 
' Close communion, carriage and all ! ' " 

Troy Township is described in the Congressional survey as Town 35 north, 
Range 9 east of the Third Principal Meridian, and is bounded on the north, 
east and south by the townships of Plainfield, Joliet and Channahon, and on 
the west by Kendall County. It is divided into two almost equal parts by the 
Du Page River, which flows through it from north to south ; and this stream, 
together with Buck Run and their branches and the Canal, constitute the water 
privileges in the township. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad passes 
through the southern part, and the new railroad known as the Joliet & Mendota, 
now being warmly agitated, will pass through by way of Grintonville, and will, 
probably, soon be running. The land is about three-fourths prairie ; the bal- 
ance, known in other States as " barrens," is covered with timber, some of which 
is of good quality, though the land embraced in the timber tract is not of as 
good a quality for corn raising as the adjoining prairie. There are some as 
fine farms in Troy as are to be found in Will County. D. C. Searles, Myron 
Spencer, James Paul, the McEvoys, W. A. Dix, Brady and others are among 
the model farmers of the county, and have large and well-improved farms. 
This is thoroughly an agricultural region, and the lai-ge amount of grain and 
stock produced find a ready market by means of the Illinois & Michigan 
Canal and by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, which pass 
through it. 

Bird's Eye Bridge is on the Illinois & Michigan Canal, about five miles 
south of Joliet. It received its name from a man of the name of Bird, who 
formerly lived near the bridge, a hundred yards below the place. A grain ware- 
house and elevator were erected here by H. S. Carpenter, of Joliet, about the 
vear 1867. In 1870, M. Truby purchased the establishment and remodeled it 
throughout, putting grain-dumps and all the modern improvements in the eleva- 
tor. He conducts a general grain business under the firm name of M. Truby 
& Son. The elevator will store about twenty thousand bushels of grain, and 
the cribbing capacity is about as much more. They handle annually about 
two hundred thousand bushels, which they ship by canal. Recently, however, 
they have put in a side-track on the Rock Island Railroad, which passes within 
a few rods of the place, which will enable them to take advantage of the Winter 
markets and will necessitate much less storage. A post office was established 
here in 1870, and called Bird's Eye Post Office, with M. Truby as Postmaster. 
They get the mail over the Rock Island line, the mail-bags being thrown off" 
daily at the side-track. Mr. Truby has erected for himself at this point a very 
handsome residence, costing about $3,500. The firm keep a kind of supply 



HISTORY' OF WILL COUIITY. 61& 

Store for the benefit of their customers ; also a pretty extensive lumber-yard. 
There are also shops of various kinds common to a country village. 

Grintonville, or Grinton's Mill, is another little hamlet on the Du Page 
River, five miles from Joliet. It was regularly laid out by William Grinton 
and called after his name. Mr. Grinton was an early settler, and built a mill 
here about the year 1845. It is a three-story building, with thre« runs of buhrs, 
and is owned at present by J. I. Mather, who is doing a good business in the 
way of milling. It is on the Du Page River, and is run by power obtained 
from its waters. In addition to this, there are in the place two blacksmith- 
shops, one wagon-shop, one shoe-shop and two saloons. There are no stores 
here, but there is a fine opening for one, and it seems strange that the want has 
not been supplied long ere this. A post office Avas obtained for this point, but 
the appointee to the office of Postmaster being found ineligible — not having 
been naturalized — the project for a post office failed and the place is still without one 

In the early times, when much of the clothing was made at home, and the 
cloth from which it was cut Avas spun and woven there, woolen-factories or 
carding machines were common all over the country. Sheep were raised prin- 
cipally for their wool, and nearly all the product was consumed in the neigh- 
borhood. Now, a mill for the purpose of making rolls, is a novelty. The wool- 
picking, the carding, the spinning, the weaving, are all of the past ; and even 
the making of the clothing, though there is a sewing machine in almost every 
house, is largely done by manufacturers. A factory for the purpose of convert- 
ing wool into cards preparatory to spinning, was built here by the McEvoys ; 
but for many years it has stood idle, though at one time it did an extensive busi- 
ness. The factory was built about 1848 or 1849. It is now owned by some of 
the McEvoys. 

The Will County Poor Farm and Asylum is located in Troy Township. 
The institution is at present under the supervision of C W. Cropsey, whose 
able management is highly approved by the people and the Board of Supervis- 
ors who visited it at their last session. At present, there are accommodated at 
the Farm forty-two paupers and nineteen insane persons. A few of these 
unfortunate people do a small amount of manual labor, most of them, however, 
being too feeble either in body or mind to be of any service. To the establish- 
ment are attached eighty acres of land. The buildings are large and comfort- 
able, and well adapted to the purpose for which they are designed. The whole 
concern speaks loudly in honor of the county and its immediate management. 

The township was one of the first organized in the county, being set off as 
a separate precinct by the Commissioners in 1849. On the 2d day of April, 
1850, the first election was held. The first Supervisor was J. H. Robinson. 
His successors have been as follows: John McEvoy, 1852; John T. Randall, 
1853; P. Rowan, 1855; G. Kinsilla, 1856 ; J. Dillon, 1859; N. Hull, 1861 ; 
H. W. Searles, 1863: J. Dempsey, 1865; D. C. Searles, 1868; Wm. 
McEvoy, 1869 ; D. Murphy, 1872; D. C. Searles, 1875. 



616 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Troy Township is Democratic in politics, as it has been since the advent of 
the Irish, and has scarcely ever failed to give a good round majority for the 
candidates whose names appeared on that ticket. 

As will be seen by the war history of Will County, the record of this town- 
ship in that regard compares well with other sections. 



PEOTONE TOWNSHIP. 

In 1850, when the township of Wilton was formed, Town 33, Range 11, or 
what is now known as Peotone, contained only two voters, and it was, there- 
fore, necessary to include it with some other township, and as Wilton was 
already pretty well settled, it was concluded to embrace within its limits the 
two Congressional towns. It was not until 1858 that the voting population of 
this section was considered sufficiently strong for separate organization. 

During a period embraced between the years 1849 and 1858, about twenty- 
five families came to the township, most of whom became permanent settlers. 
Most of these, however, settled during the years 1855 to 1858. The most of 
the earliest settlers selected the little stream which flows through the township 
from the northeast to the southwest, and is a branch of Forked Creek. 

In 1849, when some settlements had been already made in every adjoining 
township except Will, this locality was but just beginning to come into notice. 
The first actual settlers were Daniel B. Booth and James Allen, from Massa- 
chusetts. These two men made the first improvements in the township. Both 
located on the land now owned by Samuel Goodspeed, having entered one-half 
of Sections 19 and 30, through which, it will be noticed. Forked Creek runs. 
While he remained, he gave most of his attention to butter-making. It had 
not become generally understood that this land was well adapted for agricultural 
purposes, and Booth's idea seems to have been that in pasturage was its prin- 
cipal value; and when he found his dairy business a failure, he resolved to 
dispose of his interest and remove to a more congenial clime. From here he 
removed to Joliet, in 1855, and from thence to Texas, where he has since died. 
Allen seems, also, to have been dissatisfied with the country, as he stayed but a 
few years, and returned to the East. 

These two men could scarcely be deemed permanent settlers, and are hardly 
deserving of that credit. The year 1855 is, in reality, the year from which 
the real prosperity and substantial settlement of the township dates. In that 
year, Ralph Crawford, Samuel Goodspeed and the Cowing brothers came in 
and made improvements which have not only proved substantial, but which 
have increased in number and value. These men, too, have stuck to the town- 
ship, borne its burdens, and shared in its trials and all of its enterprises. 

Crawford had really been in the township the year before, had bought his 
land, done some breaking, and made other improvements. He has been exceed- 
ingly prosperous, having accumulated a fortune since his location at this place. 




CHICAGO 
FORMERLY OF NEW LENOX 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 619 

Besides his fine ftirni, on wliicli lie lives, he has another farm in Texas of 
32,000 acres. Mr, Crawford has always enjoyed the confidence and favor of 
all of the citizens of the township, and has been honored by them with almost 
every office and honorable position within their gift. 

As before intimated, Samuel Goodspeed bought the interest of Booth. lie 
settled on the place in the Spring of 185;'), where he has resided ever since. 
Mr, Goodspeed had lived in the county twenty years prior to his removal to 
Peotone Township, having settled in Plainfield in 1835. He has proved to be 
one of the most substantial citizens of this portion of the county, and has filled 
almost every position of honor and trust, and that to his own credit and the 
satisfaction of the people. He was Moderator of the first township meeting, 
in 1858, one of the first three School Trustees, in 1859, and has held various 
other offices since. 

John C. and James H. Cowing have been amongst the most substantial 
inhabitants of this vicinity. They had also been in the State some years, but 
were originally from New Hampshire. James H. Cowing has been dead about 
ten years. John C. was one of the first three Commissioners of Highways, 
and is serving in that capacity at this time, 

John Noland and Daniel Gleason, two Irishmen, and brothers-in-law, were 
here in 1855. They both removed from the township but a short time since. 
Noland still owns a farm here. 

P. Armstrong, now of Peotone, came with Goodrich as a laborer, and 
entered some land, but gave it up and removed to the village. The next year, 
1856, Arnold, Tobias and Cornelius Fahs, Moses Wright, Milton Smith and 
James F, Johnson made their advent. The Fahs brothers were from Mary- 
land, Wright from New York, and Smith and Johnson from^Michigan, Of the 
Filhses, only Tobias still resides here, Cornelius is dead, and Arnold removed 
to Chicago two or three years after his settlement here. After removing to 
Chicago, Arnold Fahs engaged in the lumber trade, from which he realized a 
large fortune. He died at that place about two years ago. Moses^Wright was 
elected first Supervisor and first Assessor in 1858, and the next year returned 
to Michigan, from whence he had come. Milton Smith was an enterprising 
man. He died eight or nine years ago, and his family''removed to Iowa. 
James F. Johnson continued to reside here until a year ago, whenj[he sold out 
and removed to Kansas, 

George Reynolds and William W. Kelly settled here in 31857, the former 
coming from New York and the latter from Boston, Both Reynolds and 
Kelly have since removed to Chicago. The above, with Thomas Lockey, 
Smith Shaw and William P. Benn, are all that are now remembered [who became 
permanent residents before 1858, at which date the village of Peotone com- 
menced to grow. From that date, for a number of years, the township settled 
rapidly. Indeed, at that date, nearly all of the land not held by the Illinois 
Central Railroad had been occupied by actual settlers or bought by speculators. 



620 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

It was at that date that a move was made looking toward the separate organiza- 
tion of the eastern half of Wilton Precinct into a separate township. The 
usual formalities of signing and presenting a petition to the County Board hav- 
ing been observed, and an order from that body having been obtained, the first 
annual township meeting was appointed for April 6, 1858. At this meeting, 
Samuel Goodspeed was elected Moderator, and George Reynolds, Clerk pro 
tern. The oath was administered to the officers in charge of the election by 
Richard Constable, a Justice of the Peace, of Wilton. The result of the ballot 
was the election of Moses Wright, Supervisor ; George Reynolds, Clerk ; 
Moses Wright, Assessor ; William W. Kelly, Collector ; James H. Cowing, 
Overseer of the Poor ; Milton Smith, James F. Johnson and John C. Cowing, 
Commissioners of Highways ; Cornelius Fahs and Ralph Crawford, Justices 
of the Peace; and James Fahs and James H. Cowing, Constables. At that 
date there were in the township 25 voters. Since then, the township has cast 
as many as 237 votes — an increase of nearly 1,000 per cent. The population 
was at that time about 125 ; the present population exceeds 1,200. 

The present officers are : Michael Collins, Supervisor ; William Young, 
Clerk ; William Crawford, Assessor ; Louis Gundlach, Collector ; John Meyer, 
Jr., John C. Cowing and Henry Gintert, Commissioners of Highways; F. C. 
Hasenmeyer and Henry Joint, Constables ; Louis Gundlach and David Morri- 
son, Justices of the Peace ; William Dunlap, Jonathan Dennis and D. L. 
Christian, School Trustees ; and Peter Conrad, Treasurer. 

In 1858, every township in Will County had established schools except 
Peotone. This was, previous to that date, entirely destitute of school accom- 
modations. There were a few children sent to the township of Wilton, where 
schools had been in operation for eight or ten years ; but the distance was so 
great that only during the finest weather could they be made available. A 
year after the organization of the township, however, a movement was made 
toward putting in operation the means for establishing schools in the midst of 
the settlements within the bounds of Peotone Township. On the 28th of Feb- 
ruary, 1859, the voters of the township met at the house of J. F. Johnson and 
elected Samuel Goodspeed, A. H. Fahs and Tobias Fahs, School Trustees ; and 
by the Trustees, Ralph Crawford was elected Treasurei", which office he held 
for the next fourteen years. At the meeting just mentioned, the Trustees 
divided the township into four school districts. Two of these, the one in the 
Goodspeed neighborhood, and the other at the station, which was then attract- 
ing settlers, built houses and opened school the same year. The next year, 
the Third, and the next, the Fourth Districts established schools and built 
houses. Both of the first schoolhouses are still in use — the one for the pur- 
pose for which it was erected, the other, with some additions, doing duty as a 
church. 

By 1866, the number of districts was increased to six, and in all except 
one were school-buildings. At that time, which was seven years after the first 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 621 

Steps were taken to establish the system in the township, there were 453 per- 
sons under 21 years of age, 301 of whom were entitled to the benefits of the 
common-school system, being between the ages of 6 and 21 years. Of these, 
248 were reported as having attended school the previous year. The people of 
the township were at that time making up for lost time, 248 persons out of 301 
being a large proportion for a newly-formed township. Another seven years, 
we find, has increased the number of scliools to 9, and the number of 
enrolled scholars to 366, out of 398, entitled to school privileges. 

A few items taken from the report of the Treasurer to the County Su- 
perintendent of Schools for 1877, will doubtless prove interesting, especially as 
compared with the preceding figures : 

Number of School Districts y 

Number of persons under 21 792 

Number of scholars enrolled 427 

Number of persons between 6 and 12 613 

Highest wages paid any teacher, per month $ 70 OO 

Whole amount paid teachers 2 280 00 

Total expenditure for school purposes 3 ^j^q qq 

Estimated value of school property 10,000 00 

In each district is to be found a comfortable schoolhouse, and, in several 
are buildings that are a credit to the district. Nearly all are furnished with 
modern desks and apparatus, and we are credibly informed that the schools of 
this township are in a flourishing condition. 

The people have provided well for the moral and religious instruction of them- 
selves and of all who care to avail themselves of these privileges. Besides the 
churches of the village, mentioned elsewhere, there are three handsome church- 
buildings. The United Presbyterian Church Avas organized in 1860 by Rev. R. 
W. French, who was subsequently called to the pastorate in 1861, at which time 
he moved to the neighborhood. The original members were Thomas Luther 
David Gilkerson and James E. Shaw, with other members of their families, and 
a few other persons,* to the number of eighteen. 

In 1867, the building was erected at an outlay of $3,600. It is a very 
neat and comfortable house, 30x45 feet in size, and well furnished throughout. 
The membership numbers at present about fifty. It is not as strong as at a 
former period, quite a number having withdrawn to unite with the Presbyterian 
Church of the village, and several families having removed to Kansas. Rev 
R. \V. French has been the Pastor ever since the organization of the Church 
Sunday school is kept open during the Summer. 

Wesley M. E. Church, of West Peotonc, was organized in 1868, and a 
building erected in 1870, at an expense of .^3.000. The buildino- is 32x48 
feet, and is a very neat and comfortable structure. Rev. R. Wright was the first 
minister who officiated as such in the new building. The present membership 
of the Church is about thirty, with Rev. N. Crichter as Pastor. Sunday school 
is kept open throughout the year ; of this, William Crawford is Superintendent. 



622 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

St. John's German Evangelical Church, in the northern part of the town- 
ship, was organized in 1866 by Rev. F. Baeber, with sixteen families. Mr. 
Baeber preached here a year and a half. The whole establishment consists of 
four acres of land, a parsonage, schoolhouse and church edifice. The parson- 
age was the fir-;t building erected in 1868. In this church, services were held 
with varying frequency, until 1871, when the building of the chapel was com- 
pleted. In 1873, the schoolhouse was built. The buildings have cost — the 
parsonage, $1,500 ; the church, |3,000, and the schoolhouse $400. The con- 
gregation consists at present, of about fifty families, of whom Rev. D. Behrens 
is Pastor and teacher. The school is kept open six months in the year, the 
children attending the public schools a portion of the time. 

We would not forget that when the life of our country was in danger, in 
1861-65, Peotone Township, though but illy able to contribute largely to its 
support in men or means, having been so recently settled, did her part and 
made several noble sacrifices ; but, unfortunately, on account of a method which 
then prevailed, proper credits were never given, and many of their names 
appear in the Adjutant General's Reports as credited to other towns. The 
township of Peotone is described in the Congressional survey as Town 33 north, 
Range 12 east of the Third Principal Meridian. It is bounded on the north by 
Greengarden, on the east by Will, on the south by Kankakee County, and on 
west by Wilton Township. The township is not greatly diversified in soil or sur- 
face, but IS mostly of a rich, deep soil and a slightly rolling surface, broken 
only by the two creeks which flow through it. There are no native groves of 
timber ; but on many of the older farms are to be seen fine little groves of soft 
maple, elm and poplar, planted by the early settlers. The products of the town- 
ship are those common to most parts of the county, and consist of corn, 
hay, oats and rye. Within the last year or two, considerable attention has 
been given to the dairy business, and the result has been the establishing by 
Messrs. Conrad k Son, of a cheese-factory, a half-mile west of the village of 
Peotone. 

The factory was built this year, and business began August 5. The build- 
ings are commodious and well adapted to the purpose for which they are 
designed. The cost of buildings and machinery was |4,000. They began 
operations with the consumption of 2,000 pounds of milk per day. The capacity 
of the factory is 14,000 pounds, which limit, it is confidently thought, will be 
reached in a short time. 

For some years, hay has been a reliable crop, and a large amount of both 
timothy and the native prairie hay has been cut and shipped. However, as the 
prairie was gradually fenced up and tilled the natural product decreased. 
Farmers have been giving more attention to stock than formerly, and a larger 
amount of this product has been consumed at home for the purpose of winter- 
ing cattle and sheep. In 1869, Oliver Lipincott built a hay-press at the vil- 
lage, for the purpose of preparing the hay for the city and Southern markets. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 623 

The press is still in operation, but, for reasons already assigned, the business 
of hay-pressing has somewhat fallen off. Formerly, considerable wheat was 
raised here, and, in 1858 to 1868, especially during the earlier years of that 
period, wheat was considered a staple crop ; but of late years the crop has been 
a failure, and its cultivation has been almost entirely abandoned. In 1872, 
Messrs. Elling & Rathje erected a fine mill for the purpose of manufacturing 
this product into flour. The mill cost nearly $12,000, and is one of the finest 
of its kind in the conntry. It is built on the Holland plan, with four large fans, 
of fifty feet each in length, which furnish power equal to forty horses. Owing 
to the fact already mentioned, that but little wheat is now produced here to 
keep the mill at work, the grain is brought by railroad from Minnesota and 
other places, and ground here, for consumption by those who formerly raised 
the article. 

VILLAGE OF PEOTONE. 

In 1855, a year after the completion of the Illinois Central Railroad, the 
site of the village was bought from that Company, and, in 1856, it was laid out 
by David Goodwillie. For a couple of years, no one seemed disposed to embark 
in business here, as the settlements, prior to that time, had been made mostly 
in the western part ; and Avhat little business was done was transacted at Twelve 
Mile Grove, in the adjoining township. Gradually the eastern portion of the 
township began to be settled, and a demand for postal and commercial privileges 
began to arise, which were no sooner demanded than they were supplied. 

In 1858, John F. Pickering erected a house, in which he lived and also 
opened a small stock of goods. In the Spring of the next year, he erected the 
first real store-building. Thus opened, business of various kinds began to ap- 
pear ; and, in the Summer of 1859, several families came to the village, bought 
lots and made some improvements. A post office, the first ever established in 
the township, was established about this time. In the Winter of 1859—60, as 
has been stated on another page, the first school was taught. The first teacher 
was W. VV. Clark. Dr. Charles Stednian located here soon after, and was the 
first resident physician. A warehouse had been erected by Messrs. Harding & 
Corastock, in 1857 ; but this being the beginning of the "hard times'" period, 
yet fresh in the minds of many of the early settlers, but little, by way of grain- 
buying, was done for several years. Partially owing to the same cause, the 
town improved but slowly until the midst of the war or near its close when 
money was plenty, and produce plenty and in great demand. Then, Messrs. 
Comstock, Gilkerson & Worden, and Messrs. Schroeder & Kathje, began buy- 
ing large quantities of grain ; and, in 1868, both firms erected elevators. This 
was, indeed, the beginning of the period of Peotone's solid growth. Prior to 
1»66^ not more than fifteen houses were to be found here, one of which was the 
store. From that time forward, for about eight years, the town improved 
rapidly. New dwellings, stores, shops and churches went up. During that 
period of prosperity, three churches, a good schoolhouse, and most of the stores 



624 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

and other buildings now found in the lively little town were erected. Then 
began to be felt another period of hard times, consequent upon the panic of 1873, 
since which time Peotone, like most other places, has shown no signs of special 
activity. In 1869, the village was incorporated. The first election was held 
June 6, of the year named, and the following officers were selected : C. A. 
Westgate, President ; E. S. Smith, Emanuel Wirt, Joseph Imholtz and John 
F. Pickering, Trustees, and John F. Pickering, Clerk. The present officers 
are : Philip Sultzbaugh, President ; E. B. Cowung, Fred. Schroeder, N S. 
Beedy, Martin Collins and James Earnhardt, Trustees ; Martin Collins, Clerk ; 
James Barnhardt, Treasurer ; John Conrad, Police Magistrate, and Fred. 
Wahls, Constable. 

In 1869, the old school-building, which had been erected ten years before, 
was found to have outlived its usefulness, or rather its capacity was found too 
limited for its purpose. It was thought by some that additions to the old build- 
ing would be the better way to enlarge the school capacity ; but it was finally 
resolved to build anew from the ground, and dispose of "the old building for 
other purposes. The house erected is a very fine one, for a place of this size, 
and cost about $7,000 

The M. E. Church was the first to organize, and one of the two first to 
build. The organization was effected in 1858, by Rev. John Hitchins, and 
consisted at first of ten members. The building, which stands in the west 
part of the town, was erected in 1867, and cost the society $3,000. The 
parsonage, owned by the Church, cost $1,000, Rev. Henry Hill is present 
Pastor. 

The German Evangelical Church was erected the same year, the society 
having been recently organized. In 1870, it was set off" as an Independent 
Church, having formerly belonged to the Rockville Circuit. The building is a 
frame structure, and stands in the southeastern part of the village. Though to 
outward appearance a good building, it was poorly constructed, and must, at no 
distant date, be taken down and replaced by one of more substantial character. 
Rev. John Wellraar officiates as minister. 

The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1871, by Rev. J. H. Trowbridge, 
with seventeen members. The building of the new schoolhouse a year or two 
before, and its recent occupancy, left the old schoolhouse vacant. This house 
had not been a stranger to the sound of the Gospel or the songs of praise. All 
of the denominations, during a pei'iod prior to the erection of their houses of 
worship, had made use of this building for Church and Sunday school purposes. 
So when the building was vacated by the school, the society purchased it and 
refitted it for their use. Rev. W. F. Wood is minister of this congregation. 
The parsonage is the best in the village. The German Lutheran Church is the 
best building of the four. It was built in 1875, and stands in the southwestern 
part of the village. The organization of the society had been accomplished 
four years before, by Rev. F. Baeber. The present Pastor is Rev. Christopher 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 625 

Wobus. In connection with all of the congregations are flourishing Sunday 
schools, and each minister is provided with a comfortable parsonage. 

Peotone Lodge, No. 636, A., F. ^: A. M., was established October, 1H69. 
The charter members were Samuel Jamison, Charles A. Westgate, John B. 
Sollitt, Charles Gates, David Gilmore, Benjamin Sellers, Rufus K. Reynolds, 
August Herbert, Henry Pape, W. F. Hutchinson, D. F. Mason, J. M, French, 
A. A. Manson, J. D. Downing, J. L. Miller, John M. Tobias and F. Elder. 

The regular communications are held on the second and fourth Saturdays of 
each month. The present membership is thirty-seven. The present principal 
officers are C. A. Westgate, W. M. ; Charles Gates, S. W. : R. G. Jorgenson, 
J. W. ; Thomas Collins, Sec, and Philip Sultzbaugh, Treas. 



WILTON TOWNSHIP. 

Of all of the interesting little nooks in Will County, Twelve-Mile Grove 
is, without doubt, the most romantic. Not only on account of location has it 
this peculiar aspect, but associated with it, were it in our power to unearth it, 
is an ancient history of a sufficiently wild flavor for a poem like to that of 
Hiawatha. Almost entirely secluded as they were from the rest of their race, 
with surroundings at once so beautiful and so well adapted to their style of life, 
we cannot but conceive that the wild people who dwelt here must in many 
respects have been peculiar. The little grove is said to have been one of the 
finest tracts of timber in Northern Illinois, and was full of deer, wild turkevs 
and other game, at the time of the earliest settlement by the whites. The fine 
little stream, a branch of Forked Creek, dividing the township diagonally into 
two almost exactly equal parts, flows over a rocky bed, along which the grove, 
on either side, lies. On every side lies the open prairie, and in approach- 
ing the timber one is reminded of the little clumps of timber described 
by Eastern travelers as appearing on the Great Desert, toward which 
their anxious eyes and weary limbs ever turn for refreshing shelter and drink 
for themselves and thirsty animals. Formerly this feature was much more 
apparent than now, the adjacent prairie having long since been occupied and 
planted here and there by the early settlers, not only with fruit-trees, but 
also with those of the forest, so that at present the whole township presents 
the app.earance of a succession of little groves. The land of Wilton Town- 
ship is of varied quality and appearance, in some portions being very rich and 
productive, and in others quite the reverse ; in some portions being very flat, 
and in others undulating. In some parts of the township stone of a good 
quality is found, which answers a good piirpose for foundations for buildings, 
though it has been utilized to a limited extent for other purposes. 

Wilton Township formerly embraced the township of Peotone, but was sep- 
arated from it by order of the Board of Supervisors in 1858. The township, 
as now constituted, embraces all of Town 38 north, Range 11 east of the Third 



626 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

Principal Meridian, and is bounded on the north, east and west by the respect- 
ive townships of Manhattan, Peotone and Florence, and on the south by Kan- 
kakee County. 

As before intimated, the township, or rather that portion still known as Twelve- 
iSIile Grove, was occupied by a small tribe of Indians. The grove was reserved 
by act of Congress, ratifying a treaty with these people, for their sole use and 
benefit ; but, though they were not concerned in any way in the Black Hawk 
disturbance, or any other unfriendly or hostile act toward the whites, they 
removed from here the same year that saw the exodus of the hostile tribes. 
They simply abandoned their lands here, not because of any encroachments by 
the whites, nor because of their inability to hold the title to the land, for the 
Government would doubtless have protected them in their rights, but, perhaps, 
because they did not like the idea of being separated so far from others of their 
race. 

From the best information in our possession, Joseph Lawton, one of the 
owners of the land, was a half-breed ; and, from him and others of the tribe of 
Ce-nag-e-wine, the land comprising the grove was bought, b^ James M. Kibbin, 
William T. Nelson and A. M. Wiley, ten or twelve years after the Indians had 
deserted it. A considerable portion of the land in the township was granted 
to the Illinois Central Railroad Company, and, from that Company, bought by 
such settlers as came in after 1853. Samuel Hocum, who is usually accredited 
with being the first settler at the Grove, really affiliated with the Indians, and, 
when they left here to reside at Council Bluffs, followed their fortunes thither. 
Hocum, whatever his character may have been, was, in one characteristic which 
distinguishes the civilized Avhite from the uncivilized red man, of civilized pro- 
clivities, in that he lived in a house. It is said that he built the first cabin 
erected by white men in the township, and that it stood at the east end of the 
grove, on the farm now owned by Chauncey Clinton. The exodus of the Ho- 
cums, the Lawtons and the other Indians, took place about 1835, at which date 
Abram Huyck came to the township and settled on Section 36, since and still 
called Huyck's Grove. For two years, the Huyck family were the only inhab- 
itants of the township, and Twelve-Mile Grove was deserted. Abram Huyck 
died about fifteen years ago, and the family removed to other parts. 

AVhen the whites first began to settle here, many traces of the former occu- 
pants of the grove were yet visible. Among the most interesting of these, as 
illustrating their methods of sepulture, were the tombs of three Indians, sup- 
posed, from the profusion of their decorations, to be chiefs. The sepulcher, or 
whatever it might be called, consisted of a little pen, built up of small stick's, laid 
one upon the other, to the height of about four feet, being from four to five feet 
square. The whole was covered with sticks, weighed down with heavy stones. 
And therein, on a kind of stool, sat the three " poor Loes," looking lonesome and 
ghastly enough. The cracks between the sticks composing the pens were sufficiently 
wide to admit of inspection, while being at the same time too small to allow of 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 627 

tlieir being disturbed by wild animals. In this position, these ghastly remains 
sat in all of their feathers, beads and jewelry, with the ilesh decaying from their 
bones, for a number of years, till at length a foolish lad, who lived in the 
neighborhood, upset their charnel-houses, scattering their bones about the sur- 
rounding country. 

In 1837, three families from Canada came in and settled at the grove. 
These were Franklin Chamberlin, Oliver Chamberlin and James Adams. 
The Chamberlins were father and son. The Chamberlins built the first frame 
house. The timbers were "got out," hewed and prepared from the grove, and 
the boards were brought from Wilmington, where a saw-mill had recently been 
built. Adams occupied the Hocum cabin. The Chamberlins remained here 
until 1845, when they removed to Black Oak, near Chicago, where they still 
reside. 

At the time of which we write, in addition to the wild animals desirable for 
food, there were also wolves in great numbers. Geese, chickens, sheep and 
pigs wei'e their tiivorite repast ; and it was almost impossible to protect them 
from the voracity of their natural enemy. An able and eloquent representa- 
tive had risen in the Legislature and declared that, " When the denizen of the 
prairie is locked in the embrace of Morpheus, the shades of night have settled 
'round his abode and all nature has settled to rest, then the noisome wolf rises 
from his lair, and, roaming up and down the land, seizes the inoffensive pig and 
the innocent lamb, devouring them, to the great detriment of said denizens," 
and the law for the protection of domestic animals against the ravages of " said 
wolf had been passed, allowing to any one who would secure the scalp of one 
these ''noisome" animals, a bounty of $1. The business of wolf-hunting at 
once became quite lucrative. For a number of years afterward, in the newly 
settled counties, nearly all of the State taxes were paid in this kind of currency. 
The younger Chamberlin was a skillful hunter of the wolf, killing from twenty 
to forty every Fall. For these, he received for the scalps .^1 each, and for the 
pelts, 50 cents. In those times, the hardest that have ever been known in 
this State, this was counted a large amount of money. But, though the profit 
derived was comparatively great, the propagation of the wolf was neglected, 
and now, a wolf, should one be captured in the county, would be counted as a 
curiosity. 

If intelligence were necessary to " keep school " in those days, the Adams 
family must have been in that respect more than ordinary, as the first two terms 
taught in the township, in 1841 and 1842, were taught respectively by Lydia 
and Sallie Adams, daughters of James Adams. At about the last date named, 
the Mormons at Nauvoo were in all their glory. Missionaries were being sent 
to all parts of the country to enlighten the people on the peculiar doctrines of 
Joseph Smith, as revealed in the Book of Mormon ; and among the places 
visited in this part of the State was Twelve-Mile Grove. Their efforts here 
were not without success. The Adams family, having become fully established in 



628 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

the faith, sold out and removed to headquarters at Nauvoo. A few years later, 
when the conflict arose between the authorities of the State and the troops of 
Smith, which resulted in the death of that would-be prophet, and the succes- 
sion of Brigham Young to the Prophet's position, most of the Mormons removed 
to Salt Lake. Among the faithful who followed the fortunes of Young to the 
new land of promise, were Adams and his family. In crossing the plains, among 
the hundreds of these people who perished was Lydia Adams. Sallie after- 
ward became one of the wives of an influential and wealthy Mormon, and 
still resides in that country. Several other converts were made to Mormonism 
in this neighborhood, some of whom still reside here, but repudiate the doctrine 
of plural marriages, cleaving to the faith as expounded by Joseph Smith, Jr., 
now of Piano, 111. 

The Chamberlins and Adams sold out their possessions here to one Reuben 
Putnam, more generally known as " Old Put." Putnam had the reputation of 
being a horse-thief, a cattle, pig and sheep thief, and a robber of all kinds of 
goods on which he could lay hands. He was even credited with having in the 
grove an underground stable in which he concealed his ill-gotten gains, and in 
which he accommodated members of a then numerous ganc; of horse-thieves 
that infested the country ; and it is not doubted that Putnam was one of the 
leaders. " Old Put's " favorite mark for his stock was to cut oif both ears and 
tail, and in this way destroy all other marks that might previously have been 
made by rightful owners. Certain it is that he was the terror of this part of 
the country, and as such prevented for a time the rapid settling of the township. 
But finally his operations became so gigantic, and his attitude toward his neigh- 
bors became so unbearable, that forbearance ceased to be a virtue, and it was 
determined to bring him to grief. Suits numerous had been brought against 
him ; indictments had been procured ; and all legal measures had been tried to 
bring him to justice, but always to the defeat of those instituting such proceed- 
ings. So a few of the citizens of the neighborhood, to the number of seven, 
entered into a compact to rid the county of his presence. It is unnecessary to 
repeat the names of the seven who planned the scheme, or to give the minutire 
thereof. SuflSce it to say that, one day in June, 1853, Old Put was plowing 
corn in his field, when suddenly, what to him appeared to be an Indian, grap- 
pled his arms from behind and held him fast ; then another, who seemed to be 
a negro, appeared with a tar-bucket, and another Indian came up with a bag of 
feathers. Quicker than it takes to tell it, two or three more negroes stripped 
him of his clothing, and a pair of sheep shears applied to his scalp, divested 
him of his hair. In four minutes from the time of commencing the operations, 
Mr. Put presented a striking appearance. So much did he resemble the descrip- 
tions of that ancient one called Scratch, that the boys who took part in the 
work were really struck with fear. He had been covered from head to foot 
with the tar and feathers ; and to add to the Satanic appearance as if having just 
issued from the ground, they had rolled him in the fresh-plowed dirt. After 



HISTORY OF WII,L GOUNTV. 629 

the work had been completed, he was asked if he understood the meaning of all 
these proceedings, and upon giving an affirmative answer, he was told that he 
would be allowed just ninety days to settle u]) his business and get out of the 
country, and was assured that if he were found in the neigliborhood at the end 
of the period named, the seven had sworn a great oath never to rest day or 
night until he was quartered. At the end of the eighty-seventh day, it was 
noticed that Put still lingered, as if loath to leave the scene of the drama in 
which he had taken so prominent a part ; but after that date ho was a stranger 
to Twelve-Mile Grove, having suddenly vanished. 

For a long time his countenance presented rather a sallow appearance, look- 
ing much as though he was undergoing an attack of the jaundice. He spent 
much time in trying to find out who had been his persecutors ; but so well had 
they concealed their plans that for many years it was not known who had taken 
part in the work. 

Four of the men employed in the matter are still residents of the county, 
and are among the best citizens. The thing proved so popular, and ^hose con- 
cerned in it kept it so well, that others who had nothing to do with it hinted 
that they "knew more about it than they cared to tell." Hiram Harvey and 
sons came to the township from Canada in 1841, stayed three years and then 
removed to Five-Mile Grove, where they resided nearly four years, returning 
to Twelve-Mile in 1848. Jabez Harvev, one of the best-esteemed citizens of 
the township, went to California during the gold fever, and had returned by 
June, 1853, having in the mean time, seen somewhat of the manner of dealing 
with outlaws in that country, at that time governed neither by the principles of 
law nor morals. Mr. Hiram Harvey is now over 70 years of age, hale and 
hearty, and in the enjoyment of all of his youthful energy. He is the oldest 
resident of the township. From 1841 until 1845, Alanson Williams, J. Taft, 
Dr. A. B. Mead, Amos Van Valtonburg and Alfred Warner made their appear- 
ance in the neighborliood. They resided here but a short period — but four or 
five years — and then removed to other places. During the residence of Dr. 
Mead, the post office of Wallingford was established near the center of the 
township, with Mead as Postmaster and mail- carrier, between this point and 
Wilmington, and for his services he received the proceeds of the office. After 
his removal, the office was removed to the head of the grove, where it has 
since remained. By 1848, quite a number of Irish families had also settled in 
the neighborhood. At the date last named, the Illinois & Michigan Canal 
was completed, and a number of the laborers on the works, having saved a por- 
tion of their wages and being out of employment, concluded to engage in farm- 
ing, and took up their residence here. Some of our best citizens are of Irish 
nativity, among whom are John Brown, Roger Waters and Thomas McCor- 
mick. In 1846, Kibben, Nelson & Co., the new proprietors of the reservation, 
came to the Grove with a view to making improvements and selling out the 
land. The land was surveyed and offered for sale ; and, there being no other 



630 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

timber near, coal not yet having been discovered in the county, and the rail- 
road not yet having been projected, the people were greatly excited over the 
prospect of having the only source of fuel and lumber disposed of without a 
chance to obtain a piece; and as a consequence, land, which can to-day be 
bought for $20 per acre, brought $100. The proprietors who had bought the 
reservation for a trifle became rich men in a short time. 

The Nelson family, of whom W. T., mentioned above, was a member, con- 
sisted of the father, John Nelson, and sons W. T., S. G. and D. M. They 
came from Indiana to reside at the Grove in 1848. John Nelson had been, in 
the State of his former residence, one of the first citizens of the county in 
which he liveJ, and was honored with many positions of trust, among which 
was that of member of the Assembly of the State. Mr. Nelson died two or 
three years after his removal to this place. W. T. Nelson now resides in an 
adjoining township, and the two other brothers still Veside near the village of 
Wallingford. 

George and David Dancer, brothers, from the northern part of the State, 
came in 1848. The former still resides here, but the latter has removed ta 
Iowa. 

Samuel C. Baker and brother Caleb settled here in 1849. Caleb is one of 
our most wealthy and respected citizens. Samuel C. now resides in Colorado, 
and is engaged in the cattle trade. 

Joseph Cook was the first blacksmith. His shop at first consisted of a bel- 
lows, anvil and a few hammers, and the broad branches of a tree were his only 
shelter. Of him it could with propriety be said : 

" Beneath a spreading chestnut-tree, 

The village smithy stands, 
The smith a mighty man is he, 

With large and sinewy hands : 
And the muscles of his brawny arms 

Are strong as iron bands." 

All except the tree, which was an oak instead of a chestnut. 

A horse-power saw-mill was erected by Henry Stone, now of California, in> 
1850, but it run but a short time, as the completion of the railroad brought 
lumber of a more desirable character to within a short distance. The first 
goods were sold in 185G by J. Hopkins, at Wallingford. Hopkins did not 
continue in the business long, but sold out to S. G. Nelson. A store was 
started in Wilton Center in 1857, by Barret k Hersperger. and by them it was 
run for about three months, when they sold to Jabez Harvey, who has contin- 
ued the business without intermission or suspension for twenty years. 

There were at one time three post offices in the township. The first estab- 
lished was the one at Ingham's Hill, near the center of the township, and then 
removed to Wallingford. About 1856, a post office called Pierce, was author- 
ized at Huyck's Grove, and another at Wilton Center. Pierce Post Office 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 631 

existed but a short time. The one at Wilton Center was somewhat irregular, 
until a few years ago when it became a permanent fixture. 

In 1850, there were in the township, as tlien organized — embracing, also, 
Peotone — about twenty-five voters. The precinct, with the Grove as center 
for an indefinite area surrounding, was called Dallas. In the year named, how- 
ever, the Commissioners of the county changed the rpime, giving the precinct a 
definite boundary, with Supervisor and other township officers. 

The first election was held April 2, 1850. Of this meeting, Henry Stone 
was elected Moderator, and William T. Nelson, Clerk jyro tern. Twenty-six 
votes were cast, of which the following persons for the respective offices received 
majorities: William Dancer, Supervisor; Horace Kelsey, Clerk; James M. 
Kibbin, Assessor ; Joel 0. Norton, Collector ; Hugh Kennedy, Overseer of the 
Poor ; George Dancer, Samuel Hall and Alfred Warner, Commissioners of 
Highways ; Samuel Wilson and Patrick Boyland, Justices of the Peace, and 
Edward Graham and John McGowan, Constables. 

In 1858, the eastern half of the precinct, now constituting Peotone 
Township, was, by order of the Board of Supervisors, set off as a separate 
township, and Wilton left with boundaries co-extensive with what we now find 
them. 

The present officers are : S. G. Nelson, Supervisor ; G. Boynton, Clerk ; 
A. J. Mills, Assessor ; D. M. Nelson, Collector ; George Mackender, John 
White and James Cavency, Highway Commissioners ; S. G. Nelson and Jabez 
Harvey, Justices of the Peace ; George Rose and B. F. Dunham, Constables, 
and Jabez Harvey, School Treasurer. The present voting population is 240. 
One of the most important public acts of the township was the voting of 
$35,000 to aid the Decatur & State Line Railroad, which was to cross the 
township and locate a station at AVilton. The road has not yet been completed, 
and, as one of the provisions of the call for an election was that the bonds were 
to be issued only when the first train of cars were run through the township, 
they have not yet been called for. 

The township took more than ordinary interest in the great war for the 
preservation of the Union, in 1861-65. No draft was ever enforced, the quota 
of each call being filled by volunteers, or by substitutes, paid by subscriptions or 
tax. Nearly all who enlisted from this township were in the One Hundredth 
Illinois Infantry. Many of the brave boys who left us never returned. Of 
this number are remembered Alva Hoyt, Richard L. Barr, William Bruce, 
Ira Temple, Amos and James Gauthrop, Simon Conchlin, Ahaz Young, Giles 
L. Greenman, Joseph Robinson, Frank Patchett, Robert Stevens, Don A. Rob- 
inson, Henry Doncaster and James T. Ladieu. The last named died a double 
death in Andersonville Prison. Isaac Jenks, though he received such wourids 
as would have killed a common man — his head being literally shot to pieces — 
still lives. Jerry Kennison was promoted to the office of Captain, and S. G. 
Nelson was honored with the title and office of Major. 



632 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 



As before intimated, the first school was taught in 1841. This was the 
school not only for the township, but for all the country adjacent. Pupils 
attended this school who lived ten miles away. The number of children 
living in the township at that time scarcely warranted the building of a house 
and the establishing of a school. The house was built by James Adams. Frank- 
lin Chamberlin and Hiram Harvey, and was a partnership concern. It was 
constructed of bass-wood logs, split in two parts, and laid up in the manner of a 
rail pen, with the flat surfaces inside. The puncheon floor, slab seats and desks 
and the huge fire-place, common to most of the pioneer schoolhouses such as 
appear in our cut on page 89, were features of this school-building. In 1849, 
the school township was organized, with Horace Kelsey as Treasurer, and in 
1850, the first public school-building was erected at Wilton Center, which build- 
ing is still standing and doing the service as originally designed. It was, 
doubtless, considered a grand afl'air in its early days, though at present it looks 
somewhat antiquated — however, in a pretty good state of preservation. It is con- 
structed of stone, which Avere taken from the quarry near by, the stones being raised 
and hauled by different parties, who gave their time and labor to the enterprise. 
The building is 20x30 feet, and in height is scarcely eight feet between joists. 
Above the door appears the following inscription, cut deep in the stone cap : 







^^oo\ I)i«t. ^^ 



1850. 



•/ 



KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. 



In this building, Chauncey Steele taught the first term. The schoolhouse 
proved to be, in addition to its use as a temple of learning, a great convenience 
for numerous other purpose. In it have been held political meetings, debating 
societies, churches and Sunday schools, indignation meetings. and ratification 
meetings and assemblies of all sorts and sizes, except large sizes, which could 
not be accommodated within its modest inclosure, and were, therefore, held in 
the grove. Soon after the date of the building of the schoolhouse in District 
No. 1, a school was organized at the north end of the Grove and a building 
erected there ; and, within eight years, three more had been built, making, in 
1858, five organized districts, each with a school building of its own, and hav- 
ing a school population of over four hundred. 

At present, there are seven whole districts and two union. The school pop- 
ulation is 610 children under 21 years of age, of whom 408 are between the 
ages of 6 and 21. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 6SS 

The value of school property is estimated at ^2,000, The whole amount 
paid for sustaining schools last year was nearly $2,500. Jabez Harvey, who 
succeeded Kelscy, the first Treasurer, in 1804, is present Treasurer and Clerk 
of the Board of Trustees. 

VILLAGE OF WALLINQFORD. 

As previously stated. Nelson, Kibbin and Wiley had purchased of the 
Indians the tract known as the •' reservation." Afterward that portion which 
now constitutes the site of the village was sold to H. B. Goddard, by whom, in 
turn, it was conveyed to Charles W. Keith, who laid out the town and offered 
the lots for sale. 

Doubtless, high anticipations were indulged in, regarding the destiny of 
Wallingford, as Keith advertised it extensively. Charts of the town were 
lithographed and sent to every corner of the East and West. Some of them 
still in existence show what a nice town may be built on paper, all with streets 
and alleys, public squares and fine parks. But, alas, for human expectations ! 
the enterprise proved a failure, and Wallingford stands a monument of blasted 
hopes. It is now simply a little trading-point, with a score of houses, a store 
and a few shops. Keith, after having disposed of a few lots, sold the site and 
the adjoining farm to Noah Thayer, of Aurora, who still owns it. 

VILLAGE OF AVILTON CENTER. 

Wilton Center was platted, originally, in 1860 ; but, subsequently, the plat 
was taken up and a new plat made in 1876. The plat consists of about forty 
acres, of which Jabez Harvey is principal proprietor. Its history is not greatly 
dissimilar, as to success, to its little rival at the other end of the grove. It con- 
tains two general stores, two wagon-shops, two churches, and dwellings and 
other buildings in proportion. The population is about one hundred and fifty. 

The M. E. Church was erected in 1866, and cost about $6,000. From the 
report to the Conference, we learn that its membership is 162. 

Rev. A. H. Needbam is the present Pastor, and John Crawford is Superin- 
tendent of the Sunday school. 

The Baptist Church was built in 1868. It is a neat frame building, capa- 
ble of accommodating about two hundred persons. The membership of this 
Church is forty seven, with Rev. 0. C. Dickinson as Pastor and Superintend- 
ent of the Sunday school. 

Both of the above denominations had held services here for many years 
prior to the erection of their houses of worship, holding meetings in the school- 
house and in private dwellings. 

Lodge No. 640, I. 0. 0. F. was established at this place, June 15, 1877, 
with seven members, most of whom had belonged to Wilmington Lodge. Of 
the number named, A. J. Mills was N. G, ; J. G. Thompson, V. G.; Henry 
Storch, Secretary ; and Jabez Harvey, Treasurer. The present membership is 



634 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

thirty-three, the officers of which, with the substitution of Lorenz Reitz as V. 
G., and Charles Weber as Secretary, remain as at first constituted. Meetings 
are held on Saturday of each week. 



MANHATTAN TOWNSHIP. 

" A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," sang the bard of Strat- 
ford-on-Avon. This township was erst known as Trenton — a name bestowed 
by William Nelson, the first Supervisor after township organization. When 
Will County adopted township organization, there not being a sufficient number 
of voters in this to form a township, it and Greengarden were embraced in 
one, under the name of Trenton, after the town in which Mr. Nelson had 
resided in New York. In 1853, the population having sufficiently increased, 
the two towns were separated, and the name of Manhattan was proposed by 
John Young, Esq., the first Supervisor of this one, and no objection being made 
by Nelson, it was duly named for the island of the Knickerbockers, since which 
time it has been known as Manhattan Township, 34 north. Range 11 east. It 
is a beautiful undulating prairie, lying in gentle eminences, having much the 
appearance of the swell of the ocean after a storm has passed away. No timber 
breaks the monotony of the prairie, except Five-Mile Grove, and which com- 
prises less than a section of land. It is thoroughly an agricultural region, than 
which there is none better in Will County, with no towns or villages, or manu- 
factories to interfere with the farming interests. Its population, in 1870, was 
922 souls. 

The first settler in Manhattan Township was Orin Stevens, but of him little 
can now be learned further than that he had made a settlement at Five-Mile 
Grove. He was keeping a sort of tavern there when the next settlers came in, 
in 1834. The Perkinses were the next to settle after Stevens, and consisted of 
Ephraim Perkins and four sons, viz., Orin, Edward, Ephraim and Pliny Per- 
kins. They were from Trenton, N. Y., and Edward came out in June, 1834, 
and bought out the man Stevens. Where Stevens was from, when he settled at 
Five-Mile Grove, or what became of him after he sold out, are items of the 
township history lost in the things of the past. Edward Perkins was a single 
man when he first came to the settlement, but returned to New York in the 
Fall and married, and brought his young wife to the West. Jerrod Gage came 
about this time, and he and Perkins entered into partnership in the dairy busi- 
ness at Five-Mile Grove. The next Spring (1835), Perkins' father and brothers 
came out, and also Gage's father and his family. The elder Gage had been an 
extensive dairyman in "York State," and being an ardent admirer of Henry 
Clay, the "Sage of Ashland" a*nd renowned Kentucky statesman, once made 
for him a mammoth cheese, and presented it to him during one of his cam- 
paigns. When Edward Perkins returned from New York, after his marriage, 
he located for a time in Joliet, as noticed in that part of this work, and was 



.rf^.;- 'Si%ii,; 




t. 




/ 



^-^^^ 



BEE CHER 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 637 

interested with Dr. Bowen in his Adrlition to the city of Jolict. The ehler 
Perkins and Gage are both long dead; Edward Perkins died in this township ; 
Orin went to California during the gold fever, and when about to start for 
home, died ; Pliny and Ephraiin Perkins, Jr.,^are both living still in this State, 
but in what part our informant had forgotten. Hiram Harvey also settled at 
Five-Mile Grove, about 1885 or 1836, and was from the East, but what partic- 
ular State we were unable to learn, nor do we know what became of him. 
These few settlements around Five-Mile Grove seem to have been all that were 
made in the township until a quite recent date, as compared to other portions 
of the county. As this little grove was the only timber in the town, and 
it required a score or two of years for the people to find out that the prairies 
were habitable, probably accounts for the long gap that occurred just here in 
the arrival of new-comers to this section, as the next we find coming in about 
1847 and 1850, and which we will now notice. 

John Young came from New York City in 1849, and settled in this town- 
ship, where he remained until 1876, when he removed to Joliet. His son, 
Mansfield Young, a prosperous merchant of Joliet, married Miss Sarah Walker, 
daughter of Joseph Walker, of New York, who is said to have been a most 
amiable and lovely woman, beloved by all who knew her. She died in 1876, 
and he and his father (also ^ widower) now live together, the old and the 
young bereaved ones forming a single family. Samuel Bowen and his two sons 
were from the Quaker State of William Penn, and came also in 1849. Bowen 
had first settled in Jackson Township, where he remained some time before com- 
ing to Manhattan. He has been dead some years. Bryan Gorivan and son 
settled in the town in 1848. They were from Ould Ireland, the "blissed Gim 
of the Say," are still living, and are prosperous farmers of the community. 
Martin Bergen was also fi'om Ireland, and came to the country a poor man, but 
went to work, and by industry and energy became the owner of about six hun- 
dred acres of fine land, and amassed considerable other property; was honored 
with office, and had been for some time School Treasurer of the township, when 
he suddenly decamped, and his business was found to be in rather a deranged 
condition. His accounts as School Treasurer were short a thousand or two, 
..but so secured that nothing was lost. His neighbors, who speak of him in 
kindly terms, seem to wonder at his going away when he apparently had suffi- 
cient property to liquidate all his liabilities. Freeman Gay came from the bleak 
shores of the Pine-Tree State, about 1847 or 1848, and settled in this neigh- 
borhood, where he remained a number of years, and finally removed into Jack- 
son Township. He is still living there, and is a wealthy farmer of that 
town. 

William Nelson, a prominent citizen of the town in the early days, came 
here from Trenton, N. Y., but was an Englishman by birth. He settled in 
this section in 1848, and gave the town the name of Trenton, when it and 
Greengarden were known as one township, as noticed in the beginning of this 



638 HISTORY OF will county. 

chapter. He sold out, some years ago, and removed into Jackson Township, 
where he still resides. William and Charles Bissett were from Bonny Scotland, 
and came to the settlement in 1848. Charles died in a short time after their 
settlement here. William went to California during the gold excitement of 1849 
and 1850, where he still lived the last known of him. A man named Borders 
settled here in 1849. He was from Ohio, and did not remain long in the set- 
tlement. What became of him no one knows or seems to care, as he was, to 
use a Southern phrase, "small potatoes " anyway, it w^as said. 

Clarke Baker came from New York, and bought land here in 1847, but did not 
settle on it until 1850. He is still living, an active, energetic man of fourscore 
and two years, and is one of the respected citizens and wealthy farmers of the 
township. He is the present Supervisor, an office he has held for several years, 
as will be found on another page. This comprises a number of the first set- 
tlers of Manhattan Township up to a period when the tide of immigration 
poured in with a rapidity defying the power of the historian to keep pace with 
names and dates. When township organization went into eflfect, in 1850, there 
were but ten legal voters in the territory now comprised in Manhattan Town- 
ship, and, as already stated, was not sufficient to form a township of itself, but 
was, with Greengarden, known as Trenton Township, and so remained until 
1853, when they were separated and organized under their present names. 
William Nelson was the first Supervisor of Trenton Township, and held the 
office in 1850 ; was succeeded by M. Bailey, who served during 1851 and 
1852, when the towns were divided, and John Young elected Supervisor of 
Manhattan for 1858. Clarke Baker was elected in 1854, and held it for two 
years, when Mr. Young was re-elected, and held the office from 1856 to 1860, 
inclusive. In 1861, Clarke Baker was again elected and also in 1862, and in 
1863, was succeeded by G. A. Buck, who served until 1865, when J. E. Baker 
was elected, serving from 1865 to 1869, inclusive. G. A. Buck was then 
re-elected, and served 1870-72, and was succeeded by S. Robinson, in 
1873-74, when Clarke Baker was again elected, and has held the office ever 
since. Other township officers are Clarke Baker and Hiram Olney, Justices of 
the Peace ; Hiram Olney, Town Clerk ; Michael Haley, Constable, and George 
A. Buck, School Treasurer. 

As recent as the settlement of Manhattan Township has been, the early 
record of mortality is somewhat cloudy and vague. The first death of which 
we have been able to learn definitely was that of Charles Bissett, who is noticed 
as settling here in 1848, and Avho, it is said, died in a year or two afterward. 
A child of Stephen Bowen was born in 1850, and Avas probably the first, or, at 
least, the first in what might be termed the second era of settlements in the 
town. It might be claimed that Edward Perkins was the first settler of the 
township to perpetrate matrimony, though he married in New York. But to 
come down to a more modern date, George A. Buck and Miss Sarah Baker 
were married at quite an early day. We do not give these, however, as being 



HISTORY OF WILL COUllTY. 639 

the first births, deaths aiul marriages which actually occurred in the town, and 
are inclined to think they are not; but they are the first of which we have been 
able to learn anything definite. It is altogether probable that, with many Ger- 
man and Irish immigrants coming in, there were births at an earlier date than 
those given. But it is stated by some of the early settlers that children were 
rather scarce in Manhattan in the early days of its settlement, and that it was 
long before there were enough to form a school. Mr. Young, who had resided 
in New York City, where the crop of juvenility was ponderous, says his wife 
was often annoyed there by the noise and racket of children in their neighbor- 
hood ; but used to say frecjuently, after she had been " here a spell," that she 
would give much to hear the noise of children at play. 

The first Justice of the Peace in the township was William Bissett, and 
received the olEce in 1849, but did not hold it long, as he sold out in 1850 and 
went to California. The first blacksmith-shop was kept by a man named Cun- 
ningham, in 1851. Where Cunningham came from, or whither he went, no 
one can now tell. There is no village in Manhattan Township, nor has there 
ever been a store within its borders, nor a post office established for its particu- 
lar benefit. Hut very recently Greengarden post office was moved over, just 
inside of the Manhattan line. Joliet is the point of traffic of its citizens, and 
is the post office where the large majority of them get their mail matter. It is 
there they haul their grain and other farm produce, and hence, stores and post 
offices have not been at all required in their town, and would not, perhaps, be 
much patronized if they were as plenty as Falstaif's blackberries. 

The first and the only church structure ever erected in Manhattan Town- 
ship, is the Episcopal Church, built in 1857, under the ministerial charge of 
Rev. Clinton Locke, who at the time was Rector of the Episcopal Church in 
Joliet, and now of Grace Church, Chicago, and whom we noticed as officiating 
in the reception of President Hayes in his recent visit to Chicago. The church 
edifice is a frame, and cost about ^1,500. Some dozen or twenty families wor- 
ship there at the present time under the pastorate of Rev. A. W. Glass. Other 
religious organizations have regularly-established societies in the township, and 
hardly a schoolhouse but serves as a temple of worship and for Sunday schools, 
but there are no other church edifices. The first schoolhouse was built in 1852, 
and ill it was taught the first school in the township. For as before stated, there 
were but few children in the settlement for several years, and consequently not 
much need felt for schoolhouses. In 187*2, a little more than a score of years 
after the second era of immigration set in, we find the town contained eight 
school districts and eight "rood, substantial schoolhouses. There were 415 
pupils enrolled and 13 teachers employed ; the district tax levy for the 
support of schools was $1,135.22, and $1,422.35 the amount paid to teachers. 
The schools of Manhattan are in a flourishing state ; each district has a good, 
comfortable schoolhouse ; the best of teachers are employed, and school main- 
tained for the usual number of months each year. 



640 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

When Mr. Young settled in Manhattan Township, in 1849, there was not, 
he informed us, a rod of fence in the town, but a little in Five-Mile Grove, 
where Mr. Baker had bought land. Aside from that little bunch of timber, it 
was an unbroken prairie, well set in tall, waving grass, overtopped with wild- 
flowers, and presenting a picture of beauty equal to the most extravagant ideas 
of the Western prairies to be obtained from the New York Ledger and kindred 
publications. The town is sufficiently rolling to drain well ; in fact, there is 
not a section but that is capable of being well drained. It is irrigated by 
Jackson and Mud Creeks, two small brooklets that usually go dry in the Sum- 
mer season, but sometimes in long "" rainy spells " get on the rampage and 
become rather boisterous streams. There are no mills in this town, nor rail- 
roads, and as before stated, no villages or cities, or "corner lots," and hence, 
there is very little in the way of history pertaining to it, beyond the mere fact 
of its settlement, and that of its being, as already noted, one of the finest agri- 
cultural districts in the county. Although originally settled by New Yorkers, 
and other Eastern people, the foreign population has rather the ascendency at 
present. The German and Irish elements are well represented, and can boast 
of many excellent and wealthy farmers. 

As showing the importance of Manhattan as an agricultural community, we 
present the following statistics from the last Assessor's books : 

ACRES. BUSHELS. 

Corn 8,371 210,330 

Oats 3,857 16,510 

Irish Potatoes 5,880 

Apple Orchards,.... 135 

Flaxseed 231 

•TONS. 

Timothy Meadow 2,063 2,500 

Prairie Meadow 2,101 2,643 

Pasture 5,959 (not including woodland.) 

No. pounds wool shorn 160 lbs. 

No. of Fat Sheep sold 15 head. 

No. of Cows kept 557 " 

No. Fat Cattle sold 107 — average weight, 1,000 lbs. per head. 

No. Fat Hogs " 1,408 " " 250 " 

From the above figures it will be seen that Manhattan is an excellent farm- 
ing district, and does its part in swelling the agricultural resources of the 
county. 

The political record of Manhattan is Democratic by a very small majority, 
or has been, until the present ''shaking of the dry bones of the valley " caused 
by the National Greenbackers, and just now it appears somewhat uncertain as 
to what a day may bring forth. The township bore a good record in the late 
war, as is shown by reference to the "Patriotism of Will County." As the 
deeds of its soldiers are perpetuated in the pages of that work, we shall not go 
into details of their war history here. They bore the perils of the war for the 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 641 

Union, and wo will pass from the subject, with this tribute to those who sleep 
their last long sleep : 

" Like a swift-fleeting meteor, a fast-flying cloud, 
A flash of tlie lightniiifif, a break of the wave, 
Man passes from life to his rest in the grave." 



WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

This township is situated in the extreme southeastern part of the county, 
and is the most distant from the county seat of any township, being from its 
center, in a direct line from Joliet, twenty-seven miles, and by rail not less than 
thirty-five. Since the division of Reed Township, this is one of the two greatest 
in area in the countv, including within its limits all of Congressional Town 33 
north and 14 east, and about one-fourth of Range 15. The township presents more 
than an ordinary variety of soil and surface, being in some portions quite flat 
and in others rolling ; in some portions a deep, rich soil, and in others lacking 
in this character. It is watered by the small stream which drains Eagle Lake, 
which also furnishes stock water for the northeastern, central and southwestern 
parts. Eagle Lake, formerly much larger than at present, covers an area of a 
quarter of Section 7 and the sw-amp adjacent, nearly all of this and Section 
18. Before the work of draining the lake was begun, hundreds of bushels of 
cranberries were annually produced and gathered here, but now this industry is 
destroyed. The other products of the township consist of corn, rye, oats, pota- 
toes and hay. Stock-raising is carried on to some extent. 

The Chicago, Danville & Vincennes Railroad passes through the western 
part, furnishing an outlet for its products and a means of communication with 
other parts of the country. Prior to the completion of this line, most of the 
marketing was hauled direct to Chicago, or shipped by the Illinois Central at 
Peotone or Monee. Most of the land in this township, being outside of the 
Illinois Central limits, was sold to original settlers or to speculators for ^1.25 
per acre, and was occupied within a period ending about 1857. 

The first settler in the township was a man of the name of Jesse Dutcher. 
But little is known as to whence he came or whither he went; but, in 1851, he 
he was found here occupying some land a couple of miles north of Washington 
Center. The line running through the Center, and continuing through Crete, 
and thence to Chicago, with its southern terminus at Vincennes, Ind., was 
the main traveled road between those two extremes, and was one of the most- 
used thoroughfiires in the State. Marketing of all kinds was hauled from Vin- 
cennes and all intermediate points by way of this road to Chicago. As a con- 
sequence, little settlements sprang up all along the line, and, at short distances, 
houses for the accommodation of the traveler and teamster, and for the profit 
of the owners, were opened. These houses were scarcely deserving of the name 
of hotel or tavern, but were owned by parties who were opening farms, and 



642 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

havinw built cabins of more than ordinary size, established this species of 
lodging-house in connection with their farming operations. Such an establish- 
ment was Dutcher keeping at the time remembered by the earliest settler, in 
1851, and for two or three years later. How long he had been there, we are 
unable to say ; but those who saw him there at the date named, judging from 
the looks of his house and other improvements, ci'edit him with a half-dozen 
years' previous residence. Dutcher was also a preacher, and, as now remem- 
bered, was of the Methodist persuasion. Perhaps he was not a regularly- 
licensed minister, as his stay, in such case, could not have been so prolonged. 
However, like his ancient prototype, Melchizedek, the priest of Salem, he went 
as he came, unknown to any of his cotemporaries, and the balance of his history 
is lost to this part of the world. 

Four miles south and a mile west of the Dutcher Tavern, hotel, caravan- 
sary, or whatever it might be called, was, at the same date, another stopping- 
place of a similar character, though, if report be true, of a little less respecta- 
bility, as its proprietor was anything else than a preacher. At this place, 
which was near what is now known as the Sollitt Farm, James McBein " took 
the stranger in " and accommodated him for a compensation ; and, with this 
Scriptural argument, he went before the Bar Supreme many years ago to plead 
admission to the "Heavenly Mansion." The McBein family have all removed 
from the township. 

By an examination of the map, it will be discovered that these two hotels 
or taverns were not on the same section line ; but they were on the same road, 
which did not follow the section line in all cases, but meandered about, follow- 
ing sometimes the bank of a creek, and at others being confined to the highest 
ridges of land. Along this general highway other habitations sprung up in 
due time, and the "big-road" settlement w^as distinct for many miles up and 
down its course. Among these were John Rose, William Strain and Joseph 
Maxwell. John Rose was probably the third settler in the township, and is 
almost entitled to the credit of being the first, as the settlements previously 
named could scarcely be called permanent. Certain it is that the Rose family 
is now the oldest family in the bounds of Washington Township. Mr. Rose 
was a native of Ireland, and came to this part of the country in 1851. He 
settled on the west side of Section 3, which, it will be noticed, is near the line 
of the former " big road." John Rose died in 1858. Heirs of the family still 
occupy the old homestead. 

William Strain was also a native of Ireland. He came to this place in 
1852, and still resides here, a few rods north of the " Center." 

Joseph Maxwell came from Ohio with T. L. Miller, and still resides here. 

Philip Nolan was also one of the earliest settlers in this part of the town- 
ship. Nolan had lived in Chicago a couple of years before removing to this 
vicinity in 1851 . Joseph AVhite was one of the prominent men of the early times 
in this neighborhood, though his residence here was but brief, extending from 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 643 

the year 1854 till about 1858. It was at his house, on the Dutcher farm, that 
the first township election was held, in 1856 ; and at this election he was chosen 
one of the first Justices of the Peace. After the exodus of Dutcher, White 
installed himself as landlord and farmer, and continued here until 1858, when 
he removed to Indiana. 

While tiiese settlements were being made, another, known at the time as 
" The Settlement," was being made in tlie northeast corner of the township, in 
the vicinity of Eagle Lake. Among the first settlers in that neighborhood 
were Henry Balilman, Peter Dohse, Andrew Carstensen, Pade Kruse, Charles 
Fuller nnd William Bliss, most of whom have since removed to other places. 

The Bahlman family, of whom Henry Bahlman, Jr., is a member, still 
reside here. The modest-looking lake was, about twenty years ago, the scene 
of a horrible and most disgusting tragedy, with which, however, none of the 
citizens were in anywise connected. Parties, residents of other parts of the 
county, to conceal another crime, and for the small consideration of $50, com- 
mitted a crime here that has justly cursed them for all time to come. The 
night was dark and gloomy, and well calculated to inspire the two monsters 
who committed the devilish deed with feelings which must be necessary to the 
accomplishment of such an inhuman act. Their victim was an infant, of 
which they had been put in charge for the purpose of procuring for it a home 
in some institution established for such unfortunates. But either the price 
received or the idea of a more effectual concealment of the original crime, 
impelled them to committing the little body to the depths of Eagle Lake. The 
details of the crime, though published in all of the papers at the time, are too 
disgusting for further mention, except to say that the perpetrators were discov- 
ered, arrested, tried and convicted, but by some means they escaped the just 
penalty of their dark deed. 

By 1856, farms were also being opened in the southern and western parts 
of the township. The Germans, who are now more than half owners of the 
township, were beginning to arrive ; and by the year last named, there were 
about twenty additional families, among whom are remembered : Rensellaer and 
Edwin C. Richards, W. and C Lyon, Joseph Irish, Horace Morrison, William 
and M. Watkins, Richard Lightbown, Isaiah and Stephen Goodenow, Robert 
and David Dunbar, John B. Bowes, John Miers, Peter Dohse, H. Spanler, 
John Tatmire and Aaron and Miles Johnson. The township was yet a part of 
Crete, and voted and transacted all political business Avith that precinct. In 
the year mentioned, however, a move was made toward establishing this as a 
separate precinct. A petition was prepared and presented to the Board of 
Supervisors ; and no good reason appearing to the contrary, an election for the 
purpose of organization and for selecting township officers was by them ordered 
to take place on the lat Tuesday of April, 1856. As has been stated, the 
election was held at the house of Joseph White, and the record which is still 
extant indicates that there were thirty voters present. Rensellaer Richards was 



644 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

chosen Moderator and William Watkins, Clerk pro tern. They were sworn tO' 
perform the duties of their positions according to law, by William Hughes, a 
Justice of the Peace, and Avere about to proceed to business, when it was men- 
tioned that as William Watkins had not resided in the town a year, he was con- 
sequently ineligible. M. Watkins Avas therefore chosen and qualified in his 
stead, and the election proceeded. Rensellaer Richards was elected Supervisor 
and Assessor ; Edwin C. Richards, Clerk ; William B. Conner, Collector ; 
William A. Bliss, Overseer of the Poor ; Joseph Irish, Joseph Maxwell and 
Henry Bahlman, Commissioners of Highways ; Joseph White and William 
Watkins, Justices of the Peace ; and Isaiah Goodenow and J. H. Irish, Con- 
stables. The Richards family must have been both a popular and competent 
one, as they monopolized the three most important offices. 

The names of the present officers are : F. Wilke, Supervisor ; Charles Holtz, 
Clerk ; Henry Bahlman, Jr., Assessor ; August Guritz, Collector ; Henry 
Valtner, John Tegtmeir and Edmund Smith, Commissioners of Highways : 
Charles Holtz and Henry Lattz, Constables ; Rudolph Pecht and Henry Bahl- 
man, Justices of the Peace ; and Christopher Koelling, School Treasurer. 
The number of votes polled is about 200, though a full ballot has never been 
cast. 

The township is well supplied with school facilities, there being, besides the 
seven public schools, four private schools supported by the difierent religious 
denominations. The first effort to provide school advantages for the children of 
the township was in 1855, when Sabina Graham was employed to teach a few 
children, in a room of the Dutcher- White Hotel. The next Spring, a little 
shanty was erected in that neighborhood. This first schoolhouse was a simple 
Summer concern, constructed of rough boards, and was but twelve feet long and as 
many wide. At first it was designed for only a single Summer, but was pressed 
into the service for several years. Miss Graham was an excellent teacher, and 
her praise as a kind and diligent instructor may still be heard from some of her 
early pupils, now grown to be middle-aged men and matrons. In 1857, a good 
schoolhouse, which is still mentioned in this vicinity as the " new schoolhouse," 
was erected in this vicinity, and the following year the township was divided, 
into two districts, and a second house was erected. 

A few items extracted from the School Commissioners' report of that year, 
will prove interesting to our readers, as showing the satisfactory advance in this 
direction at the present date : 

Schools 2 

Number of months in each year 9 

Average wages $19 63 

Number of scholars atten<ling 99 

Number of persons under 21 171 

Number of persons between 6 and 21 112 

Amount paid to teachers 402 74 

Whole amount paid for school purposes $1,992 14 



HISTOKV OF WILL COUNTY. 645 

If the items in regard to attendance and number between 6 and '21 are both 
correct, it shows a remarkably high percentage of those entitled to school privi- 
leges taking advantage of the opportunity. Especially is this so, when the 
newnef^s of the settlement is taken into account. In 1866, eight years later, 
we find 4 schools here, with 569 persons under 21 ; and still eight years 
later, in 1874, the number had increased to 6 schools, with 61'2 persons under 
21. The present status of education may be determined from the following 
figures : 

Number of persons under 21 881 

Number of persons between 6 and '21 650 

Number of scholars attending 2.37 

Number of schools 7 

Number of months taught 40^ 

Amount paid teachers $1,959 00 

Total expenditures for school purposes 3,087 00 

The present apparent meager attendance is accounted for by the fact that 
about four hundred children, between the ages of 5 and 14, are in attendance 
at the parish schools, of which there are four in the township. 

The oldest organized church in the township is St. .John's Evangelical 
Lutheran, near Eagle Lake. This organization was accomplished in 1850 ; 
but, as has already been stated, there were not more than two families resident 
in Washington Township, and they, as has been intimated, being of other belief; 
in regard to religious matters, it will be surmised that the organization could 
not have been effected here. The church was at first established a mile north of 
its present location, in the township of Crete. A building for religious and edu- 
cational purposes was erected there at the date named, and church and school 
■were kept open there until 1864. Rev. Gustav Pollack was the organizer of 
the enterprise, and was Pastor for fifteen years. In 1864, it having been 
determined to build a new house of worship, a new location was selected for the 
same, though school has been kept open at the old site till the present time. 

The new building at Eagle Lake is a very neat and commodious one, and 
cost the society $5,000. The old building, a mile north, was torn down a few 
years ago, and a new schoolhouse erected at a cost of $1,000. A dwelling for 
the use of the teacher was also built, at an expense of $900. At the Lake a 
parsonage, costing $2,200, was built in 1865 ; also a schoolhouse was erected 
which cost $1,200. 

At the north establishment, in Crete ToAvnship, A. Albers is employed as 
teacher. In the school at the Lake, Friedrich Fathaur has been teacher ever 
since its organization. The congregation or society consists of 118 families, of 
whom Rev. J. F. Nuoffer is Pastor. 

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, located a mile northwest of 
Beecher, was organized in the Spring of 1865, by Rev. Gustav Pollack, who 
had been preaching in this vicinity. Herman Lossner was installed Pastor, In 
which position he is still engaged. The organization was first started with 



<t)46 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

twenty families, which has increased to eighty-five, embracing a membership, as 
estimated by other denominations, of about three hundred and fifty persons. 
In '1865, a two-story building, for the use of Pastor, and as a church and 
schoolhouse, was erected, at a cost of $2,500. In 1867, a neat parsonage, cost- 
ing $1,250, was built; and the other building has since been used for school 
and church purposes. It is proposed, next year, to build a church edifice 
40x60 feet, at an expenditure of about $3,500, the plans of which are already 
procured and most of the money subscribed. At this establishment, as at all 
of the others of this denomination, school is kept open nearly all the year, and 
the common branches of German and religion are taught. At the age of 14, 
or confirmation, the children attend the public schools. Albert Dorn has been 
in charge of the school for the last three years. 

St. John's German United Evangelical Church, located two miles southeast 
•of Beecher, was established and an organization effected in 1864. Rev. Peter 
Lehman had been preaching in the vicinity for a year before, and organized 
the society at the date named, with a membership of forty families. After the 
Church had been established. Rev. Philip Albert was installed as Pastor, and 
acted as such for two years. The present Pastor is Rev. Emil Keuchen, who 
has been in charge as minister and teacher for the last six years. The society 
owns a plat of ten acres, on which was erected, in 1864, a church edifice 
30x44 feet, at a cost of $1,960, and, in 1876, a parsonage for $1,150. The 
present membership is 350 members, or 85 families. Religious and secular 
instruction are given to the children of the parish, six months in the year. 

The Congregational Church, at the village of Beecher, was organized Jan- 
uary, 1872, the house of worship having been erected the year before. The 
original members were eight in number; the present membership is about 
twenty. The building was erected at a cost of $1,250, and is 24x32 feet in 
size. The lumber was donated by dealers — friends of T. L. Miller, of Chicago ; 
$175 was contributed by citizens of the village, and Mr. Miller paid the bal- 
ance. Rev. J. F. Smith, now Pastor of the Congregational Church, at Crete, 
was the first Pastor. At present, T. C. Hunt, a student of the Theological 
Seminary, officiates as Pastor. Sunday school is sustained with S. S. Hunt 
as Superintendent. 

In the great struggle to preserve the Union, in 1861-65, Washington Town- 
ship was well represented, and did its part creditably. Among those who 
enlisted and never returned, having fallen a sacrifice on the field, were Peter 
Dohse, L. M. Lyon and D. T. Moore. There were, doubtless, others ; but, 
from an unfortunate method of recording enlistments which prevailed at the 
beginning, they were accredited to other localities. 

Doubtless, the most interesting industry, and at the same time one which 
has given the little village of Beecher a reputation co-extensive with the 
whole country, is the breeding of fine stock, as carried on by T. L. Miller, 
Esq., of this place. 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 647 

Mr. Miller came to this place in 1852, and located land, preparatory to 
embarking in the gigantic enterprise in which he is now engaged. He did not, 
however, begin operations until 18G1, in the mean time engaging in either 
business in Chicago. In the year last named, he removed to this place, and 
fram that time till 1870 engaged in the cattle business in a small way, and 
■with no definite idea of future plans or prospects. During all this time, how- 
ever, he carried on an extensive correspondence, and conducted a thorough 
course of investigation and experiment, so that, in 1870, his mind was fully 
made up, and his future plans fully mapped out. Then began the great work that 
has not only proved to be one of the most extensive in the United States, but 
which has also already led to a grand success. After careful study and minute 
consideration, he decided, much against the then popular opinion of the leading 
cattle men of this country, to adopt the Hereford breed. The Durham cattle 
had for years been accorded, by breeders of this country and the landed gentry 
of England, the first place as beef-producing cattle. For nearly a century the 
short-horn breeds had held the prestige, though the Herefords were accredited 
with being good stock. A few feeble attempts had been made in this country, 
prior to the inauguration of Mr. Miller's enterprise, to introduce the stock ; 
but the great character of the competing herds already attained so overshadowed 
them that their efforts in this direction were almost lost sight of. When, there- 
fore, Mr. Miller announced his intention of breeding the Hereford stock, he 
was not looked upon as a competitor, but was regarded with feelings akin to 
pity. Even his warmest friends could not but feel apprehensive of his ultimate 
failure ; and, perhaps, no one but himself discerned the grand success with 
which his efforts have been crowned. After awhile, however, he began to be 
recognized as a competitor ; and since that time, he has fought his way, foot by 
foot, until, if his cattle do not stand pre-eminent, they at least bear the reputa- 
tion of equal merit with any herd or breed in the world. When it is considered 
that all of this change in sentiment, in the face of such gigantic opposition, 
during a time of such severe financial depression, has been wrought almost by 
one man, we come either to one or the other of two conclusions : that the 
character of stock which Mr. Miller handles must be of a superior quality, 
or that he is a man of much more than ordinary courage, good management 
and pluck. Perhaps it would not be incorrect to credit the enterprise with both 
of these advantages. 

The farm devoted to the purpose indicated lies alongside the eastern part 
of the village of Beecher, and consists of 1,000 acres of the finest land in the 
township, divided into fields of convenient size for the purpose of pasturage 
and raising the crops necessary for feeding the stock. On the west side of the 
farm, a half-mile from the railroad station, are the barns, together with dwell- 
ings for the family and employes. The principal barn is an immense structure, 
capable of sheltering, on its first floor, 200 head of cattle, and of holding, on 
the second floor, 600 tons of hay and other feed, reserving space in the center 



648 HISTORY OF WILL CODNTY. 

of the floor for cutting and otherwise preparing feed. On the third floor, is 
the mill for grinding corn, oats and other grain for the use of the stock. Sur- 
mounting the building, is one of Nichol's double-fanned wind-mills, of twenty 
horse-power, used for driving the feed-mills, cutting hay and drawing water. 
The whole structure is built in the most substantial, convenient and tasty man- 
ner, so that it is not only finely adapted to the purpose for which it was 
designed, but is an attractive object, and, from its high elevation, can be seen 
for many miles. Beside the great barn, there are also the hay -barns, the tool- 
house, barns for pigs, sheep and colts, and all built in the same substantial and 
convenient manner. 

The fine stock of the establishment consists of 250 thorough-bred heifers, 
of the Hereford species ; 300 Cotswold Sheep, and 200 Berkshire hogs. 
The estimated value of lands and improvements is ^25,000, and of stock, 
^100,000; the sales last year amounted to ^30,000. Mr. Miller's trade is 
largely with stock-raisers of the plains of Colorado, Wyoming and Texas, to 
which this breed of cattle is found to be peculiarly adapted. There are 
employed in the care of the farm and stock fifteen hands, some of whom have 
been brought from the county of Hereford, England, for the express purpose 
of taking care of the stock with which they had been familiar for many 
years. 

Wanhington Center, prior to the location of the C, D. k V. R. R. was the 
central point, not only as regards location, but as to business. From about 
1860 till 1870, a large amount of business was transacted here, and fortunes 
were made in uierchandise and other trade. About 1860, Miles Johnson, who 
had previously been in the business at Monee, opened a store at this place. Lewis 
Jessen started a blacksmith-shop, and Charles Holtz opened a hotel. Johnson 
was appointed Postmaster, and carried the mail to and from Monee for ^15 
per year and the proceeds of the office. He continued in business several years, 
and then removed further south. Jessen. by hard hammering and blowing has 
accumulated a little fortune. He still resides here. 

Charles Holtz has got rich keeping a hotel and dealing in stock. After 
Johnson retired from the business of selling goods, Messrs. Flint & Miller 
put in a stock of goods and carried on the business for two years, when they 
sold out to Lewis Metterhausen, who immediately moved the goods to the sta- 
tion, into a house which he had just built. In the meantime the Chicago k- 
Eastern Illinois, or Danville & Vincennes Railroad, had been completed, a 
station established, and the town of 

BEECHER 

laid out. T. L. Miller had begun his fine stock enterprise, secured the location 
of a station here, and laid out and named the new town. Thenceforward the 
growth of the Center was checked, and the station became the point, from which 
improvements have widened until the village of Beecher has not only over- 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 649 

ahadowed the Center, but by building out toward it, has nearly enveloped it in 
itself. Beecher was laid out in 1870 by George Dolton, for T. L. Miller, and 
commenced at once to build up, and develop a trade which compares favorably, 
at this time, with towns three times as old. As we have seen, Metterhauson 
opened the first store in the village, in what proves to have been the second 
building erected, and which also proves to have been the first store-building. 
Metter-hausen had been a teacher in the Lutheran school. He sold goods 
here for a time and then went into the liquor trade, in which he is still 
engaged. 

James Burns built the first house — a dwelling — and sold lumber for a few 
months and then removed to Michigan, from whence he had come. 

Shortly after this, Henry Bielfeldt built and opened a hotel. Carl Melow 
moved his blacksmith-shop from the Corners in 1871, and Rudolph Pecht 
opened a furniture store. Fred Schmidt built a second hotel, and John R. 
Miller moved the old dancing hall from the Corners and put in a second stock 
of goods. William Struve, formerly of Monee, followed Burns in the lumber 
and coal business. By and by the post office was removed from the Corners to 
Metterhausen's, and he was appointed Postmiister. Elliot Miller, son of T. L. 
Miller and now partner in the firm of L. Gould & Co., of Chicago, was appointed 
first station agent. About this time, T. L. Miller built the first warehouse, and 
Henry Block commenced buying grain, eventually buying the warehouse and 
continuing the business until the present. The period extending from 1870 to 
1873, was a lively one for this vicinity. The sounds of the ax, hammer and 
saw were heard in all directions, new-comers were arriving almost daily, and, 
by the end of the period named, the village had grown in size and importance 
to proportions hardly expected by its most enthusiastic friends. Though its 
growth has not ueen rapid, within the last few years, it continues to show signs 
of animation and prosperity. There are now three warehouses, five general 
stores, and other stores, shops and dwellings in proportion. 

A wind-mill, a short distance north of town, built by Henry Ditmers' is 
worthy of mention. The mill is now owned and operated by Herman Ehlers. 
It is built on the Holland plan, runs two sets of buhrs and is used for grinding 
flour and feed, most of which is custom work. 

Eagle Lake is a little village in the northeast part of the township, on the 
margin of the little body of water of the same name. It is not a regularly 
laid out town, but the lots have been sold by the description of "corners and 
bounds." It contains about two dozen houses, a store, saloon and shops. It 
is simply an improved or concentrated settlement, whose establishing dates 
back to the location of its early settlers. Herman Lepien brought a stock of 
goods here about fifteen years ago, a post office was obtained, and gradually the 
place has assumed the style of a village. Its location is quite pleasant, 
and for a country place without railroad communications, does a brisk busi- 
ness. 



650 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

WILL TOWNSHIP. 

One of the most remarkable facts in connection with the history of the 
West is its rapid development. Eastern people compare the census of a quar- 
ter of a centui'y ago with that of to-day, and remark, with astonishment, the 
wonderful increase in population and resources in this part of the country. It 
is true, the West has had some advantages over the East in its development. 
Improved machinery, a better system of communication and travel, and improved 
means of transportation, doubtless, partially account for it ; but is hard 
to conceive that all these results could have been brought about, without bring- 
ing to mind that the parties concerned in the opening-up of the country were 
men of more than ordinary pluck and intelligence. Twenty-five years have 
scarcely passed since the first blow was struck, since the first shovelful of 
earth was moved, since the first furrow was turned and since the first shanty 
was erected in the township of Will, now alive with population, and teeming 
with herds of stock and dotted all over with the habitations of its owners. 
That "truth is stranger than fiction " is well illustrated in the growth of some 
of our Western towns and cities, which bud and blossom, as it were, in a single 
night. Irving's hero of Sleepy Hollow would not have been less surprised had 
he taken his twenty-years nap on the prairie of Will Township. His feelings 
upon awaking must, indeed, have been quite similar. Twenty years ago, 
where is now a succession of well-cultivated fields, with orchards and gardens, 
was nothing but an unbroken expanse of Avild prairie ; where were then less 
than a hundred inhabitants, are now almost a thousand. 

Will Township was one of the last to settle, the wood and water -question- 
being until a recent date the great desideratum. 

In 1852, the first actual settler made his appearance in this locality. All 
of the adjoining townships had already received some population ; and two 
years previous, the township organization act, which gave a corps of ofiicers to 
each six miles square containing enough inhabitants for organization, had been 
passed, while this section contained not a single inhabitant — white, black or 
red. 

John McKenzie, who is generally accredited with being the first settler, was 
a Scotchman, but had lived in the country some time before removing to this 
locality. He lived here six or seven years and then removed to Missouri. He 
was in that State at the breaking-out of the war, and engaged in the service of 
the Government as a spy. On one occasion he was captured by the enemy and 
put in prison, to await trial by a court martial ; and had his case ever come to 
trial, he would doubtless have suffered the penalty of death, as the evidence 
against him was sufficiently conclusive. 

James M. Gridley had been living in Ci-ete and other places in this part of 
the State, since 1840. He came to this township in 1853, and built the second 
house. He has been one of the prominent men of the township, and one of its 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 651 

most solid citizens. Gridley was a native of New York. Joseph Baldwin was 
a native of Massachusetts, but had been to California and brought back a few 
hundred dollars of the " yellow metal." lie remained here but a few years, 
when he removed to Missouri with tiie aforementioned McKenzie. James 
Maxwell came out here in 1853, from New Jersey, and bought some land, but 
returned to his home in the East and lived until 1861. He says that when he 
came first, in 1853, there was but one little shanty in the whole township, and 
is not certain that it was occupied. 

In 1853, Henry Lyon came from Chicago, or rather from the Michigan & 
Illinois Canal, where he had been working, and settled on the land now owned 
and occupied by F. P. Lilley, to whom he sold out a year later, and returned 
to the more congenial pursuit of working on the Canal. 

The next year, 1854, brought several good and enterprising families ta 
this vicinity, among whom were H. N. Ingersoll, F. P. Lilley, Patrick 
McMahon and John B. Sollitt. The first of these, H. N. Ingersoll, had really 
been here the year before, and had purchased the land to which he moved in 
the Spring of 1854. Mr. Ingersoll was one of the substantial citizens of the 
township, and one of its most prominent men. He continued to reside here 
until about three years ago, when he sold out and removed to Iowa. F. P. 
Lilley is still a resident of the township, and has been one of its most reliable 
citizens. He had been, previous to his coming here from Chicago, his former 
home, a workman on the canal and railroad. McMahon is a native of Ireland ; 
he still resides here. John B. Sollitt, now a resident of Peotone, was formerly 
a resident of Chicago, where he was engaged in butchering for the Chicago 
market. 

In 1855, William Constable, James Pickard, Robert Patterson and R. 0. 
Hutchins came, the first three from New York and the last from Vermont. 
William Constable has been a most successful man in business. When he came 
to this place he was as poor as the poorest ; but by industry, economy and good 
management he has made quite a fortune. His property is estimated at about 
^25,000. Robert Patterson, the present Supervisor, and one of our most substan- 
tial business men, also came poor and is now wealthy. R. 0. Hutchins resided 
here but a few years. He had been a gunmaker, and on the breaking-out of 
the war, in 18G1, he returned to his native State and engaged in his old trade 
of making fire-arms for the Government. Mr. Hutchins was the first School 
Treasurer of Will Township, having been appointed to the office in 1856. 
Samuel Storer and Lorenzo Tobias, the former from New Hampshire and the 
latter from New York, came in 1856. Storer was one of the most important 
citizens that ever lived in the township. He was son-in-law of Gov. Windsor, 
of New Hampshire, having married his daughter. He was elected first Super- 
visor of the township, in 1859, and, the year following, was sent, as Represent- 
ative of this district, to the Legislature of the State. The township lost one 
of its most promising citizens when he removed to California, which he did in 



652 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

1862. Lorenzo Tobias was one of the two first Justices of the Peace elected 
in 1859. He died here about ten years ago. None of the family now reside 
here, all having removed to other parts George W. Smith also came in 1856. 
He was one of the first Justices of the Peace, and also one of the first High- 
way Commissioners, being elected to both offices in 1859. 

During the period of the three years ending 1857, there were a few others 
who settled in this township, but whose stay was so short that it is not thought 
worth while to consume space with their mention. The same may be said with 
respect to the following year. The years 1857 and 1858 were almost a repeti- 
tion of the hard times experienced in 1837, and emigration to this vicinity 
received a check. From 1859, however, the rush of settlers to this part of the 
county was very rapid, and in a short time the whole township was fully occu- 
pied. 

The townships of Will and Monee, previous to 1859, were embraced in a 
single precinct, which was called Carey. In the year last named, the two sections 
agreed to a separation, and petitions to that eifect were accordingly presented 
to the Board of Supervisors, who ordei'ed a division, with boundaries and names 
as indicated. 

On the 5th of April, 1859, in accordance with the order of the Supervisors, 
the voters, inhabitants of the new township of Will, met at the schoolhouse in 
District No. 1, and organized by the election of township officers. H. N. 
Ingersoll was elected Moderator, and Robert Patterson was chosen Clerk pro 
tem. Nineteen votes were cast, of which a majority were polled for the follow- 
ing persons : 

Samuel Storer, Supervisor ; R. 0. Hutchins, Clerk ; H. P. Tobias, Assessor ; 
F. P. Lilley, Collector ; H. N. Ingersoll, Poormaster ; John B. Sollitt, 
James M. Gridley and George W. Smith, Commissioners of Highways ; L. D. 
Tobias and George W. Smith, Justices of the Peace; and H. P. Wright and 
Robert Patterson, Constables. 

The township has from its first settlement been noted for its good schools. 
The first settlers took a deep interest in whatever tended toward the education 
and enlightenment of the youth, and when there were only a half dozen fami- 
lies within its bounds, steps were taken to establish a school. In the Winter of 
1855-56, it began to be talked over that a school was not only a possibility but 
a real necessity. 

On the 18th of February, notice having been given, the legal voters met at 
the house of F. P. Lilley, and proceeded to organize Congressional Town 33, 
Range 13, into a school township by electing a Board of Trustees and a Treas- 
urer. F. P. Lilley, James M. Gridley and H. N. Ingersoll were chosen Judges, 
and R. 0. Hutchins, Clerk of the election. H. N. Ingersoll, James M. Grid- 
ley and John McKenzie were elected Trustees, and by them R. 0. Hutchins 
was appointed Treasurer and ex- officio Clerk. A Board of School Directors 
was appointed, and forthwith preparations were made for the erection of a school- 









(deceased) 
LOCKPOF^f 




HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 655 

building, which was completed and ready for occupation by Fall. The first 

school was taught by Sarah M. Wolcott, and the Treasurer's books, which are 

still in existence, show that she received in the following April ^6.30 of her 

salary. 

The whole township remained in one district till 1859, when it was divided 

into three. A few items taken from the Township Treasurer's report to the 

School Commissioner for the year 1858, will doubtless prove interesting as 

compared with similar statistics of the present year : 

Whole number of schools 1 

Number of teachers employed during the year 2 

Average wages paid per month $23 

Number of male scholars 9 

Number of female scholars 4 

Number of persons under 21 41 

Number of persons between 6 and 21 25 

Principal of school fund JSIOO 

In 186G, there were yet only 3 schools, but the number of scholars had 
increased to 99, and the number of persons under 21 had increased to 224, of 
whom 133 were between the ages of 6 and 21. The average monthly wages of 
male teachers was $50, and of female teachers $25.47. 

The township school fund had been increased by the sale of the school sec- 
tion to $8,157, being at that time the fifth in amount in the county. 

As far as the facts could be obtained, we give corresponding statistics from 
the reports of School Directors for 1878 : 

Total number of persons under 21 374 

Total number of persons between 6 and 21 306 

Average number of months school sustained 7 

Value of school property $4,140 

Highest monthly wages paid any teacher $50 

Total expenditures for support of schools $2,800 

Number of children attending school 270 

Number of schools in the township 9 

While there is nothing of wonderful nature in the above comparisons, the 
increase being simply the natural effect of the rapid settlement of the township, 
there is sufficient to indicate that the growth of the public-school system has 
been equal to the other interests of the township, and the condition of the 
schools is in a high degree satisfactory. 

While the township is not "dotted all over " with church edifices as it is with 

schoolhouses, we are led to believe, from our short intercourse with its people, 

that the moral and religious natures have not been left uncultivated. It is true, 

there is but one church-buildino- or church organization in its whole bounds 

but, being adjacent to towns on all sides where these accommodations abound, 

the township seems to need only the one already erected and standing near the 

center. The Presbyterian Church of Will Township was organized and the 

building erected about the same time, 1865. There had been some preaching 

2* 



656 HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 

by both Presbyterians and Methodists, and both denominations had some claims 
on the field ; but it was agreed on all hands that more than one church could 
scarcely live, and that a union of forces was the better plan. Neither party 
was very tenacious ; but when a party, who was not a member of either denom- 
ination, came forward and proposed that if the society to be formed should be 
Presbyterian, he would donate ten acres of land and fl,000 toward the erec- 
tion of a church edifice, it was decided to organize a Presbyterian Church. 
George W. Smith was the liberal donor, and not only did he fulfill his obliga- 
tion, but added to it $500 more. The original members of the society were D. 
J. Board, H. N. Ingersoll, George W. Smith, Thomas F. Clark, Henry Neal 
and James Maxwell, Avith their families. Most of these afterward became 
members of the Church. The building was erected at a cost of $7,500, and is 
a credit to the society, the Church and the township. The first Pastor of the 
Church was Rev. E. J. Hill ; the present Pastor is Rev. George Dunlap. The 
present membership of the Church is forty-seven, and of the Sunday school, 
about eighty members. 

This township took a most lively interest in the late war, nearly all the able- 
bodied men enlisting and entering the service. At one time, there more of the 
citizens of this township in the army than there were legal voters. Of course, 
the township was not drafted, nearly all of its able-bodied men having volun- 
teered. Several who thus left their homes friends and firesides to battle for 
the country which our fathers had done so much to establish, gave up their 
lives in its protection. Among such are remembered Benjamin F. Gridley, 
James H. Ingersoll, William Pickard and J. S. Cotton, the last of whom died 
in Andersonville prison, where so many of our brave boys suffered a double 
death, that of starvation. 

The present ofiicers of the township are : Robert Patterson, Superivsor ; 
0. P. Lilley, Clerk ; Robert Bayne, Assessor ; John Shultz, Collector ; Charles 
O'Neil and F. H. Steinberge, Commissioners of Highways ; James Maxwell 
and Robert Patterson, Justices of the Peace ; William Chamberlain, F. H. 
Steinberge and I. Dubridge, School Trustees, and 0. P. Lilley, School Treas- 
urer. The present voting population of the township is about one hundred. 

Will Township is in the southeastern part of the county, and is bounded as 
follows : on the north, by Monee ; on the east, by Washington ; on the south, by 
Kankakee County, and on the west, by Peotone Township. It is a full Congres- 
sional town, containing thirty-six whole sections, and is described in the survey 
as Town 33 north. Range 13 east of the Third Principal Meridian. The land is 
somewhat rolling, though not what is usually termed broken. The soil is rich 
and productive, and, in most parts, deep and is well adapted to the production 
of corn, oats, rye and hay, large quantities of which are raised. About one-half 
of the land formerly belonged to the Illinois Central Railroad, and was bought 
of that Company for $2.50 to $5.00 per acre. Th« Illinois Central Railroad 
passes through the northwest corner of the township, cutting off about one and 



HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY. 



657 



a lialf sections, though no station has ever been established in its limits. Black 
Walnut Creek furnishes stock-water to the farms lying adjacent, in the north- 
western portion. Along this little stream the first settlements were made. 

The township is entirely devoid of natural timber, though numerous little 
groves and thrifty orchards give it the appearance of one of the older settled 
Eastern places, where the absence of timber is due to the industry of the early 
wood-chopper and lumberman. 

For some years, it was thought that the climate of Northern Illinois was too 
severe for apples and other fruits, but later years have proved that this section 
is well adapted for such purpose ; and at this writing the ground, in the 
orchards of this and adjacent townships, is literally covered with the product. 




BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



OF PYTHONS 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



E. H. AKIN, dealer in real estate, 
Joliet ; was born in Johnstown, Fulton Co., 
N. Y., July 3, 1815 ; at the age of 17, he 
went to Onondaga Co., and in 1847, to 
Berrien Co., Mich. ; followed the mercan- 
tile bu.siness there one year ; removing 
thence to Chicago; in 1849, he came to^ 
Lockport, and shortly afterward went to 
California, where he followed mining until 
1851 ; returning, he engaged in farming 
near Lockport, and, in 1854, removed to 
Joliet ; liere he followed his trade of a 
cooper, for a short time, and then engaged in 
manufacturing staves, which he continued 
until 1800; in 1861, he removed to 
Hennepin, Putnam Co., 111., where he en- 
gaged in flour manufacturing and dealing 
in grain, which he shipped to Chicago and 
St. Louis. He did a very succes.sful busi- 
ness during the war, and, in 1807, returned 
to Joliet, since which time he has been en- 
gaged in the grain trade, woolen manufact- 
uring and real estate transactions. In 187^ 
he laid out Akin's Addition to Joilet, com- 
prising forty acres, lying near the Fair 
Grounds, and accessible to business by the 
street railway ; most of these lots have 
since been sold and improved. He also 
owns considerable other property in diff<'r- 
ent parts of the city ; in 1877, he built 
the Akin Building on Jefferson st. He is 
a Director of Oakwood Cemetery, and one 
of the originators and a Director of the 
People's Loan and Homestead Association, 
which was organized in 1874. He was 
married June Hi, 1840, to Miss Sophronia 
C. Merrill, of Cortland Co., N. Y., and 
has four children — Charlotte C, Libraran 
of the Joliet Public Library ; Lucy H.. 
John J., a banker in Roodhou.se, III., and 
Edward C., a law student in Joliet. 



VV. J. ADAM, Secretary of the Adam 
Manufacturing Co., Joliet; is a native of 
Joliet; he was born Sept. 18, 1851. He 

1 is a son of William Adam, who came to 
Joliet in 1849, and has been a prominent 
business man here ever since. Mr. Adam 

I was educated in the public schools of Joliet, 
and at Jennings Seminary in Aurora, 111., 
graduating from the scientific department 
of the latter institution in 1870; the fol- 
lowing year, he entered the employ of Adam 
& Wilcox, and two years later became a 
member and the managing partner of the 
firm of William Adam & Co. While in 
the milling business, he served two years 
as Vice President of the Illinois State Mill- 

j ers' Association, and was also a Delegate 
to the National Millers' Association three 
succes.sive years. He was a member of 
the first Board of Directcjrs of the National 

I Millers' Insurance Company. On Jan. 2iJ, 
1877, their mill burned down, and soon 
afterward the Adam Manufacturing Com- 
pany was formed, and Mr. Adam became 
Secretary and Business Manager, wliich 
position he now h(tlds. 

PETER ADELMANN, dealer in gen- 
eral merchandise, Joliet ; was born in 
Lockport, Will Co., 111., Jan. 5, 1852. He 
is the son of Christopher Adelmann, who 
coming from Bomberich Biern, Germany, 
settled in Lockport in 1840, and is still a 
respected and substantial citizen of that 
city. The son, Peter Adelmann, received 
his education in the Lockport public 
scliools, and in Biyant & Stratton's Busi- 
ness College in Chicago ; he then went to 
Iowa and engaged in clerking in a leather 
and .shoe-finding house in Council Bluffs, 
from which citv, at the age of 18 years, he 
came to Joliet, and started in the dry goods 



660 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; 



business with Anthony Schall ; in Febru- 
ary, 1877, he purchased his partner's inter- 
est, and has since continued the business 
alone. He was married on the 21st of 
October, 1873, to Miss Louisa Scheidt, 
daughter of Hon. Anton Scheidt, of this 
city ; they have three children — Anthony 
C., Frederick P. and Cora L. 

E. D. AVERY, attorney at law, Joliet 
(firm of Fithian & Avery) ; was born in 
Oneida Co., N. Y., Feb. 2, 1846; the fol- 
lowing year, 1847, his jmrents removed to 
Illinois, settling on a farm in Lisbon, 
Kendall Co. ; his father is a well-known 
fruit-grower and nurseryman and to this 
business the son was raised ; he attend- 
ed the Newark Seminary, in his na- 
tive county, several terms, and, on becom- 
ing of age, he with his brother started a 
nursery near Dwight, Livingston Co.; two 
years later, he sold his interest to his 
brother and engaged in dealing in stock ; 
in 1871, he removed to Chebanse, Kan- 
kakee Co., and there added a general mer- 
chandise business to his stock in trade ; he 
remained there until 1874, when he came 
to Joliet and began reading law in the 
office of Messrs. Hill & Dibell ; he was 
admitted to the bar in January, 1877, and 
in the following September, entered into 
partnership with John B. Fithian in the 
practice of the law. He was mai'ried Dec. 
25, 1871, to Miss Mary >Sidlow, of Grrundy 
Co., 111., and has one child — Hubert C. 

ALEXANDER ANDREWS, grocery 
merchant. Joliet ; was born in Meriden, 
New Haven Co., Conn., Oct. 29, 1824; 
in early life he learned the trade of car- 
penter and joiner ; he came West to Illi- 
nois in 1852, and settled in Peoria Co., 
where he engaged in carpentering for a 
number of years; in 1858, he purchased a 
farm in Knox Co., and followed agricult- 
ural pursuits till 1870 ; he then spent one 
or two years in traveling, and, in 1872, lo- 
cated in Joliet ; here he worked at his 
trade until November, 1870, when he 
engaged in his present occupation. He 
was married in 1843, to Lucia S. Lewis, 
a native of Connecticut ; has two children 
— Frank and Fred. Mr. Andrews has a 
fine trade and is deservedly popular as a 
business man. 

JACOB ADLER, stock dealer, Joliet ; 
born in Pru.ssia, Germany, March 17, 
1 836 ; he emigrated with his parents to 



America when 2 years of age, landing in 
New York, coming directly West and re- 
maining in Chicago for a few months, then 
a short time in Indiana, then a short time 
at Sag Bridge, Will Co., when he removed 
to New Lenox, where he went to school 
one year, then to Joliet in 1843, where he 
attended school in the old log schoolhouse, 
the first school house in the township ; he 
remained with his father upon the farm 
until 22 years of age, when he engaged in 
the grocery and provision business about « 
one year, then selling out, he went to 
Pike's Peak and traveled over a large part 
of the Western Territories ; returning to 
Joliet in 1861, he engaged in the butch- 
ering and stock business, which he has 
since successfully followed ; he has been 
largely engaged in farming, and raising, 
buying and shipping stock to the Chi- 
cago and Eastern markets. He married 
Jan. 11, 1866, to Emily Erhard, daugh- 
ter of George Erhard, one of the pioneers 
of Will Co. ; they are the parents of six 
children now living, viz., Louisa M., Jacob 
C, Lawrence J., Emily F. V., Michael 
L. and Angeline A. 

P. P. ADLER, dealer in live stock and 
proprietor of Adler's wholesale and retail 
market, Joliet ; was born in Joliet Oct. 7, 
1842 ; he is a son of Michael Adler, 
who came to Will Co. over forty years 
ago and is now living in Joliet at the 
age of 75 years ; Mr. Adler received an 
English education in the Joliet public 
schools, and then learned the shoemaker's 
trade, which he followed for four years ; 
at the age of 21, he began business for 
himself and has followed various kinds of 
business to the present time. He was 
married in 1865, to Miss Mary A Flick, 
of Joliet and has four childien — Angeline 
J., Lizzie L., Peter J. and Frederick J. 

OREN W. ARNOLD, groceries and 
provisions, Joliet ; firm of Arnold & Bowen ; 
born in Orleans Co., N. Y., July 12, 1835, 
where he attended school until 10 years of 
age ; he emigrated with his parents to Joliet 
in the winter of 1845 ; in the spring fol- 
lowing, he removed with his parents to 
Iroquois Co., and engaged in farming for 
a period of seventeen years, when he re- 
moved to Troy Tp., Will Co., where he 
lived six years, being engaged in learning 
the trade of carpenter, and farming ; he then 
went to Minnesota for his health, taking 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



661 



with him two droves of horses; after dis- 
posinfr of them lie engaged at his trade for 
two years ; returning from there to his 
farm in Troy Tj). in 1874, wliere he lived 
until 1877, when he engaged in the above 
business in Juliet, cor. Bluff and Exchange 
sts. He married in 1859, Helen Sanuuons ; 
they had one child, which died in infancy. 
Mrs. Arnold died Jan. 30, 18G2. Mr. 
Arnold again married, Dec. 25, 1868, to 
Minnie Clark ; she was born in Plainfield, 
Will Co. Her parents were among the 
early .settlers of Will Co. Four children 
were the fruit of this union, viz., Hellen, 
May, Lillian E., Burt C. and Francis W. 

F. ALFRICk, blacksmith, Joliet ; born 
in Grermany Feb. 20, 1837, where he lived 
and attended school constantly until 15 
years of age, when he engaged in farming 
three years ; he emigrated to America when 
18 years of age, landing in New York Nov. 
27, 1854; from there he went to Picton, 
C. W., where he learned the blacksmith 
trade, working at the same for a period of 
ten years ; he emigrated to Joliei, 111., in 
November, 1865, and engaged at his trade, 
which business he has since successfully fol- 
lowed ; he owns his place of business and 
other real estate upon Bluff St., and has a 
line residence upon Broadway, which he 
erected in 1875 ; all of the above he has 
accumulated by his own hard labor, strict 
integrity and industry. He married March, 
1860, Jane Storm ; she was a native of 
Scotland ; they had five children by this 
union, viz., Robert L., Isabella R., Emma, 
Maggie and Frederick. Mrs. Alfrick died. 
Mr. Alfrick again married to Susan Kluth ; 
she was born in Chicaso Oct. 6, 1849. 

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ALLEN, 
physician, Joliet; was born of New En- 
gland parentage, in Watertown, Jeffer- 
son Co., N. Y., Dec. 12, 1815; when 
about 4 years of age, his parents re- 
moved to St. Lawrence Co., where he 
passed his early years on a farm situated 
on the banks of the river St. Lawrence, 
attending the district school during the 
winter seasons; soon after attaining his 
majority, he went back to Watertown, his 
native place, and there spent six years, 
first as a student at the Black River Liter- 
ary and Religious Institute, a part of the 
time teaching school, and lator pursuing 
his medical reading, under the direction of 
Drs. Hannibal S. Dickerson, of Watertown, 



and M. K. Bates, of Brownsville; hi! com- 
pleted his full term of medical study, at- 
tending courses of me<lical lectures at 
Geneva College in 1841-42, and, in the 
summer of 1844, came West, prepared to 
engage in the practice of medicine ; he 
followed this practice for a few months in 
Kane Co., ami the followiug winter en- 
gaged in teaching in New Lenox Tp., in 
Will Co., where he made the acquaintance 
of Mrs. Priscilla W. Davison, a young 
widow lady, relict of Judge John J. Davi- 
son, to whom he was married April 17, 
1845 ; he continued to reside in that town- 
ship, performing satisfactorily the duties of 
administrator of the Davison estate, and, 
jointly with his wife, that of guardian to 
her infant daughters, and was also engaged 
in farming, till, in the summer of 1860, he 
built a residence in the city of Joliet, into 
which, with his family, he removed in the 
s]»ring following, and has here since con- 
tinued to reside. He has four children 
living — Helen A., now the wife of C. W. 
Cross, attorney-at law in Nevada City, Cal. ; 
Florence M., wife of H. C. Plimpton, now 
a resident of Joliet, 111 ; Frank E. and 
Mortimer A., the last-named in the employ 
of Field, Leiter & Co., in their wholesale 
house, in Chicago. Mrs. Allen has two 
daughters of her former marriage — M. 
Jennie, wife of Maj. John M. Thomp.son, of 
New Lenox, and Rachel D., wife of H. N. 
Higinbotham, general manager for Field, 
Leiter & Co., Chicago. Dr. and Mrs. Al- 
len are both earnest and consistent mem- 
bers of the Ottawa Street 31. E. Church, 
and also zealous and earnest advocates of the 
cause of temperance. Dr. Allen is in no 
sense of the term an ofiice-seeker, yet has 
held various offices much of the time during 
his residence in Will Co. ; for several years 
he served the township of New Lenox as 
Supervisor or Town Clerk; in 1857 and 
1858, held the oflfice of County School 
Commissioner, and has been most of the 
time a member of the Board of School In-. 
spectors during his residence in the city of 
Joliet. Having considerable leisure time, 
he has devoted a portion of it to literary pur- 
suits, being a frequent contributor, both in 
prose and verse, to the city papers, and 
occasionally furnishing an article to vari- 
ous leading periodicals; among the prose 
articles from his pen which have been well 
received by the public, may be mentioned, 



662 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



•' How I Was Once Robbed," "A Visit to 
the Mammoth Cave;" "The Short Pa- 
pers," a series of twenty-two articles; 
" Notes and Opinions on California ; " "A 
Trip to Florida — Notes by the Way," eight 
papers; and " The Uncle's Legacy," a 
serial tale, running through six months of 
the Will CoMtity Courier^ and many brief- 
er articles ; among the articles in verse, 
which have been read with approval, were 
"Women Suffrage ; " " Carriers Address ; " 
"The Wonderful Pamphlet;" "Bring 
Flowers," a song for Decoration Day ; 
" The Two Fishers of Men ; " " Ode for 
the Fourth of July ; " " The Secret Cave," 
a legend of the Cumberland ; and several 
articles partaking somewhat of the humor- 
ous, entitled, " Experiences, Advice, Com- 
ments and Suggestions of Barney OToole," 
etc. ; he has in course of publication, 
" Irene, or the Life and Fortunes of a 
Yankee Girl," a tale, in eight short cantos, 
comprising a neatly executed volume of 
160 pages, 16mo, which may be obtained 
at the book stores, or by addressing the 
author, at Joliet, 111. 

GEORGE ABBOTT, proprietor of the 
New England Restaurant, Joliet; was 
born in Keene, N. H., Dec. 1, 1829; 
there he residpd until 1853, when 
he went to Missouri, and remained two 
years, returning to Keene. He shortly 
afterward came to Illinois, and after spend- 
ing one year in Rockford, settled in Joliet, 
in October, 1857 ; in 1858, he engaged in 
the restaurant business, keeping the Rock 
Island Railroad Restaurant for eight 
years. He is the oldest restaurant man in 
the city; in March, 1866, he started the 
New England Restaurant. He was mar- 
ried iti February, 1855, to Miss Eunice 
A. Foster, of Keene, N. H., who died in 
June, 1861. He was married again on the 
12th of December, 1866, to Mi.ss Abbie 
A. Cutting, of Joliet ; they have six 
children — Isabel, John M., Lawrence D., 
George, Lulu M. and Lydia Belle. 

JAMES R. ASHLEY, Secretary Joliet 
Wire Fence Co., Joliet ; was born in 
L(!wis Co., N. Y., in February, 1825; in 
1837, his father came West with his fam- 
ily and settled in Plainfield, Will Co., 111.; 
he was a minister in the Baptist Church, 
and labored many yisars for the churches 
in Plainfield, Naperville, Downer's Grove, 
and organized the church in Joliet ; he 



I till resides in Plainfield, having almost 
completed his fourscore 3fears. James 
enjoyed a good common-school education, 
and was at an early age introduced to 
business life ; after his majority he began 
mercantile life in Plainfield, which he fol 
lowed twenty years ; in 1 87 1 , he sold out 
his store, and in the spring of 1874, began 
business in Joliet in company with A. B. 
Sharp, in the manufacture and sale of 
the Excelsior Axle Grease ; this he con- 
tinued till January, 1876, when he formed 
a copartnership with Scutt & Watkins, 
under the firm name of H. P. Scutt & 
Co., and engaged in the manufacture of 
barbed fence ; in October, 1876, he pur- 
chased the interest of Mr. Watkins in the 
firm, and a stock company was formed 
under the name of the Joliet Wire Fence 
Company, of which he was chosen Secre- 
tary, a position he still holds. He was 
married Oct. 27, 1850, to Julia F. Tyler, 
a native of Troy, N. Y.; has one child 
living — Ellie M.; three deceased — Alice 
E., Christina and Nellie. 

H. E. BALDWIN, Joliet, of the firm 
of Nelson, Ferriss & Co., proprietors of the 
Joliet Morning News, and the Greenback 
News, was born Sept. 25, 1853, in Lacon, 
Marshall Co., 111., but during the first 
year of his existence his parents removed 
to a farm on the bank of the Vermilion 
River, opposite Streator ; two years after- 
ward they removed to the vicinity 
of Ottawa, and. in 1862, made that 
city their residence ; his father engaged 
in business, and continued until 1869 ; 
Horace E. attended the high school, 
under the management of Professor 
Thomas H. Clark, until January, 1870, 
a period of nearly eight years ; the 
following June, he, in company with his 
mother and three sisters, went to Woodson 
Co., Kan., where his father had already 
gone ; he farmed there about two years, and, 
on St. Patrick's Day, 1873, began to learn 
the printing business at La Cygue, Linn Co., 
in that State ; in May, 1875, he went to Chi- 
cago and completed his apprenticeship 
with the Metropolitan Printing Company ; 
his parents having removed to Kansas 
City, Mo., he spent the fall and winter of 
1876 with them, taking a six-months 
course of study in the Kansas City High 
School ; at the request of friends in the 
Joliet Phoenix office he became an em- 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



66^ 



ploye of the firm of McDonald, Ferriss 
& Co., Feb. 4, 1877, and in July follow- 
ing, became connected with the Morning 
News, while under the proprietorship of 
Charles F. Dutcher ; on the 1st of Octo- 
ber, 1877, he became a member of the 
firm of Nelson, Ferriss & Co. 

CAPT. WILLIAM W. BISHOP, of 
the firm of King & Bishojt, dealers in lum- 
ber, lath, shingles, etc., Joliet ; was born 
in Ulster Co., N. Y., Feb. 2G, 1837; he 
remained on the farm until 1859, when he 
came to Chicago, and engaged in the lum- 
ber business, in the employ of Reed & 
Bushnell, with whom he remained until 
the beginning of the rebellion. In 18(52, 
he entered the Union army as a member of 
the 103d 111. V. I. ; was elected First 
Lieutenant of Co. A, and soon afterward 
promoted to Captain, serving as such dur- 
ing the war. As showing the character of 
the services he rendered his country we 
copy the following: 

Heauquarteks First Div., 16th A. C, ) 
La Grange, Tenn., May 25, 1868. / 
General Order No. 87. 

The Geueral commanding the First Division, 
takes this means of bringing to the notice of 
ihe entire command, the meritorious conduct 
of a detachment of the lU3d 111., under com- 
mand ofCapt. Wm. W. Bishop, stationed at Por- 
ter's Creek. On the night of the 22d inst., infor- 
mation reached Capt. Bisliop that the notorious 
guerrilla band, under the command of Sol. 
Street, was encamped within three miles of his 
station. He started immediately with his little 
command at a double-quick through the brush, 
and succeeded in completely surprising the 
guerrillas : killing three, wounding six and 
capturing six prisoners. Loss on our side, in 
the captain's own language, " Not a scratch." 
This is to be regarded as an earnest of the glory 
that awaits the 103d, and it is held up for imi- 
tation by our troops, whenever opportunities 
like this may present themselves to any of 
thepa. A copy of this order will be sent to 
each officer, non-commissioned officer and pri- 
vate, who participated in the surprise. 

By order of l^rig- tlen. Wm. S. Smith, 

Commanding First Uii. 

W. H. Harland. A. A. A. G. 

He was present during the siege of Vicks- 
burg and battle of Mission Ridge ; accom- 
panied Sherman from Chattanooga to 
Atlanta, and on his famous march " from 
Atlanta to the sea,'' through the Carolinas 
to Washington, where with his regiment, 
he participated in the grand review of the 
army at the close of the war ; he was mus- 
tered out of the service in Louisville, Ky., 



in 1865 ; returned to Chicago and engaged 
in the lumber business; in 1869, he came 
to Joliet and entered into partnership with 
John P. King in the lumber business. He 
was married in September, 1865, to Miss 
Julia A. King, of Chicago, and has two 
children — Minnie D. L. and Grace. 

REV. GKRARDUS BECHER, 
Pastor of St. John the Baptist's Church 
and Superior of tlie Franciscan Fathers, of 
the Strict Observance, Joliet ; was born in 
Rhineland, Germany, April 27, 1834; he 
received his preparatory education in the 
parish schools of his native country, and 
then entered Waicndorf College in West- 
phaha; in 1862, he came to this country, 
and completed his education in St. Joseph's 
College, Teutopolis, Hi., where is located 
the mother-house of the Order in this 
country ; he was ordained a priest of the 
Franciscan Order about five years later by 
the Rt. Rev. Bishop Yunker of Alton ; 
remained about a year longer, and was 
then transferred to Quincy, where he be- 
can:ie a Professor in the College of St. 
Francis Solanus. and at the same time at- 
tended the congregation at Warsaw, 111., 
and another in Gilman Tp.; from Quincy 
he returned to Teutopolis, and spent two 
years as Prefect of St. Joseph's College, 
and then became Superior of the Convent 
of St. Francis, and Pa,stor of the congrega- 
tion ; after the death of the late Father 
Nolte, he was sent to Joliet in December, 
1876. Father Gerardus' Chief Assistant, 
Father Symphorinus Forstmann, is one of 
the many victims of persecution under the 
present dynasty in Germany, having been 
expelled by Bismarck, together with eighty- 
four others of his brethren from West- 
phalia, in 1875; after completing his 
studies in the convent in St. Louis, he was 
assigned to Joliet in 1877. It was a 
desideratum of the Bishop in calling the 
Fathers to Joliet, that they might admin- 
ister to the spiritual wants of the Catholic 
prisoners in the State Penitentiary, which, 
through the politeness of Warden Mc- 
Claughry, they have been enabled to do. 
This duty is performed by Father Augus- 
tine McClory, who is a native of Pitts- 
burgh, Penn.,and came to Joliet in 1877. 
There are here four fathers and three lay 
brothers, who, besides attending the con- 
gregation, are the spiritual advisors of the 
Sisters of the Franciscan Convent and 



664 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Academy, and also give religious instruc- 
tion to the i^upils in the Academy. 

REV. MAURICE FRANCIS 
BURKE, Pastor of the St. Mary's Roman 
-Catholic Church, Joliet ; was born in 
County Limerick, Ireland, May 5, 1845; 
when but a child, he accompanied his 
parents to this country ; they came directly 
to Chicago ; when about 18 years old, he 
entered the old University of St. Mary's 
of the Lake in Chicago ; previously to 
this, he had taken a commercial course at 
Bryant & Stratton's Business College in 
Chicago ; in 1866, he went to Rome and 
spent nine years as a student in the 
American College ; he was ordained a 
priest on the 22d of May, 1875, by Card- 
inal Patrizi, Vicar General of Rome, under 
Pope Pius IX, after which he returned to 
Chicago, previously, however, spending a 
few months in traveling in Italy, Switzer- 
land, Germany, England and Ireland ; 
soon after his return, he was appointed 
Assistant Pastor of St. Mary's Church in 
Chicago, and remained as such until his 
appointment as Pastor of St. Mary's 
Church, Joliet, April 27, 1878. 

JOHN BROWN, of the firm of Houck 
& Brown, tanners and curriers, wholesale 
and retail dealers in sole leather, shoe 
findings, etc., Joliet; has for twenty-three 
years been a citizen of Will County ; he 
is a native of the Isle of Man ; was born on 
the 25th of November, 1826; served his 
apprenticeship at the tanner's trade in 
Douglas, Isle of Man, and followed the 
business there for ten years ; he came to 
the United States in 1853 ; spent two 
years in New York City, and in 1855, 
came to Lockport, Will Co.; the following 
year he came to Joliet, and entered, upon 
his present business, which he has con- 
tinued through the several changes in the 
firm that have taken place since that time ; 
in 1863, the Joliet Tannery was built by 
Mack, Cleghorn & Co., of which firm Mr. 
Brown was a partner ; he hua attended 
strictly to his business, never taking any 
active part in political affairs, nor seeking 
office of any kind. He was married in 
the Spring of 1850, to Miss Catharine 
Kissack, of Douglas, Isle of Man ; they 
have had ten children, six of whom are 
living — Richard J. (now in business in 
Chicago), Frank E.. Eliza J., Charles H., 
George W., and William H. 



JOSEPH BRAUN, proprietor of the 
Apollo Hall, Joliet; was born in Erbach, 
Wurtemberg, Germany, May 27, 1837; 
when he was 14 years old, he was appren- 
ticed to a tailor to learn the business; in 
April, 1855, he came to this country; 
spent a short time in Buffalo and in Canada 
West, coming to Joliet the same year, and 
starting in his present business, in which 
he has been very successful ; in 1856, he 
went to Minnesota and remained till 1859, 
with the exception of a short time spent in 
St. Louis and Quincy ; he then went to 
JS^aperville, 111., and remained till 1861 as 
clerk in Stenger's brewery ; in 1865, in 
company with Joseph Braun (another gen- 
tleman of the same name, since deceased) 
he built the Columbia brewery, and fol- 
lowed the brewery business till February, 
1868, when he disposed of his interest to 
Mr. F. Sehring, the present proprietor ; in 
1874, he revisited his native country in 
company with Mr. John Reicherdt, and 
spent about four months in travel in all 
parts of Germany. He was married March 
2, 1862, to Miss Frances C. Braun, of 
Joliet ; she is a native of Soulnt, France, 
and came to this country at the same time 
with Mr. Braun; they have two children 
— Mary M. and Willie K. Mr. Braun 
served as Street Commissioner in 1872. 

J. E. BUSH, dealer in grain, Joliet; is 
a son of Stephen N. Bush, who came to 
Joliet from Washington Co., N. Y., in 
1861 ; he was born in Washington Co., 
N. Y., Nov. 5, 1835 ; he prepared for 
college at Whitehall Academy in his 
native county, and in 1856, entered Will- 
iams College, Mass., graduating in 1860 ; 
he came to Joliet the same year ; spent 
two years in a grocery store ; one year as 
teller of the First National Bank, and, in 
1864, purchased the elevator built by 
Abijah Cagwin (which was the first elevator 
built in Will Co.), and engaged in the 
grain business ; this elevator has a capacity 
of 30,000 bushels; in 1872, he erected 
the elevator n«>ar the Michigan Central 
Depot with a capacity of 20,000 bushels ; 
he handles upward of half a million 
bushels of grain per annum. He was 
married in 1863 to Miss Marian C. Wood- 
ruff", daughter of George Woodruff, of 
Joliet; she died in 1876, leaving two chil- 
dren — George W. and Jennie C. Mr. 
Bush was married again in 1877 to Miss 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



665 



Bella G. Kenyon, daughter of John Ken- 
yon, of Wheatland, 111. ; they have one 
child — John K. 

J. D. BROWN, druggist and chemist, 
Joliet ; born in Eaymcrtown, Rensselaer 
Co., N. Y., March 12, 182tj ; he received 
hj^ acadoniioal education in Lyman Cross 
Academy, Troy, N. Y., completing the 
course in 1842 at the age of 16 ; he then 
engaged in the drug business with his 
uncle at Lansingburg, N. Y., where he 
remained three j'ears. He emigrated West 
and located in the di'ug trade in Joliet in 
1846, since which time he has been 
successfully engaged in the above business 
during a period of upward of thirty-two 
years ; he is the senior member of the 
firm of J. H. Brown & Co., his brother, 
J. H., being the junior partner for the 
past nine years. He married in New 
York Sept. 10, 1846, to Adelia Brown; 
four children were the fruit of this union, 
two of whom are now living, viz., George 
and Mary M. Mrs. Brown died in Sep- 
tember, 1855. His second marriage, to 
Emily G. Bartlc, was celebrated in Sep- 
tember, 1858 ; three children have been 
born to them — Eugene, Helen and Horace. 

JOSEPH BARTHELME, farmer; P. 
O. Joliet ; born in Alsace, Germany, Feb. 
17, 1828, where he lived until IS years of 
age, and engaged in farming ; he emigrated 
to America at the above age, landing in 
New York April 27, 1846, going directly 
to Pennsylvania ; he engaged in the canal 
business until October, 1848, when he 
emigrated to Joliet and worked in the 
quarries and lime-kilns for a period of 
twelve years; in 1860, he engaged in 
farming, renting sixty acres two miles from 
Joliet. which he worked for seven years, 
when he purchased eighty acres on Sec. 6, 
Joliet Tp., which he has since continued to 
work ; he owns besides his farm of eighty 
acres, which is located one mile from 
Joliet, his present residence on BlufiF street, 
which he has owned since 1851. He 
married June 11, 1851, to Mary Wiles; 
she was born in Alsace, Germany, March 
22, 1833 ; they have by this union ten 
children now living, viz., Mary Ann, 
Helen, Frank, Joseph, Michael, Antonette, 
Edward C, George, William and Alexan- 
der. Mr. B. has held the office of Alder- 
man for two years in the ward in which he 
lives. 



T. BURKE, livery, feed and sale stable, 
Joliet; born in Lowell, Mass., May 11, 
1840, removing when (juite young to Joliet, 
111., where he has since lived, being en- 
gaged in various pursuits in his youth when 
not attending school ; his first business 
enterprise was in trucking, to which he has 
added the livery, feed and sale stable, car- 
rying on the only business of the kind west 
of the river, and kee})ing a good stock of 
horses and carriages for rent which receive 
his personal attention, and are always found 
in first-class order. He married July 11, 
185G, in Joliet, to Mary Hcnn&sy ; she was 
a native of Ireland ; they have by this 
union eleven children now living, viz., 
Mary A., John R., Bernard, Helen, Katie. 
Anna, Thomas F., William, Sarah, Hattie 
and Alice. 

R. S. BROWN, of the firm of Zarley 
& Co., publishers of the Joliet Signal; is 
a native of Joliet ; he was born Aug. 30, 
1845 ; he is a son of R. D. Brown, who 
who came to Joliet from Rensselaer Co.. 
N. Y., in 1845, and still resides here ; Mr. 
Brown was educated in the public schools 
of the city, and at the age of 17 entered 
the Signal office as an apprentice ; this 
was in 1862; he became familiar with 
every branch of the business, afterward 
becoming foreman, and in 1873, became a 
partner in the firm. 

ALEXANDER BURDEN, merchant 
tailor, Joliet ; born in Comrie, Perthshire, 
Scotland, on the Sth of April, 1832 ; he 
learned the trade of a tailor in his native 
country, and, when about 17 years of age, 
left Scotland and came to America; the 
first five years he worked at his trade in 
Lowell, Mass., Oneida Co., N. Y., Ottawa, 
Can. and Cincinnati, Ohio ; in March, 
1853, he came to Joliet and has continued 
in the merchant tailoring business here 
ever since. He was married March 3, 
1853, to Miss Elizabeth Jamieson of New 
York Mills, Oneida Co., N. Y, ; she was 
a native of Loch Winnock, Scotland, and 
came to this country in 1849 ; she died 
Aug. 29, 1877, leaving four children — 
David, Jennie, Maggie and Willie. 

NATHANIEL BARNS, farmer and 
stock-raiser. Sec. 34; P. 0. Joliet; born 
in Rockland Co., N. Y., June 18, 1818, 
where ho lived until 40 years of age, being 
engaged in farming and dealing in stock 
until he emigrated to Joliet Tp., Will Co., 



666 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



111., in 1858, upon his present place, since 
whicli he has been (extensively engaged in 
farming and has expended a great deal of 
time and money making improvements, 
such as draining, etc; he owns 160 acres 
under a high state of cultivation, three and 
one-half miles from Joliet. He married 
Oct. 1, 1849, to Mary E. Thiell ; she was 
from the same place as Mr. Barnes ; she 
was born June 21, 1829; they are the 
parents of ten children — Emily A., Isaac 
and Edward, deceased; the living are 
George J., Rosalia, Grace, Nathaniel, 
Eliza, John Henry and Blanche. .^Ir. 
Barnes has held the office of School Di- 
rector for more than ten years and has 
always taken a deep interest in the cause 
of education in the district where he lives. 
LEWIS BROWN, farmer. Sec. 24; 
P. 0. Joliet ; born in Onondaga Co.,N. Y., 
June 2, 1827, where he attended school 
in winter and worked upon his father's 
farm in summer until 13 years of age, 
when in 1S4(', he removed with his fath- 
er's ianiily to Will Co., 111.; he settled 
upon his present farm in 1863; owns 160 
acres of well-improved land, valued at $60 
per acre. He married Miss Christy Smith- 
ley, Oct. 19, 1871 ; she was born Oct. 13, 
1839, in Westmoreland Co., Penn.; they 
are the parents of three children — Jennie 
Luella, born Oct. 21, 1872; Lydia May, 
born Feb. 17, 1875, died Feb. 19, 1876; 
Katie Bell, born June 2, 1877. 
^ WALLACE B. CASWELL, proprietor 
St. Nicholas Hotel, Joliet; was born in 
Orleans Co., N. Y., in 1831 ; his father 
was a farmer of moderate circumstances, 
possessing a small piece of land which he 
tilled with his own hands ; he recognized 
the value of an education and made every 
effort to secure for his children that mental 
culture which is imperishable ; but Wallace 
was not a studious youth ; the glorious fun 
of fishing, hunting, " I spy,' •' two-old-cat" 
and other athletic sports, had for him a 
far greater charm than the problems of his 
arithmetic, the puzzling intricacies of his 
grammar, the comprehensive knowledge 
contained within the pasteboard lids of 
his geogi-aphy, or even the polysyllables of 
his spelling-book ; all told, his schooling 
amounted to less than three years of con- 
stant attendance ; to this day he ack'nowl- 
edges, that it was his own fault that not 
even a common-school education accompa- 



nied him when he embarked for himself in 
the struggles of life ; it was in the vocation 
of an apple-peddler that pennies first poured 
into the capacious pockets of his "flap" 
trowsers ; with a basket well-laden with 
pippins, greenings, Spitzenbergs, gillyflow- 
ers and rusty-coats, gathered from his 
father's orchard, he daily plodded to the 
village of Albion for several years and 
returned at night jubilant with success, or 
dejected by failure, according as good or 
ill luck had attended his labors among the 
fruit-loving denizens of the village ; in 
those days (a matter which will be a sur- 
prise to the fruit-venders of this genera- 
tion) a "square meal" could be obtained 
for 3 cents, and to indulge in the extras of 
the season 5 cents was considered an ex- 
orbitant demand ; in 1844, his father 
came West, purchased a small farm and 
grist-mill at Plainfield, nine miles north- 
west of Joliet ; from that date till the 
present, the subject of this sketch has been 
a resident of this State ; in 1845, he en- 
tered the village store as clerk, owned by 
a Mr. Goddard, at the munificent salary 
of $4 per month, without board ; Mr. G. 
also operated stores in Elgin and St. Charles ; 
he continued with him at intervals, until 
1858, vibrating from one point to another, 
as occasion and the interests of his employer 
might require ; in 1849, he was employed 
in the dry goods and carpet store of H. 
W. Bigelow, of Chicago; his positions and 
employments have been various, and fortune 
and mis-fortune have not been strangers to 
him. He was married in 1854, to Esther J. 
Eurn, of Plainfield. At one time we find 
him a prosperous business man, amassing 
wealth rapidly ; again we see him penniless, 
with a great debt upon his shoulders ; at 
the breaking-out of the war, he was doing 
a thriving grocery trade in Joliet. He en- 
tered the army as sutlei-, and, at first, money 
'•rolled in by the bushel," and indicated 
that his fortune was made ; but these were 
uncertain days; when about thirty-five 
miles south of Louisville, on his way to 
Bardstown, John Morgan, the daring, 
dashing cavalryman of Southern fame, 
despoiled his train of six loads of sutler's 
goods, "cabbaged" his horses and left him 
with a whole skin, but not money enough 
to get back to Joliet ; again he replenished 
his stock and the same result followed ; 
after having once more purchased a 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



667 



full stock, he sold out, took notes in pay- 
ment, never realized a cent from them, and 
returned to Juliet as poor as he was five 
years before. In 18G4, he began operating 
the old National Hotel on the west side of 
the city ; here he remained almost ten years 
accumulating money as if by magic ; in 
1873, he furnished the Robertson House 
at an expense of $20,000 ; in one year 
he lost half of the amount accumulated in 
the preceding ten years ; he next pur- 
chased one-half interest in the Gait House, 
Chicago, and in one year shelved the bal- 
ance ; he opened the St. Nicholas as a 
hotel June 17, 1875. 

GEORGE M. CAMPBELL, Secretary 
and Treasurer of the Joliet Stone Co., 
Joliet ; was born in Unity, Waldo Co., 
Me., Jan. 5, 1848 ; in early childhood, he 
removed with his parents to Springfield, 
Mass., and lived there and in that vicinity 
until he was 9 years of age ; the family 
then removed to Linn Co., Iowa, and five 
years later, in April, 18G2, came to Joliet; 
his parents resided here four years, and 
then returned to Massachusetts ; he was 
educated in the public schools of Joliet 
and at the Springfield, Mass., English and 
Classical Institute ; he followed the busi- 
ness of clerking and book-keeping until 
May, 1875, when the Joliet Stone Co. was 
organized, he being one of the three equal 
partners, and on its incorporation, Dec. 1, 
1877, he became Secretary and Treasurer 
of the company. He was married Dec. 
25, 1873, to MissLibbie R. Snapp, daugh- 
ter of Hon. Henry Snapp, of Joliet, and 
has two children — Jessie M. and Ida A- 

M. B. CAMPBELL, M. D., physician 
and surgeon, Joliet, was born in Williston, 
Vt.. Nov. 29, 18-13; he received his pre- 
paratory education at the Williston Acade- 
my, after which he studied medicine in 
the ofiice of Dr. E. A. Pond, of Rutland, 
Vt., who has since become famous as the 
inventor of the American Sphygmograph, 
for measuring and tracing the pulsations 
of the heart ; from his ofiice he entered 
the medical department of Harvard Uni- 
versity, where he graduated and received 
his degree, March 7, 18G6 ; during his 
course of studies he served one year as 
medical cadet in the regular army ; after 
graduating, he spent one year in practice 
with Dr. Pond, in Rutland, and then came 
West, and located in Wilmington, 111.; he 



practiced medicine there until 1874, when 
he removed to Joliet; Dr. Campbell was 
thoroughly educated as an allopathic 
physician, but, in 1872, having become 
fully convinced of the sujieriority of the 
law of " Similia siniiHbus curantur," or 
so-called homeopathy, after thorough prep- 
aration he joined the Illinois State Homeo- 
pathic Medical Association, and, in 1874, 
was elected a member of the American 
Institute of Homeopathy. 

ROMAINE J. CURTISS, M. D., phy- 
sician and surgeon, Joliet ; was born in 
Richland Co., Ohio, Oct. 1, 1840 ; at the 
age of 16 years, he entered Hillsdale Col- 
lege, Mich., and after leaving there at- 
tended one course of medical lectures at 
Buffalo Medical College ; in 1862, he en- 
tered the Union army as Hospital Steward 
of the 1 23d Ohio Vols., and in April, 1863, 
was appointed a Medical Cadet in the reg- 
ular army ; served on the hospital-boat 
which, during the siege of Vicksburg. con- 
veyed the wounded up the river to Mem- 
phis and St. Louis, and was afterward trans- 
ferred to the General Hospital at Cincin- 
nati ; in 1864, he graduated and received 
his degree of M. D. from the Ohio Med- 
ical College, and was appointed Assistant 
Sjirgeon in the U. S. Navy, serving till the 
close of the war ; he then located in Erie 

I Co., N. Y., where he practiced medicine 
seven years, during which time he pursued 
a medical course at the Bellevue Hospital 

I Medical College, graduating from that in- 
stitution in March, 1868 ; from Erie Co. 
he came to Joliet in 1873 ; he is a mem- 
ber of the . Erie County Medical Society, 
of the Will County Medical Society, and 
also a corresponding member of the Bos- 
ton Gynecological Society. He was mar- 
ried Nov. 29, 1870, to Miss Sarah A. Real, 
of Erie Co., N. Y. 

H. S. CARPENTER, of the firm of 
Carpenter & Marsh, grain merchants and 
proprietors of the Union Transfer Eleva- 
tor, Joliet; was born in Orleans Co., N. 
Y., Nov. 25, 1826 ; he resided there until 
he was nearly 20 years of age ; he received 
an academic education in Rochester and 
Albion, N. Y., and in 1846, came to Jol- 
iet ; he taught school nine quarters in 
Troy Tp.,and then engaged in speculating, 
buying and selling property, etc.; about 
twenty -five years ago,he engaged in the grain 
business, being now the oldest grain mer- 



668 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES ; 



chant in Joliet ; in the Spring of 1874, the 
firm of Carpenter & Marsh was established 
aud the Union Transfer Elevator erected, at 
a cost, including the mill and dock in con- 
nection therewith, of some $15,000 ; they 
now do a yearly business of $1,500,000, 
and handle about five millions of bushels 
of grain per annum. Mr. Carpenter was 
married Jan. 22, 1850, to Miss Henrietta 
Spencer, of Troy Tp., and has three chil- 
dren — Charles H,, George and Sarah F. 

CHARLES CLEMENT, retired, Jol- 
iet ; has been a permanent resident of 
Joliet since 1834, and is the oldest living 
inhabitant of the city ; he was born in 
Windsor, Vt., Jan. 13, 1810 ; after receiv- 
ing a common-school education, he spent 
some time in an academy at Atkinson, N. 
H.; in 1833, he came West, and passed 
through Joliet (then containing but two 
log cabins), on his way to Peoria ; the fol- 
lowing spring, he returned and made his 
home here, where he has continued to re- 
side ever since ; he soon afterward engaged 
in mercantile business, which he continued 
most of the time until his retirement from 
active business, about 1865 ; in the spring 
of 1839, he, with others, established the 
first newspaper in Will Co., the Joliet 
Courier, which afterward became the Jol- 
iet Signal ; he has served three years as a 
member of the Board of Supervisors, be- 
ing the first Supervisor upon the organiza- 
tion of the township ; he has held the offi- 
ces of Alderman, School Inspector, etc. 
He was married Aug. 5, 1844, to Miss 
Cordelia Wilcox, of Elbridge, N. Y., and 
has two children. 

J. J. CULVER, JoHet ; dealer in live 
stock, and proprietor of BluflP Street Mar- 
ket ; was born in Montgomery County, 
N. Y,, Dec. 5, 1828 ; at the age of 14 
years, he entered a store as clerk, and at 
the age of 20, engaged in general mer- 
chandising for himself, which he continued 
till 1857 ; when, being in poor health he 
came West, bringing with him a stock of 
goods, which he traded off for a farm in 
Channahon Tp ; he followed farming there 
seven years, and then removed to Joliet 
and engaged in his present business, which 
is quite extensive, as he retails an average • 
of forty cattle per month. During the 
war he did a large and successful business 
in buying and shipping stock. He has a 
farm of nearly 200 acres south of the city, 



acres more. 
100 head 



on 
of 

the past 
attention 



and also rents some 300 

which he usually feeds 

cattle, or 1,000 sheep. For 

four years, has confined his 

mainly to sheep raising, shipping stock, 

and attending to his business in town. He 

was married Oct. 21, 1853, to Miss Lydia 

A. Knox, of Montgomery Co., N. Y., and 

has ■ four children — Willie K., Aggie C, 

Edward E. and Charles S. 

ABIJAH CAGWIN, dealer in grain ; 
Joliet ; was born in Oneida Co. N. Y., 
May 19, 1807 ; in 1824, he removed with 
his parents to Brockport, Monroe Co., and 
there began business as a tanner and cur- 
rier, owning an extensive tannery which 
burned down in 1834; he was also en- 
gaged in shoe manufacturing. He came 
to Will Co., in 1835, and settled about 
two miles from Joliet — then Juliet — where 
he built a saw-mill, in which he sawed the 
lumber used in building the first grain 
warehouse in Will Co., which Mr. Cagwin 
erected a few years later. Here he was 
elected Justice of the Peace, serving eight 
years; in 1839, he was elected County 
Judge, and moved into the city ; at the 
expiration of his four years' service as 
County Judge, he engaged in merchandis- 
ing, afterward associating with him his 
brother, Francis L. Cagwin; in 1856, he 
with others, established the Will County 
Bank, the firm being Cagwin, Higinbo- 
tham & Co. ; a few years afterward, he en- 
gaged in the grain and produce business, 
which he has continued to the present 
time. He has served three terms as City 
Treasurer ; one term on the Board of 
Supervisors, and four years as Supt. of the 
Will County Alms-house and Poor Farm. 
He was married in 1827, to Miss Hannah 
Scriber, of Brockport, N. Y., but formerly 
from Rutland Co., Vt., and has eight 
children — Merritt 0., of Elwood, 111., 
Helen A. (Mrs. Elvis Harwood. of Joliet), 
Sarah A. (Mrs. Barritt, of Joliet), Thom^is 
P., of Joliet, Hamden A., of Joliet, Nancy 
A., of Joliet, Rose L. ( Mrs. A. R. Briggs, 
of Joliet), and Abijah S., of Joliet. 

GEORGE N. CHAMBERLIN, of the 
firm of S. S. Chamberlin & Son, under- 
takers and dealers in furniture ; Joliet ; was 
born in Lockport, Will Co., 111., Dec. 20, 
1851 ; he is a son of S. S. Chamberlin, 
who came to Will Co. at an early day, 
frequent reference to whom will be found . 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



669 



in other parts of tliis work. Mr. Cham- 
berlin was educated in the High School in 
his native town, and when about 20 years 
of age, entered the employ of the Lake 
Shore & Michigan Southern R. 11. Co., in 
Chicago, in the telegraph department, re- 
maining with them two years ; he then 
spent some three years in the ofl&ce of 
Norton & Co., of Lockport, and in 1876, 
engaged in his present business with his 
father, who is the oldest undertaker and 
furniture dealer in Will Co. He was mar- 
ried Dec. 5, 1876, to Miss Ella E. Munger, 
daughter of Charles E. Munger, of Chicago, 
for twenty-five years a resident of Joliet; 
they have one child — Fred M. 

JOHN K. CASEY, M. D., physician 
and surgeon, Joliet ; has been a resident 
and a practicing physician of Joliet, since 
1858; he is a native of Illinois, and was 
born in Jefferson Co. Jan. 28, 1835; at 
16 years of age, he entered McKendree 
College, Lebanon, 111., where he remained 
three years ; leaving College, he entered 
upon the study of medicine under the in- 
struction of Dr. Charles A. Pope, at that 
time one of the most prominent surgeons 
in the West. He attended medical lectures 
in the St. Louis Medical College where he 
graduated and received his degree in 1857. 
After practicing medicine one year in 01- 
ney, Richland Co., 111., he located in Joliet, 
as above stated. In May of the same 
year (1858j, he was appointed physician 
in charge of the State Penitentiary Hos- 
pital in this city, occupying that position 
ten years.' He is at present President of 
the Will County Medical Society, and also 
holds the office of City and County Phy- 
sician, to which he was elected several 
years ago ; he has also served one year on 
the Board of Aldermen. He was mar- 
ried in June, 1863, to Mies Ada Vander- 
pool, of Joliet ; a native of New York 
City, and has four children — Florida, Wil- 
lis W. Dwight and Laura. 

CHARLES W. CLEGHORN, j.roprie- 
tor Joliet Soap Works, Joilet ; was born 
in the Province of Ontario Aug. 16, 1853. 
He is a son of Rev. Thomas, a Methodist 
clergyman, and wlio was a brother of Edward 
Cleghorn, of this city. His father was a 
native of New York State, but lived in 
Canada from the age of 5 years until 1870, 
when he removed to Michigan, and resided 
there until his death, which occurred in 



February, 1878. After his father's death, 
his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth (Williams) 
Cleghorn, removed with her family to Joliet, 
where they now reside. Charles W. came 
to Joliet in 1870, and learned the tanner's 
trade with Messrs. Mack, Cleghorn & Co., 
and continued till July, 1876, when he 
engaged in his present business. He manu- 
factures three brands of soap; the "Granite," 
he considers his finest soap ; is of his own 
invention, and unexcelled for either toilet 
or laundry purposes ; his two other brands, 
the " Standard " and " Boss," are both ex- 
cellent articles, and are furnished at prices 
which should induce the people of Will 
Co. to patronize home industries, and ask 
their grocers for Cleghorn's soaps. 

WILLIAM P. CATON, retired, Joliet; 
one of the pioneers of Will Co. ; was born 
in Orange Co., N. Y., March 28, 1815 ; 
he lived in Oneida Co., N. Y., until 18 
years of age, being engaged in mercantile 
pursuits and attending school ; at the above 
age, he removed to Ann Arbor, Mich., 
where he remained three years, clerking in' 
a general store ; he then came to Chicago 
in 1836, clerking for a short time; then 
to Milwaukee, clerking until the following 
year ; he then returned to Illinois and took 
up 2,000 acres of Government land in Cook 
Co., sixteen miles northwest of Chicago ; 
here he lived until 1848, when he removed 
to Chicago, being engaged in mercantile 
pursuits and inspector of canal-boats until 
1856, when he removed to Plainfield, Will 
Co., and engaged in farming until 1871, 
when on account of ill health he was 
obliged to give up farming, since which 
time he has lived in Joliet, but not engaged 
in active business. He owns his residence 
and the one adjoining on Oneida St., Joliet. 
He married Nov. 28, 1844, to Elizabeth 
Steele ; they are the parents of five chil- 
dren now living — WilliaTii E., Hannah E., 
Charles A., Albert R. and Minnie E. 

JOHN CLARKSON, retired mill- 
wright, Joliet ; born in Lancashire, England, 
Oct. 25, 1809, where he learned and worked 
at the millwright trade until 28 years of 
age, when he emigrated to America, land- 
ing in New York July 3, 1837 ; remaining 
there three months, then to Dlochester four 
months ; then to Black Rock Dam during 
the winter of 1837-38, returning to Roches- 
ter for the summer following ; then to 
Rome, Mich., for eighteen months ; from 



670 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



there to Chicago, and to Joliet by stage, 
where he located May 20, 1840 ; he first 
engaged here in building Jones' Steam Flour- 
Mill, the first of the kind in Joliet ; upon 
its completion, he with Thomas Keegan, 
went to Marseilles and built the first flour 
mill at that place ; from there he went to 
Chicago and built the first elevator erected 
in that city. His reputation as a work- 
man of superior skill at his trade having 
become generally established, he has been 
extensively employed in building mills and 
elevators in all the neighboring towns 
around Joliet up to the time of his retiring 
from active labor. He owns a fine resi- 
dence on the west side of the river, where 
he resides. He married in England April 

12, 1837, to Alice Hodson ; she was born 
in Lancashire, England, May 1, 1816 ; 
they are the parents of three children now 
living, viz., Ellen J., Margaret A. and Mary 
Ann. Mr. C.'s mother emigrated to 
America and Joliet in 1844, being then 
upward of 80 years of age, where she lived 
until her death in 1848. Mr. C. has filled 
different offices of trust, among them 
School Trustee for eight years and School 
Director for three years. 

CARSON BROS., groceries and provis- 
ions, Joliet. Hugh H. Carson, the senior 
member of the above firm, was born Jan. 
1, 1852, in Rhode Island, where he at- 
tended school and worked in a cotton-fac- 
tory until 10 years of age, when he emi- 
grated with his parents to Joliet, locating 
at this point Aug. 1, 1862 ; at the above 
date, his father, James Carson, purchased 
the grocery and provision business of W. 
B. Caswell, which business he successfully 
continued until succeeded by his sons May 
10, 1875. Robert Carson, the junior mem- 
ber of the above firm, was born in Rhode 
Island Sept. 18, 1855 ; emigrating West 
with his parents to Joliet ; he, with his 
brother, was employed in the store of their 
father when not attending school, until 
they succeeded in the business. The above 
firm carry a full and complete stock in their 
line, and havt; a good trade which is rapidly 
increasing ; their success may be attributed 
to their thorough knowledge, close personal 
attention and honest dealing in business. 

H. W. COPE, horse-collar manufact- 
urer, JoHet ; born in Newark, N. J., Dec. 

13, 1843, where he lived and attended 
school until 14 years of age, when he im- 



migrated with his parents to Joliet, where 
he lived two years ; in 1859, he removed 
to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lived two 
years and commenced to learn his trade ; 
from there he removed to Newark, N. J., 
where he lived two years ,when he returned 
to Joliet and finished his trade ; he pur- 
chased the interest of his father in July, 
1868; he confines business exclusively to 
the manufacture and jobbing of horse 
collars, supplying the wholesale trade largely 
in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Indiana ; 
he employs four hands and such machinery 
as can be made practical. He married in 
Joliet July 6, 1865, to Lottie V. Cook ; 
she was born Nov. 23, 1843, in New York ; 
they are the parents of two children now 
living, viz., Lottie A. and Henry L. 

BARBARA CAMPBELL, farmer, 
Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Joliet ; widow of Joseph 
Campbell ; her maiden name was Barbara 
Kelly ; she was born in Scotland Dec. 13, 
1807. She married Mr. Campbell in Scot- 
land July 12, 1833; Mr. Campbell was 
born in Scotland Sept. 30, 1807, where he 
lived until 28 years of age, when he immi- 
grated to America and settled in 
Joliet Tp., Will Co., 111., in 1839, and en- 
gaged in quarrying ; he was for several 
years in partnership with ex-Gov. Matte- 
son in quarrying and contracting, and had 
some contracts building the Canal. He 
died June 23, 1858 ; his widow, who sur- 
vives him, continues to live at the old 
home, which contains 1 95 acres of well-im- 
proved land. They were the parents of 
five children now living, viz., Joseph, Rob- 
ert, John, Annie and Barbara. 

THOMAS CULBERTSON, retired 
miller, Joliet ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in New Castle Co., Del., Aug. 
23, 1814, where he learned the trade of 
milling; he removed to Joliet in 1836, and 
engaged at his trade for two years, when the 
dam was destroyed for the benefit of 
the Canal ; afterward worked at Norman's 
Island and Wilmington ; returned to Joliet 
in 1839, and settled where he now resides, 
purchasing what is known as the Red Mill 
in 1849, which he continued to run until 
1867. He married Miss Martha M. Kcr- 
cheval in Joliet Nov. 19, 1856; her par- 
ents settled in Will Co., in 1829 ; they are 
parents of three children — Thomas Edwin, 
born July 16, 1858 ; May Evelyn, born 
Oct. 23, 1861 ; Emma Elizabeth, born 







^ / 





^^)-7^. 



(deceasedj 

LOCKPORTTP. 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



673 



Jan. 1:5, 1864, died Aug. 28, 1865. Mr. 
C. has filled the offices of School Trustee 
and Director in the town where he lives 
for several terms. 

N. H. CUTTER, farmer ; P. 0. Joliet ; 
whose portrait appears in this work, was 
born in Jaffrey, Cheshire Co., N. H., 
March 12, 1805; up to the age of 21, 
he was engaged in farming with his par- 
ents, after which he learned the trade of 
joiner and carpenter; in 1828, he moved 
to Lowell, Mass.. and after being engaged 
at his trade for a short time, was enij)l()yed 
in machine shops up to the fill of 1829 ; 
he then went to Oneida Co., N. Y., and 
■worked in Rogers' Machine Shops up to 
1834 ; in the fall of the same year he 
came to Joliet, where he has resided ever 
since, engaged mostly in farming. Has 
been Alderman, Justice of the Peace, 
Assessor and School Director. He married 
Rebecca R. Bailey, of East Hampton, 
Mass., Feb. 15, 1838 ; she was born April 
14, 1805. Mr. Cutter, while living in the 
East spent his winters in school teaching. 

GEORGE W. CASSEDAY, deceased, 
formerly of Joliet, whose portrait appears 
in this work, was born in Bedford Co., Va., 
Dec. 1, 1803. His father dying when he was 
6 months old, his mother moved to St. Anne, 
Ky., where they lived until he was 14 years 
of age, when they moved to Troy, Ohio ; 
at this place he learned the trade of carpenter. 
On January 13, 1824, he married Miss 
Delilah Murphy, and in the fall of 1825 
moved to Vermilion Co., [11., where he 
engaged in farming up to the spring of 
1827, when he moved to Edgar Co., 111., 
working at his trade of carpenter, and 
also farming ; in 1829. he moved to Paris, 
of the same county, and remained there up 
to 1834, when he returned to Vermilion 
county ; in 1851, he came to Joliet, where 
he lived up to his decease, July 23, 1863. 
When he came to Joliet, having pur- 
chased a large tract of land, he laid out 
an addition to the city known as " Casse-. 
day's Addition." He had five children ; 
three living — Maria L. (now Mrs. Jo- 
seph G. English, of Danville, 111.), Mary 
C (now Mrs. John Durham, of Danville, 
111. ), and Henry Clay ; two deceased — 
David, and Harriet M. 

MRS. SOPHIA (MURRAY) DEM- 
MOND, Joliet ; was born in Petersburg, 
N. Y., July 26, 1804; she is a daughter 



of John Murray, who was formerly from 
Bennington, Vt.; her mother, Cynthia 
Weaver, was a native of Rhode Island ; 
Mrs. Dcmmond's parents removed to 
near Auburn, N. Y., when she was a child, 
and after five years to Sharon, in the same 
State, where they resided till their death. 
Her marriage with the late Martin H. Dem- 
mond, occurred in Frankfort, Herkimer 
Co., N. Y., April 10, 1831. Mr. Dem- 
mond was a native of Massachusetts, and 
was born March 4, 1803 ; he went with 
his parents to Sangerfield, N. Y., where 
he was a])prenticed to the tanner and cur- 
rier's trade ; he, however, did not find 
this business congenial, and having a taste 
for mercantile pursuits, he soon afterward 
engaged in merchandising in various 
places, in which he was quite successful ; 
he first married, soon after becoming of 
age. Miss Adelia Woodruff, a daughter 
of Theodore Woodruff', of Clinton, N! Y.. 
and a sister of George H. Woodruff, of 
this city ; she, however, died during tht: 
first year of their marriage. While in 
business in Frankfort, he married Miss 
Murray, as above stated, and, in 1834, re- 
moved to Joliet ; he was so intimately 
identified with the early history and 
growth of this city, and his connection 
therewith is so fully recorded in the his- 
torical portion of this work, that any fur- 
ther allusion here is unnecessary. He was 
a man of pure morals and sterling integ- 
rity ; "his word was as good as his bond." 
He died of cholera July 18, 1854, leaving 
a wife, but no children. A niece of Mrs. 
Demmond's, Miss Catherine Murray, was 
a member of the family, from the age of 
10 years until her marriage with Freder- 
ick Bartelson, an attorney at law in Joliet, 
who afterward raised a company for the 
100th Regiment, I. V. I., was commis- 
sioned Captain, afterward promoted to 
Colonel, and killed at Kenesaw Moun- 
tain. She is now the wife of J. R. Cas- 
selberry, of Philadelphia. Mrs. Demmond 
continues to reside in the old homestead 
erected by her husband soon after his 
arrival here. 

R. DOOLITTLE. Justice of the Peace, 
Joliet ; was born in Watertown, Jefferson 
Co., N. Y., June 15, 1809, where he 
resided until his removal to Joliet in the 
spring of 1837; after following the 
grocery business two years, he was elected 

3 



674 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



Jutitice of tlie Peace, and held the office 
twelve years, and was also Assignee in 
Bankruptcy durini: the existence of the 
old United States bankrupt law ; in 1838, 
he was elected County Judge, but declined 
to qualify, and Geo. H. Woodruff was 
elected in his place; in 1852, he resumed 
business, the firm being Doolittle & Stone, 
who erected the three-story brick building 
on the south side of Jefferson street, the 
second building west of Ottawa street ; the 
same year, 1852, he, with six other citi- 
zens of Joliet, was appointed by the Legis- 
lature to divide the city into wards, and 
call an election for city officers. In 1840, 
previous to the organization of the city, he 
had served on the Board of Trustees, of 
which he was the Treasurer ; he remained 
in the grocery business until 1862, when 
he sold out to Mr. Stone, and for a number 
of years was engaged in railroad contract- 
ing, merchandising, etc. ; he served as 
Afderman from 1862 to 1866 ; in 1871, 
was again elected Justice of the Peace. 
He was married April 5, 1838, to Miss 
Sarah A. Boss, a native of Canada, and 
has five children living — Theresa C, Eben 
B., George H. of Port Huron, Mich., 
Georgeana and Jesse A. 

FRANK DEVINE, contractor and 
builder, Joliet ; is a native of Dutchess 
Co., N. Y. ; he was born at Fishkill Land- 
ing, on the Hudson River, July 3, 1849 ; 
when he was about 18 years old he went to 
New York City and worked at his trade of 
a carpenter until after the great fire in 
Chicago in 1871 ; he then went to that 
city and took part in its rebuilding during 
the next two years; in 1873, he came to 
Joliet and began business as a contractor 
and builder ; he is acknowledged to be one 
of the most skillful and reliable workmen 
in his line of business ; he has built some 
of the best residences in the city, besides 
other buildings, among which may be 
mentioned St. Mary's Church, on which he 
did the carpenter work. He was married 
June 5, 1876, to Miss Nellie O'Reilly, 
daughter of James O'Reilly, of Joliet ; 
they have one child — James. 

EUGENE DALY, undertaker and 
dealer in furniture, Joliet; is a native of the 
county of Longlbrd, Ireland ; he was born 
on the 13th of May, 1826; in 1844, he 
came to this country and spent three years 
in Sag Harbor, L. I., where he learned 



the trade of a cabinet-maker ; coming to 
Chicago, he worked at his trade there 
until the fall of 1850, when he came to 
Joliet and started in business for himself; 
he is the oldest undertaker and furniture 
man in Joliet ; he has held several public 
offices, among which may be mentioned 
those of Coroner of the county. Super- 
visor and member of the Board of Alder- 
men. He was married in 1852 to Miss 
Bridget Thompson, of Joliet; she is also a 
native of the county of Longford, Ireland; 
they have eight children living — Margaret, 
Mary A., John, Catherine, Joseph J., 
Ellen, Charlie and Willie. 

JOHN T. DON AHOE, Joliet; Treasur- 
er of Will Co. ; was born in Joliet Oct. 16, 
1855; he is a son of Timothy Donahoe, 
who came to Joliet from Ireland in 1 853, 
and is now a resident of Wilmington. J ohn 
T. left school at the age of 13, and entered 
the grocery store of his brother in Wil- 
mington as clerk, remaining with him until 
he was 17 years old ; they then engaged in 
business in partnership in Braidwood, and, 
on attaining his majority, he purchased the 
interest of his brother and continued the 
business alone until his election as County 
Treasurer in November, 1877 ; he is the 
youngest Treasurer Will Co. has ever had, 
and probably the youngest man ever 
elected to that office in this country. 

J. C. DILLMAN, proprietor of the 
Mansion House, Joliet ; was born in Sum- 
mit Co., Ohio, Sept. 7, 1824; his early 
years were passed upon the farm, his father 
and grandfather being farmers ; in the fall 
of 1849, he came to Will Co., his father, 
Michael Dillman. having come with the 
other members of the family the spring 
before ; the family settled in IMainfield, 
where the father died in 1861, leaving ten 
children, five of whom now live in Will 
Co. ; Mr. Dillman followed farming until 
1871, when he removed to Joliet; in 
1875, he became proprietor of the Mansion 
House, where the traveler is always sure of 
courteous treatment and good accommoda- 
tions, at a reasonable price ; being a strictly 
temperance house, it is a desirable family 
hotel. Mr. Dillman was married Feb. 19, 
1846, to Miss Sarah A. Steese, of Summit 
Co., Ohio, and has five children living — 
Lavina C, Amanda J., Michael S., Edward 
L. and Charles S. ; one daughter, Alice J.y 
died Feb. 12, 1861. 



JOLIET TOAVNSHIP. 



675 






WILLIAM DAVIDSON, Jolict; born 
in county of Cunjberland, England, Oct. 
28, 1851, where he lived until 22 years of 
age, when ho came to America ; he first 
located in Connecticut, and i'mm there to 
Kankakee, 111., in 1850, where he resided 
four years ; then to Joliet in 1854, where 
he enpigod in the quarry business, which 
he has continued to the present time ; he 
owns what is known as Davidson's Quarry, 
located one mile southwest of Joliet, on the 
C, R. I. & P. R. R. 

WILLIAM DOUGALL, M. D., phy- 
sician aud surgeon, Joliet ; was born in 
Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, March 1, 
1842; his father, John Dougall, was a 
leading cotton-sjiinner in the west of Scot- 
land, and, in 1858, came with his family to 
this country, settling near New Haven, 
Ind., where he died in 1874 at the age of 
75 years; his mother was Margaret Hous- 
toun, a descendant of the ancient Ren- 
frewshire family of that name ; she was 
born in the town of Houstoun, Renfrew- 
shire, and still survives; the son, William, 
was educated in the high school of Glas- 
gow. On the breaking-out of the rebell- 
ion, he enlisted in Co. C, 15th Ind. V. I., 
June 1, 1861, and participated in all the 
engagements of his regiment until Oct. 1, 
1863, being severely wounded at the battle 
of Stone River ; on the above-mentioned 
date he was commissioned Captain in the 
13th U. S. Colored Regiment, and served as 
such until April, 1865, when the war, 
having closed, he resigned, and, returning 
home, resumed the study of medicine ; he 
attended a course of medical lectures in 
the University of Michigan, and afterward 
in the Chicago Medicd College, from which 
institution he gi'aduatcd, and received his 
degree March 4, 18GS, and soon afterward 
began practice in Lemont, Cook Co., 111. ; 
in 1872, he located in Joliet, where he is 
now engaged in the practice of his profes- 
sion. He was married Oct. 1, 1872, to 
Miss Cassie Widker, daughter of Edwin 
Walker, of Lemont, and has one child — 
Mamie C. Dr. Dougall is a member of 
the Will County Medical Society, and of 
the American Medical Association, and 
was Secretary of the former two years. 

GEORGE RANDOLPH DYER, re- 
tired; Joliet; was born in Rutland Co., 
Vt., June 13, 1813 ; his father, Daniel 
'yer, had a State reputation as a sheep- 



raiser and substantial farmer; he was 
a soldier of the Revolutionary war ; 
after the close of the war he was commis- 
sioned Major in the iMii.«-sachusetts State 
Militia, and his commission, signed by 
Gov. John Hancock himself, is now in the 
possession of his son George R. ; the ven- 
erable and well-known Dr. Charles V. 
Dyer, of Chicago, was his Inother ; his 
mother was a Miss Olin, of the popular 
Vermont family of that name. Capt. 
Dyer received an academic education in 
West Rutland, Academy, and at the age of 
21, started West, and drove from Claren- 
don, Vt., to Chicago, 111., alone ; he resided 
in Chicago and Milwaukee till 1841 ; dur- 
ing this time, he helped organize the Terri- 
tory of Wisconsin ; in 1838, he assisted in 
surveying the Fox River, with a' view to 
use the same as a feeder for the Illinois 
Canal ; in 1841, lie came to Will Co. and 
engaged in farming and stock-raising; in 
his early life in Will Co. he was noted far 
and wide for his remarkable energy and 
success in life; in 185(5, he was elected 
Sheriif of the county, and after his term of 
office expired he returned to his farm, 
where he resided till the breaking-out of 
the war in 1861 ; when the first gan was 
fired, true to the blood of his patriotic 
ancestors, he, with his two sons, went into 
the war for the Union ; his oldest son was 
commissioned Captain when but 17, and 
served through many a well-fought battle ; 
he died Nov. 13, 18G3, from disease con- 
tracted in the Southern swamps. During 
the last thirty-five years Will Co. has 
known Capt. Dyer as a citizen of note, not 
a little eccentric, witty, jolly as acompanion, 
and satirical in the reproving of that 
which had not sense to recommend it. As 
a defender of the rights of man, he has 
always been distinguished, aud he consid- 
ered it no disgrace to be called an Aboli- 
tionist ; he joined hands with them in bring- 
ing this country to be what it is to-day. In 
bold activity and uncomjiromisiug devotion, 
Capt. George R. Dyer was the undisputed 
pioneer in Will Co. of that enthusiastic 
movement, as it was called by his friends, 
and fanatical movement, as it was called by 
his enemies, which ultimately stnick the 
shackles from the American slave. He 
was married Jan. 8, 1841, to Miss Eliza- 
beth H. Kimball, of Elgin, a lady of fine 
natural endowments and graceful manners, 



676 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



whose excellent sense, fine culture and 
domestic accomplishments eminently fitted 
her for a helpmate for a young man with a 
full head and an empty pocket; the 
matured woman has more than fulfilled the 
fair promise of the young bridj ; six chil- 
dren have been born to them, four of 
whom still survive — Belle E,., Daniel B., 
Lizzie L. and Ida May (now Mrs. A. A. 
Whiting). George D. died in 1863, and 
Susie Olin (Mrs. R. Schermerhorn) died in 
1872. 

D. G. EDGERLY, agent M. C. R. R. 
Joliet Cut-Off, Joliet ; was born in Perry, 
Genesee (now Wyoming Co.), N". Y., in 
1831. At the early age of 5 years, he 
lost his father, a prominent merchant of 
the town. His mother subsequently 
married a wealthy farmer, and his life, to 
about the age of 16, was spent upon 
his stepfather's farm. On leaving home, 
he spent one year in a dry goods store in 
Warsaw ; he next went to Buffalo, and was 
employed as check clerk in the firm of 
Kimberly, Pease & Co. (late Pease & Beech- 
er), forwarders of general merchandise. 
This firm owned and operated lines on the 
lakes and Erie Canal. The formation of 
the American Transportation Co., in 1855, 
absorbed all the small offices and companies, 
and he next located at Dunkirk, N. Y., 
in the employ of the N. Y. & Erie R. 
R., under S. D. Caldwell, now chief man- 
ager of the Red Line ; he served eight 
years as check clerk ; from Dunkirk he 
returned to Buffalo and was appointed 
assistant agent ; here he remained ten 
years. In January, 1873, he was placed in 
charge of the 33d station, New York City ; 
this position he held two years. In 1876, 
he engaged in business in Buffalo, but 
only continued a short time. In January, 
1877, he came to his present position at 
Joliet. His fine business qualifications 
have won for him positions of honor and 
trust, that do not usually fall to men so 
early in life. 

WILLIAM EVANS, foreman roll- 
turning department, Joliet ; was born in 
England June 20, 181:1 ; his family emi- 
grated to America in 1846, and settled 
in Penn.sylvania ; here his father engaged 
in iron-mining, and in the mining districts 
\Villiam passed his youth and early man- 
hood ; in 1862, he went to his trade in Dan- 
ville, Penn., working five years under the 



instruction of Charles D. Hunt; in 1870, 
he came to Chicago, and was employed in 
the roll-turning department in the North 
Chicago RoUing-Mills ; here he remained 
one year ; in June, 1871 , he came to Joliet, 
and entered the employ of the Joliet Iron 
and Steel Co. ; here he has since resided, 
excepting a residence of about six months 
in Springfield in 1873, when these works 
shut down. He was married in December, 
1864. to Mary E. Propst, a native of Penn- 
sylvania ; has one child living — William 
D. ; three died — Phillip D., and two in 
infancy. 

GEORGE ERHARD, Joliet, whose 
portrait appears in this work, was born. 
May 7, 1807, in the town of Middlestray, 
Province of Mih'ickstuart, Lower Frank, 
Wurtzberg, kingdom of Bavaria ; he 
emigrated to America in June, 1832, 
with his mother and two sisters, and first 
went "to Detroit, Mich., where in August 
of same year his mother died of cholera ; 
in October, 1833, he moved to Chicago, and 
April 26, 1836, came to Joliet with his 
brother-in-law, John Belz. In 1838, they 
returned to Chicago, and married two sis- 
ters, Louisa and Veronica Periolet ; Lou- 
isa, the wife of Mr. Erhard, was born in 
the town of Highfelt, in Alsace, near 
Strasbourg, in France ; she emigrated to 
Chicago, with her two brothers and sister, 
in 1834. Mr. Erhard returned to Joliet, 
and having formed a copartnership with 
John Belz, built a large brewery on Bluff 
street. West Side, Joliet, being very suc- 
cessful until the depreciation of wildcat 
money caused them to close their business. 
He had nine children, five living — George 
C, born Nov. 22, 1838, now carrying on 
an agricultural and seed store in Joliet ; 
Emily, born Nov. 11, 1842, wife of J. C. 
Adler, of Joliet ; Joseph, now farming in 
Troy Tp., Will Co. ; Louisa and Lawrence ; 
his four younger children are dead, and 
are buried in the West Side German bury- 
in";-";round, in Joliet. He and his brother- 
in-law, John Belz, were the first German 
settlers in this county, and George C, the 
eldest son of Mr. Erhard, was the first 
German male child born in Will Co. 

COL. JOHN B. FITHIAN, of the firm 
of Fithian & Avery, attorneys at law, 
Joliet ; was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., 
Oct. 26, 1849 ; he is a son of Dr. William 
E. Fithian, a physician and Presbyterian 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



677 



clergyman ; in 1857, the f'amil}' removed 
to Iowa and resided in different parts of the 
State until 1862, when his father took 
charge of the Sanitary Department at 
Helena, Ark., and afterward was appointed 
Medical Inspector of the Department of the 
Tennessee ; during that time John B. was 
Chief Clerk at Helena, and in 18Go, re- 
poited to the Sanitary Department at Vieks- 
burg, and was present during the siege of 
that place ; after the war, he came to Illi- 
nois and followed the newspaper business 
at various points until 1873 ; he then came 
to Joliet, and was employed in various ca- 
pacities in the Illinois State Penetentiary 
until the spring of 1876 ; in the mean time 
he had been improving his spare time in 
studying law in the oflSces of Munn & Munn, 
and C. B. Garnsey, Esq., of Joliet ; he 
was admitted to practice in September, 
1876, and in September, 1877, formed a 
partnership with E. D. Avery, which still 
continues. He was one of the organizers 
of the Citizens' Corps, and on the organiza- 
tion of the lOtli Battalion I. N. Gr., was 
appointed Adjutant under Lt. Col. Parsons; 
in July, 1877, he resigned, but on the 
breaking-out of the Braid wood disturbances, 
he enlisted as a private, and served during 
the riot; on the organization of the 12th 
Battalion, Oct. 15, 1877, he was elected 
3Iajor, and on the 9tli of February, 1878, 
was promoted to the rank of Leiut. Colonel, 
which position he still holds. He was mar- 
ried Jan. 18, 1878, to Miss Edna E. 
Whittaker, of Carlinville, 111. 

JOHN J. FLACK (deceased), formerly 
of Joliet, whose portrait appears in this work, 
was born on May 10, 1799, in Washinsrton 
Co., N. Y. He married Dec. 24, 1818, Sliss 
Elizabeth Nelson, who was born in same 
county Dec. 15, 1799. In 1819, he moved 
from Washington Co. to Essex Co., N. Y., 
and was largely engaged in farming and the 
manufacture of lumber and iron, also a large 
dealer in horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. 
He was also for many years an officer of 
the court. Mr. Flack having in the year 
1844, purchased large tracts of land in the 
State of Illinois, moved his family to Joliet 
in 1845, and became very largely engaged 
in farming and stock-raising ; he also was 
interested in property, both in Chicago 
and Joliet. He was an officer of the court 
in Will Co., and Joliet also, for many years. 
He died Sept. 25, 1876, aged 80 years, 5 



months and 1 5 days ; his widow still sur- 
vives him, a good wife and mother, and a 
lady beloved by all. They had eight chil- 
dren, all born in Essex Co., N. Y. — Jane 
A., born Sept. 8, 1819; W. Nelson, Jan. 
1, 1821 ; J. Alexander, Aug. 4, 1823 ;. 
Mortimer A., May 25, 1825 ; Maria A., 
May 15, 1827; WHialon J., Nov. 23, 
1829; Washington J., Sept. 19, 1832, 
and Martha J., born July 6, 1839. 

0. FOX, dealer in clothing, hats, caps 
and gents furnishing goods, Joliet ; has 
been a citizen of Will Co. for the past 
twenty-three years ; he was born in Stan- 
stead, Province of Quebec, Aug. 21, 1828 ; 
when he was about 15 years of age, he left 
home, and going to Boston, Mass., engaged 
as clerk in a mercantile house ; about six 
years later he w'ent to New York City, 
where he remained the same length of time ; 
he came W^est in 1855, locating in Joliet, 
where he has been in business ever since ; 
first in the book and stationery business 
for some nine years ; then five years as a con- 
tractor, employing the convict labor in the 
Penitentiary in the manufacturer of cigars ; 
in 1868, he engaged in his present business. 
He keeps a full supply of goods in his line 
at prices to suit the times ; in addition to 
this business, he has for the past three 
years carried on a Penitentiary contract in 
manufacturing cigars. He was married 
June 16, 1858, to Miss Anna J. White, 
of Brooklyn,- N. Y., and has four children 
living — Jennie A., Jessie B., AlHe A. and 
Mamie J. Mr. Fox resides in a beautiful 
residence, one of the finest in Joliet, located 
on the bluffs overlooking the city. This 
was erected by him in 1874, and is an 
ornament to the city and a credit to its 
builder. 

VALENTINE FAHRNER, M. D.. 
physician, Joliet ; was born in Marienbad, 
a watering-place of Bohemia, Dec. 9, 
1808; he was educated at the Gymnasium 
of I]gra. after which he pursued his pro- 
fessional studies at the University of Prague, 
where he graduated and received the degree 
of M. D. in 1833. He began practice in 
his native town, where he continued until 
1854 ; he then came to this country, and 
located in Chicago; in 1868, he returned 
to Bohemia, remaining one year, and on 
coming again to the United States, spent 
two years in Mokena, 111., coming to Joliet 
in 1871. He was married in 1842, to 



678 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Miss Maria Auna Taubcr, of Tescbau, 
Bohemia ; she died 'May 28, 1873, leaving 
two children — John and Anna Catherine 
(now Mrs. Henry Lehncr, of Troy Town- 
ship. John Fahrner, son of the above, 
was born in Marienbad, Bohemia, Feb, 11, 
1854, and came with his father's family to 
this country, and has continued with them 
ever since. He received his preparatory 
education in the school of the Benedictine 
Fathers in Chicago, after which he attended 
medical lectures in the University of Prague 
in Bohemia, and has since continued 
his professional studies under the instruc- 
tion of his father, with whom he is asso- 
ciated in practice. 

JOSEPH FRIEDRICH, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Joliet ; was born in 
Biul, Weisserberg, near Strasbourg, Alsace, 
April 25, 1820 ; he was raised to the bus- 
iness of stock-raising and farming, and in 
184U, came to the United States ; he spent 
about three months at work near Buffalo, 
N. Y.; going from there to Chicago, and 
shortly afterward coming to Joliet ; he 
worked for awhile on the dam at this place, 
and in the spring following went to Lock- 
port, and was employed for about five 
months on the Canal; thence, in the fall, to 
Chicago. The following summer, he located 
in Naperville, 111., and resided there till he 
settled in Joliet in May, 18-17, except a 
short time spent in the South ; in the 
spring of 1848, he purchased his present 
farm adjoining the city, where he owns 
seventy-six acres of land. He was married 
Fob. 17, 1845, to Miss Sarah Weis, a 
native of Germany and has eight children 
— Joseph E., now in business in Joliet, 
Charles, Oswell J., Frank E., William, 
Sarah, Josephine and Annie. 

W. D. FAY, photograph artist, Joliet ; 
was born in Northampton Co., Penn., May 
23, 1827 ; he entered upon the business 
of photographing at the age of 20 years, 
previously to which he had followed the 
trade of a tailor ; he continued the photo- 
graph business in his native State until 
I8(j0, when he removed to Joliet, where 
he has resided to the present time ; he is 
the oldest photographer in Joliet, and one 
of the oldest in the State. He held the 
office of Street Commissioner one year, 
and in 1869, was elected City Treasurer, 
holding the office two years ; he is at 
present Township School Treasurer, to 



which he was elected in June, 1877. He 
was married in 1858, to Miss Catharine 
R. Waldron, of Harford, Penn., and has 
two children — Alpha A. and Winnifred 
W. 

JAMES H. FERRTSS, P. 0. Joliet; 
of Nelson, Ferriss & Co., proprietors of 
the Joliet Morning News ; was born near 
Oswego, Kendall Co., 111. He is a son of 
Wm. H. Ferriss, formerly of Clinton Co., 
N. Y. His mother was Eliza M. Brown, 
formerly of Erie Co., Penn. The subject of 
this sketch became a resident of Bristol 
Station, 111., where he received a common 
school education ; at the age of 1 U years 
he entered a store — half saloon and half 
grocery — and tended bar till he was 14 
years of age, when he was seized with 
a spiritual, or no-spirit-at-all turn, and 
joined the Good Templars. He afterward 
attended a commercial college, run a butcher- 
shop, lived three years as a Kansas squatter, 
followed the live-stock trade, and was one 
of the proprietors of the Yorkville News 
during the Peter Cooper campaign. He 
also reported for the Joliet Sun, in an 
obscure capacity, in 1874, and with three 
others launched the Phoenix newspaper 
enterprise, in Will Co., on Jan. 1, 1877. 
In October, the same year, he, with his 
present associates, purchased the Morninr/ 
News, and since then has pursued a steady 
and consistent course. During all his 
eventful career, he has never been mar- 
ried, had any bones broken, or had his life 
insured, but lives on in hopefulness, etc. 

JAMES R. FLANDERS, attorney at 
law, firm of Hagar & Flanders, Joliet; 
was born Aug. 27, 1846, in Plaiufield, 
Will Co., III., and is a son of Jason and 
Lucy Flanders. He attended the public 
schools of Plainfield, and the Northwestern 
College, located at Plainfield, until May, 
1864, working on a farm during vacations. 
On the 10th of May, 1864, he enlisted in 
Company C, 132d I. V. I., serving un- 
til Oct. 17, 1864. After his discharge 
from the army, he returned to school, and 
remained in school until the spring of 1867; 
he then entered the law office of Randall 
& Fuller, in Joliet, and read law until Oct. 
1867 ; he then taught school in Henry 
Co., 111., until the spring of 1868 ; read 
law during the summer, and the following 
winter, again taught school at the same 
place. During the summer of 1869, he 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



679 



<!ontinue<l his law studies, and in Septem- 
ber of that year, entered tlie Ijuw Depart- 
ment of the University of Michiiraii, at 
Ann Arbor, where hi- graduated in March, 
1871. lie. was admitted to the bar in 
Michigan, A})ril 4, 1S71, and to tlie bar of 
Illinois, June 20, 1871, and immediately 
began practice in Joliet. He was elected 
City Atttirney of Joliet in the spring of 
1873, and re-elected in the spring of 1874, 
und again elected in the spring of 1 876. 
In November. 1870, he was elected State's 
Attorney of Will County, which office he 
still holds. He was married to MLss 
Sarah A. Arnold, April 10, 1877. 

JAMES GOODSPEED, publisher and 
proprietor of the Joliet Republican, Joliet; 
was born in Tioga Co., Penn., Dec. 3, 
1836 ; he came to Joliet in 1859 ; he 
was educated at Alfred University, N. Y., 
and after leaving college entered the law 
office ot Goodspeed & McUobert in Joliet ; 
he was admitted to the bar in 1861, and 
continued in practice until 1869, when he 
purchased the Joliet Republican, which 
he has continued to publish to the present 
time. The Republican is the oldest 
Republican newspaper in the Seventh 
Congressional District, and has a larger 
circulation than any other paper published 
in the di.^trict ; it is issued both as a 
weekly and semi-weekly, and has a circu- 
lation of fully 1,800. Mr. Goodspeed was 
appointed Postmaster in 1871, and still 
holds the office. 

C. B. GARNSEY ( Garnsey & Knox), 
attorney at law, Joliet ; was born in Liv- 
ingston Co., N. Y., Oct. 25, 1842 ;_he 
was educated at the Genesee Wesleyan 
Seminary, and in 1859 came to Will Co., 
spending a year or more in Wilmington ; 
in 1861, he entered the law department 
of the Chicago University, graduating July 
1, 1862. On the 30th of the same month, 
he enlisted in Co. A, 100th 111. V. I.; was 
soon afterward transferred to the non- 
commissioned staflp as Commissary Ser- 
geant of the regiment, and served as such 
during the war, being with his regiment 
irom the time it left home, until its muster 
out in July, 1865, when he returned to 
Joliet, and entered upon the practice of his 
profession. He was appointed Master in 
Chancery in 1867, and served four years, 
resigning in 1871. He is at present Cor- 
poration Counsel for the city of Joliet, to 



which he was appointed Jan. 1, 1878. 
He was married in 1867 to Miss Mary A. 
Henderson, of Wilmington, 111., and has 
two children. 

W. D.-GARDNER, steel-bh.wer, Joliet ; 
was born in J'ortage Co., Ohio, in 1847; 
his life was that of a farmer's sun until he 
was 22 years of age ; his father-in-law, A. 
S. Dunning, was for a number of years 
superintendent of the converting depart- 
ment of the Cleveland Rolling-Mills, and 
when in the employ of the same company 
in 1868 he came to Chicago. Mr. Gard- 
ner accomjianied him, and engaged in the 
manufacture of steel for the Union Rolling- 
Mills Company; in December, 1872, his 
father-in-law took the same position in the 
works at Joliet, where he remained till 
1877. Mr. Gardner came at the same 
time, and has remained ever since. He 
was married Dec. 27, 1868, to Anna E. 
Dunning, a native of Ohio ; has one 
daughter — Emma. He is recognized as 
one well qualified for the very, responsible 
position he occupies. 

WM. GRINTON, Jr., real estate and 
loans, Joliet; was born in the Province of 
Ontario March 17, 1844, but came to 
Plainfield, Will Co., with his parents when 
less than a year old, and, therefore, can 
almost be said to be a native of Will Co. ; 
he is a son of William Grinton, a promi- 
nent citizen of the county, the founder of 
the village of Grinton. in Troy Tp., and the 
builder of the Grinton Mill, one of the old 
landmarks. Mr. Grinton came to Joliet in 
1853 ; wa.-: educated in the public schools 
of the city and at the Lake Forest 
Academy, 111., and after leaving school 
followed the grocery business in Joliet for 
two years ; he afterward spent a short 
time in the commission business in St. 
Louis ; he was also engaged for two years 
in the grocery business in Morris, III., re- 
turning in 1868 to Joliet, and engaging in 
his present business ; on the organization 
of the Stone City Bank he became Cashier, 
and held that position the first two years. 
He was married jMarch 24, 1864, to Miss 
Anna Stevens, daughter of the late Robert 
Stevens, one of the early settlers of Will 
Co. ; their children are Robert W., Anna 
L., Jessie and <irace. 

ALBERT H. OREEN, foreman of 
the shoe department of the Illinois State 
Penitentiary, Joliet ; born March 10. 1855, 



680 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he lived until the 
year 1869, when he came West and 
engaged in the shoe business at Marshall- 
town, Iowa, for one year; then returning to 
New York in 1870, where he remained six 
years, he asrain eni>aaed in the manufacture 
of shoes; he emigrated West and to Joliet 
in 1876, where he has continued to work 
at the shoe business until the present time ; 
has been foreman of the treeing, packing 
and shipping department since March, 
1877. He married Aug. 2, 1877, to 
Miss Allie Vanderhofi', daughter of Levi 
VanderhoiF, of Joliet ; they are the par- 
ents of one daughter, born Sept. 18, 
1878. 

JOHN GREEN, superintendent of the 
shoe department at the Illinois State Prison, 
Joliet; born in London, Eng., Dec. 27, 
; educated at the Clifton boarding- 
school, Northamptonshire ; served two 
years as assistant commercial traveler in 
London and vicinity; in 1844, came to 
Brooklyn, N. Y., and learned the shoe 
business in all its details ; he theo visited 
PJngland, and, upon returning, traveled 
through the Eastern States, and worked in 
some of the Eastern factories. In 1852, 
he married Miss Margaret Ann 'Granger, of 
Brooklyn, N. Y., and traveled one year 
through the Eastern States as salesman, 
returning then to the shoe manufacture as 
foreman of a fashionable custom business ; 
then traveled again three years as salesman, 
when he again returned to factory life, 
first as cutter, then as foreman and super- 
intendent, in which capacity he is now en- 
gaged, and has been for the past twenty 
years. His first wife died in 1870, leaving 
five children — Albert H. (now foreman in 
the shoe department, who married Miss 
Allie Vanderhoff, of Joliet, and has one 
daughter — Carrie H., now Mrs. William 
Henderson, of Brooklyn, N. Y.), Ida E., 
William and John (who died in 1871). 
In 1872, Mr. G. married Miss Harriet A. 
Bazin, daughter of John H. Bazin, Esq., . 
and removed to Joliet in 1874 with his 
family, excepting Carrie. The factory 
under his direction was the first ever 
started to make exclusively fine shoes with 
convict labor. Mr. Green has been a fre- 
quent contributor to the shoe trade journals 
of the country for many years, in 1872, 
furnishing one liundred and eighty col- 
umns, many of the articles being repub- , 



lished in the trade journals of England,. 
France and Germany. 

ALEXANDER GROSS, general super- 
intendent of the stone-cutting department 
Illinois State Penitentiary, Joliet ; born in 
Baden, Germany, Jan. 26, 1834, where 
he lived until 20 years of age, learning 
and working at the trade of stone-cutting 
in his father's quarries ; he emigrated 
to America in 1854, landing in New York 
July 26, and came to Chicago the follow- 
ing September, engaging at his trade for 
two months, when he went to Macon Co. 
and worked at farming for four months; 
returning to Chicago, he again engaged at 
his trade until the panic of 1857, when he 
came to Joliet, and after working one 
year as foreman of the stone cutting de- 
partment of the Illinois State Penitentiary, 
he was appointed general superintendent, 
in 1858, which position he has filled with 
credit since that date, a period of twenty 
years. Mr. Gross married in February, 
1868, Margaret Yebel ; she was born in 
Prussia; they are the parents of five 
children, three living, viz., Laura, Theo- 
dore, Rosetta ; the deceased are Albert 
and Amelia. 

JOHN GREENWOOD, farmer, Sec. 
25; P. 0. Joliet; born in Herefordshire, 
England, Sept. 29, 1813; came to this 
country when 18 years of age, living in 
New York State eight years, following 
farming ; removed to Will Co., 111., in 
1840, where he has continued the occupa- 
tion of farming ; he owns 240 acres of 
land, worth $60 per acre. Married Mary 
Ann Brown, of New York State, June 1, 
1836 ; they had thirteen children by 
this union — George, born Aug 5, 1838; 
Mary, May 11,1840; John W., June 27, 
1842, deceased ; Harvey B., Dec. 26,1844, 
deceased; William, Nov. 27, 1846 ; Jane, 
April 11, 1848, deceased; Llewellyn, 
November, 1850, deceased; Bennett, Oct. 
23, 1852, deceased; Sarah, April 11, 
1854, deceased; John Fletcher, Sept. 2, 
1856, deceased ; and three children who 
died in infancy. Mrs. Greenwood died 
Aug. 27, 1874. Mr. Greenwood mar- 
ried for his second wife Sarah A. Houston 
on Jan. 23, 1875 ; she was born in Huron 
Co., Ohio; they have one child by this un- 
ion — Charles Albert, born Ajn'il 7, 1877. 
Mr. Greenwood ha.s held the office of School 
Director for more than twenty years. 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



681 



FRANK HAVILAND, proprietor of 
livery, saK' ami boanliiii:- stalile, Joliet ; 
was born in Ithaca, Tompkins Co., N. Y., 
March 15, 1842. Early in 1862, he en- 
listed in the lODth N. Y. Vols., and was 
appointed a Sergeant in Company A ; he 
served in the Army of the Potomac, and 
participated in all the engagements of 
that army until the battle of Petersburg, 
where he was wounded June 17, 1804; 
he received three wounds, one in the left 
hand, by a fragment of a shell, Avhich car- 
ried away one of his lingers, and at thesame 
time two wounds in the right leg ; on his re- 
covery, ho was sent on detached duty to An- 
napolis, Md., where he remained till his 
discharge in August, 1865, just previous 
to which he received au unsolicited and 
unexpected commission as First Lieuten- 
ant. He came to Joliet in the fall of 
1865, and the next spring engaged in 
his present business ; he has served one 
year as City Marshal and one term as 
a member of the Board of Aldermen of 
Joliet. He was married Dec. 3, 1874, to 
Miss Merrion Millar, of the town of Troy, 
Will Co., 111. 

H. HENRY HAYEN, blacksmith, 
Joliet; born in Germany in 1845, where 
he lived until 21 years of age,, where he 
learned and worked at the trade of black- 
smith until he emigrated to America, 
landing in New York. Oct. 20, 1866; 
came directly to Joliet, Will Co., 111., 
and engaged in blacksmithing, wagon- 
making and general repairing, and 
manufacturing all kinds of stone- 
cutters' and marble-workers'tools, which 
business he has since successfully followed. 
He was married July 16, 1872, and has 
two children now living, viz., Francis and 
Mary. Mr. Hayen owns his place of busi- 
ness and residence located at No. 91 Bluff 
^treet, which he has made by his own hard 
labor. ■ 

EDWARD C. HAGAR, attorney at 
law ( firm of Hagar & Flanders), Joliet ; 
was born in Plainfield, Will Co., 111., April , 
19, 1846 ; he is the son of Jonathan and 
Catharine (Goodhue) Hagar ; his father 
came from Cleveland, Ohio, and settled in 
Plainfield in 1835 ; he was the first 
merchant in that town ; his mother is a 
daughter of Deacon Ezra Goodhue, and 
came to Plainfield with her fathers's fam- 
ily in 1834. Mr. Hagar was educated at , 



the Northwestern Evangelical College in 
his native town, graduating: in 1867; in 
1870; he entered the Law Department of 
the University of Michigan, completing 
his course and graduating in the spring of 
1872 ; he was admitted to the bar in 
Michigan in April, 1872, and by the 
Supreme Court of Illinois in June of the 
same year. In November, 1872, he was 
elected State's Attorney, and in December 
following, he formed a law partnership 
with James K. Flanders, which still con- 
tinues ; he held the oflace of State's At- 
torney four years. He was married March 
24, 1875, to Miss Hattie C. Gager, a native 
of Warren, Ohio, and has one child — 
Elmer G. 

H. HOWK, retired merchant and miller, 
Joliet ; the subject of this sketch was born 
in Watertown, Jefferson Co., N. Y., Feb. 
23, 1806 ; in his early life he engaged ex- 
tensively in lumbering in his native State; 
in 1851, he came west, and located in Jol- 
iet, and in connection with Joel A. Matte- 
son, afterward Governor of the State, took 
a contract on the R. I. & P. R. R., extend- 
ing from Blue Island to within ten miles 
of Joliet; they graded and put in the 
culverts a distance of thirty-four miles. His 
son subsequently built a store-room on the 
West Side, near the lock, and engaged in 
supplying boats on the Canal. Mr. Howk 
built the Joliet Mills, on the lock, with six 
runs of stone, and in company with Mr. 
Hyde, his nephew, and now sole proprietor, 
operated them seven years ; he contracted 
all the machinery in Watertown, N. Y. ; 
since retiring from the mill, he has not 
been actively engaged in business pursuits, 
but is leading a (|uiet, retired life, enjoying 
the fruits of honest toil and the compe- 
tency gained by a well-directed and well- 
spent early manhood. 

H. D. HIGINBOTHAM,deceased,for- 
merly of Joliet, whose portrait appears in this 
work, was born in Worcester, Otsego Co., N. 
Y"^., Jan. 10,1806; he was brought up upon a 
farm, and had such advantages of educa- 
tion as were offered at the district school 
of his neighborhood ; his flxther's ancestors 
were English, and settled in Barbadoes in 
the early settlement of the American Col- 
onies ; his gi'andfather lived in Rhode 
Island, and married a .>Iiss Lippit, of 
Providence ; he followed the sea for some 
time, as captain of a whaler from Newport ;. 



682 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES ; 



Charles Higinbotham, the father of H. D., 
was born in Rhode Island, and came to Ot- 
sego Co., N. Y., with his parents, about the 
year 1800 ; he married Miss Gertrude Du- 
mont, of Westford, N. Y. ; from this mar- 
riage the subject of this sketch was born, 
and in 1881 , married Miss RebeccaWheeler, 
of Westford, N. Y. ; she was born in Ca- 
naan, Columbia Co., N. Y. ; soon after 
their marriage they moved to Oneida, N. 
Y. ; there he engaged in the blacksmith 
business, and in June, 1834, moved to 
Illinois, and settled on Hickory Creek, in 
the now town of Joliet, and purchased a 
farm of 160 acres; here he engaged in 
farming and blacksmithing, and was very 
successful in his business; in 1854, and 
for some time after, he was engasred in a 
saw-mill and planing-mill, at what is now 
called the Red Mills of Hickory Creek. 
Here on Hickory Creek all their children 
were born, except Albert H., the eldest, 
who was born in New Lenox, Madison Co., 
N. Y., Nov. 5, 1831; Ambrosia R. was 
born Oct. I, 1834; Ann Eliza, Dec. 2, 
1836 ; Harlow N., Oct. 10, 1838 ; Gertrude 
D., July 6, 1842 ; Mary Ellen, Sept. 27. 
1845, and Charles S., Dec. 24, 1848. Of 
these, Albert H. married Elizabeth Ella 
White, of Chicago, and are now living in 
Joliet; Ambrosia R. married M.O.Cagwin, 
of JoUet ; Ann Eliza married M. G. Dem- 
mond, of Joliet ; Harlow N. married Rachael 
Davidson, of Joliet ; he is in the mercantile 
house of Field, Leiter & Co., Chicago; 
Gertrude D. married Thomas Leddy, of 
Joliet, both deceased ; Mary Ellen married 
R. C. Darwin, of Joliet ; she is now de- 
ceased ; Charles S. married Cynthia L. 
Kemp, of New Lenox, now residing in 
Kansas. H. D. Higinbotham and family 
moved to Joliet in the fall of 1854 ; he 
built a fine residence on Cass St., where 
he resided until his death ; with his energy 
and perseverance, he aided very much in 
making the city of Joliet what it is to-day. 
He held several prominent offices under 
the city government. He died March 13, 
1865, leaving a widow and children and a 
large circle of friends to mourn his loss. 
His widow, Rebecca Higinbotham, in 1871, 
married C. H. Sutphen, a prominent citi- 
zen of La Salle Co., 111., and a cousin of 
the late H. D. Higinbotham ; Mr. and 
Mrs. Sutphen now reside at the old Hig- 
inbotham homestead, on Cass St., Joliet. 



GEORGE HOUCK, of the firm of 
Houck & Brown, tanners and curriers, 
wholesale and retail dealers in sole-leather 
and shoe findings, etc., Joliet ; was born in 
Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, Dec. 13, 1827 ; 
when he was about 12 years of age, his 
parents came to this country, and pur- 
chased a farm in Erie Co., N. Y. ; Mr. 
Houck remained on the farm until 1846, 
when he went to Buffalo, and entered the 
employ of ex-President Millard Fillmore, 
where he continued one year ; he then 
served three years at the tanner and cur- 
rier's trade, learning thoroughly every 
branch of the business ; in 1850, he came 
to Chicago, living there until 1853, when 
he came to Joliet, and entered the employ 
of Mack & Cleghorn ; in 1863 the firm of 
Mack, Cleghorn & Co. was formed, Mr. 
Houck becoming partner ; the same year, 
they built the Joliet Tannery ; the present 
firm of Houck & Brown was formed in 
1876; they give employment to twenty 
men. Mr. Houck was married in 1853, to 
Miss Anna Hohman, of Chicago, a native 
of Hess Cassel, Germany ; they have three 
children living — Mary, now Mrs. William 
Grassley, of Chicago ; Lizzie, wife of Fred- 
erick Steinburn, of Joliet, and Annie S. 

HON.. HUGH HENDERSON, Joliet; 
deceased ; was born on the 9th day of 
June, 1809, in Norway, Herkimer Co., 
N. Y. ; he received his education at Fair- 
field Seminary, in his native county ; after 
which he read law in the office of George 
Feeter, Esq., a prominent lawyer of Little 
Falls, Herkimer Co.; in 1836, he came 
to Joliet, and shortly after his arrival was 
admitted to the bar, and at once took high 
rank among the members of the legal pro- 
fession. He was married Dec. 23, 1837, 
to Miss Helen A. Myers of Herkimer 
Co., who came to Joliet in the fall of 1836, 
and who still survives him, living in the 
same house which he built in 1838. In 
1837, he was elected County Judge, hold- 
ing the office one year ; he was a member 
of the Constitutional Convention in 1845 ; 
in 1849, he was elected Judge of the 
Eleventh Judicial Circuit, and held the 
office until his death, which occurred on 
the 19th of October, 1854, while on his 
first visit to his old home in Norway, N. 
Y. We quote the following from the re- 
marks of the late Hon. Uri Osgood, on 
the occasion of presenting to the Circuit 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



683 



Court, the proceedings of the Will County 
Bar, upon the death of Judge Henderson : 
'■ By his knowledge of the law, his un- 
remitting attention to the duties of his i 
office, his urbanit3^ his sterling integrity, 
and accommodating business habits, he 
acquired the affections and respect of the i 
members of the bar, and the people of the 
circuit ; he had attained a high position as 
a lawyer and a judge ; he was firm but 
courteous, honorable and irreproachable in 
morals, and in all the relations of private 
life ; he was respected and honored, and 
highly esteemed as a useful member of 
society." He left four children — Sarah 
Margaret, who was born Oct. 21, 1839, 
and is now the wife of Capt. John A. 
Kelly, of Lyons, Mich. ; Daniel C, who 
was born May 31, 1845, learned the print- 
er's trade in Joliet, and in 1866, went to 
Chicago, and entered the employ of Hoi'- 
ton & Leonard ; in 1870, he returned to i 
Joliet, and in 1871, established the Joliet 
Record, a Democratic weekly newspaper, 
which has steadily increased in circulation 
and influence, and has a circulation of 850 
copies; James E., the second son, was born 
May 23, 1848, learned the printing busi- 
ness, and is now associated with his 
brothers on the Record; John D., the 
youngest son, was born Oct. 16, 1851, en- 
tered the telegraph office of the C, A. & 
St. L. R. R. Co., about ten years ago, re- ' 
maining until some five years ago, at 
which time he joined his brothers in the ; 
publication of the Record. I 

DR. M. F. HAND, dental surgeon; 
Joliet ; has been a practicing dentist in this 
city for the past twenty-two years ; he was 
born in Oneida Co., N. Y., May 5, 1834 ; 
he received an academic education, and at 
about the age of 18 years, began the study 
of dentistry ; in 1856, he came to Joliet, 
and began the practice of his profession. 
In 1862, he enlisted in Co. H, 100th 111. 
Vols., serving in the army of the Cumber- 
land, and afterward in the Quartermaster's 
Department of the Army of the Tennessee, 
under Capt. Alexander McInto.sh, of this 
city ; returning in July, 1865, he resumed 
practice in Joliet. He was married Jan. 
14, 1874, to Miss Harriet E. Speer, of 
Joliet. 

P. C. HALEY (of the firm of Haley & 
O'Donnell), attorney at law, Joliet; was 
born in Saranac, Clinton Co., N. Y., 



March 17, 1849, and came to this county 
with his parents in 1852 ; he was educated 
in the Joliet Union School and the Uni- 
versity of Notre Dame, Ind., reading 
law during vacations in the office of T. L. 
Breckenridge, of this (;ity ; in 1870, he 
entered the law department of the Univer- 
sity of Michigan, Ann Arboi-, Mich., 
where he graduated in 1871 ; he was 
admitted to Che bar in October, 1871, and 
began practice in May, 1872, in company 
with James \\. Flanders, having an office in 
Joliet and also in Wilnungton ; this part- 
nership continued until December, 1872, 
when it was dissolved, and Mr. Haley con- 
tinued alone until 1874, when the present 
firm of Haley & O'Donnell was formed. 
Mr. Haley is at present Alderman from 
the Fifth Ward, being elected in April, 
1878 ; he also served as City Attorney in 
1874. He was married Dec. 1, 1875, to 
Miss Mary A. D'Arcy, of Joliet, and has 
one child — Margaret C. 

OTIS HARDY; P. 0. Joliet; one of 
the early settlers of Will Co. ; was born 
near Windsor, Vt., Sept. 23, 1810; in 
1813, his parents left their Eastern home 
and made the journey to Marietta, Ohio, 
descending the Alleghany and Ohio Rivers 
on rafts; in 1819, they removed to Meigs 
Co., Ohio; when he was 14 years old, Mr. 
Hardy was apprenticed to the trade of a 
carpenter, serving an apprenticeship of six 
vears, and receivinii- during that time the 
sum eighteen pence ; he came to Joliet in 
1836, making the journey from Cincin- 
nati on horse-back, previous to which he 
spent about four years in Louisiana ; he 
continued the carpenter's trade until 1848, 
when he engaged in the lumber business 
for twenty years, or until 1868, since 
which time he has been in the banking 
and gas business ; he is one of the original 
stockholders of the First National Bank, 
and a stockholder in the Joliet Gas-Light 
Co. since 1862; he has always been an 
active temperance man, and for the past 
two years has been President of the Joliet 
Reform Club ; he is a zealous member of 
the M. E. Church, to which he has be- 
longed since he was 22 years of age, 
assisting liberally in the support of ail its 
enterprises; he built, at his own expense, 
the Richards Street M. E. Church and 
parsonage at a co.st of over S5,000 ; he 
also bore about half the expense of build- 



684 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



ing the chapel at the Rolling-Mills, which 
cost some §2,000, besides contributing 
hirgely to the building and support of the 
Ottawa Street Church ; he has been a 
member of the Quarterly Conference since 
1837, and President of the Will County 
Bible Society for the past forty years. He 
was married Oct. 14, 1838, to Miss An 
gelia Hopkin.s, of Joliet, a native of Ver- 
mont ; they have three children living — 
Mrs. W. J. Maclay, of Napa City, Cal., 
Mrs. N. D. Dyer, and Mrs. T. H. Mc- 
Bride, of Joliet. 

GEORGE S. HOUSE, attorney at law, 
Joliet; is a native of this State; he was 
born in Grundy Co., then a part of Cook 
Co., March 1, 1837 ; he is a son of Rod- 
ney House, one of the early settlers of 
Will Co., and now a resident of Joliet ; he 
came with his parents to Joliet in infancy, 
and this city has been his home ever 
since ; he prepared for college in Utica 
Academy, Oneida Co., N. Y., after which 
he entered Hamilton College, Clinton, N. 
Y., in 1856, graduating in 1860 ; he then 
pursued the study of law under Prof. 
Theodore W. Dwight, now of Columbia 
College, New York, receiving the degree of 
B. L in 1862 ; returning to Joliet, he 
entered upon the practice of his profession, 
in which he still continues. He was mar- 
ried in 1863 to Miss Virginia A. Osgood, 
daughter of the late Hon. Uri Osgood, of 
Joliet, and has five children. 

JOHN HULSWORTH, foreman of 
the smith-shops, Joliet ; was born March 
2, 1822, in Yorkshire, Eng. ; he emi- 
grated to America in 1847, and first 
labored in Philadelphia and New York 
about one year ; he next went to Rich- 
mond, Va., and remained a short time; he 
then made a tour through the Southern 
States, visiting New Orleans, Memphis, 
and various other cities South and West, 
finally locating in St. Louis in the latter 
part of 1849 ; here he remained till 1853 ; 
he then came to Alton, on the C, A. & St. 
L. R. R., where he was foreman most 
of the time in the shops till August, 
1859; he then came to Joliet, and was 
eight years foreman in the shops of the 
State Prison; he was next foreman for the 
Dillman Manufacturing Company four 
years; in 1871, he took the position of 
foreman in the shops of the Joliet Iron 
and Steel Works, which he still holds. 



He was married in 1854 to Caroline P. 
Bryant, a native of Connecticut ; had one 
son — John H., deceased, and one, Edwin 
A., livins. 

C. B.^HAY WARD, publisher and pro- 
prietor of the Joliet Dally and Weekly 
Sun, Joliet; was born in Fairfield, Frank- 
lin County, Ind., July 1, 1844; at the 
age of ten years he entered the office of 
the Locomotive, in Indianapolis, completing 
his trade with Cameron & McNeely, book 
and job printers. In 1860, he went to 
Carthage, Mo., where, with his brother, 
he engaged in publishing The Sovth- 
icest. On the breaking-out of the war, 
their office was captured by the rebels, and 
taken into Arkansas. Mr. Hayward made 
his way to Fort Scott, Kansas, and pur- 
chased the Fort Scott Bulletin, and a year 
and a half later took a partner and 
founded the Fort Scott Union Monitor, 
now one of the leading papers of Kansas, 
which he continued to publish about a 
year and a half. In the mean time, he was 
appointed U. S. Assessor, for that division, 
and served about a year and a half. He 
then came to Marseilles, 111., where he re- 
sided one year, and from that place to 
Joliet, and had charge of the Joliet Re- 
pxiblican office about a year and three 
months. In 1872, he established the 
Joliet Sun. He has built up an extensive 
job-printing business, and a large and 
healthy circulation among the best people 
of the county. The Daily Sun is the 
oldest and largest daily published in the 
Seventh Congressional District. Mr. 
Hayward was married in April, 1872, 
to Miss Mary E. Monroe, daughter 
of George Monroe, of Joliet, and has th)'ee 
children — Josephine, George E. and 
Thomas. 

MRS. HANNAH IIUTCHINS, farm- 
er ; P. 0. Joliet ; the widow of Wm. 
H. Hutchins, resides one mile north of 
Joliet; she was born Aug. 28, 1817, in 
Saratoga Co., N. Y. ; she was married 
to W. H. Hutchins in 1837, in New 
York State. Mr. Hutchins was born in 
New York City, Sept. 1, 1817, where he 
lived until 15 years of age, when he 
removed to Northern New York, where he 
lived three years ; then to Saratoga, where 
he was married, living there nearly five 
years ; thence to New York City, living 
there five years. He removed to Will Co., 



JOIJET TOWNSnir 



mF> 



111., in 1847, and always lived within 
four miles of tlunr present home. In early 
life, Mr. Hutchins was engaged in mer- 
cantile husinoss, after coming West, he was 
engaged in loaning money and dealing in 
real estate. They had seven children by 
this union, viz. ; Thomas H., Greorge Ed- 
gar, deceased, Sarah E., deceased ; Anna 
M., Mary E., Jennie C. and William J. 
Geo. Edgar died from wounds received in 
the army. Mr. Hutchins died July 21, 
1877. 

ELVIS HARWOOD, deceased ; Joliet ; 
whose portrait appears in this wt)rk, was 
born in Wilmington, Ind., May 17, 1824; 
where he remained until he was sixteen 
years of age ; he then commenced the 
study of law in the office of Alexander C. 
Downey, at x\urora, Ind., and was admitted 
to practice Dec. 14, 1843; afier the end 
of one year, finding this profession unsuited 
to his tastes, he studied medicine with his 
brother, John Harwood, M. D , and after 
attending a course of lectures in the med- 
ical college of Ohio, in the years 1846-47, 
practiced for three years at Crete and New 
Lenox, in this county, and in the year 
1850, coming to Joliet, continued the 
practice of his profession up to 1868, from 
which time, up to the day of his }leath, 
Feb. 1, 1870, he was largely engaged in 
the real estate business. lu 1361,hewent 
to California, returning from there in the 
summer of 1862. The same summer, he 
was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the 
100th Regiment I. V. I., being afterward 
promoted to Surgeon of the " Pioneer 
Brigade," which position he held until his 
resignation, on account of ill health, in the 
spring of 1863. He was elected Alder- 
man of the city of Joliet, from 1863-67, 
and Mayor, 1868-69. He married Miss 
Helen A. Cagwin (daughter of Abijah 
Cagwin, of Joliet), Jan. 24, 1850 ; she 
was born Oct. 30, 1830 ; they had five 
children, three living — Alma L., William 
E. and Bertha H. ; and two deceased — 
Flora A. and George T. 

J. A. HENRY, retired, Joliet; the 
above-named gentleman has been a resi- 
dent of Joliet for the past twenty years; 
he is a native of Hunterdon Co., N. J., 
and was born April 25, 1825 ; he began 
railroading in 1842, on the Hartford & 
New Haven Railroad, where he remained 
four years, and then spent four years more 



on the New Haven & Northampton Rail- 
road, at the end of which time he came 
West and engaged in railroad contracting 
in Ohio and Indiana ; in the year 1858, he 
came to Joliet and spent several years as 
roadmaster of the Chicago & Alton R. R., 
after which he built two branches of the 
road ; in 1870, he went to Texas and built 
the Houston & Great Northern Railroad ; 
at the end of three years, he returned to 
Joliet and erected his elegant residence on 
Eastern avenue, the finest in the city. He 
was married in Winsted, Conn., April 26, 
1846, to Miss Nancy Briggs, of Winsted ; 
she died Jan. 21, 1878, leaving one 
daughter, wife of Dr. Julius Folk, of 
Joliet. 

GEORGE H. HOSMER, M. D., 
physician and surgeon, Joliet ; is the old- 
est son of W. H. C. Hosmer, the poet, 
author and lecturer ; he traces his ancestry 
to a period prior to the Revolutionary war; 
at the battle of Concord the first two who 
fell by a volley of British musketry, were 
Capt. Davis and Abner Hosmer, the latter 
of whom was a lineal ancestor of the sub- 
ject of this sketch ; the Doctor's great- 
grandfather. Dr. Timothy Hosmer, was 
surgeon of the Sixth Continental Regi- 
ment in the war of the Revolution, and 
afterwards a prominent pioneer in the set- 
tlement of the Holland Purchase, in 
Western New York ; his father, George 
Hosmer, was an aide-de-camp of General 
Schuyler in the war of 1812 ; a prominent 
lawyer, member of the State Legislature, 
and for twenty-one years District Attorney 
of Livingston Co., N. Y.; Miss Harriet 
Hosmer, the famous sculptress, is also a 
cousin. Dr. Hosmer was born in Avon, 
Livingston Co., N. Y., Aug. 23,1839; he 
thoroughly prepared for college at the 
Owego Academy, where he spent nine 
years ; he then entered the University of 
New York, remaining two years in the 
literary department, after which he pur- 
sued a three-years course in the medical 
department of the same institution, grad- 
uating in 1865 ; he practiced medicine one 
year in Ontario Co., N. Y., removing 
thence to New Baltimore, Macomb Co., 
Mich., where he remained until his re- 
moval to Joliet in 1870. He was married 
in 1866, to Miss Ann Belford, of Boston, 
and has one son — George B. Dr. Hosmer 
is a regular physician, but clings to no 



686 



BIOGRAPHICA.L SKETCHES: 



dogma, seizing upon any remedy from 
whatever source, which will accomplish his 
object, the relief of the patient and the 
cure of the disease ; he takes an active 
interest in educational matters, and is now 
on his second term as a member of the 
Board of School Inspectors of Joliet. 

A. W. HEISE, M. D., physician and ' 
surgeon, Joliet; one of the oldest and 
most prominent physicians of Joliet, was 
born in Bramsche, in the Province of 
Hanover, Germany, Sept. 4, 1823; he 
received his literary education at the 
Gymnasium of Osnabruck, and entered 
the University of Goettingen, where he 
pursued his medical course, and graduated 
in 1846 ; lie then attended a course of j 
medical lectures in the University of 
Heidelberg, receiving the ad eundem de- 
gree of M. D. from that institution, in 
1847 ; taking part in the revolution of 
1848, he was compelled to leave the coun- 
try, and accordingly sought a home in 
America; a general pardon of all those 
implicated was issued some five years later 
by the German Government, but Dr. 
Heise being then so long in this country, 
and intending to make it his permanent 
home, did not care to take advantage of 
it ; the first year in this country he spent 
in traveling in the Eastern and Southern 
States, supi^orting himself by correspond- 
ing with some of the German newspapers ; 
in 1849 he located in Du Page Co., 111., 
and continued the practice of medicine 
there until 1856 ; he then went to New 
York as House Surgeon in the Marine 
Hospital on Ward's Island, remaining 
there until September, 1857, when he 
came to Joliet, and has been engaged in 
the practice of his profession here ever 
since. In 1861, he entered the army as 
Surgeon of the 11th I. V. L, and the 
following spring was appointed Surgeon of 
the 100th I. V. I.; after the battle of 
Murfreesboro, he was promoted to Brigade 
Surgeon, and after the battle of Chicka- 
mauga, was appointed Operator of the 
Brigade, with the privilege of choosing his 
own assistants without regard to rank ; 
owing to illness, he was afterward obliged 
to retire from active service in the field, 
and was ap})ointed Inspector of Hospitals 
and Consulting Surgeon of the Corps ; in 
1864, owing to continued ill health, he 
tendered his resignation, which was finally 



accepted with a great deal of reluctance ; 
his ability and skill as an army surgeon 
were so apparent as to merit and receive 
recognition and honorable mention in the 
" Medical and Surgical History of the 
War of the Rebellion;" in 1872, he was 
appointed Physician in Charge of the 
Illinois State Penitentiary, in this city, 
which position he still holds. 

L. E. INGALLS, real estate and loans, 
Joliet ; is a native of Will Co. ; he was 
born in the present town of Du Page Oct. 
26, 1839; he is a son of Henry Ingalls, 
who came from Vermont and settled in 
that township in 1837, and resided there 
until 1841, when he removed across the 
line into Du Page Co., and there lived 
until his death, which occurred Maivh 10, 
1876. He left a family of nine children, 
all but one of whom are now living. The 
subject of this sketch remained at home 
until he was about 15 years old ; then after 
spending three years in this county, he 
went to Iowa, and remained four years, 
going thence to Wisconsin, where he spent 
two years in the lumber business ; return- 
ing to Illinois, he continued the same busi- 
ness in Lemont, Cook Co. ; he came to 
Joliet in 1870, and followed the lumber 
business till 1871, when he disposed of his 
business to Mason & Plants, and since then 
has been farming and dealing in real estate, 
etc. He owns a fine I'arm of 260 acres 
on Sec. 12, well improved with good build- 
ings where he i-esides, and is engaged quite 
extensively in stock-raising and dairying. 
He was married Oct. 27, 1865, to Miss 
Millie Emmerson, of Door Co., Wis. ; she 
died March 7, 1868. Mr. Ingalls was 
married again, on Jan. 14, 1870, to Miss 
Esther E. Bartholmew, of Marengo, Mc- 
Henry Co., Ill ; they have four children — 
Millie R., Roy K., Myra B. H. and 
Charles L. 

REV. SOLOMON KNAPP, Joliet; 
one of the pioneer ministers of Will Co. ; 
was born in Mayfield, Fulton Co., N. Y., 
then a part of Montgomery Co., March 29, 
1803; he was brought up on a farm, his 
father being an extensive farmer, and em- 
ploj'ing a large number of men ; his educa- 
tion was such as wa.s afforded by the com- 
mon schools up to the time he began study- 
ing for th(! ministry and preaching, which 
was when he was 29 years of age. He 
was ordained a clergyman of the Baptist 



JOLIET TOWNSFIIP. 



68T 



Church in February, 1834, previous to 
which, he originated the Baptist movement 
in Glovevsville, N. Y.. whieh has since 
grown to be one of the most iuiportiint 
Baptist interests in the State. At 31, he 
removed to Cajuga Co. and took charge 
of a large cliurch in Cato. During his min- 
istry of four years, he received 300 new 
members into the church, 183 of them by 
baptism ; he afterward spent two years in 
Port Byron, N. Y., coming to Will Co. in 
1840 ; he settled in Homer, and took 
charge of the liai)tist Church in Joliet, 
preaching in the afternoon in Lockport, and 
in Homer in the evening. In 1841, he be- 
came Pastor of the church known as the Aux 
Plaines Church, now the Hadley Church, 
removing in the fall of the same year to 
Rockford, 111., where he became Pastor of 
the First Baptist Church ; at the close of 
the first year, owing to an adverse family 
affliction, he was obliged to sever his con- 
nection with the Rockford Church and re- 
turn to Homer; in 1843, he took charge 
of the church in Plainfield, remaining two 
years, during which time he organized the 
Baptist Church at Lockport, having pastoral 
charge of both churches; he was afterward 
againj Pastor of the Hadley Church, and 
took the preliminary measures for the erec- 
tion of their house of worship ; in 1854, 
he removed to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and 
organized the Baptist Church there, and 
had charge of the church in Waterloo ; two 
years later he returned to Homer, broken 
down in health, and settled on a farm ; he 
continued farming five years, and then re- 
moved to the city of Lockport, residing 
there two years, during which time he 
preached nine months in Metamora, 111., 
witnessing a glorious ingathering in the 
church, and some 875,000 added to the 
finances of the church ; since then he has 
had pastoral charge of churches in Seneca, 
Morris Co., and in Gilman, Iroquois Co., 
be.sides which, he has si:pplied the churches 
in the vicinity until his voice failing, he 
was obliged to discontinue preaching. 
He was first married in 1823, to Miss 
Eliza E. Lanfear, of his native town ; 
she died in Homer in February, 1853, 
leaving six children. He was married 
again, in June, 1853, to Miss Martha H. 
Cook, a native of Hadley, Mass., and who 
was one of the pioneer teachers of Will 
Co., having come in 1840; they have one 



daughter — Florence C. Mr. Knapp unites 
financial ability with power as a preacher, 
and although his benefactions have always 
exceeded any salary he has received, he is 
still the possessor of a comfortable compe- 
tence. 

HENRY C. KNOWLTON, Cashier ..f 
the Will County National Bank, Joliet ; is 
a son of Calvin Knowlton, President of the 
above-named bank ; he was born in Spen- 
cer, Worcester Co., Mass., April 29,1842 ; 
he lived in the city of Worcester until he 
was 12 years of age, his father being en- 
gaged in business in that city ; at the age 
of 12 years, he accompanied his parents to 
New Albany. Ind. ; thence to Michigan 
City, and in 1856, to Joliet ; he received 
an English education in the public schools, 
and in 1861, entered the oflfice of his father, 
then Assistant Superintendent of the 3Iichi- 
gan Central Railroad ; he remained there 
until the organization of the Will County 
National Bank, which he entered as Assist- 
ant Cashier ; in 1877, he was elected 
Cashier. He was married on the 20th of 
November, 1870, to Miss Sophie Lippen- 
cott. of Wilkesbarre, Penn., and has one 
child — Joseph L. 

JULIUS KRAUSE, watchmaker and 
jeweler, dealer in watches, clocks, silver- 
ware, etc., Joliet; was born in Silesia, 
Prussia, Dec. 2, 1843; he is a son of 
Julius Krause, who was an inspector and 
general overseer of the estate of one of the 
nobility in that country ; when he was 
about 14 years old, he was apprenticed to 
learn the watchmaker's trade, and after 
completing his apprenticeship, he worked 
at his trade in various places until 1868, 
when he came to this country, and the 
same year began business in Joliet. He 
was married Feb. 14, 1871, to Miss Mar- 
garita Y^oung, daughter of Henry Young, 
of Joliet ; she was born in Buffalo, N. Y., 
June 2, 1852, and came to Joliet with her 
parents in 1858 ; they have three children 
— Henry A. G., Julius J. A. and Juaneta 
J. M. 

CALVIN KNOWLTON, President of 
the Will County National Bank, Joliet; 
was born in Worcester Co., Mass., Jan. 2, 
1817 ; in 1842, he went into business for 
himself in Worcester, where he remained 
until 1848 ; he then began railroading as 
train-dispatcher on the Worcester and 
Nashua Railroad; in 1853, he removed 



688 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



to New Albany, Ind., as Superintendent ] 
of the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago 
Railroad, shortly afterward changing his j 
residence to Michigan City ; he came to 
Joliet in 1856, and held the position of 
Superintendent of the Joliet Division of 
the Michigan Central Railroad, afterward 
becoming Assistant Superintendent of the 
entire road, and continued as such until 
1878; in 1871, the Will County National 
Bank was established, and, during that 
year, Mr. Knowlton was elected President. 
He has served two years as Alderman, but , 
with that exception has avoided public 
offices of all kinds. He was married in 
1838 to Miss Mary C. Warren, also a 
native of Worcester Co., Mass., and has 
two sons — Henry C, Cashier of the Will 
County National Bank, and Edward R., 
a grain dealer of Joliet. 

JOHN P. KING, dealer in lumber, 
etc. (King & Bishop), Joliet ; was born 
near Terre Haute, Ind., Dec. 18, 1832 ; 
in 1835, his father, Andrew King, came 
to Will Co., and opened up a farm near 
the present city of Joliet, on which he re- 
sided until his death, which occurred in 
1849; he left a family of eleven children, 
of whom eight are now living in this State, 
four of them being residents of Joliet. 
The oldest son was John P., the subject 
of this sketch ; when he was 19 years of 
age, he made the journey, via the Isthmus, 
to California, where he followed mining, 
farming and staging for twelve years, being 
for three years one of the proprietors of 
the stage-line from Yreka to Red Bluffs ; 
he returned to Joliet in 18G4, and, in 18G6, 
engaged in the lumber business, which he 
has continued ever since ; in 1869, W. 
W. Bishop became a partner, the firm now 
being King and Bishop. He is at present 
Alderman from the Seventh Ward, to 
which he was elected in April, 1877 ; he 
was elected School Trustee in June, 1877, 
and still holds the office ; he is a prominent 
member and Trustee of the Universalist 
Church. He was married Sept. 12, 
1867, to Miss Hannah Leonard, of Joliet, 
and has three children — Lulu B., ftertie 
and Harless W. 

A. F. KNOX, of the firm of Garnsey 
& Knox, attorneys at law, Joliet; is a native 
of this State; he was born in Kane Co., 
on the 12th of January, 1840; on becom- 
ing of age, he came to Joliet in 1861, and. 



about four years afterward, began the study 
of law in the office of Messrs. Goodspeed 
& Snapp ; he was admitted to the bar in 
1867, and began practice in Joliet, form- 
ing a partnership with i\Iessrs. Goodspeed 
& Snapp, which continued for several 
years, the firm being Goodspeed, Snapp & 
Knox ; the present firm of Garnsey & 
Knox was formed in 1877. Mr. Knox 
was appointed Master in Chancery for 
Will Co. in 1871, holding the office' until 
1877. He was married Sept. 2, 1869, to 
Miss Jennie McGovney, of Joliet^ and has 
one child. 

JOHN KEYES, druggist, Joliet ; was 
born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Nov. 27, 
1841 ; in May, 1869, he came West, and 
in July following, located in Lemont, Cook 
Co., 111., when he entered the employ of B. 
Van Buren & Co., as clerk in the drug busi- 
ness ; in October, 1869, he came to Joliet, 
where he has since resided ; here he first 
clerked for J. H. Brown & Co., druggists, 
remaining three years ; in April, 1873, 
he opened a store for J. M. Brown, having 
general charge of the business ; June 1, 
1874, he formed a copartnership with F. 
W. Schroeder, which continued three 
years and two months ; in November, 1877, 
he started in business for himself. He 
was married Oct. 21, 1872, to Beulah T. 
Thornton, a native of Troy Tp., Will Co., 
111. ; her father, Cary Thornton, whose 
portrait appears in the work, is one of the 
pioneer settlers of Troy Tp., and is the 
oldest living early settler of that section. 
Mr. Keyes is thoroughly versed in his pro- 
fession, and is recognized as a man well 
qualified in every respect for his business. 

THOMAS J. KELLY, dry goods; 
Joliet ; born in Ireland, and emigrated 
when quite young to America, landing in 
New York Jan. 8, 1848; on account of 
ill health he remained with his uncle, the 
Rev. John Kelly, in Jersey City, for one 
year, he then came West, locating in Joliet 
May 11, 1849; he then lived upon his 
father's farm until 1854, when he entered 
the College of Notre Dame, South Bend, 
Ind., remaining here until February, 1856, 
when, on account of ill health, he went 
East, remaining with his uncle, Eugene 
Kelly, in New York City, one year, when 
he went to St. Mary's College, Wilmington, 
Del., where he remained two years ; then 
one year at the College of the Holy Cross, 




(nEaASED) 
LOCKPORT 



^ 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



691 



near Montreal, Canada; lie then retnrnod 
to Joliet, and remained upon his father's 
farm until 1^157, when he eno;age.d in the 
above business, which he has since suceess- 
full}' followed, bein*;- the oldest continuous 
dry goods house in Joliot ; during the jjcriod 
from 1808 to 1876, his junior brother 
was associated with him ; at the latter date, 
he purchased his ])rother's interest, since 
which time he has continued the business 
alone. He married Sept. 10, 18(58, to 
Mary, eldest daughter of Patrick Fitz- 
patrick of Lockiwrt, III. ; her parents 
were among the very early settlers of Will 
Co., settling in the county before the 
formation of Will Co., upward of forty 
years ago. Mr. Kelly is a nephew of Eu- 
gene Kelly of New York City, who is to- 
day the wealthiest Catholic banker in the 
United States ; lie is also a relative of John ' 
Kelly the celebrated Tammany sachem, of 
New York City. 

FRED. KTESSLING, butcher and 
stock dealer, Joliet ; born in Bavaria, Ger- 
many June 13. 1850, where he lived and 
attended school until 13 years of age, when 
lie was apprenticed in the butchering busi- 
ness for three years, which time he served 
and, after successfully passing his examin- 
ation, he emigrated to America, landing in 
New York Oct. 5, 1866 ; coming directly 
West, he located in Joliet, Will Co., 111., 
where he has since continued to live ; for 
ten years he resided on Summer St., West 
Side, Joliet; being an excellent judge of 
stock, he has been engaged in buying 
stock for other parties when not engaged 
in buying on his own account ; since lo- 
cating here he has given his exclusive 
attention to buying and shipping stock in 
connection with his butchering business, 
his store and market being located corner 
Bluff St. and Western ave.. West Side, 
Joliet. 

THOMAS KEEGAN, retired mill- 
wright, Joliet; born in county of West 
Meath, Ireland, April 11, 1803. where 
he learned and worked at the millwright 
trade until 29 years of age, when he immi- 
grated to Canada, landing at Quebec in 
1832; here he engaged upon Government 
works until the cholera forced him to leave, 
when he went to Toronto and engaged at 
his trade for three years ; next, to Roches- 
ter for three years, then to Rome, Mich., 
for eighteen months ; from there he went 



to Chicago, from which ))lace he came by 
stage to Joliet, where he located his family 
May 20, 1840, which place he has since 
made his home; he owns a fine residence 
on Centre st., which he erected in 1850; 
Mr. K.'s first work in Joliet was building 
Jones' steam flour-mill in 1840, being the 
first mill of the kind in Joliet ; from there 
he, with John Clarkson, went to ^Marseilles, 
and built the fir.st flour-mill of that place, 
then to New Orleans, where he remained 
until being driven away by the yellow 
fever, when he came back to Joliet, since 
which time his .skill and labor have been 
extensively employed in all the neighboring 
towns as well as in Janesville and Watertown, 
Wis. He married May 11, 1835, to Ann 
O'Brien, born in Ireland in 1807 ; ten 
children were the fruits of this union, 
nine of whom are deceased ; Ellen, the one 
livintr, now lives with her parents. 

E^R. KNOWLTON, dealer in grain, 
hard and soft coal and wood, Joliet ; is a 
son of Calvin Knowlton, President of the 
Will County National Bank ; he was born 
in Worcester, Mass., Jan. 23, 1844; at 
the age of 7 ytars, he accompanied his 
parents to New Albany, Ind. ; thence 
shortly afterward to Michigan City, and, in 
1856, to Joliet; he attended the public 
schools of this city. His first business ex- 
perience was in the hay bu.siness in Matte- 
.son. Cook Co., HI, where he remained 
about two years ; he then returned to Wor- 
cester Co., Mass., and engaged in farming, 
and after six years, came again to Joliet, 
since which time he has been in the grain 
business here. He was married Jan. 11, 
1865, to Miss Alice J. Wheeler, of Matte- 
son, Cook Co., 111., and has one child — 
Mary L. 

ALONZO LEACH, retired, Joliet; 
was born in Sangerfield, Oaeida Co., N. Y., 
Sept. 28, 1816; when he was 8 years of 
age, he left his native county, and went to 
Eaton, Madison Co., N. Y. ; in 1836, he 
went to Michigan, and in 1838, came to 
Joliet ; he spent about a year in charge of 
a hotel, and then engaged in the soap and 
chandlery business ; in 1842, he was elected 
Constable, and appointed Deputy Sheriff, 
and served until 1848, when he was elected 
Sheriff of Will Co. The constitution not 
allowing an incumbent of the office to hold 
two terms in succession, he retired at the 
end of his term, but was again elected in 

4 



692 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



1852, and again in 1858 ; in the mean time 
lie was engaged in farming and stock-rais- 
ing. On the breaking-out of the war, he 
was appointed sutk'r of the 4th 111. V. C, 
under Col. Dickey. After the battle of 
Pittsburg Landing, he sold out and retiirned 
home, where he engaged in dealing in 
stock. He was appointed Postmaster at 
Joliet in 1867, and held the office two 
years. He was married May 10, 1856, to 
Mrs. Mary Gutterson, of Joliet, who died 
Nov. 2, 1866. Mr. Leach was married 
again, May 8, 1870, to Mrs. Mary J. 
VVhite, of Joliet; she died Jan. 31, 
1871. 

JOHN LAMBERT, dealer in coal, 
wood, coke, etc., Joliet ; wa.s born in Lam- 
bertville, Hunterdon Co., N. J., Jan. 12, 
1847. In January, 18(52, at the age of 16 
years, he enlisted in Co. D, 1st New Jersey 
V. C. ; served one year on detailed duty 
in Virginia, and was discharged by reason 
of ill health ; he again volunteered as a 
Sergeant in Co. A, 3cl N. J. V. C, serving 
till the close of the war ; during the first 
year he was detailed as private orderly to 
Gen. Burnside ; afterward, under Gen. 
Custer, he participated in the Shenandoah 
campaign of 1864, including the battles 
around Washington, the battle of Win- 
chester, and terminating in the splendid 
victory of Cedar Creek, the occasion of 
Gen. Sheridan's famous ride " From Win- 
chester twenty miles away ; " in 1865, in 
the battles of Waynesboro, Ashland, 
Dinwiddle Court House and Five Forka, 
where he was wounded by a fragment of a 
shell, losing a part of his left hand, and 
also had his horse shot under him ; after 
this fie participated in all the battles under 
Grant until the surrender of Lee, and in 
the grand review of the army in Washing- 
ton, where his company was reduced to but 
four men able to perform duty out of the 
original number of 101. He was discharged 
Aug. 9, 1865. Mr. Lambert came to 
Grundy Co., 111., in 1867, and in 1870, to 
Joliet. He was for six years an officer at 
the State Penitentiary, after which he 
served as Dejiuty Sheriff under Warren S. 
Noble, serving during the strike in Braid- 
wood in 1877. During the exciting polit- 
ical campaign of 1876, Mr. Lambert organ- 
ized the Kepublican Guards of Joliet, of 
which he was chosen Captain. He was 
married in April, 1876, to Miss M. E. 



Bishop, of Joliet, and has one child — 
Anna E. 

JOHN C. LANG, editor of the Joliet 
Repuhlicdti, Joliet, is a son of Thomas J. 
Lang, one of the early settlers of ^ViU 
County, who emigrated from Groton, N. 
H., to this county in 1836, and settled in 
the town of Frankfort ; afterward removed 
to Plainfield, where he now resides. 
John C. Lang was born in Frankfort, W^ill 
Co., March 24, 1844; in 1862, he entered 
the Union army as a member of Co. D^ 
100th I. V. I., and served till the close of 
the war, participating in all the ai'duous 
service and all the battles of that regi- 
ment, and returning with it in 1865. He 
then spent two years on the farm, and, in, 
1867, made the trip via the Isthmus and 
California, to Arizona Territory, where he 
remained three years, engaged in mining, 
and in the employ of the Government in 
the Quartermaster's Department ; in July, 
1870, after his return from the West, he 
entered the employ of the Illinois State 
Penitentiary, in this city, occupying suc- 
cessively the positions of Guard, Keeper, 
Assistant Deputy, and Deputy Warden, 
until October, 1874; from December, 
1874, to August, 1875, he was employed 
on the Joliet Record^ since which time he 
has been editor of the Rejiuhllcan. He 
was married Nov. 19, 1874, to Miss Emma 
Webster, of Joliet, and has two children — 
Francis M. and Horace W. 

H. M. LYFORD, dealer in clothing, 
hats, caps, furs and furnishing goods, 
Joliet; has been engaged in his present 
business in this city since 1868; he is a 
native of the Province of Quebec ; he was 
born in Stanstead, Dec. 3, 1844; he lived 
there until he was about 17 years of age, 
when he left home, and, going to Boston, 
entered a wholesale grocery house as a 
clerk, remaining there four years ; on com- 
ing West, he went first to St. Louis, where 
he remained about a year and a half, com- 
ing to Joliet as above stated ; his business 
career in thi.s city has been a successful 
one, as he studies the wants of his cus- 
tomers, and uses every endeavor to supply 
them, keeping a fine line of goods at the 
lowest prices. Mr. Lyford was married in 
December, 1865, to Miss Ellen A. Ladd, 
of his native town, a daughter of 0. A. 
Ladd, now of this city ; they have one son — 
W' infield E. Lyford. Mr. Lyford is Col- 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



693 



lector of the city and township of Joliet, 
to which office he was elected in June, 
1878. 

JOHN D. LELAND, Steward of the 
Illinois State Penitentiary, Joliet. John 
D. Leland, born in the State of New York, 
came West in 1S()8, and was soon there- 
after, under Elmer Washburn, Warden, 
apjiuinted Steward of the Illinois State 
Penitentiary, which position he success- 
fully held until August, 1872, when under 
the force of circumstances he was induced 
to resign ; after a few years spent in farm- 
ing, and on the produce market, his well- 
known tjualities as to economy and 
carefulness in performing the duties of 
Steward of the Penitentiary, gave reason 
for a renewed call to that position, in 
1877 ; under his present supervision, the 
extensive commissary de])artment of the , 
Penitentiary has been managed at less ex- 
pense and to more general satisfaction 
than at any previous time in the history of 
the iii.stitutiun. 

JOHN LEY, farmer, Sec. 18 ; P. 0. 
Joliet; was born in Prussia Oct. 17, 
1823, where he followed farming until 19 
years of age, when he emigrated with his i 
parents to America in 18-12, and settled | 
in Will Co., Joliet Tp., on Sec. 19, 
living there until 1852, when he removed | 
two miles east of Joliet, near the Red 
Mill, where he lived until 1856, when he 
settled upon his present place ; he owns 
220 acres of well-improved land, which 
he has accumulated by his own energy 
and industry. He married, in 1847, 
Elizabeth Magert ; she was born in Vir- 
ginia ; they have four children living, viz., 
John, Valentine, Frederick D. and Law- 
rence; the deceased are Joseph and Hub- 
bert. Mr. Ley has held the office of ! 
School Director for three years ; also, as 
Road Commissioner. 

FRANK E. xMARSH, of the firm of 
Carpenter & Marsh, graiii merchants and 
proprietors of the Union Transfer Elevator, 
Joliet ; was born in Joliet June 27, 1849; 
he is the son of H. N. Marsh, an early set- 
tler of Will Co., and for many years past 
the agent of the Chicago, Rock Island & 
Pacific Railroad Company in this city. 
He was educated in the public schools of 
Joliet, and at the Chicago Academy; in 
18G8, he became ticket agent and telegraph 
operator of the C, R. I. & P. R. R., 



and continued till the spring of 1874, when 
he entered into partnership with H. S. 
Carpenter in the grain and elevator busi- 
ness ; they are now the heaviest dealers in 
Northern Illinois outside of Chicago ; they 
do an extensive export bu-^incss, about 
three-fourths of their grain bein<r pur- 
chased for foreign shipment. Mr. Marsh 
was Superintendent of the Will County 
Historical Society in 1871 and 1872, pre- 
viously to its being merged into the Joliet 
Public Library. He was married Feb. 
4, 1873, to Miss Kate Richmond, of 
Joliet, and has two children — Horatio 
Richmond and Loren William. 

H. N. MARSH, freight and ticket 
agent of the Chicago, Rock Island & 
Pacific Railroad Company ; has been a 
resident of Joliet since 1835 ; he is a native 
of Franklin Co., Mass., and was born Nov. 
15, 1812 ; about 1828, his parents emi- 
grated to Western New York, where they 
resided until 1835, when they came to 
Will Co., and settled in what is now Crete 
Tp., Mr. Marsh at the same time locating 
in Joliet ; he followed his previous business 
of cabinet-making until the spring of 1847, 
when he purchased the True Democrat, 
which, on the organization of the Repub- 
lican party, was changed to the Joliet 
Republican] previous to this, he had 
served two years as School Commissioner 
of the county ; he continued to publish 
the True Democrat until July, 1852, and 
in October of the same year, on the com- 
pletion of the C, R. I. & P. Railroad to 
this point, he took charge of the office in 
this city, and has remained in charge ever 
since, with the exception of an interval of 
three years, from 1864 to 1807, during 
which period he served as Postmaster of 
Joliet; in 1850, he was appointed Asst. 
U. S. Marshal, to take the census of W^ill 
Co.; he was elected a member of the City 
Council in 1876, and again in 1878. 

GEORGE J. MUNROE, attorney at 
law and financial agent, Joliet ; was born 
in Baraboo, Sauk Co., Wis., Feb. 11, 1853; 
after receiving an English education in his 
native county, he entered Oberlin College, 
Ohio, at the age of 16 years, and after 
spending two years in that institution, 
became a student in the National Normal 
School at Lebanon, Ohio, graduating from 
the classical department in 1872; he had 
previously been engaged in teaching during 



694 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES ; 



his vacations, and after graduating he 
assumed charge of the public school at 
Marlboro, Stark Co., Ohio, remaining one 
year ; he then spent about six months in 
traveling in the West, after which he began 
the study of the law in the office of Sleeper 
& Whiton in Chicago, and also attended 
one course of lectures at the Union College 
of Law in that city ; he was admitted to the 
bar Jan. 15. 1877, and practiced in Chicago 
until the fall of the same year ; in March, 
1878, he settled in Joliet, and entered upon 
the practice of his profession ; in addition 
to his law practice, he does quite an ex- 
tensive business in loaning money for 
Eastern capitalists. He was married Nov. 
21, 1877, to Miss Addie P. Simonds, 
eldest daughter of S. 0. Simonds, Esq., of 
Joliet. 

G. MUNROE & SON, wholesale and 
retail grocers, Joliet ; this is the largest 
groceryhou.se in Will Co., doing a business 
of at least a quarter of a million dollars 
per annum ; it was established in 18G5 ; 
George Munroe, the senior member, was 
born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., April 4. 
1821 ; he came to Will Co. in 18-19, and 
spent thirteen years in farming in Florence 
Tp. ; previously to this, he had been en- 
gaged in the foundry business. He was 
elected Sheriff of Will Co., in 1862, and 
served two ye;irs ; has also served one 
term as School Trustee, and one term on 
the Board of Aldermen. George H. Mun- 
roe, son of George Munroe. is also a native 
of Jefferson Co., N. Y., where he was born 
Sept. 24, 1844, and accompanied his par- 
ents to Will Co. in 1849. On the election 
of his father as Sheriff, in 1862, he en- 
tered the office as Deputy Sheriff, remain- 
ing two years. In 1865, he became a 
partner in the firm of G. Munroe & Son. 
He was married in May, 1869, to Miss 
Eva Weeks, of Joliet. In 1875, the Joliet 
Stone Company was organized, and Mr. 
Munroe, being one of the three equal stock- 
holders, was made President, which posi- 
tion lie still holds ; he is also Treasurer of 
the Joliet Opera House Company. 

UZIAH MACK, manufacturer and 
wholesale and retail dealer in boots and 
bhoes, Joliet; was born in Northampton 
Co., Penn., Jan. 14, 1835; in early child- 
hood, he accompanied his parents to North- 
umberland Co., and several years later, to 
Montour Co., in the same State, where he 



lived until he came to Joliet, in 1858. In 
July, 1862, he enlisted in Co. H, 100th 
111. Vols. ; was appointed Sergeant, and 
afterward promoted to Sergeant Major, 
and finally to First Lieutenant of Co. K, in 
which position he served till the close of 
war; he served under Gen. Thomas in the 
Army of the Cumberland, and with Sher- 
man in his march through Georgia, as far 
as Jonesboro and Lovejoy ; he was with 
the command from the time it left home 
until its return, in 1865. After the war, 
he went to St. Joseph, Mo., and engaged 
in business, remaining there two years, 
when he sold out and returned to Joliet, 
where he entered into partnership with his 
uncle. Firman Mack, in the wholesale and 
retail boot and shoe business, the firm be- 
ing F. & U. Mack, which continued until 
the death of his partner, Aug. 10, 1872, 
since which time he has continued the 
business alone. He was married April 19, 
1867, to Miss Jennie Flemming, of Truro, 
Nova Scotia; she died Oct. 15, 1876, 
leaving three children — Robert L., Mary 
and Willie. 

ISAAC T. MILLSPAIJGH, Police 
Magistrate, Joliet ; was born in Orange Co., 
N. Y.,Feb.26, 1820 ; his parents died when 
he was about 15 years old, and he then 
went "out West" to Tompkins Co., N. 
Y. ; be made his home there and in Cort- 
land Co. until 1844, when he removed to 
Joliet ; he followed his trade of a black- 
smith for a year or more, and made the 
first steel plow in Joliet ; he then went to 
Chicago and engaged as fii'eman on the old 
Chicago & Galena Union R. R. (now a 
branch of the Chicago & Northwestern), 
which extended at that time but eight 
miles west of Chicago ; he fired the first 
new locomotive on that road ; about a year 
later, he returned to Joliet, and run one 
season on the packet from Chicago to Peru ; 
he then became a fireman on the Chicago 
& Rock Island R. R., and run the first en- 
gine into Joliet, in 1852 ; he was the first 
blacksmith in the Chicago & Alton round- 
house, where he worked half a dozen years 
or more. He served for fourteen years as 
Assessor for Joliet Tp. ; he was elected 
Police Magistrate in May, 1878. He was 
married in March, 1842, to Miss Charlotte 
Elizabeth Noyes, of Cortland Co., N. Y. ; 
she died in 1846, leaving one son, Charles 
H., who served through the late war as Drum 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



695 



Major of the 100th 111. Vols., and is now 
a musician in Joliet. Mr. Millspaugh was 
nuirried again, in July, 1852, to Miss Mary 
L. Roberts, of Joliet, Ibruiorly of Lock- 
port, N. Y. ; they liave one son — Frank 



tireman on the 



Michigan 



Central 



D., a 
R. R. 

G. N. MARVIN, keeper, weighmaster, 
shipper and receiver, State Prison, Joliet ; 
was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., in 1818 ; 
his early life was that of a farmer's son ; 
he followed agricultural pursuits during 
his residence at the East; in 1858, became 
West and located in Plainfield, Will Co., 
where he was employed as foreman on the 
farm of A. McAllister for one year ; he 
then purchased a farm on the Plainfield 
road two miles west of Joliet, which he 
farmed two or three years ; he next re- 
turned East and spent one or two years ; 
after traveling some months, he again 
returned West to Joliet, and was en- 
gaged as foreman on the farm of William 
P. Caton for three seasons ; lie had charge of 
1,500 acres, harvesting about -400 acres of 
meadow each season; Jan. 9, 18(i8, he 
connected himself with the prison and has 
remained here ever since. His first mar- 
riage to Marietta Hammond occurred in 
1838 ; his second marriage to Laura C. 
Barber, a native of Pennsylvania, was cel- 
ebrated in 1873 ; lias three children — 
Emma A., George W. and William A., all 
married. 

ALEXANDER McKEOWN, rail in- 
spector, Joliet Iron and Steel Works, Joliet ; 
was born in Antrim Co., Ireland, Feb. 
2, 1851 ; he attended the common schools 
and besides was a student in Kennedy 
College, Dublin, nine months; he immi- 
grated to America May 1, 1872, and first 
settled in Joliet, where he engaged in learn- 
ing core-making in the Joliet Foundry ; at 
this he spent eleven months and then en- 
iraered in the steel-rail mill as laborer ; 
here he worked two months, when he was 
promoted to the position of rail inspector, 
night turn ; he served two years and at 
the shutting-down of the mills in 1873, he 
went to Springfield and labored at general 
work in the mills there lour months ; 
subsequently, he labored at Bridgeport 
mills seven months, and on the re-open- 
ing of the Joliet mills, returned and 
was for three years and four mouths rail 
inspector on the night turn ; in 1877, he 



went to the Vulcan Mills, in St. Louis, 
and remained seven months; he then wenfc 
to ^Mississippi and was engaged at various 
points in State work till March, 1878, 
when he returned to Joliet and was pro- 
moted May 1 following, on the re-(jpen- 
ing of the mills, to the position of rail 
inspector, day turn ; thus, by close atten- 
tion to business and strict uprightness with 
his employers, he has secured for him.self a 
position of responsibility and trust which 
he richly merits. 

COL. S. W. MUNN, attorney at law, 
Joliet; was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. 
Y., May 14, 1824; his father was poor 
and unable to assist him in obtaining an 
education, and he was, therefore, obliged to 
to depend upon his own exertions for what 
learning he received ; he worked on a farm 
for 88 per month, for nine months, attend- 
ing a district school during the remaining 
three months ; thus he worked two years 
for one man ; he also spent six months at 
a seminary in his native county; in 1845, 
he left home on foot, with carpet-bag in 
hand and $30 in his pocket, and went to 
Ashtabula Co., Ohio, where he engaged in 
teaching and attending school at Grand 
River Institute, a Presbyterian manual- 
labor school, where he could pay his way 
by his industry ; here he remained three 
years, in the mean time reading thoroughly 
a few of the elementary works on law. In 
1848, he married Miss Imtigene Mixer 
and removed to Wisconsin, where he com- 
pleted his law studies and was admitted to 
the bar and began practice in 1850 ; in 
September of the same year his wife died, 
leaving one child — Charles W., who is now 
engaged in practice with his father in 
Joliet ; in 1852, he went to California, and 
engaged in mining and surveying for the 
Government ; returning, he located in Wil- 
mington, 111., and resumed the practice of 
his profession. In August, 1861, he raised 
a company of volunteers in Wilmington, 
of which he was commissioned Captain, 
and which was mustered in as Co. A, of 
the 39th I. V. I. ; in December, 1802, he 
waspromoted to Major,and served till Janu- 
uary, 1863, when he was compelled by 
foiling health to resign ; he participated in 
the campaign of 1862, in the Shenandoah 
Valley, including the battle of Winches- 
ter, then under Gen. McClellan until the 
army left Harri.son's Landing, in August, 



696 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



18G2, whon his Division was ordered to 
Suftblk, Va., where it remained until 
he resigned. On his return to Wilmington, 
he was eleeted Prosecuting Attorne}'^ for 
the then Ninth Judicial Circuit, serving 
four years; in the spring of 18G5, he re- 
moved to Joliet, where he has since been 
engaged in general practice of law, and in 
November last was elected as Represent- 
ative to the Legislature ; he served for a 
time on Governor CuUom's Staff, with the 
rank of Colonel. Col. Munn was married in 
1851, to Miss A. 0. Crocker, of Madison, 
Ohio ; they have two children — Minnie I. 
(wife of R. A. Chapin, of Colo.) and Frank 
E., a law student in Geneva, Ohio. 

CAPT. ALEXANDER MuINTOSH, 
political editorof the Joliet iS'hm, Joliet ; was 
born in Fulton Co., N. Y., of Scotch parent- 
age in 1822 ; he was raised on a farm ; when 
he was 19 years of age, he entered the 
academy at Galway Center, Saratoga Co., 
N. Y., as a student, and acquired a liberal 
education, spending three years in that 
institution ; he came to Joliet, 111., in 
18-45, and, in 1847, started in Joliet the 
True Democrat, now the Joliet Repub- 
lican] he sold out in 1848, and, in 1849, 
went to California, where he remained three 
years; returning to Joliet in 1852, he 
repurchased the True Democrat, which 
he published and edited until 1857 ; in 
1856, he was elected on the Republican 
ticket Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Will 
Co., for a term of four years ; in 1863, 
he was appointed by President Lincoln, 
Captain and Quartermaster in the United 
States Army was with Sherman's army in 
1864 ; was on the famous march to the sea, 
and up through the Carolinas and Virginia 
to AVashington ; he was retained in the serv- 
ice after the disbanding of the volunteers, 
being assigned to Mobile as Pgst Quarter- 
master ; in 1866, he resigned this position 
and returning Will Co., embarked in mer- 
cantile business in Wilmington ; in 1869, 
he purchased the Wilmington Independent, 
which he published until 1873; in the 
spring of 1874, he returned to Joliet, and 
in the fall of the same year became the 
political editor of the Joliet Republican, 
which position he retained till January, 
1877 ; in the fall of that year, he entered 
upon the editorial management of the Joliet 
Phunix, from which he withdrew in July, 
1878, to assume the i)0.sition of political 



editor of the Joliet Sun ; Capt. Mcintosh 
joined the Rejiublican party upon its organ- 
ization in 1856, and has ever remained 
true to its principles, and, although a man 
of pronounced views on all political and 
moral questions, and participating in many 
exciting political campaigns, he retains the 
entire respect and confidence of his fellow- 
citizens of all parties. 

F. MUNCH, dealer in coal, wood, coke, 
etc., Joliet; is a son of F. X. Munch, who 
came to this country from Alsace, settling 
in Will Co., in 1839 ; he served as a 
soldier in the war with Mexico, and is now 
a highly respected citizen of Joliet Tp. ; 
his son, F. Munch, was born in Joliet Tp. 
April 3, 1851, and remained at home un- 
til he was nineteen years of age, and then 
spent two summers in working near Mi- 
nooka; in 1873, he came to Joliet City, 
and spent two years in the em^iloy of J. 
Q. A. King, starting in business for him- 
self in 1875. He was married Nov. 16, 
1876, to Miss Jennie Hurley, daughter of 
William Hurley, of Minooka ; they have 
one child — Louis I. 

DAVID G. MURPHY, firm of Mur- 
phy Brothers, livery and feed stable, Joliet ; 
is a native of Count}^ Roscommon, Ireland ; 
he was born Jan. 14, 1844 ; his father, P. 

F. Murphy, came to this country in 1850, 
settling in the town of Troy, where he was 
a prominent and respected citizen for 
twenty-seven years; he died in 1877, at 
the age of 92 years ; the family consisted 
of fourteen children, nine brothers and five 
sisters, eight of whom are living; David 

G. resided in Troy until March, 1874; fol- 
lowed farming, and represented his town- 
ship in the County Board of Supervisors 
for three years ; on coming to Joliet, he 
engaged with Francis Murphy in his pres- 
ent business. In 1876, he was elected 
Supervisor in Joliet by a very large ma- 
jority, but declined to serve. He was 
married June 10, 1868, to Miss Mary 
McGuire, of Lockport, III., and has five 
children — Catherine F., Mary Alice, 
Thomas B., Winnifred A. and Angela A. 
Mr. Murjjliy's brother. Father Thomas B. 
Murphy, late Pastor of St. Mary's Church, 
in this city, died April 10, 1878; he was 
a gentleman universally respected and be- 
loved, not only by the members of his con- 
gregation, but by the entire population of 
the city and county. 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



697 



C. W. MUNN, of Muiin & Munn, at- 
torneys at law, Joliet ; was born in Water- 
loo, Wis., Dec. 30, 1848; he is the son of 
Col. S. W. Munn, the senior member of 
the firm ; in earl}' ehildliood. he aocompa- 
nicd his parents to C(»lumbus, Wis. ; thence 
to Madi.son, Lake Co., Ohio, where the 
family resided until Mareh, 1854, and then 
removed to Wilmington, Will Co., 111., 
cominu- to Joliet in March, 18(54; after 
receiving an English education, Mr. Munn 
entered the law department of the Michi- 
gan University, at Ann Arbor, Mich., where 
he graduated March 2 LI, 1871 ; he liad 
previously read law in his father's office, 
and was admitted to the bar Aug. 13, 
1870 ; he began practice in Joliet in April, 
1871, and Dec. 1, 1872, formed a partner- 
ship with his father, which still continues. 
He was married in December. 1871, to 
Mi>s Helen C. Matthews, of Joliet ; she 
died Sept. 26, 1872, leaving one child — ■ 
Helen I.; he was married again Jan. 19, 
1870, to Miss Lida M. Sijuier, of Livings- 
ton, Essex Co., N. Y. ; they have one 
child — Lulu L. 

T. A. MASON, dealer in lumber, man- 
ufacturer of sash, doors and blinds, pro 
prietor of the Stone City Planing-Mill. 
Joliet; was born in New Hartford, Oneida 
Co., N. Y., March 14, 1840 ; he is a son 
of Daniel C. Mason, an extensive railroad 
contractor ; his grandfather, Arnold Ma- 
son, was one of the original contractors of 
the Croton Water Works in New York 
City ; Mr. Mason first came to Illinois in 
the spring of 1867 ; after s])ending a few 
months in Chicago, he returned East, and 
engaged in the blank-book and stationery 
business in Utica ; in 1870, he came to 
Joliet, and, with F. W. and H. B. Plant, 
erected the Stone City Planing-Mill, and 
engaged in the lumber business ; he was 
educated at the Utica High School and at 
Whitestown Seminary, N. Y. He was mar- 
ried Sept. 25, 1872, to Mi.ss Elizabeth E. 
Caton, of Joliet, and has three children — 
Cornelia Louise, William Caton and Kit- 
tie Marie. Mr. Mason is at present a 
member of the Board of Aldermen from 
the Fourth Ward, being elected in April, 
1877. 

E. B. MASON, real estate and loans, 
Joliet; was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., 
Nov. 20, 1826 ; in 1834, his father, Hale 
S. Mason, came with his family to Will 



Co., and settled in Gooding's Grove, in 
what is now Homer Tp. ; he was for a 
good many years Canal Collector of Lock- 
port; for a number of years Justice of the 
Peace, and is now an hononid resident of 
the town of Jjockport. Mr. Mason con- 
tinued farming until the sjjring of 1854 ; 
in the fall of that year, he came to Joliet 
and spent the winter, removing the follow- 
ing spring to La Salle, III., where he 
resided for fourteen years, during eight of 
which he served as Postmaster of that 
city; returning to Joliet in 1870, he 
entered the abstract office of George H. 
Ward, and, in 1875, engaged in his 
present business ; he is Secretary of the 
Peoples' Loan and Homestead Association 
of Joliet, which was organized in 1874, 
having a capital stock of 5,000 shares of 
SlOO each. He was married in the spring 
of 1850 to Miss Elizabeth C. Olney, 
daughter of Hiram Olney, an early settler 
of Homer Tj). ; she died in 1858, leaving 
two children, one of whom, Ella B., wife 
of Leonard G. Wilson, is now living. 
Mr. Mason was married again in 1864 to 
Miss Lizzie L. Miner, of Aurora, 111. 

MAJ. ROBERT W. McCLAUGHRY, 
Warden of the Illinois State Penitentiary, 
Joliet ; was born in Fountain Green, Han- 
cock Co., 111., July 22, 1839 ; he remained 
at home on the faim until 1856, when he 
entered Monmouth College, graduating in 
1860, after which he remained in the col- 
lege one year as Professor of Latin ; re- 
turning to Hancock Co. in 1861, he settled 
at Carthage, and engaged in editing the 
Carthage Republican. In response to 
President Lincoln's call for 300,000 men, 
he enli.sted in August, 1862, as a private 
in the 118th 111. V. I. ; was chosen Cap- 
tain of Co. B, and in November following, 
was elected Major of the regiment ; he 
participated in all the campaigns which 
resulted in the capture of Vicksburg in 
the Gulf Department in the fall of 1863, 
and in all the campaigns in Western Lou- 
isiana until June, 1864, when he was 
transferred to the Pay Department as Pay- 
master, and assigned to duty at Springfield, 
111. ; he remained there until Oct. 13, 
1865, when he was mu-stered out to accept 
the office of County Clerk of Hancock 
Co.-, to which he had been elected ; he held 
this office until 1869; the next two years 
he was engaged in the stone-quarry busi- 



698 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



ness in Sonora, Hancock Co., and fur- 
nished the stone for the raih-oad bridge 
over the Mississippi River at Keokuk, and 
for the foundations of the new State Capi- 
tol at Springfield; in 1871, he went to 
St. Louis in cliarge of the St. Genevieve 
quarries, but the following year, his health 
failing, he returned to Monmouth, IlL, 
and entered the office of Judge Glenn to 
attend to a portion of bis business, wh6re 
he remained till Aug. 1, 1874, when he 
was appointed to his pr<!sent important and 
responsible position. He was married in 
1862 to Miss Elizabeth C. Madden, of 
Monmouth, 111., and has five children 
living. 

THOMAS F. MOEAN, assistant su- 
perintendent of the Joliet Gas Works ; 
born in the county of Roscommon, Ire- 
land, in 1832, where he lived until 18 
years of age, when he emigrated to A.merica, 
landing in New York Jan. 9, 1851, going 
directly to Frostburg, Md. ; he was en- 
gaged in the mining business for two 
years ; from there he went to Philadelphia, 
where he was engaged in the Northern 
Liberty Gas Works for eight years, when, 
in 1861, he was called to fill the 't)ffice of 
Assistant Superintendent of the Joliet 
Gas Works, which position he has since 
held during a period of seventeen years. 
He married in Philadelphia in 1853 to 
Mary Brannan ; she was born in Philadel- 
[»hia ; they have six children now living, 
viz. : Edward V., Mary, Michael J., Agnes, 
Catharine and Joseph L. Mr. Moran has 
held the office of Alderman in the ward in 
which he lives in Joliet. 

JAMES H. McFARLIN, butcher and 
general stock dealer, Joliet ; born in Troy, 
Will Co., 111., July 25, 1854, living there 
seven years, when he removed with his 
parents to Manhattan Tp., where, after ob- 
taining a common-school education, he en- 
gaged in farming until he removed to Jol- 
iet, in May, ISGQ, when he commenced 
work with J. Adler at butchering, remain- 
ing in his employ until October, 1878, a 
period of nine years ; at the above date he 
engaged in ihe above business upon his 
own account on Chicago St., corner of 
Wallace st. ; he is also engaged in the 
stock bu.siness, buying and selling largely ; 
having had an experience of upward of 
ten years in the business, his judgment in 
stock is considered sound and reliable. 



PETER MACKIN, groceries and pro- 
visions, flour and feed, Joliet ; born in 
Armagh Co., Ireland, June 24, 1849, 
where he lived until 22 years of age, at- 
tending school in his ^outh ; then engaged 
in farming until the above age, when he 
emigrated to America, landing in New 
York March 17, 1871 ; coming directly 
West, he visited his brother at Peoria, 111., 
for a short time, when he came to Will Co. 
and engaged with Patrick Fitzpatrick in 
Lockport Tp. for one year, when he came 
to Joliet and engaged in business with 
Thomas Delaney, purchasing the lot and 
erecting a store at No. 33 South Chicago 
St., where they engaged in the groceries 
and provisions, flour and feed business for 
three years, when their store was destroyed 
by fire ; Mr. Mackin then jjurchased his 
partner's interest and rebuilt his present 
store in 1876, since which time he has 
been doing a very successful and profitable 
business, which may be attributed to his 
strict integrity and honest dealina. 

BENJAMIN L. MAYHEW, Deputy 
Warden of Illinois State Prison, Joliet ; 
born in Dennysville, Wash. Co., Me., June 
16, 1822 ; his ancestors came from England 
in 1642, landing at Martha's Vineyard, 
Mass.; Mr. M. came to Boston in 1842, 
where he lived and worked at the trade of 
machinist until 1845, making one voyage 
at sea during this period, when he went to 
Cambridge, Mass, and was connected with 
the Cambridge Prison as guard for two 
years; in 1847, he was appointed Deputy 
Keeper, which position he held for eleven 
years. On Dec. 15, 1856, Deputy Warden 
Galen C. Walker, of the Charlestown State 
Prison, was murdered in the chapel by con- 
vict James Magee, and upon the 29th 
inst. of the same month, Warden Solon H. 
Tenny was murdered by convict Charles D. 
Decatur ; the two chief officers having been 
murdered, Mr. Mayhew was selected to 
take full charge of the Charlestown State 
Prison, which he did with great credit 
for twenty-one days, till new officers were 
appointed, Mr. Mayhew meanwhile re- 
taining his old position at Cambridge ; 
in 1858, he was appointed Deputy Warden 
of the Charlestown, Mass., State Prison, 
which office he held for ten years ; he then 
emigrated to Illinois, and in the year 1870, 
was appointed Deputy Warden of the Illi- 
nois State Penitentiary at Joliet, which 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



699 



position he has since held, with the excep- 
tion of four years' absence. Mr. Mayhew 
married Oct. IH, 1847, to Miss Frances J. 
Nickerson ; slie was born in Westminster, 
Vt., May 23, 1821 ; they are the parents 
of two children now living, viz. : William 
B., born in Cambridge, iMass., Nov. 1, 
1848, now serving his filth year as Engi- 
neer in the U. S. Navy; Maria F., born 
in Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 11, 1857; Ed- 
mund L., born in Charlestown, Mass., Nov. 
8, 1860, deceased. 

GALLUS MULLER, chief clerk of 
the Illinois State Penitentiary, Joliet ; 
born in Switzerland, Canton of St. Gall 
(Wyl), June 12, 1841 ; after a collegiate 
education in St. Gall and Lucerne, he 
entered the University of Munich, Bavaria, 
in 18G0, and attended here one year; the 
next two yeai's were passed in Turin, Italy, 
when he emigrated to America in 1863, 
landing in New York upon the 20th of De- 
cember ; coming directly to Chicago, he 
soon thereafter engaged in the music busi- 
ness, which he followed until 1870, when 
he came to Joliet as book-keeper for the 
Illinois State Penitentiary ; alter working 
a short time in this capacity, he was ap- 
pointed chief clerk, and has held this ofiice 
since that date, during a period of eight 
years, and under five different administra- 
tions. He was married in Chicago, in 
1866, to Miss Marie De Hez ; they are the 
parents of four children, viz., Alice, M. 
Pia, Walter and Ida. 

CAPT. JAMES MILLER, chief en- 
gineer of Illinois State Penitentiary, Joliet; 
born in Glasgow, Scotland, March 11, 1826, 
where he learned and worked at the trade 
of machinist until 25 years of age, when 
he emigrated to America, landing in Quebec 
in 1852, coming directly to Morris, Grundy 
Co., 111., where he engaged in the foundry 
and machinist business during a period of 
ten years ; in 1862, he raised a full com- 
pany of 102 men for the war, which he 
took to Chicago, and alter remaining in 
Camp Douglas three months, the regiment 
was mustered out of service, the several 
companies joining other regiments ; Mr. 
Miller then enlisted in the I^. S. navy as 
fireman, which position he held for three 
days, when he was promoted to Asst. p]n- 
gineer, which office he held seven months, 
when he received his commission as Chief 
Engineer, and held this position for 



three years until the close of the war ; Mr. 
M. then returned to Morris, and again 
engaged in the foundry and machinist busi- 
ness for a period of two years, when he 
was appointed, in 1867, as chief engineer 
of the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet, 
which office he still holds. He married 
in Scotland in' 1852, to Miss Elizabeth A. 
Miller ; she was born in Scotland in 1 825 ; 
they are the parents of five children — 
James W., John Edwin, Frank, Margaret 
and Lillie. 

D. McC ANN. deceased, former; P.O. 
Joliet ; born in Fayette Co., Ind., Nov. 3, 
1823, where he lived and followed farm- 
ing until 1864, when he removed to Will 
Co., and purchased the farm where the 
family now live, consisting of 250 acres 
of land, now valued at upward of S50 
per acre ; he died here Oct. 2, 1873. 
He married Miss Elizabeth Honnyraon, of 
Union Co., Ind., Sept. 13,1850 ; they were 
the parents of six children — William W., 
Lycurgus C, Charlie W., Irene (died Feb. 
28, 1862), Ada and Lillie B. 

R. H. MAPPS, farmer and auctioneer, 
Sec. 24 ; P. 0. Joliet ; born in Cumber- 
land Co., Penn., July 12, 1819, where he 
worked at the cooper's trade for several 
years, when he moved to Ohio, and worked 
at his trade until he moved to Joliet in 
1846. where he followed his trade until he 
purchased the farm where he now resides ; 
owns 136 acres of land, valued at $55 to 
060 per acre. He married Miss Susanna 
Shoft'ner, a native of Ohio ; they havs six 
children — Albert, born March 1, 1849 ; 
Levi, June 16, 1852 ; Jesse, Sept. 9, 1856, 
died Nov. 5, 1857 ; John W., born March 
16, 1859: Armina, Oct. 2, 1863; Lillie 
A., Feb. 11, 1867. Mr. Mapps has filled 
the offices of School Director and Trustee 
in his township several terms. 

HON. JESSE 0. NORTON, deceased, 
whose portrait appears in this work, was 
born at Bennington, Vt., Dec. 25, 1812; 
he entered Williams College in 1831, and 
graduated with honor in 1835 ; he came 
West after graduating, and first taught 
school at Wheeling, Va., and afterward in 
Missouri; in 1839, he came to Joliet and 
opened a law office ; he was first elected 
City Attorney ; his genial manners made 
him popular, and the people of his county 
gave him all the hon irs and distinction in 
their power; in 1846, he was elected 



700 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



County Judge, and re-elected in 1848 ; he 
was also elected to the State Constitutional 
Convention in 1848 ; in 1850, he was 
elected to the State Legislature, and in 
1852, he Wiis elected to represent this dis- 
trict in the Congress of the United States ; 
during that session, he took an active part 
in the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, 
resisting that measure with all his eloquence 
and power ; his course was approved by the 
people of his district, and he was re-elected 
in 1854; in 1857, he was elected Judge of 
the Circuit Court ; he was again elected to 
Congress in 1862, and served with honor 
until March 5, 1865 ; in 1866, he was ap- 
pointed by President Johnson District 
Attorney for the Northern District of Illi- 
nois, and removed to Chicago. He subse- 
quently resumed the practice of law in 
company with Judge J. R. Doolittle. He 
died Aug. 3, 1875, and his remains were 
interred in Oakwood. He married Miss 
Phoebe Ann Sheldon Dec. 25, 1837, at the 
residence of Gov. Dunklin, Potosi, Mo. ; 
they had seven children, four living — Mar- 
tin, Libbie (now Mrs. Gen. J. T. Tor- 
rence), Annie and Jessie (now Mrs. Wal- 
lace C. Barker), and three who died in 
infancy. Mr. Norton in youth was sober, 
industrious, studious and ambitious, and 
when he came to man's estate, in every 
office he was called to fill by his fellow - 
citizens, he performed its duties with in- 
dustry, promptness, ability and courtesy. 
There was in him a genial, affectionate and 
loving nature, refined, high-toned and ex- 
alted by a true Christian life, which those 
who knew him can fully appreciate. It 
was in his home that these virtues of the 
soul shone forth and made a beauty of 
character which no wealth can purchase 
and no intellectual greatness can supply. 

ROBERT W. NELSON, Joliet; born 
in Granville, Washington Co., N. Y., Sept. 
20,1851 ; at the age of 15, he moved to 
Schenectady, N. Y., and entered the Union 
School, where he remained for two years ; 
he then entered the dry goods store of H. 
Ostrom & Co., and, after a few months' stay 
there, obtained a situation in the drug 
store of A. Truax & Co., where he remained 
for two years ; by that time he was taken 
with the Western fever, and followed the. 
advice of that astute philosopher, Horace 
Greeley, went West, and located in Chicago 
in the spring of 1871 ; here, in conjunction 



with his brother, he started in the coal 
trade, and afterward added that of clothing; 
the clothing store was moved to Braid- 
wood in 1875 ; in 1876, he withdrew from 
the firm of Nelson Brothers & Barhgdt, 
they continuing in the coal trade in Chicago, 
while he continued the clothing business at 
Braidwood until the fall of 1877, when he 
closed up that business, and commenced 
the publication of the Joliet News. 

M. B. OGDEN, M. D., homeopathic 
physician and surgeon, Joliet; has practiced 
medicine in Joliet for the past thirteen 
years; he is a son of Dr. S. G. Ogden, 
late of Cherry Valley, III., and who died 
in 1874, at the age of 75 years ; he be- 
longs to a family of physicians, his great- 
grandfather, grandfather, father, two broth- 
ers and some ten cousins being members 
of the medical profession. Dr. Ogden was 
born in Toronto, Province of Ontario, Oct. 
24, 1834 ; he received his general educa- 
tion at the University of Toronto, and then 
pursued a medical course of three years at 
Ralpii's Medical School in that city. In 
1858, he went to Wisconsin and practiced 
nearly five years in Fond du Lac, where 
he was largely interested in flour manufact- 
uring ; thence he removed to Rockford, 
111., and during the winter of 1863-64, 
attended the Hahnemann (Homeopathic) 
Medical College in Chicago ; in 1865, he 
located in Joliet, where he still remains ; in 
the winter of 1867-8, he pursued his second 
course of lectures at the Hahnemann Med- 
ical College, graduating in February, 1868. 
Associated with him in practice is his 
brother, E. J. Ogden, of Chicago, who 
visits Joliet once a week. Dr. Ogden was 
married in August, 1859, to Miss S. M. 
Pitcher, of Fond du Lac, Wis., and has 
one son — Edward C, now a student in the 
Hahnemann Medical College, in Chicago. 

HON. BENJAMIN OLIN, attorney at 
law, Joliet ; was born in Allegany Co., 
N. Y., Aug. 12, 1838; when he was quite 
young, his parents came West, and settled 
in La Salle Co., afterward removing into 
Kendall Co. ; after receiving an English 
education, he spent awhile in Beloit Col- 
lege, and then entered the law office of 
Messrs. Gray & Bushnell in Ottawa, 111., 
afterward continuing his studies with John 
Cruthers, Esq., of Oswego, Kendall Co. 
On the breaking-out of the war in April, . 
1861, he assisted in enrolling Co. K, 20th 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



'01 



I. V. I. ; was olected First Lieutenant, and ' 
served about a year, wln-n lie was obli<::ed 
to resipjn owinsj; to ill health ; returning;;, he 
^spent some time in (V^lorado reeruitinii, his 
health, after which he reviewed his law 
studies in the office of Mather, Taft & T>ates 
in Chicago, lie wa.s admitted to the bar in 
the winter of 18C2-G3, and began the active 
practice of his profession in 3Iorris, 111.; he 
afterward formed a partnership with Hon. 
Perry A. Armstrong, of that place, which 
continued until the removal of Judge Olin 
to Joliet in 1S70. While in Morris, he 
served as Alderman and School Inspector. 
About a year after coming to Joliet, he 
entered into copartnership with Capt. 
Egbert Phelps, which lasted until 1873, 
when he was elected County Judge, and in 
1877, was re- elected for another term of 
four years. He has held the office of 
School Inspector in this city, and has been 
a member of the Board of Directors of the 
Joliet Public Library since its organiza- 
tion in 1875. He was married in Septem- 
ber, 1865, to Miss Julia A. Schauber, of 
Schenectady, N. Y. 

C. C. OLNEY, manufacturer and dealer 
in marble and granite monuments, tomb- 
stones, etc., Joliet ; was born in Perry, 
Genesee Co., N. Y., June 15, 1833 ; he is 
a son of Hiram Olney, who came to Will 
Co. in the fall of 1835, and settled in what 
is now Homer Tp., and who afterward re- 
moved to Manhattan Tp., where he now 
resides at the age of 78 years. Mr. Olney 
remained at home until he was 19 years of 
age, and then came to Joliet and began 
working at the marble-cutter's trade, which 
has been his business ever since ; he is there- 
fore, the oldest marble dealer now in Joliet, 
having followed the business either for 
himself or in the employ nf others fur the 
past twenty-six years. His business is 
not confined to Will Co., but extends into 
Cook, Iroquois, Livingston, Grundy, Ken- 
dall, Kankakee and Du Page Cos.. 111., and 
Lake Co., Ind. He was married in Jan- 
uary, 1868. 

J. L. O'DONNELL. of the firm of 
Haley & Donnell, attorneys at law, Joliet ; 
is a native of the State of Illinois ; he was 
burn in La Salle Co. Aug. lU, 1849; he 
was educated in St. Mary's College, Niagara 
Falls, N. Y. ; after which he read law in 
the office of Glover, Cook k Campbell, of 
Ottawa, 111., and with Mayo & Widmer, of 



the same place. He was admitted to the 
bar in Springfield, 111., in January, 1874, 
and the 1st of August following, formed a 
law partnershiji with P. C. Haley, Esq., 
which still continues. He was married on 
the 19th of September, 1877, to Miss M. 
C. Edgerly. of Putnam Co., 111. 

A. A. OSGOOD, real estate and loans, 
Joliet ; is a native of Joliet ; he was born 
Sept. 29, 1839. His fiither, Hon. Uri 
Osgood, came to Joliet in 1836, from 
Oxford, Chenango Co., N. Y., where he 
was born Dec. 22, 1809; he studied law 
with Hon. Henry 11. 3Iygatt, of his native 
town, taking a seven-years course, and at 
once came West, stopping in Chicago long 
enough to obtain his license to practice in 
this State, and then settled in Joliet, where 
he was a prominent and wealthy citizen 
and a leading attorney for thirty-five years. 
He at one time purchased all of Jefferson 
St., from Ottawa st. to the river for two 
black horses and $50 in mone}'. He es- 
tablished the first l)ank in Joliet about 
1850, which he continued until 1861 ; in 
1852, he was elected to the State Senate, 
serving two years, and in 1856, was a can- 
didate for Conuress against the Hon. Owen 
Lovcjoy. He also held various offices of 
trust and responsibility in this city and 
county, among them that of District At- 
torney. He died in 1871, leaving a wife 
and five children, of whom Augustus A. is 
the oldest. He was educated at Russell's 
Military Institute, and at Yale College. 
In 1861, he enlisted in the 100th 111. V. 
I., and was elected First Lieutenant of Co. 
B. ; served as Aide-de-camp on Gen. Has- 
kell's staff, and after the battle of Stone 
River, he resigned owing to ill health. 
After spending a few weeks at home he 
entered the Quartermaster's Department 
under Capt J. M. Huntington, and three 
months later was made Chief Clerk under 
Capt. G. M. Smith, Chief Quartermaster 
of the Cavalry Corps of East Tennessee ; 
he afterward held the same position with 
Capt. Thos. D. Fitch, Chief Quartermas- 
ter of the Department of Kentucky, re- 
maining till the close of the war. He 
afterward read law in his father's office ; 
was admitted to the bar Oct. 29, 1868, and 
practiced with his father until the death of 
the latter in 1871. In 1873, he purchased 
the insurance business ot W. W. Stevens, 
which he continued till September, 1877, 



702 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



since which time he has been engaged in 
the real estate and loan business. 

F. W. PLANT, of the firm of Mason 
& Plant, lumber dealers, manufacurers of 
sash, doors and blinds, and proprietors of 
the Stone City Planing-Mill, Joliet ; 
was born in Utica, N. Y., Sept. 13, 1843. 
His father, James Plant, was one of the 
earliest settlers of that city, and, at his 
death, in 1859, left but two older settlers 
than himself; he was from Brandford, 
Conn.; he left two children — one daughter, 
now living in Ottawa, 111., and one son, 
Francis W. He prepared for college in 
the Utica Academy, and, in 18G0, entered : 
Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y., gradu- 
atino- in 1864 ; he then entered the em- I 
ploy of the Oneida Bank, in his native 
town, and shortly afterward engaged in the | 
book and stationery business; in 1871, ' 
he came to Joliet, and with F. A. Mason ' 
and H. B. Plant, established the lumber i 
firm of jNIason & Plant ; they erected 
their storehouse on Des Plaines street, 
and the Stone City Planing-Mill, a two- , 
story building, on Joliet street, and are I 
undoubt-edly the heaviest lumber deal- j 
ers in the city ; Mr. Plant is a 
Director and Treasurer of the Peo- 
ple's Loan and Homestead Association 
of Joliet. He was married Oct. 16, 
1867, to Miss Lizzie Merle, of Brooklyn, 
L. I., and has four children — Helen M., 
Laura M., Grace M. and James M. 

JOHN PETTIGREW, foreman of 
the molding department, Joliet ; was 
born in New Lanark, Scotland, March 2, 
1842 ; at the age of 17 years, he went to 
his trade, in Glasgow, working under in- 
structions seven years ; Sept. 12, 1866, he 
emigTatcd to America, first settling in 
Chicago, where he labored for Carlisle, 
Mason & Co., for a period of five years; 
in May, 1871, he came to Joliet, and en- 
tered the employ of the Joliet Iron and 
Steel Co.; during the latter part of 1873 
and the first part of 1874, he worked at 
Marseilles and Bockford, and, on the re- 
opening of the Joliet works, in October, 
1874, he returned, and was employed as 
foreman in the molding department — his 
present position. He was married in 1864 
to Agnes Bobertson, a native of New 
Lanark, Scotland ; has six children — John, 
Jaoe, Thomas, Charles, Agnes and 
William. 



CHARLES PETTIGREW, master 
mechanic, Joliet ; was born in New Lan- 
ark, Scotland, Feb. 4, 1844; in 1862, he 
went to his trade, in the Scotland Street 
Iron Works, at Glasgow ; here he served 
an apprenticeship of five years ; in May, 
1867, he emigrated to America, first set- 
tling in Chicago, where he was employed 
as machinist in the Excelsior Iron Works ; 
in 1870, he came to Joliet, and was em- 
ployed as machinist two years ; next, he 
was foreman in the machine-shops eighteen 
months; in August, 1873, he took his 
present position, that of master mechanic 
in the Joliet Steel and Iron Works. He 
was married in 1868, to Agnes Cameron, 
a native of New Lanark, Scotland ; they 
have three daughters — Edith S., Agnes 
M., and Clara B" 

J. F. PP]RBY, County Superintendent 
of Schools, Joliet ; is a son of Br. Joseph, 
of Crete ; he was born in Fairfield, Conn.> 
June 21, 1846 ; his father was a teacher 
in the public schools of New York City, 
and the family resided, a portion of the 
time, on the old homestead in Fairfield, 
and the balance in New York ; in 1854, 
the family removed to Will Co., settling 
in Crete ; Mr. Perry prepared for college 
principally in a classical institution in 
Bridgeport, Conn., and, in 1866, entered 
Yale College, where he graduated in 1870 ; 
after graduating, he taught a year in the 
East, and then returned to Illinois; he 
taught, one year, as Principal of the pub- 
lic school in Madison, Cook, Co., and two 
years, in the same capacity, at Dalton ; in 
1874 became to Joliet as Superintendent 
of the East Side Schools, continuing as 
such until Jan. 1, 1878; in November, 
1877, he was elected County Superintend- 
ent of Schools, which position he now 
holds. 

OAPT. ANSON PATTERSON, mail 
agent and express messenger of the Joliet 
branch Michigan Central Railroad, Joliet ; 
was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., April 14, 
1830 ; when he was about 4 years old, his 
parents removed to Seneca Co., N. Y., in 
1845 to Seneca Co., Ohio, and, in 1847, to 
Will Co., 111. ; his father, Joseph Patter- 
son, still resides in Joliet Tp. Until the 
breaking-out of the war, Ca])t. Patterson 
followed farming, being engaged for nine 
years, during the winters, teaching, eight of 
which he taught in one district. In 1862, 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



703 



he entered the 100th III. V. I. as First 
Lieutenant of Co. E, and, after the })attle 
of Cliickauiauga, was promoted to the rank 
of Captain, .serving till June, 18()5 ; among" 
the princiiial engagements in which he 
])articipatod were the battle of Chieka- 
mauga, siege of Atlanta, battles of Jones- 
boro', Spring Hill, Franklin, and Nash- 
ville, besides several minor engagements ; 
he was wounded at the battle of Chicka- 
niauga Sept. 20, 1863. Returning to 
Joliet, he was engaged in various kinds of 
business until 18G9, when he was ap- 
pointed Postmaster at Joliet, holding the 
offiee two years, at the end of which time 
he entered upon his present position. He 
was married in 1851 to Miss Helen M. 
McClure, of Joliet ; they have had ten 
children, seven of whom are now living. 

JAMES G. PATTERSON, of the firm 
of James G. Patterson &; Son, grocers and 
news-dealers, Joliet ; was born in County 
Tyrone, Ireland, in 1831, and came to the 
United States in 1851, settling in Haver- 
straw, Rockland Co., N. Y. ; three years 
years later he went to Newburg, thence to 
New York City, coming to Joliet in the 
spring of 1855 ; he was engaged in manu- 
facturing wagons and carriages, and fol- 
lowed that business until 1862, when he 
engaged in his present business. He was 
married April 23, 1855, to Miss Mary A. 
Harris, of New York City, also a native of 
County Tyrone, Ireland ; they have seven 
children — William A., Margaret J., Lillie 
M., James C, Eliza E., Emma K. and 
John H. 

J. D. PAIGE, proprietor of Paige's 
Bottliufj House, Joliet ; was born in Onei- 
da Co.,^N. Y., March 27, 1837 ; in 1844, 
he accompanied his parents to Jefferson 
Co., Wis. ; in 1857, he left home and 
came on foot to Joliet, with $1 in his 
pocket ; he went at once to work, and has 
been at work ever since ; he has now one 
of the largest and best-appointed houses in 
his line of business in the West ; besides 
which he has established branches of his 
business in Grand Rapids, Mich., Mar- 
shalltown, Iowa., and Braidwood, 111. ; he 
was appointed Fire Marshal of Joliet in 
May, 1877, and has given mueh study and 
his best efforts to the Department; during 
his administration the Department has 
been ehanged from a voluntary to a paid 
organization, the Gamewell fire-alarm tele- 



graph has l)een introduced, the horses are 
now owned by the Department (in.stead of 
being hired wherever opportunity occurred, 
as was previously done), and are kept at 
all times in the engine-hou.ses, with har- 
ness on, ready to be hitched up at ten sec- 
onds' notice ; many other improvements 
have been added, and the proficiency to 
which the Joliet Fire Department has at- 
tained under the administration of Mr. 
Paige is evident from the fact that at the 
National Firemen's Tournament in Chi- 
cago, in September, 1878, the Joliet 
Steamer Company No. 1 carried off first 
honors in extinguishing burning buildings, 
with a prize of $350 cash and an elegant 
silver set, and also took two other prizes, 
one of SI 00 and the other $75 ; Mr. Paige 
is at present Town.ship A.ssessor, to which 
ofiice he was elected in April, 1878. 

CHRISTIAN FERDINAND PAS- 
OLD, manufacturer and dealer in boots 
and shoes, Joliet; this gentleman is a na- 
tive of Fleiszen, Bohemia, and was born 
July 10, 1830 ; he began learning his trade 
with his father when about 12 years old ; 
in 1852, he came to this country, spending 
one year in New York City, and locating 
in Joliet in 1853 ; the first eight years he 
was employed as foreman for Firman Mack, 
and in the fall of 1860, started in business 
for himself He was married April 13, 
1857, to Mrs. Catherine Sesser, of Joliet; 
she was born in Baireuth, Kingdom of 
Bavaria, June 5, 1837, and came to Joliet 
with her parents in 1854; they have eight 
children — Rosetta, Christian Ferdinand, 
Jr., Charles Wilhelm, Joseph Friederich, 
Henry Herman, Oliver George, Flora El- 
vira and Martin Julius. Mr. Pasold has 
served two terms in the City Council, from 
the Third Ward (now the Fourth) ; in 
1869, he was elected City Collector, and, 
the same year, Town Collector, holding 
those offices one year. 

HON. EDWIN PORTER, proprietor 
of the Eagle Brewery, and maauficturer 
of Porter's Joliet Ale and Lager Beer, 
Joliet; was born in Granger, Medina Co., 
Ohio, April 19, 1828; went to Cleveland 
when quite young, and there received an 
academic education ; in 1856, he came to 
Joliet, and engaged for two years in man- 
ufacturing malt; in 1858, he erected his 
first brewery, which was burned down in 
1868, and, the same year, he erected his 



i04 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



present extensive buildings. He was Chief 
Engineer of the Fire Department for five 
years, beginning in March, 1861 ; he has 
served throe years as member of tlie City 
Council, and, in 1863, was elected Mayor, 
re-elected in 1864, and again in 1871. 

REV. WALTER HENRY POWER, 
Pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 
Joliet ; was born in Waterford, Ireland, in 
May, 1830 ; he received his classical edu- 
cation at Traniore, a celebrated watering- 
place near Waterford ; in March, 1849, he 
came to America, and entered the Semi- 
nary of St. Charles Borromeo, on Logan 
Square, Philadelphia, where he spent five 
years, and completed his theological stud- 
ies ; he was ordained a clergyman of the 
Catholic Church in December, 1853, by 
Bishop Neumann, of Philadelphia, and 
was appointed Assistant Pastor of St. Pat- 
rick's Church, of that city, and was short- 
ly afterward transferred to St. Philip's 
Church, Southwark, Philadelphia ; he aft- 
erward spent a year as assistant to the 
Foreign Vicar General of the Diocese of 
Philadelphia ; from there he went to Ham- 
ilton, C. W., as assistant to the Bishop, 
where he remained two years; in March, 

1859, he came to Illinois, and located at 
Lacon, Marshall Co., where his jurisdic- 
tion extended over five counties, embra- 
cing some half a dozen churches; in June, 

1860, he was transferred to Aurora, and 
in May, 1861, became Pastor of St. Pat- 
rick's Church, in Chicago ; in November, 
the same year, he assumed the pastoral 
charge of St. Michael's Church, in Galena, 
where he remained eight years, coming to 
Joliet, as Pastor of St. Patrick's Church, 
in September, 1869. 

J. W. PATTERSON, of the firm of 
Patterson & Longley, dealers in coal, wood 
and coke, Joliet ; is a native of Newburg, 
N. Y.; he was born Sept. 12, 1853 ; he is 
a son of Thomas H. Patterson, of this city ; 
in early childhood he moved with parents 
to Haverstraw, N. Y., near the battle 
ground of Stony Point, and there lived 
until the spring of 1865, when the family 
came to Joliet ; he was educated in the 
public schools and at Russell's Business 
College in Joliet ; he also attended the 
Chicago University for a time; in 1875, 
he began keeping books for hjs father and 
the firm of Lyons & Patterson, and con- 
tinued at this until 1877, when he engaged 



in the coal business for himself He was 
married Oct. 18, 1876, to Miss Hattie A. 
Strickland, daughter of the late Henry 
Strickland, an early settler of Joliet; they 
have one child — Claire, 

JUDSON C. PORTER, local editor of 
the Joliet Republican^ Joliet ; was born in 
Fairfield Co., Conn., July 27, 1846 ; when 
he was 3 years old, his parents removed to 
Litchfield Cn., in the same State ; at the 
age of 15, he left home, and went to New 
Britain, Hartford Co., where he spent two 
years in the Connecticut State Normal 
School, after which he engaged in clerking ; 
in 1868, he came West, and taught one 
year in Kankakee ; in 1869, he removed 
to Aurora ; thence, in 1 872, to Joliet, and 
in 1875, became local editor of the Joliet 
Repuhlican. He was married in New 
Britain, Conn., Oct. 8, 1867, to Miss Mar- 
tha J. Holmes, of Hartford Co. ; they have 
two children — Edith May and George E. 

FRANK ROBESSON, dealer in gro- 
ceries, liquors, flour, feed, etc., and propri- 
etor of Robesson's Hall, Joliet ; was bora 
on the 24th of June, 1828, in that portion 
of Italy then adjoining and now a part of 
France ; at the age of 18 years he was ap- 
prenticed to learn the shoemaker's trade, 
and two years later (1848), he became a 
cavalry soldier in Victor Emanuel's Italian 
arm}', where he served eight years; after 
this, he spent one year in Lyons, and, in 
1857, came to America ; in 1858, he came 
to Will Co., and worked throe months for 
Thomas Mapps for his board; alter this, 
he built a small shanty in Joliet and began 
working at his trade ; he was so poor then 
that for two days he had nothing to eat ; 
he followed shoemaking about a year, in 
the mean time selling a little confectionery, 
etc., when, having accumulated a little 
money, he started in a small way selling 
liquors, groceries, etc.; he now owns four 
buildings in Joliet, besides other property; 
in 1875, he built Robesson's Hall, at a cost, 
including lot, of $31,000. He was mar- 
ried in 1862 to Miss Josephine St. Angle, 
of Oswego, N. Y., and has one child — 
Josephine. 

DAVID ROSENHEIM, dealer in cloth- 
ing, hats, caps, gents' furnishing goods, 
trunks, valises, etc., Joliet; was born in 
Wurtemberg, Germany, Dec. 11, 1847 ; 
he was educated -in the public schools cf 
his native country ; on arriving at the age 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



705 



of 15 years, he left home and came to this 
country ; his father had tliod but a short 
time before; his niDther followed her sou 
about twelve years ap;o, and now resides in 
Chicago ; on arriving in Joliet, young 
Rosenheim entered the employ of Morris 
Einstein, with whom he remained until 
1809, when he became a partner in the 
firm ; in 1875, he purchased his partner's 
interest in the business, which he has since 
continued alone ; he carries a well-selected 
stock of about $12,000 — the largest in his 
line in the county — consisting of all grades 
of men's, youths', boys' and children's cloth- 
ing, furnishing goods, hats, caps, trunks, 
valises, etc., at prices to suit the times ; 
he is courteous in manner and honorable 
in his deaHngs, and it is these qualities 
that have contributed largely to his success. 
He was married June IS, 1878, to Miss 
Augusta Lindaur, of Chicago. Mr. Rosen- 
heim is a prominent member of the Ma- 
sonic fi'aternity, having taken all the Con- 
sistory degrees ol" Scottish Rite Masonry, 
and for the past year has held the oifice of 
High Priest of Joliet Chapter, No. 27, R. 
A. M. 

F. J. RAPPLE, dealer in live stock 
and proprietor of Joliet Street Market. 
Joliet ; was born near Strasbourg, Alsace, 
France, Dec. 19, 1837 ; in 1845, he came 
with his parents to this country, coming 
direct to Joliet,where he has lived for thirty- 
three years. His lather, Simon Rapple, a 
highly-respected farmer of Will Co., died 
in 1877, leaving live children, the subject 
of this sketch being the third in age ; for 
the past fifteen years, Mr. Rapple's busi- 
ness has been farming, dealing in stock, 
etc. He was married Nov. 13, 185H, to 
Miss Margaret Adler, daughter of Michael 
Adler, one of the early settlers of Joliet ; 
they have ten children living — Lawrence 
L., Fred J., Jr., Veronica, John M., 
Louise B., Simon P., Angle M., Theresa, 
Ella and Frankie C.; one daughter, Louise, 
died in 1862. Mr. Rapple was elected a 
member of the Board of Supervisors in 
1877, and re-elected in 1878. 

BARBER, RANDALL & FULLER, 
attorneys at law, Joliet; this firm, although 
existing as a firm only since January, 
1877, is composed of some of the oldest 
and most prominent members of the Will 
County bar. Hon. R. E. Barber was born 
in Rutland Co., Vt., in 1822 ; at the age 



of 10 years, he came with his father's 
family to Will Co.; he read law in .Folict, 
iind was admitted to the bar in 1847 ; in 
1852, he was elected Clerk of the Circuit 
Court of Will County, holding the 
ofiice until 1856 ; he has been a mendjer 
of the Board of School Inspectors some ten 
years; in 1876, he was chosen Mayor of 
Joliet, and served one term. Hon. S. W. 
Randall is a native of Hoosick Falls, Rens- 
selaer Co., N. Y.; he was born March 23, 
1808, but removed to Fredonia, Chautauqua 
Co., when altout 9 years of age ; he was 
educated at the public schools and at Fre- 
donia Academy ; at the age of 16, he began 
as an apprentice to learn the printer's trade, 
and worked two years on the Fredonia 
Censor ; he afterward removed to Frank- 
lin, Venango Co., Penn., and began read- 
ing law in the office of Judge Galbraith, 
and afterward with the late Chief Justice 
Thompson, in the mean time teaching school 
and working at the printer's trade ; he was 
admitted to the bar in 1834, and, in 1835, 
removed to Erie, Penn., and engaged in 
practicing law and in editing the Erie 
Observer; in 1843, he came to Joliet, and 
engaged in the practice of his profession ; 
he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court 

in , and served years ; in 1850, 

he was elected to the State Legislature, 
and has held other offices of trust and re- 
sponsibility. Buel A. Fuller was born in 
Coles Co., 111., Aug. 8, 1833; his parents 
removed to Danville, 111., in 1835, and 
about five years later to Perryville, Ind.; 
there he entered a printing office, working 
during the day, and attending school even- 
ings ; about 1848, at the age of 15, he en- 
gaged in publishing the Temperance Jour- 
nal and Sons Companion in Danville, 
111., the first temperance paper in the State ; 
he afterward went to Louisville, Ky., and 
thence to Madison, Ind., as foreman on 
the Madison Courier; in 1852, he came 
to Joliet, and became joint-owner and pub- 
lisher of the True Democrat with Alex- 
ander Mcintosh ; after awhile, his health 
failing, he retired from the newspaper 
business, but resumed it again in 1856 as 
publisher of the Kankakee Democrat; in 
the mean time he had been pursuing the 
study of law, and, in 1857, was admitted to 
the bar in Joliet ; the next year he was 
elected City Attorney, serving two terms. 
The integrity, affiibility and modesty of all 



706 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



these gentlemen are so well known in Will 
Co., as to require no mention here. 

CHARLES RICHARDS, M. D., phy- 
sician and surgeon, Joliet ; was born iu 
Newport, Herkimer Co., N. Y., July 26, 
1832 ; at the age of 10 years, he removed 
with his parents to New Haven, Huron Co., 
Ohio ; after receiving an English educa- 
tion, he began the study of medicine in the 
office of Dr. F. G. Armstrong, of New 
Haven, Ohio ; he attended medical lectures 
at the Albany Medical College, where he 
graduated in 1855 ; he then located 
in New Haven, Ohio, and practiced medi- 
cine there until 1868, when he came to 
Joliet, and has been a practicing physician 
here ever since. He is a member of the 
Will County Medical Society, of which he 
was formerly Secretary ; he held the office 
of Coroner of Will County from 1870 to 
1874. He was married on the 25th of 
March, 1858, to Miss Harriet Mulford, of 
New Haven, Ohio. 

DAYID RICHARDS, farmer and 
stock-raiser, P. 0. Joliet ; was born in 
Herkimer Co., N. Y., March 27, 1813; 
lie was raised to the dairying business, 
which he followed until he came West in 
1837, making the journey with a team, 
and settling in Joliet ; the first three years 
he spent in handling stock through the 
West, buying principally iu Illinois and 
driving to Wisconsin and selling to the 
settlers ; he then engaged in the meat bus- 
iness in Joliet, handling stock at the same 
time ; in 1842, the State became bankrupt 
and all internal improvements ceasing, Mr. 
Richards being engaged in supplying the 
contractors on the Canal, became involved 
in the financial wreck, and although he 
paid in full, lost the accumulation of years ; 
in 1844, he engaged in farming and rais- 
ing and dealing in stock, in which he has 
continued with good success to the present 
time ; he was one of the parties engaged 
in the Joliet Woolen-Mill enterprise which 
was .started in 1866 ; he had the manage- 
ment of the feeding department of the 
Michigan Central Stock-Yards, for seven- 
teen years, and received the first car-load 
of stock which was shipped into Joliet by 
rail ; he subdivided and sold the east half 
of the northwest quarter of Section 15, 
known as the Canal Trustees' Subdivision, 
and embracing a part of the best-settled 
portion of the city at the present time ; 



he still owns a large amount of real estate 
in the city, besides about seven hundred 
acres of farm lands in the county ; he 
erected his fine residence on the corner of 
Washington and Richards streets in 1860. 
He has been too much enxas-ed in his 
own business to seek or accept public office 
of any kind. Mr. Richards was married 
Jan. 16, 1840, to Miss Mary A. Larraway, 
of Herkimer Co., N. Y.; they have six 
children living — Mary, now Mrs. T. H. 
lugersoll, of Joliet ; Nancy Jeanette, wife 
of J. D. Smith, of Omaha, Neb.; John, 
Newton, William M. and An.son. 

JOSEPH REICHM AN, of the firm of 
J. and J. Reichman, proprietors of the 
Joliet Meat Marke% No. 4, Chicago street, 
Joliet ; was born in Baden, Germany, Feb. 
13, 1836 ; in that country it is necessary 
for every boy or young man to serve an 
apprenticeship to whatever business he in- 
tends to follow through life ; Mr. Reich- 
man remained on the farm until he was 
about 16 years of age, and then began 
learning his present business ; in 1855, he 
came to this country, and after spending a 
few months in Erie, Penn., came to Chi- 
cago ; in 1857, he settled in Joliet and en- 
gaged in his present business, being the 
oldest in the business in the city ; he has 
attended strictly to business and enjoys 
the results of his labors in a fine home 
adjoining the city. He was married in 
July, 1869, to Miss Annie Koch, of Joliet ; 
they have had five children, three of whom 
are living — Anton, Mary and Albert. 

JOSEPH J. REICH MAN, of the above 
firm was born in Baden, Germany, March 17, 
1851, and lived there until he was 17 
years old ; in 1868, he came to the United 
States, coming direct to Joliet, where he 
entered the employ of his uncle, Joseph 
Reichman, in the market business, and, in 
1874, became a partner in the firm. He 
was married Jan. 14, 1872, to Mi.ss Chris- 
tina Wucherpfening, of IMokena, Will Co., 
and has three children living — Regina, 
Julius and Amalia ; his oldest child, Jose- 
phina, died in infancy. 

JOHN H. RAPPLE, dealer in live- 
stock and proprietor of Rapple's meat mar- 
ket, No. 3, North Bluff street, Joliet ; is a 
native of this county ; he was born in 
Joliet Township, on the 20th of January, 
1848 ; he is a son of Simon Rapple, who 
came to Will County from Alsace, in 1845 ; 



# 





(deceased) 
LOCKPORT 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



709 



lie was educated in the parish schools of 
Joliet ; he followed furmiiii; until 1870, 
when he ongaj^ed in business for himself 
in the confectionery trade; iu July, 1874, 
ho went to Southwestern Kansas and 
ojicni'd a farm and remained there until 
the summer of 1877, when \u) returned to 
Joliet and engaued in his present business. 
HOPKIiNS HOWELL, contractor, 
Joliet; was born in Hopkinton, N. H.. 
May 16, 1810 ; removed, in infancy, with 
his parents, to Clarkson, Monroe Co., N. 
Y. (then part of licnesee Co.), and there 
lived until he first came West, in 1834 ; 
he followed the business of brickmaking 
and farming, receiving an academic educa 
tion in the Clarkson Academy ; he came 
West, as an explorer, in 1834 and 1835, 
and on his latter visit purchased from the 
Government SO acres of laud, containing 
the gravel-pit adjoining the city on the 
east, first buying the claim of John Cook, 
an old Revolutionary soldier, who had set- 
tled there iu 1832 ; he also purchased an- 
other tract, of 160 acres, near by ; he still 
retains his original purchases, on one of 
which he began about twelve years ago to 
develop the extensive gravel-pit above al- 
luded to ; in 1847, Mr. Rowel 1 again came 
West, as the General Agent for C. H. 
McCormick for this region of country, in- 
cluding Wisconsin, Northern Indiana and 
Northern Illinois ; he was the first to 
introduce the McCormick Reaper in Joliet, 
selling it to Robert Stevens, Henry D. 
Higinbotham and Mansfield Wheeler ; this 
reaper was in existence until a few years 
ago, when it was allowed to be destroyed, 
much to Mr. Rowell's regret; in 1857, 
Mr. Rowell located here, with his family, 
and has since been a permanent resident; 
he is the author of a pamphlet entitled, 
'' The Great Resources and Sujjerior Ad- 
vantages of Joliet," published in 1871, 
of wliich 20,000 copies were circulated, 
and did much toward bringing the nat- 
ural resources of Joliet to the attention 
of capitalists and others, in the East ; he 
■ also furnished numerous articles on the 
subject to the Eastern papers, besides per- 
sonally visiting, on the part of the city, 
several of the Eastern cities. He was 
married in 1848, in Watertown, N. Y., to 
Miss Mary E. Blood, of that city, and has 
five children — Jacob H., of Minneapolis, 
Minn., Annie J., Nathaniel J., Laura J. 



and S. Jennie. Mr. Rowell has absolutely 
declined being a candidate for any ofiice, 
both before and since coming to Joliet. 

R. ROBKRTSON, proprietor of the 
Robertson House, Joliet ; was born in 
Fifeshire, on the Firth of Forth, Scotland, 
within a few miles of the City of Edin- 
burgh, May 16, 1822 ; he was raised to 
the business of flour-milling, and, at the 
age of 20 years, came to America, and 
settled in New York City ; there he en- 
gaged in the distillery business, which he 
continued until 1864, and then came to 
Joliet and purchased the Joliet Distillery, 
which he run for two years ; in 1872, he 
built the Robertson House, which burned 
down in 1874 ; the following year, he 
erected the present elegant four-story-and- 
basement building, containing seventy-two 
sleeping-rooms above the office floor, com- 
modious and spacious parlors, etc. ; this is 
the largest hotel within a circuit of forty 
miles. Mr. Robertson was married, previ- 
ously to coming to this country, to Miss 
Margaret Duncan, of Alloway, Scotland, 
and has six children living. 

ERNEST RUDD, farmer, Sec. 2?., P. 
0. Joliet; born in Will Co., 111., Aug. 
24, 1854, where he has always lived, and 
followed the occupation of farming upon 
the place where he now resides; he owns 
50 acres of land, two and one-half miles 
from Joliet, valued at $60 per acre. Mar- 
ried Martha M. Miller, May 21, 1875 ; she 
she was born in Niagara- Co., N. Y., March 
20, 1853 ; they have two children — George 
Sanford, born Dec. 12, 1876 ; David Clar- 
ence, born Aug. 11, 1878. 

MRS. PH(EBE RUSSELL; P. 0. 
Joliet ; one of the early settlers of Will 
County ; was born in Onondaga County, 
N. Y., Nov. 1, 1812. She is a daughter 
of Benjamin and Phoebe Weaver, and 
came to Homer Tp. with them in 1833. 
Her father was familiarly known as 
" Uncle Ben Weaver," and was a promi- 
nent citizen of Homer till his death in 
March, 1 872, at the age of 91 years. Her 
mother had died ten years previously. 
Miss Weaver was first married Dec. 12, 
1833, to Chester Ingersoll, a native of 
Vermont, who settled in Will County in 
1828, and took an active part in the Black 
Hawk war. After their marriage, they 
removed to Chicago and kept the first 
hotel kept by an American in that city ; 



710 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; 



returning after two years, they settled in 
Plainfield ; and, seven years later, re- 
moved to Lockport, thence to Wheatland, 
and, in 1847, removed to California; Mr. 
Ingersoll died in San Francisco in Sept. 
1850, and Mrs. Ingersoll returned with 
her family in Will County ; the i'amily con- 
sisted of four childrea — (/hester, now of 
Kansas ; Benjamin F., who served through 
the war, and now resides in Joliet ; Josiah, 
who also served through the war, and died 
in January, 1871, from disease contracted 
in the service of his country ; and James 
K. P., now of this city. In July, 1851, 
Mrs. Ingersoll married the late Benjamin 
F. Eussell, of Steuben Co., N. Y., a native 
of New Hampshire ; they resided in Homer 
until Mr. Eussell's election as Circuit 
Clerk and Recorder of Will County, in 
1859, and then they removed to Joliet; 
Mr. Russell held the office two terms of 
four years each, making one of the most 
efficient officers the county ever had ; he 
also held the office of Assistant Assessor of 
Internal Revenue two terms ; he died Sept. 
12, 1874, and in his death Will County 
lost one of her most honored citizens. He 
left three daughters — Emily J., Ida M. 
and Mary W.; but one of whom is now 
living — Ida May, now Mrs. J. J. La Fon- 
taine, of Joliet ; he also left one son of a 
former marriage — Francis A., now of 
Michigan. Mrs. Russell was on the first 
stage ever run from Chicago to Plain- 
field, when there was but one house 
between the two places. 

ROSITER RUDD, farmer. Sec. 24 ; P. 
0. Joliet ; was born in Lafayette, Ind., 
Nov. 3, 1840 ; removed with his father's 
family to Joliet Township, Will Co., III., 
when 1 year old ; he worked upon his 
father's farm until 24 years of age, when 
his father died and Mr. Rudd became the 
possessor of his present farm, which con- 
sists of sixty acres of well -improved land, 
valued at $50 per acre. Married Aug. 
15, 1860, Miss Jane Gregg ; she was a 
native of Canada ; they are the parents of 
five children — Luly, Fayty, Harriet, Free- 
man and Mansfield, all living ; Mr. Rudd 
has filled the office of Sdiool Director for 
six years with entire satisfiaction. 

MOTHER M. FRANCIS SH ANA- 
HAN, Joliet ; Superior of the Convent of 
the Sisters of St. Francis ; is a native of 
County Limerick, Ireland ; when quite 



young, she came to this country with her 
parents, who settled in New York State, 
residing in Cold Spring and Hudson, and 
afterward removed to Chicago ; she was 
educated in St. Patrick's School, in. 
Chicago, completing her studies there 
when about 17 years of age ; she remained 
with her parents until she entered into 
religion at the age of 24 ; after completing 
her novitiate, she was made Directress of 
the school of St. Boniface in Chicago ; one 
year later, she was transferred to Freeport, 
111., returning thence to Chicago, from 
which city she went to Mansfield, Ohio, 
as Directress of St. Peter's School, and in 
June, 1877, came to Joliet as Superior of 
the Convent here ; this is the mother 
house of the order in this portion of the 
country, having twenty-one missions in 
Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Nebraska and 
Missouri ; there are eight teachers in the 
home institution, five of whom are 
engaged in teaching in the academy, and 
throe in Father Gerardus' Parochial 
School. 

W. W. STEVENS, attorney at law, 
Joliet; was born in Oxford Co., Maine, 
July 14, 1832 ; when he was but two 
years of age, his parents removed to 
Dover, thence to Sullivan Co., N. H., 
where he made his home until 1855. He 
received an academic education at the 
Andover Academy, N. H., where he grad- 
uated in July, 1854 ; the following year 
he came to Will Co., and engaged in 
teaching, soon afterward settling in Joliet, 
where he studied law in the office of 
Parks & Elwood ; he was admitted to 
the bar in March, 1859, and has contin- 
ued the practice of his profession ever 
since ; he formerly did an extensive in- 
surance business, having the largest agency 
in the city; but in 1873, he disposed of 
that branch of his business to A. A. 
Osgood ; he was elected City Attorney in 
1863, and has been several times re- 
elected to the same office ; he has, also, 
served three years on the Board of School 
Inspectors. He was married Sept. 6, 
1859, to Miss Althea H. Hawley, daugh- 
ter of Oscar L. Hawley, one of the earliest 
settlers of Will Co., and has seven children. 

HON. HENRY SNAPP, attorney at 
law, of the firm of Snapp & Snapp, Joliet ; 
was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., June 
30, 1822 ; when he was but 3 years. 



JOl-lET TOWNSHIP. 



711 



old, his Axther's family removed to Roches- 
ter, N. Y.,aiul, in 1S:5:?, came to Will Co. 
and settled in what is known as '• Yankee 
v^ettlomcnt," in Homer Tp.; his father, 
Abram Snapp, was a farmer, a man of 
infloxihlc will, of sterlinu' and uncorapro- 
niising integrity, of commanding presence, 
and, though of unassuming manners, a 
man of great talent, and a highly respected 
citizen; he died in 181j5, leaving four 
children — three daughters and one son, 
Henry, who inherited, to a large extent, 
the characteristics of his father ; he 
remained at home, on the farm, until he 
became of age, when he came to Joliet 
and read law in the offices of E. C. Fel- 
lows, Esq., and Hon. S. W. Randall ; he 
was admitted to the bar in 1843, but did 
not begin practice until 1850; he started 
out in his profession with a determination 
to make an able lawyer ; he relied not 
upon natural ability, but applied himself 
to study, and has been a close student 
ever since ; being a ready speaker, and a 
man of brilliant imagination, and of pro- 
nounced opinions on all moral and political 
questions, it is not strange that he should 
be selected by his fellow-citizens to repre- 
sent them in the councils of state ; he was 
elected to the State Senate in the fall of 
1868, and in 187lJ resigned the office to 
accept the nomination as Representative in 
Congress, from the Sixth Congressional 
District (now the Seventh); he was elected 
for the unexpired term of Hon. B. C. 
Cook, who had resigned, and having served 
out his term, declining a renomination, he 
returned .to Joliet and resuunid the prac- 
tice of his profession ; it may be mentioned 
that in 1854 he held the office of City 
Attorney; was for eight years a partner 
of Hon. Francis (joodspeed, now Judge of 
the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Illinois. He 
was married in January, 1847, to Miss 
Adeline Rroadie, of Joliet, and has five 
children — Sarah, wife of Dorrance Dibell, 
of Joliet ; Elizabeth (now Mrs. George M. 
Campbell, of Joliet), Henry D., (engaged 
in practice with his father), Howard M. 
(attorney at law in Joliet ), and Charles D. 
C. W. STAEHLE, bookbinder, Joliet; 
was born in Tubingen, Kingdom of Wur- 
temberg, Germany, March 13, 1825; he 
was educated at the University of Tubing- 
en, and afterward learned the book- 
binder's trade, which he followed until he 



was 26 years of age, when he came to the 
United States; this was in 1851 ; he 
spent four years in New York City, work- 
ing at different trades, the last year as 
draughtsman for Elias Howe, the inventor 
of the sewing machitie ; from New York, 
he came directly to Joliet, and for eight 
years was engaged as pattern-maker in 
Jones' agricuhural foundry; in 1859, he 
established his present business in a small 
way, having no capital, afterward combin- 
ing the picture-frame business ; by atten- 
tion to business and the wants of his 
customers, his business has steadily in- 
creased, until now his house is the leading 
one in his line in the city. Mr. Staehle 
has been Notary Public for the past nine 
years; in 1868, he was elected City Col- 
lector, serving one year ; he has been a 
member of the Board of School Inspect- 
ors constantly since 1868, the past six 
years being Clerk of the Board. He waf 
married in 1849 to Miss Mary Bertsch, os 
Wurtemberg, Germany, and has seven 
children living — Christian, Louise, Otto, 
Albert, Edwin, Fred and Martha. 

COL. LORENZO P. SANGER (de- 
ceased), Joliet; was born in Littleton, N. 
H., March 2, 1809. When but a small 
boy, he accompanied his father's family to 
Livingston Co., N. Y., at that time a vast 
wilderness in the then Far West, and, like 
other pioneers, could only obtain the com- 
mon log schoolhimse education in the win- 
ter, and in summer worked on a farm or 
in a saw-mill. When the Erie Canal 
(termed at that time, in derision, "Clin- 
ton's Ditch") was begun, his father, David 
Sanger, took a contract on the Canal, at 
Rochester, and afterward at Black Rock, 
about 1824, where he remained until the 
Erie Canal was completed. At this time 
but three steamboats were running on Lake 
Erie, and Lorenzo P. Sanger went on the 
Pioneer as steward. In the fall of 1826, 
his father removed to Pittsburgh, Penn., and 
engaged in heavy contracts on the Penn- 
sylvania Canal, and continued until com- 
pleted, finishing near Johnstown, Lorenzo 
having charge of a part of the work. 
When about 20, he took a contract to 
build a lock near Livermore, Penn., and 
was known as the "boy contractor." When 
this was finished, he went into the mer- 
cantile bu.siness at Blairsville, Penn. He 
married Rachel Mary Denniston, of Den- 



712 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



niston's Town, Westmoreland Co., Penn., 
Feb. 3, 1830, and, the same year, removed 
his store to that phice. About 1831, he 
joined J. Noble Nesbit at Freeport, Penn., 
in sinkintr a salt-well. After drilling sev- 
eral hundred feet, they struck a large flow 
of salt water, and with it what the salt 
men termed "that infernal American or 
Seneca oil," since known as petroleum ; and 
as the value of the oil was not then known, 
the well was abandoned and he lost all. 
From Freeport he went on the Beaver Ca- 
nal and built a lock and dam twelve miles 
above Beaver, at the mouth of Kanakanes- 
sing Creek. When this was completed, he 
removed to Miamisport, Ind., and engaged 
in heavy contracts on the Indiana Canal. 
His work was on the Indian Reservation, 
and was completed amid many discourage- 
ments, the country being almost a wilder- 
ness and very unhealthy. In 1835, he 
started in the then fashionable way of 
traveling, viz., on horseback,' to St. Joseph, 
Mich., and joined Gen. Hart L. Stewart, 
now of Chicago, in merchandising and 
warehouse business, and steamboating on 
the St. Joseph River. At the letting of the 
Illinois & Michigan Canal, in June, 1836, 
Stewart, Sanger & Wallace contracted to dig 
Sections 156 and 157, on the heavy rock ex- 
cavation above Loekport, 111. The next 
season, he removed permanently to Illinois, 
and followed the Canal to La Salle, where 
he built lock No. 15. He next formed a 
company and took the contract to improve 
the rapids of Rock River at Sterling, 111. 
In March, 1843, he joined Smith Gal- 
braith in a line of stages from Chicago to 
Galena, via Dixon, and the next year pur- 
chased Galbraith's interest. While at Ga- 
lena, he was elected State Senator. In 
1847, Frink & Walker, Sanger & Co., Da- 
vis & Moore, and Neil, Moore & Co. united 
and formed the Northwestern Stage Co., 
embracing Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wis- 
consin, Iowa and Missouri, Mr. Sanger 
removing to St. Louis and taking charge 
of the western division until 1851, at 
which time the firm of Sanger, Camp & 
Co. contracted to build the western division 
of the Ohio k ^Fississippi Railroad, after 
completing which, Sanger, Stewart & 
Truesdail took the contract for liuilding 
the North Mi-ssouri Railroad from St. Louis 
to Macon, Mo. Both of these roads were 
heavy enterprises, through comparatively 



new countries, and involved the engaging 
of hundreds of subcontractors. Both 
have become important trunk lines. In 
1857, the State of Illinois let to Lorenzo 
P. Sanger and Samuel K. Casey, under 
the firm name of Sanger & Casey, the con- 
tract to build the State Penitentiary at 
Joliet, and in June, 1858, leased to them 
the convict labor of the State, the convicts 
being then confined in the Penitentiary at 
Alton, the commerce and discipline of the 
latter being in charge of W. A. Steel until 
July, 1860, when the last of the convicts 
were removed by him to the new Peniten- 
tiary at Joliet. During the last named 
year, he removed to Joliet, and, in 1862, to 
a farm one mile northwest of the city. 
Having, during his busy life, been the em- 
ployer of tens of thousands of men, and 
the nation at this time being in the midst 
of the war of the rebellion. President Lin- 
coln wrote to Gov. Yates to send Mr. 
Sanger a commission as Colonel and request 
him to join the army in Tennessee and 
Kentucky for staff duty or whatever his 
heakh would enable him to do. This was 
done, and Col. Sanger immediately threw 
up his business and joined the army in 
Kentucky, where he remained until his 
health was almost entirely gone, when he 
was compelled to return home in a prostra- 
ted condition, from which he never fully 
recovered. In 1865, Col. Sanger and W. 
A. Steel, under the firm name of Sanger 
& Steel, opened quarries north of and ad- 
jacent to Joliet, which proved to be the 
best limestone yet found in America, and 
which they developed into a very large 
business, employing from three to four 
hundred men and a hundred horses, the 
canal and railroad also pas.sing through 
their works. Though Missouri, Wiscon- 
sin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois patron- 
ized their works largely, the United States 
Government was their heaviest customer 
for material to build the Rock Island Ar- 
senal, Marine Hospital in Chicago, Custom 
Houses at Des Moines, Iowa, and Madison, 
Wis., etc. The same year, 1865, Sanger, 
Steel & Co. took the contract to deepen 
the twenty-one rock sections of the Illinois 
& Michigan Canal. This was to remove 
solid limestone sixty feet wide and ten feet 
deep, the object being to remove perma- 
nently the lift-lock in Chicago and Jack's 
lock near Loekport. Col. Sanger died in 



JULIET TOWNSHIP. 



713 



Oakland. Cal., where he had cone for the 
l)eii('fit of his hialth, on March 23, 1875, 
and wa,s buried in Oakwood Cemetery in 
Joliet. He had three children — Maj. W. 
D. Sanuer. who served as an aid on Gen. 
Sherman's staff in the late war, and died 
in St. Louis in November, 1873; Frances 
Louise, wife of Hon. W. A. Steel, of Jol- 
iet, and Henry A. Sanger, now of Flor- 
ence, Ala. Col. Sanger, although a man 
of imyielding purpose and rugged charac- 
ter, was kind-hearted in hi.s public dealings, 
and exceedingly tender in the private and 
domestic relations of life. 

HON. W. A. STEEL, proprietor of the 
Joliet Stone Quarries, Joliet ; was born in 
Blairsville, Penn., Oct. 11, 1836; his 
father, Hon. Stewart Steel, was a lawyer of 
eminence in that State ; Mr. Steel, when 
about 1 7 years of age, spent a short time 
in mercantile business in Cumberland, Md., 
and Pittsburgh, Penn. ; in 1855, he came 
West and spent a short time in Joliet on 
his way to Missouri, where he built six 
miles of the North Missouri Railroad, and 
there made his first start in a business 
career which has been so eminently suc- 
cessful ; in 1857, he returned to Joliet, 
which since that time has been his perma- 
nent home. He became cashier for Messrs. 
Sanger & Casey, who had just obtained the 
contract for building the State Peniten- 
tiary. In 1858, he wont to Alton as Dep- 
uty ^Varden of the State Penitentiary ; 
then located in that city, the Warden be- 
ing Samuel K. Casey, who resided in Joli- 
et, and remained in the sole charge of the 
commerce and discipline of that institution 
until July, 1860, at which time he re- 
moved the last of the convicts to the new 
institution at Joliet ; he then entered the 
law office of Judge Newton D. Strong, of 
St. Louis, having previously pursued his 
law studies in private ; he was admitted to 
the bar in St. Louis on the 4:th of April. 
1861. On the breaking-out of the rebell- 
ion, he engaged in the construction of 
four monitors for the Government, viz. : 
the Tuscumbia, Indianola, Chillicothe and 
the Etlah, the last being a full-bloodod 
monitor ; he afterward enrolled a battalion 
of 450 men, called the National Iron 
Works Battalion : was commissioned Major 
and placed in command of the battalion, 
and stationed in St. Louis for the defense 
of that city, where he remained until after 



the close of the war. In July, 1865, Mr. 
Steel engaged with his father-in-law, Col. 
Lorenzo P. Sanger, in opening his present 
extensive quarries, the largest in the coun- 
try, the firm being Sanger & Steel, and ,so 
continued till March 1, 1871, when he 
purchased Mr. Sanger's interest, and is 
now the sole proprietor. Among the prom- 
inent buildings for which Mr. Steel has 
furnished the stone may be mentioned the 
Custom-houses at Madison, Wis. and Des 
Moines, Iowa, about sixty Court Houses 
and Jails in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, 
among them the new Court House at 
Rockford, 111., the finest in the State out- 
side of Chicago, and the St. Louis Four 
Courts ; the Government buildings at 
Rock Lsland, for which he furnished fully 
30,000 car-loads of stone ; the railroad 
bridge over the Mississippi River at Du- 
bui|ue, the United States Marine Hospital 
at Chicago, and a portion of the stone for 
new State Capitols of Illinois and Michi- 
gan, besides which are churches and private 
buildings without number. Stone from his 
quarries is to be found in the cemeteries 
throughout all of the Northwestern States. 
Besides his (juarry interests, he sank and 
worked the first shafts in the Wilmington 
coal region. In March, 1870, Mr. Steel 
was licensed to practice in the Supreme 
Court of the State, and on the 22d of 
April following, in the Supreme Court of 
the United States, and in the United States 
Court of Claims, Jan. 10, 1871 ; he has 
not followed the practice of the law except 
in the United States Courts at Washing- 
ton, and then only attending the cases of 
himself and friends. He led the move- 
ment which procureil the passage of an act of 
the Legislature empowering the city of 
Joliet to make an appropriation for the 
building of the Joliet Iron and Steel 
Works, the largest in this country, and 
with two exceptions, the largest in the 
world ; this was accomplished in the face 
of the most violent opposition, not the least 
being the Governor's veto. He was mar- 
ried Jan. 16, 1862, to Miss Frances Louise 
Sanger, daughter of the late Col. Lorenzo 
P. Sanger, of Joliet, and has three children 
— Sanger (now a student in Racine Col- 
lege), Louise and Frances. Mr. Steel has 
collected a very valuable library of 6,000 
volumes, including works on law, medicine, 
theology, science and general literature, 



714 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



among whicli are many old and rare vol- 
umes, some of whieh were printed as long 
ago as 1537 ; a further notice of this 
library may be found in the history of the 
city, in another part of this work ; he also 
inaugurated the first public library in Jol- 
iot, in 1SG7. Mr. Steel was first elected 
Mayor of Jolict in 1869, and has three 
times since been elected to the same office 

HENRY SCHIEK, dealer in wines 
and liquors, Joliet ; was born in Carlsruhe, 
Baden Baden, Germany, Oct. 25, 1842 ; 
in 1848, the family came to America and 
located in Frankfort Tp., Will Co. ; here 
he grew to manhood, and was engaged in 
agricultural pursuits for about twenty-six 
years; in 1874, he moved to Joliet and 
engaged in his present occupation. He 
was married March 12, 1866, to Henrietta 
Mueller, a native of Germany; has three 
children — Matilda, Emma, Edward. Owns 
12U acres in Frankfort Tp. 

ROBERT L. SEWARD, retired farmer; 
P. 0. Joliet ; was born in Otsego Co., N. 
Y., in 1828 ; his early life was that of a 
farmer's son ; he enjoyed the advantages of 
the common schools of his native State ; in 
1847, he began the trade of wagon-makiug 
in Portlandville, on the Susquehanna River, 
and worked under instructions three years; 
in August, 185U, he came West to Illinois, 
and first engaged in working for Rodney 
House, and continued with him two years ; 
he then engaged in carpentering about one 
year, and, in 1854, purchased a farm in 
New Lenox Tp., and followed agricultural 
pursuits about eleven years ; in 1865, hav- 
ing sold out, he moved to Jackson Tp., 
where he farmed six years; in 1871, he 
moved to Joliet, and has since not been 
actively engaged in business, except some 
transactions in real estate and loaning 
money. He was married in April, 1853, 
to Sarah M. Moore, a native of Otsego Co., 
N. Y. ; .she died in January, 1859. His 
second marriage, to Mrs. Elizabeth Ger- 
man, was celebrated in June, 1861 ; her 
maiden name was Brown, a daughter of 
one of the early settlers of Will Co. From 
the first wedlock two children were born — 
Eugene W., of Ru.s.sell Co.. Kan. ; Cora 
S. His father came with him. to Illinois, 
and died at th(! advanced atie of 89 years. 

CHARLES H. SUTPHEN, retired; 
P. 0. Joliet ; was born in Cherry Valley, 
Otsego Co., N. Y., Feb. 15, 1806; his 



father, Gilbert .Sutphen, was a native of 
New Jersey, and was of Dutch and Irish 
descent, his father, John Sutphen, having 
come from Holland some time before the 
Revolutionary war, and his mother being 
of one of the first fiimilies of Dublin, and 
came with her parents to America and set- 
tled in New Jersey about the same time. 
Shortly after the Revolutionary war the 
family removed to Cherry Valley, N. Y., 
and settled on a i'arm about four miles 
south of the village; on this farm Gilbert 
Sutphen, the father of Charles H., grew to 
manhood, and married Mary Higinbotham 
in Worcester, Otsego Co. ; she was of 
English descent, born in Rhode Island, 
and removed to Worcester, N. Y. with her 
parents when quite young. After their 
marriage, Mr. Sutphen's parents continued 
to reside in Cherry Valley until the break- 
ing-out of the war of 1812; his father 
was called upon to help defend his country, 
and joining the army, fell at the battle of 
Lundy's Lane ; his family consisted of 
five children — Julia Ann, Mary Ann, 
Charles H., Sarah and Jane, of whom the 
subject of this sketch is the only one now 
living. After his father's death, Charles 
H., then 8 years of age, was sent to live 
with his grandfather, Higinbotham, in 
Cazenovia, Madison Co., N. Y., and re- 
mained two years, attending school a por- 
tion of the time ; he afterward lived thret; 
years with one James Cagwin in the same 
county ; his mother then marrying Thomas 
Southworth, of Sherburne, Chenango Co., 
N. Y., he lived on the farm with them 
until the age of 21, with the exception of 
one year spent in attending an academy ; 
his health being impaired, he, on the 
advice of a physician, went to Boston, and 
took a voyage on a cod-fishing vessel up 
the Straits ; returning with his health 
somewhat improved, he shipped as Caj)- 
tain's clerk with Capt. Law on board the 
ship Concordia in the merchant service, 
making one voyage, and on his return to 
Boston, Capt. Law obtained him a situation 
in the Custom-house as messenger to the 
Surveyor of Customs — Elbridge Gerry, 
son of the late Elbridge Gerry, Governor 
of Massachusetts and late Vice President 
ot the United States ; in this office he re- 
mained two years, spending his evenings in 
the ac<|uisition of useful knowledge. Mr. 
Gg'ry then secured him a situation in the 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP 



715 



Pay Department of the U. S. Array, 
where he reuiaiiied eiglit years, or until 
Sept. 1, 1834. He was married in ISol 
to Elizabeth H. Dow, of Boston, and, in 
April, 18o4, ciime to Illinois and selected 
a claim at the head of Indian Creek 
(timber),. in La Salle Co. ; on a portion of 
his claim now t<tands the villatre of Karl- 
ville ; he returned for his family in Jlay ; 
left the army office Sept. 1, and started for 
Illinois, arriving safely with his family in 
his new home in October, 1834 ; he built 
a double log house on the .site of the 
present village of Earlville and went to 
farming ; in 1835, the land came into 
market, and, in 1839, he purchased 
1,000 acres, and occupied it as a stock 
farm for over twenty years; in 1853, he 
built a large brick house near where the 
log one stood; he was one of the first 
Justices of the Peace in Indian Precinct, 
Karl Tp., and held the office continuously 
for fifteen years, when he resigned ; he was 
also Postmaster of Earlville for seven 
years ; he lield many other prominent 
offices, including that of Supervisor from 
that town. He had a family of six sons 
and three daughters. Charles T. Sutphen 
was the first white male child born in the 
township ; he and Albert are in California ; 
George is in Aurora, 111., Frederick in 
Missouri, and Gilbert and William are in 
Iowa. Sarah married S. Cook, of Earl, 
now deceased. Carrie T. was the first 
white female child born in the township, 
and married W. H. Graham, of St. Louis. 
Mary married O. S. Gray, of Ottawa. 
They are now both deceased. Mr. Sut- 
pheu's wife died April G, 1870, and, in 
1871, he removed to Joliet. where he still 
resides, and married the widow of the late 
H. D. Hiiiinbotham. 

DR. GEORGE B. SALTER, dentist, 
Juliet; came t(j Joliet in 1860; he was 
born in Stark Co., Ohio, Oct. 6, 1837 ; in 
1845, his parents removed to Monroe, 
Mich., and there he lived until 1857, when 
he went to Freeport, 111., and then; learned 
dentistry; in 1859, he removed to White- 
water, Wis., and one year later came to 
Joliet, as above stated, and has practiced 
dentistry here ever since ; he has been a 
member of the State Dental Association 
since 1867, and in 1877, was a delegate to 
the American Dental A.ssociation. He 
serVed one term as Vice President of the 



' Joliet Lilirarv and Historical Society. He 
was married Jan. 13, 1864, to 31iss Mat- 
tie KUis, of Wbitewater, Wis., and has 

I one daughter, Viola B. 

HON. ANTON SCHEIDT, dealer in 
hardware, tinware, stoves and house-fur- 
nishing goods (Scheldt & Smith), Joliet; 
was born in Schoenenburg, Alsace, France, 
Jan. iiO, 1827; in 184U, he came to the 
United States ; spent one year in the State 
of New York, and then came West, re- 
maining a short time in Chicago, and com- 
ing to Joliet iu 1850 ; the first two years 
he worked in a wagon and plow shop in 
Homer Tp., and in April, 1852, was 
married to Elizabeth Palmer, of Joliet, 
who was born in Harthaem, in the King- 
dom of Baden, Germany, in 1824, by 
whom he has four children ; the same year 
(1852), he built the Chicago IIou.se, on 
Bluff St., and kept it as a boarding-house 
until 1862. In 1857, he entered into 
partnership with Sebastian Stephen in the 
brewery business; in 1862, he purchased 
his partner's interest, enlarged the brew- 
ery, and run it until 187-i, when he leased 
it to Henry Eider, the present occupant. 
In 1875, he entered upon his present busi- 
ness, with his son-in-law, Paul Smith ; 
besides their regular line of hardware busi- 

I ness, they are large contractors and manu- 
facturers of all kinds of galvanized-iron 
work, etc. Mr. ScjiJieidt has served eleven 
years on the Board of Aldermen, being 
first elected in 1861 ; in 1874, he was 
chosen Mayor of the city of Joliet, holding 
the office one year ; he has also served 
three terms on the Board of Supervisors. 
JOSEPH STEPHEN, manufacturer 
and dealer in harness, saddles, etc., Joliet^ 
is a son of John Stephens, who came to 
Joliet in 1846, and is now a resident of 
this city ; he was born in Grassendorf, 
Alsace, b'rance, Feb. 17, 1837, and came, 
with his father's family, to this country in 
1845, and, after spending one year in 
Ohio, came to Joliet as above stated ; he 
learned his trade of a harness-maker with 
John Bergen, in Joliet, completing his 
apprenticeship when he was 15 years old, 
after which he worked at his trade in 
various places in this State and Iowa 
for six years ; he then went to Waco, 
Texas, where he remained till the break- 
ing-out of the rebellion, when he found 
himself obliored to either take sides with 



716 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



the South or leave the country ; he 
chose the latter alternative, and returned 
to Joliet; m the fall of 1801 , he began his 
present business. He was married Nov. 
12, 18G1, to Miss Antonette Helmel, who 
was born in Rinough, Alsace, Aug. 4, 
1832, and came to tliis country, with her 
parents, in early childhood ; they have 
five children : Lottie L., Oscar J., Ed- 
mund R., Herman and Bertram. Mr. 
Stephen is at present School Trustee, to 
which office he was elected in April, 1877. 

JOHN SCHEIDT, manufacturer and 
dealer in pure candies and dealer in fruits, 
nuts, etc., Joliet; was born near Stras- 
bourg, Alsace, Jan. 1, 1829; he came to 
this country at the age of 15, with his 
parents, who settled in Bloom, Cook Co., 
111. ; he continued to reside in Bloom un- 
til 1856, when he came to Joliet, and kept 
a boarding-house up to 1864, after which 
he engaged in his trade of a carpenter. 
He was elected City Marshal in 1863, and 
served two years ; he has twice been a 
member of the Board of Aldermen, and is 
now on the Board of Supervisors, having 
been elected in April, 1878. Mr. Scheldt 
erected his store and established his pres- 
ent business in 1877. He was married 
Aug. 6, 1850, to Miss Catherine Clos, of 
Crete Tp. ; she was born in Prussia Feb. 
22, 1831, and came to Will Co., with her 
parents, in 1840 ; they have nine children — 
Frank A., Mary A., John, Peter A., 
Michael, Edward, Henry B., George and 
Katrina A. 

G. SCHULTE, editor and proprietor of 
the Wochenhlatt fur Nord-lllinoix, Joliet ; 
was born in the Province of Westphalia, 
Germany. Feb. 25, 1841 ; he was educated 
as a civil engineer in the Academy of Ber- 
lin, where he graduated in 1862 ; in 1865, 
he came to America, and for two years was 
connected with the Abend Zeitung, Chi- 
cago ; he was then engaged for a year as 
a civil engineer on the Hell Gate excava- 
tions in the East River, New York ; he 
then returned to Chicago, and was em- 
ployed by Cook Co. for three years as a 
civil engineer in the preparation of the 
" Cook County Atlas ;" then, after spending 
a short time on the Illinois Stunts Zeitung, 
he came to Joliet and purchased the Woch- 
enhlatt^ a live German newspaper, estab- 
lished in November, 1877, and having a 
circulation of some two thousand copies. 



J. B. SOLLITT, Jr., Deputy Sheriff of 
Will Co., Joliet; was born in Yorkshire, 
England, Sept. 9, 1843; when he was 
about 6 years old, his parents came to this 
country and settled in Chicago, where they 
resided until 1855 ; they then came to Will 
Co. and settled in the township of Will, be- 
ing among the early settlers of that town- 
ship ; they now reside in Peotone ; Mr. Sol- 
litt followed farming until March, 1877, 
when he engaged in business in Peotone ; in 
March, 1878, he was appointed to his 
present position. He was married Feb. 
26, 1868, to Miss Jennie E. SoUitt, of 
Chicago, and has three children living — 
Delia E., Elmer A. and Beatrice V. In 
1874, Mr. SoUitt was elected Supervisor, 
and served three years, until his removal 
from the town, when he resigned the office ; 
he served nearly three years as Township 
Treasurer, two years as Commissioner of 
Highways and about three years as School 
Director. 

HON. W. A . STRONG, President of the 
Joliet Gas-Light Co., Joliet ;• was born in 
Waterloo, Seneca Co., N. Y., Oct. 3, 1828 ; 
he made his home there until 1850, when 
he came to Illinois, settling in Joliet, where 
he shortly afterward engaged in the hard- 
ware business ; in 1863, he was elected 
Mayor of the city of Joliet, holding the 
office one year ; he has served several years 
as member of the Board of Aldermen \ 
he was at one time encrao;ed in the stone- 
((uarrying business, the firm being Strong 
& Davidson, and owning and operating the 
quarry formerly known as the Wilson 
Quarry ; he continued this business three 
years; in 1865, he was elected President 
of the Joliet Gas-Light Co., which had 
been organized in 1858. 

FREDERICK SEHRING, proprietor 
of the Columbia Brewery, Joliet; has lived 
in Will Co. since 1847 ; he came with 
his parents from Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- 
many, where he was born on the 19th of 
December, 1834; the flimily settled first in 
Frankf )rt Tp., and, in 1854, came to Jol- 
iet and engaged in the hotel business ; Mr. 
Sehring remained in the hotel until 1860, 
when he entered the office of the Circuit 
Clerk as Deputy under B. F. Russell ; in 
1863, he was elected Treasurer of Will 
Co., and re-elected in 1865; in 1868, he 
purchased the Columbia Brewery, which 
he has since remodeled, putting in steam- 



JOLIET TOWNSmr. 



71T 



j)owcr and all the modern iniprovcd ma- 
chinery ; it is now one of the largest and 
finest breweries in the State, outside of 
Chicago ; Mr. Seliring has been Alderman 
from the Second Ward for the past five 
years. He was married Jan. 16, 1805, to 
Miss Louise Bez, of Wurtcniberg, Ger- 
many, and has seven children living — Su- 
san E., Louis J., Margaret, Henry, Her- 
man F., Annie and George. 

P. SHUTTS, of the firm of Zarley 
& Co., publishers of the Joliet Signal, 
Joliet; was born in Ulster Co., N. Y. 
Oct. 7, 1849; when he was about 5 years 
of age, he accompanied his parents to Co- 
lumbia Co., N. Y., when they spent a year 
in preparation for their departure for the 
West ; in 1855, they came to Will Co., and 
settled about two and a half miles south- 
east of Joliet ; Mr. Shutts received an 
English education in the old Babylon stone 
schoolhouse, and in the fall of 1872, en- 
tered the Signal office to learn the print- 
er's trade. He became one of the propri- 
etors in March, 1876. 

D. Y. SMITH, foreman of the car re- 
pairs, Chicago & Alton Railroad, Joliet ; 
was born in Fallsbury, Sullivan Co., 
N. Y., June 9, 1833; he remained on the 
farm until he was 16 years old, and then 
learned the carriage and sleigh making- 
business, which he followed until 1856, 
he then went to Scranton, Pa., and was 
employed for a year in the car shops of the 
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Kailroad 
Co., from which place he went to Dubuque, 
Iowa, in the ear department of the Du- 
buque & Pacific Railroad Co. (now the 
Illinois Central) ; in July, 1860, he came 
to Joliet, and was employed under the 
master mechanic until 1863, when he be- 
came foreman of the car repairs, which 
position he still occupies. He was married 
Jan. 21, 1863, to Mrs. R. E. TuUock, of 
Joliet ; she is a native of Delaware Co., N. 
Y., and has been a resident of Joliet for 
the past thirty-three years ; they have one 
daughter — Zuleika Y. Mrs. Smith has 
also three children of her former marriage 
— Jannette A. Tullock (now Mrs. Hurd), 
Avalena (wife of L. P. Baker, of Winter- 
set, Iowa; and George A., of Joliet. 

F. G. SMITH, carriage manufacturer, 
Joliet; was born in Walpole Co., N. H., 
May 1, 1837 ; when he was about 12 years 
of age, he removed with his parents to 



Essex Co., N. Y.; at the age of 13, he 
entered his father's carriage manufactory, 
and there thoroughly learned every branch 
of the carriage business, which he con- 
tinued in E.ssex Co. until 1876, when he 
came to Joliet ; he first located at 54 and 
56 Bluff street, and recently removed to 
Van Buren street, opposite the Episcopal 
Church ; he was the first to introduce the 
Concord side-spring in Joliet, and is also 
the sole manufacturer in this city of the 
New Empire cross-spring buggy. Mr. 
Smith was mavried in October, 1855, to 

Miss Abbie R. , of Mont- 

pelier; she died in March, 1875, leaving 
one son, Franklin A., now engaged with 
his lather. He was married again Oct. 11 , 
1877, to Miss Ella A. Haywood, of Will 
Co. 

JOHN I. ST. JULIEN, manufacturer 
and dealer in harness, saddles etc., Joliet; 
was born near Strasbourg, Alsace, on the 
15th of February, 1840 ; in the fall of 
1854, he came to this country in company 
with his uncle, who settled in Naperville, 
Du Page Co., 111.; he remained with his 
uncle two years, and in 1856. came to 
Joliet , and learned the harness maker's trade 
with Henry Schrader, and worked at that 
until May, 1870, when he started in busi- 
ness for himself. He was married Oct. 6, 
1869, to Miss Helen Stephen, daughter of 
John Stephen, of Joliet, who came in 
infancy with her parents from Alsace ; they 
have four children — Albert J., Frank E., 
Adelia M. and Ida L. 

CONRAD SCHWEIZER, wholesale 
dealer in wines and liquors, Joliet ; is a 
native of Switzerland ; he was born Nov. 
25, 1838, end resided there until 1859, 
when he came to the United States, com- 
ing direct to Joliet ; he had previously 
learned the trade of a carpenter, and, after 
reaching Joliet, he followed carpentering 
and farming till 1863, when he went to 
California and remained until the spring of 
1870 ; while there he was engaged in min- 
ing and working at his trade ; on his 
return to Joliet, he engaged in his present 
business. 

JOSEPH STOOS, retired, Joliet ; wis 
born near Strasbourg, Alsace, May 28, 
1826; his father was an extensive eon- 
tractor, employing as many as 300 men ;. 
his son Joseph remained at home and 
learned thoroughly every branch of the 



718 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES ; 



builder's art ; in 1855, he came to America, 
locating at once in Joliet ; he followed his 
trade here for about two years when he 
began contracting for himself; he did the 
carpenter work on St. John the Baptist's 
Church, and superintended the building of 
Porter's brewery, Werner's Hall, the Jeff- 
erson Street Bridge and Scheidt's brewery, 
besides erecting over two hundred other 
buildings in Joliet, which stand as monu- 
ments of his skill ; in 1876, having ac- 
quired a comfortable fortune, he retired to 
give place to younger men and those more 
needy of employment. Mr. Stoos has 
served two years in the City Council of 
Joliet. He was married Feb. 29, 1857, 
to Miss Mary Hossinger, who was born 
near Sti'asbourg Dec. 1-4, 1837, and came 
to this country with her parents when 8 
years of age. They have had eight chil- 
dren, four of whom are living — Theresa 
A., Mary E., Josephine M. and Alfred P. 
MRS. MAGDALENA STEPHEN, 
Joliet; was born in Schoenenburg, Can- 
ton Sultz, Alsace, Feb. 24, 1826 ; she is a 
daughter of Peter and Barbara Wei.shaar, 
and came to this country with her parents, 
who settled in Madison, Cook Co., 111., in 
1844 ; her father died April 15, 1862 ; her 
mother is .^tili living in the full possession 
of her health and faculties, at the age of 
88 years ; she was married July 12, 1851, 
to Michael Blattner, of Madison. He was 
a native of Schoenenburg, Alsace, and 
came to this country at the same time with 
the Wei.shaar family ; he died Oct. 2, 1852, 
leaving one daughter, Mary Philomena, 
wife of Dr. John Scheuber, of Fond du 
Lac, Wis. On the 14th of July, 1858, 
the subject of this sketch manned the late 
Sebastian Stephen, an ei^rly and respected 
citizen of Joliet. He was born in Dower- 
dort, Alsace, on the 8th of September, 1810 ; 
was apj>renticed to the tailor's trade at the 
age of 14 years, and at 22 entered the 
French army and served seven years ; in 
the spring of 1843, he came to this coun- 
try, and tlie following year, 1844, settled 
in Joliet ; he followed the merchant tailor- 
ing business until about 1857, when he 
engaged in the brewery bu.siness; in 1862, 
he resumed merchant tailoring, which lie 
continued till his death, which occurred 
July 4, 1873; he was first married in 
1845, to MLss Angeline Orte, who died in 
December, 1852, leaving three sons — Se- 



bastian, Aliosius and Henry. Mrs. Ste- 
phen still resides in Joliet, surrounded by 
her family of six children — Frances C. 
(now Mrs. Michael Meyer, of Joliet), Maiy 
E., Theresa J., Joseph A., Rosa K. and 
Jennie A.; one daughter, Mary Magdalena, 
died in February, 1857. 

FRED X. STUFFLER, hardware mer- 
chant, Joli t; was born in Wilmington, 
Will Co., 111., April 1, 1848 ; when he was 
1 year old, the family moved to Joliet ; 
here he grew to manhood, attending the 
city schools until he began the active duties 
of life ; at the age of 183'^ears, he left home 
and engaged in learning the tinner's trade ; 
in this he served an apprenticeship for three 
years ; in 1874, he engaged in business for 
himself at his present location. He was 
married April 23, 1872, to Mary A. Bar- 
thelme, a native of Joliet, Will Co. ; has 
two children — Josephine, Laura. Mr. 
Stuffler started in life with limited means, 
and what property he now owns has been 
accumulated by personal industry and good 
management ; he has a good and growing 
trade ; he handles only the best of material, 
and suffers no work to go out from his es- 
tablishment without'his personal inspection. 

I. D. STEVENS, secretary Solar Stove 
Workl, Joliet ; was born in Joliet, Will 
Co., 111., in 1851 ; he enjoyed the advan- 
tages of the public schools of his native 
town, gaining thereby a good common- 
school education ; in 1863, he entered the 
employ of John Virgil, now of Chicago, 
as clerk in his confectionery store; here he 
remained two years ; he next clerked one 
year for W. R. Ramsdell, in his grocery 
store ; in 1868, he and his brother W. D., 
purchased the lumber-yard of Otis Hardy, 
and conducted the business two years ; he 
next entered the employ of the U. S. Ex- 
press Co., and labored for it about two and 
one-half years ; he then engaged as clerk 
for the Solar Stove Works, and at the 
death of the late William N. Moore, the 
founder of the establishment, Mr. Stevens 
was chosen Secretary, a position he still 
holds ; these Works employ some 40 men, 
turning out annually 3,000 cook-stoves, 
40,000 pieces of hollow- ware, consuming 
3,000 tons of the best pig-iron in their 
production. Mr. Stevens was married in 
1872, to Kate Flack, a native of Aurora, 
Kane Co., 111. ; has two children — Morti- 
mer and Jennie. 



JOLIKT XOWNSHIP. 



719 



F. W. SCIIROEDER, -roeery mer- 
chant, Juliet ; was l)orii in Hesse Cassel, 
German J, April iJO, 1848 ; when but 3 or 
4 years of age, he came, with his family, 
to America, his lather first setilinjj; in New 
York, where he engaixed in the tannery 
business ; about the year 1854, the family 
came West to Cincinnati, Ohio ; liere Mr. 
Schroeder attended school a number of 
years; at the age of 14, he went to Toledo, 
and engaged in learning the drug business ; 
at the age of 20 or 21, he went to Kala- 
mazoo, Mich., and took a course in Par- 
sons' Business College ; he next located in 
Lemont, Cook Co., and entered the employ 
of B. Van Buren, having general charge 
of the drug store, post oflSce, etc. ; in 1872, 
he opened a drug establishment in Joliet ; 
in the fall of 1873, he bought his present 
place of business, and, in the fall of 1874, 
formed a copartnership with John Keyes 
for three years ; in 1877, he bought out 
his partner, and, since that time, has con- 
■ducted the grocery trade alone. He was 
married June 1, 1872, to Mrs. Alice M. 
Iroson, a native of England; she has one 
child by her former husband. Mr. Schroe- 
der, though comparatively a young man, 
has gained for himself a fine reputation as 
a thorough business man, and his trade is 
almost double that of any other business 
house on the East Side ; the stock is full 
and complete at all times. 

HENRY SCHOETTES, wines and 
liquors, Joliet ; born in Westphalia, Ger- 
many, July 11, 1842, where he lived un- 
til 2G years of age, when, after receiving a 
common-school education, he learned and 
worked at the cigar trade, until he emi- 
grated to Ani'Tica, landing in 2^ew York in 
1868; coming directly West, he located 
in St. Louis for three years, being engaged 
in manufacturing of cigars; from there he 
removed to Streator, 111., and engaged in 
in the manufacture and sale of cigars, 
when he came U.t Joliet in 1871, and was 
employed as foreman in J. Beohenberger'a 
cigar-factory for one year; in 1872, he 
engaged in the saloon business, on Bluff 
St., for one year, when, in 1873, he pur- 
chased his present place of business and 
residence, at No. 159 South Chicago st. 
Mr. Schoettes was elected Alderman of the 
ward in which he lives, at the last munici- 
pal election of Juliet. He was married in 
1873, to Elizabeth Moder ; they were the 



parents of two children, one of whom is 
decreased ; the name of the one now living 
is Marv F. 

BENJAMIN STEVENS, butcher. 
Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Joliet; born in Win.slow, 
Bu.,'kinghanishirc, England, Oct. IG, 1824, 
where he learned and followed the slaughter- 
ing busines until he came to America, in 
1 854, and settled in Joliet the same year and 
engaged in the slaughtering Itusincss, which 
business he has since followed ; Mr. Stevens 
has slaughtered nearly all the meat used in 
Joliet for nearly twenty years. He mar- 
ried, July 18, 1857, Mi.ss Elizabeth Bo.s- 
som ; she was Iwrn in Oxford, England, 
June 23, 1831 ; she came, with her 
parents, to America in 1854. Mr. Stevens 
has about thirty acres of land one mile 
south of Joliet. They have one child liv- 
ing — Ann, born Oct. 3, 1858. 

WILLIAM SYMINGTON, farmer. 
Sec. 19; P. 0. Joliet; born in Lancaster 
Co., Penn., in January, 1811, where he 
lived until 14 years of age, when he re- 
he moved to Erie County, living thereuntil 
came to Will Co., 111., in November, 1837 ; 
on April 2, 1850, he started overland for 
California, arriving at Sacramento Aug. 
10; he went directly to the mines and 
followed mining for six months, meeting 
with good success ; on Feb. 22, 1851, he 
sailed from San Francisco and arrived home 
the 15th of May; he settled upon his 
present place in 1852 ; he has 150 acres of 
well-improved land, which he has accumu- 
lated by his own energy and industry. 
He married, June 12, 1837, Dorothy 
Haarer ; she was born in Wurtemberg, 
Germany, Oct. 8, 1815, and came to this 
country when 1 6 years of age ; they are 
the parents of seven children — Sophia, 
Charles W., William H., Dolly, Rosa E. 
A., Alice A. Warren A.; two deceased 
were Margaret and Catharine. Mr. S. has 
b(!en School Director for more than twenty 
years. # 

DANIEL C. SLEEPER, Assistant 
Deputy Warden Illinois State Peniten- 
tiary, Joliet; born in Sandown, Rocking- 
ham Co., N. 11., July 5, 1832, where he 
lived until 13 years of age, when he went 
to Methuen, Mass., learning the trade of 
hatter; which trade he followed until 1854, 
when he emigrated West and settled in 
Joliet as clerk for Ilayden Bros., in the 
grocery business, for two years ; then one 



720 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



year in the same business with S. 0. 
Simonds ; in 1858, he was appointed, by 
Warden S. K. Casey, as keeper and assist- 
ent book-keeper of the IlHnois State Peni- 
tentiary ; in tlie spring of 1864, he visited 
Montana for his health and engaged in 
mining for three and a half years, when he 
returned to Joliet and was again appointed 
keeper until 1 869, when he was appointed 
Assistant Deputy Warden, which office he 
has since held, with the exception of nine 
months, from July, 1871 to April. 1872, 
when he was Assistant Superintendent of 
the lleform School, at Pontiac, 111. Mar- 
ried, June 20, 1861, to Alice M. Richard- 
son; she was born in Joliet April 11, 
1839 ; they are the parents of three chil- 
dren—Kate F., born May 1, 1862; 
George B., born May 29, 1864; Daniel 
C, Jr., born May 19, 1874. 

MRS. NANCY STEVENS, farmer; P. 
0. Joliet ; the widow of Robert Stevens, re- 
sides just easD of the limits of the city of 
Joliet ; she was the daughter of Lewis 
Kerchcval and was born in Ohio, and came 
to Illinois when 16 years old, with her 
father's family, in the fall of 1830 ; she 
remembers vividly the winter of the 
"deep snow'' and its accompaniment of 
seventy. In 1835, she was married to 
Robert Stevens., whose portrait is found on 
another jxige of this work ; Mr. Stevens 
was born in Kentucky, but reared mostly 
in Ohio, and at an early age immigrated to 
Indiana, where he remained several years, 
coming to Illinois, and to Joliet Tp., in 
1831, and settled upon the place where his 
widow still lives; Mr. S. was Captain of a 
military company in Bartholomew Co., 
Ind., until he removed to Illinois, in 1831, 
and retained his sword and uniform until 
the time of his death, which occurred Jan. 
6, 1864; he was elected the first Sheriff 
of Will County, but, not desiring office, 
refused to qualify ; during the fright occa- 
sioned by the Sac war of 1832, Mr. S. took 
his family to Danville, 111., and sent them, 
under safe escort to the Indiana settle- 
ments, while he returned and raised a 
crop on his claim. Mr. S. was twice mar- 
ried, his first wife was Lydia Ann Pence, 
and three children were the fruit of this 
marriage — all dead ; by his last wife, who 
survives him, he had six children — Lewis 
K., Thomas J., James, Sarah Ann, Mary 
A. and Albert. 



' M. W. S HURTS, railroad contractor, 
Joliet ; was born in Hunterdon Co., N. J., 

! Aug. 29, 1820 ; in 1846, he left New 

j York for California, being a member of 

I the 1st N. Y. Regt. I. V., raised for the 
Mexican war. Col. J. D. Stevens command- 

' ing ; they were live months and eight days 
making the voyage, and on reaching San 

I Francisco, theirs was the only vessel in 
the harbor; at that date, there were just 

I six houses in the now prosperous city of 
San Francisco, and these were unworthy 
the name; the regiment was not actively 
engaged in the war, though it made sev- 
eral excursions after the Indians ; in 1849, 
he returned to New York, occupying seven 
months on the eastern passage ; in 1850, 
he came West, and located in Fulton Co., 
111., where he engaged in various pursuits ; 
in 1859, he returned East, and subse- 
quently went to Virginia ; here he con- 
tracted on the Richmond & York River 
R. R.; afterward, he contracted work on 
Long Island and on the south side of 
Long Island; in 1870, he again came 
West, and subsequently went to Texas and 
engaged two years in railroading ; he built 
240 miles of the Houston & Texas Cen- 
tral R. R.; in 1875, he made a trip to 
Europe, and since then has spent much 
time in pleasure-seeking. His first wife 
was Agnes Hageman, a native of New 
Jersey ; his second marriage was to Maria 
Simonds, a native of New York State. 
For the past few years Mr. Shurts has 
led a retired life, and is now devoting him- 
self to the improvement of his farm, near 
the limits of the city, on which he hopes 
to lead a quiet and happy life during his 
declining years. 

CONRAD TATGE, Joliet; the sub- 
ject of this sketch was born in Hesse- 
Cassel, Germany, May 26, 1827 ; he was 
raised to fanning pursuits, and, in 1848, 
came to this country, i-emaining in Chi- 
cago until 1851, when he came to Will 
Co. and settled in the town of Crete; he 
purchased land from the Government and 
opened a farm ; he was the first German 
to settle upon the open prairie ; those who 
had come previously had located in the 
timber along the creek ; he remained on 
his farm until 1865, when he rented it 
out, and purchased another adjoining the 
village of Crete, to which place he removed ; 
he was elected Commissioner of Highways 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



721 



in 1853, and Township Collector in ISo-t ; 
in 1858, he was chosen Justice of the 
Peace, and held that office ten years, re- 
sinnini!; in 18li8, upon being eh^cted 
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Will Co.; 
he tlion removed to Joliet, and, in 1872, 
was re-elected to the same office, serving 
until 187G ; he joined the Republican 
party on its organization, in 185G, and 
has been a member ever since ; he was 
married Nov. 11, 1851, to Miss Sophia 
Waissmann, of Hanover, (Jcrmany; they 
have had twelve children, eight of whom 
ai-e living, viz., Caroline, 'Sophia, William 
II., Knuiiilia, Gustavus, Emma, Amanda 
and Juliana. 

WILLIAM TONNER, City Clerk, 
Joliet ; was born in Centre Co., Penn., June i 
2-1, 1816; he was raised on a farm, re- 
ceived a thorough English education, and, 
at the age of 1(3 years, engaged in teach- I 
ing ; he taught about twelve years, six of j 
which he taught in one school ; in 1840, j 
he came to Will Co., and engaged in farm- 
ing, in Plainfield ; in 1850, he made the 
overland trip to California, where he spent 
two years in mining, returning in 1852 ; 
in 1857, he was elected County Clerk, and 
removed to Joliet ; he held the office for 
eight years; from 18G5 until 1877, he 
was engaged in investing money, buying 
and selling property, etc., also having con- 
siderable interests in the oil regions of 
Pennsylvania ; he was elected City Clerk 
in December, 1877. He was married 
Feb. 5, 1839, to Miss Catherine J. Shref- 
fler, of Centre Co. Pa., and has one 
daughter living — Mary Alice (now Mrs. 
Henry A. Sanger, of Florence, Ala.); one 
daughter, Myra J., wife of R. H. Willis, 
died in Omaha, Neb., Oct. 31, 1867. 

CARY THORNTON, retired, Joliet, | 
whose portrait appears in this work, was 
born in Bucks Co., Penn., Oct. 3, 180U; | 
his ancestors were Quakers, and came to 
Pennsylvania with Wm. Penn in 1681 ; the ' 
subject of this sketch lived with his parents 
until he was 23 years of age, assist- 
ing upou the farm ; in 1823 he moved to I 
Michigan, and, after remaining one year, 
moved to Rochester, N. Y. ; engaged in trade 
of carpenter and joiner up to 1836, when | 
he came to Will Co., and settled in Troy Tp., 
on Sec. 34, farming up to the time of his 
removal to Joliet, in 1866, where he still 
resides, at the good old age of 79. He 



has been Commissioner of Highways, and 
althougii repeatedly solicited, he would 
never accept of any other office in the gift 
of his neighbors. He married Miss Lucy 
Ware ( the daughter of Benjamin and Betsy 
Ware), at Rochester, N*. Y., Oct. 21, 
1832 ; she was born in Putnam Co., Vt., 
July 18, 1810; they had three children, 
two living — Rutledge, born Aug. 1, 18;{4, 
and Beulah, born Oct. 15, 1839, and mar- 
ried to John Keyes, of Joliet, Oct, 21, 
1872; and one deceased, Sidney, born 
June 22, 1846, and died April 4, 1848. 
Mr. Thornton is the oldest living settler of 
Troy Tp. 

CORNELIUS C. VAN HORNE, de- 
ceased, formerly of Joliet Tp., was born in 
Hunterdon Co., N. J., April 13, 1794; 
shortly afterward, his parents removed to 
Amsterdam, N. Y., where his father, a 
widely-known clergyman of the Dutch 
Reformed Church, lived tuauy years. In 
the spring of 1832, Mr. Van Home 
came to Illinois and located in Will 
(then Cook) Co. He died in Joliet 
July 7, 1854. In 1813, he married 
Elizabeth Veeder, who died, in Will Co., 
in 1838 ; in 1842, he married Mary M. 
Richards, who is still living ; by his first 
marriage he had seven children — Abra- 
ham C, born in 1815 ; Simon V., born in 
1818 ; Anne, born in 1822 ; Cornelius P., 
born in 1824; Margaret C, born in 1826 ; 
Barney W., born in 1829, and Andrew J., 
born in 1832 ; by his second marriage he 
had five children — William C, born in 
1843; Augustus, born in 1844 ; Elizabeth, 
born in 1846 ; Theodore C, born in 1849, 
and Mary, born in 1852 — all now living. 
He was a man of great force of character, 
and of liberal education, and had much to 
do with the shaping of events in the early 
days of Will Co., in the history of which 
his name occurs often and very prominent- 
ly ; he gave his name to the locality known 
as Van Home's Point. He was succes- 
sively a Postmaster and a Justice of the 
Peace, and, upon the incorporation of Joliet 
as a city, he was chosen its first Mayor ; 
after a long, active and useful life, he died 
in 1854; one of the victims of cholera. 

F. E. VOIGT, foreman Motive-Power 
Joliet Cut-off R. R., Joliet; was born in 
Leipsic, Saxony, Grermany, Aug. 23, 1841 ; 
the family emigrated to America in 1846, 
and stopped in Chicago a short time ; 



722 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; 



thence to Michitran City, Ind., and was 
the first German family settlinjr in the vil- 
la<re and vicinity ; here, F. E. grew to 
manhood, ani learned his trade; in 1858, 
he started to California on foot, taking the 
overland route and the life of a pioneer 
and adventurer ; in the latter part of 1859, 
he reached his destination, having spent 
almost two years with the Indians, making 
his way from tribe to tribe ; the winter of 
1858, he spent in Salt Lake City; after 
reaching California, he engaged in mining, 
and was very successful, making some 
$4,000 ; leaving the mines, he went to 
San Francisco, and, on account of a rheu- 
matic aifection, he sailed to Honolulu, in 
the Sandwich Islands; here, after a so- 
journ of some months, having effected a 
cure, he visited the West India Isles. 
During the late war, he was in the employ 
of the Government, in the locomotive de- 
partment of the Nashville & Chattanooga 
R. R. He was afterward engaged in con- 
structing and rebuilding locomotives at 
Nashville, Tenn. ; subsequently, he was 
engaged as roundhouse foreman on the A. 
& M. R. R., at Vincennes, Ind. ; here he 
remained four years; thence to Seymour, 
Ind,, where he had charge of the shops as 
master machinist two years; he then went 
to Europe, and remained one year; in the 
fall of 1872, he returned, and took the 
position of roundhouse foreman at Michi- 
gan City, on the M. C R. R. ; in 1877, 
he came to his present position. He was 
married July 16, 1872, to Emma Theme, 
a native of Germany. Owns real estate in 
Michigan City and Vincennes, valued at 
85,000. 

GEORGE L. VANCE, manufacturer 
and dealer in furniture, Joliet ; was born 
in Caledonia Co., Vt., March 13, 1840; 
he received an academic education at the 
Newbury Seminary, teaching school during 
the winter vacations ; on becoming of age, 
he engaged in the boot and shoe business 
in Rutland, Vt. ; in 1864, he went to 
Washington, as corresponding clerk in the 
Internal Revenue Bureau, remaining until 
1870; in the mean time, he pursued a 
course of law studies in the law depart- 
ment of Columbia College, in Washington, 
graduating, and receiving his degree of 
Bachelor of Laws, in 1867. The same 
year, he was married to Miss Lizzie K. 
Fowler, of Brooklyn, L. I., who died in 



1873, leaving two children — George A. 
and Gracie F. In 1870, he removed to 
Houston Co., Minn., and engaged in busi- 
ness. He held the office of Postmaster 
three years and Justice of the Peace two 
years; in 1873, he resigned these offices, 
disposed of his business and removed to 
Joliet, and entered upon his present busi- 
ness. He is an active Sunday-school 
worker, has been Superintendent of the 
Baptist Sunday school for the past five 
years and President of the Will Co. Sun- 
day School Association for the past two 
years. 

CHARLES WERNER, proprietor of 
Werner's Hall and Werner's stone (juarry, 
Joliet ; has been a resident of this city for the 
past twenty-seven years, having come direct 
from Germany in 1851 ; he was born at 
Frankfort-on-the-Main ,in Hesse-Darmstadt 
Sept. 14, 1828 ; when about 15 years old, 
he was apprenticed to the mason's trade, 
which he continued until 1851, when he 
came to this country, landing in New York 
in July, and coming direct to Joliet ; he 
soon afterward engaged in working at his 
trade, and, in 1865, engaged in the stone- 
quarrying business, which he still continues; 
he, with his brother, 'built the Will 
County Jail and Sheriff's house, the 
Joliet Union Schoolhouse, St. Mary's Cath- 
olic Church, besides a large number of 
prominent buildings in different parts of 
the city; in 1868, Mr. Werner purchased 
Young's Hall, on Chicago street, which 
burned down in 1874, and the following 
year he erected Werner's Hall on the same 
site, at a cost of $20,000 ; he served as 
Town Collector in 1877. He was mar- 
ried July 17, 1853, to Miss Mary A. 
Goeble, of Joliet, a native of Prussia ; they 
have one child — Bertha. 

0. R. WESTMANN, photograph artist, 
Joliet ; was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, 
Germany, Feb. 18, 1833; his father, 0. R. 
Westmann, Sr., was the Russian Envoy to 
the Court of Hesse-Darmstadt, and died 
when Orloff R. was but two years of age ; 
the family remained in Darmstadt ; he was 
educated in the Gymnasium of Darmstadt, 
graduating when about 15 years of age; 
he then entered the German army as' a 
cadet, and, after the revolution of 1849, 
was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 
the 1st Infantry ; he served until 1853, 
when he came to this country ; he first 



JOLIKT TOWNSHIP. 



72a 



cngaired in clerkiti":; in Chic;i<;o ; in 1855, , 
he purchased a farm in Du Page Co., and 
engaged in l:irmin<; tor two years ; in 1857, 
he went West, and spent fifteen years in 
Iowa, Nebra.ska, Colorado and New Mexico, 
eniratjred in un'rchandisinij; and niininir, and, 
during tlie last few years, in photographing, 
making views for the Smithsonian Insti- 
tutiuu at Washington ; returning in 1872, 
he spent two years in Ottawa, and, in 
1874, came to Joliet, and purchased the 
gallery of Mr. John Kdgworth, the oldest 
gallery in the city, where he does as fine 
work as can be found in this country or 
Europe; lie makes all kinds of pictures, 
large and small, and guarantees satisfaction 
to his customers. 

S. H. WHITED. retired, Joliet; was 
Wn in Albany Co., N. Y., May 24, 1808 ; 
when he was • 19 years old, he went to 
Herkimer Co., and there learned the 
jtainter's trade ; ho worked for three years 
for $30 a year, and clothed himself, and 
at the end of that time had 850 laid by, 
principally the result of extra work ; this 
illustrates the habits of industry and econ- 
omy which have been characteristic of his 
whole life ; in 1852, he came to Chicago, 
settlinti; in Joliet the followinti' year ; he 
worked at his trade till 1855, when hepur- 
chased a farm at Twelve-Mile Grove, and 
followed farming two years, at the end of 
which time he returned to Joliet. In 
October, 1861, he volunteered in Col. Wil- 
son's Mechanics' Fusileers in Chicago, and 
remained until the disbanding of the regi- 
ment in February following ; about three 
months later, he again enlisted in Capt. 
Ford's cavalry company, attached to Cush- 
man's regiment, serving three years, prin- 



cipally engaged in scouting 



service ; in 



1865, he returned to Joliet. It should be 
mentioned that while living in Herkimer 
Co., he held successively the othces of 
Corporal, Sergeant, First Lieutenant and 
Captain in the New York State Militia, 
holding a commission five years. He was 
married in 18o2 to Miss Sarah Hinchman, 
of Little Falls, N. Y.; they have five chil- 
dren living — Flias H., ticket agent of the 
Michigan Southern and C, 11. I. & P. Kail- 
road Companies in Chicago; Harriet A., 
Charles W., Jessie 0., also in the ofiice with 
his brother in Chicago; and Jerry H., train 
dispatcher and division operator on the 
Central Pacific Railroad at Carlin, Nevada. 



CHARLES W. WIIITED, Joliet; 
son of S. H. ^Vhited ; was born in Little 
Falls, N. Y., March 17, 1842, and came to 
Joliet with his father's family, and, at the 
ajje of 15, entered the ofiice of the Joliet 
Republicdn to learn the })rinter'H trade. In 
June, 1861, he enlisted in Capt. Dan- 
forth's company, which was first a jiortion 
of the 4th Mo. Cav., then was attached to 
the 53d 111. I. V., and finally became Co. F, 
13th 111. Cav. ; he served two years, and 
was discharged by reason of ill health. He 
then entered the employ of the C, R. I. & 
P. R. R. Co. as fireman, and afterward on 
the Chicago & Galena Railroad; he then 
went south as a In-idge carpenter with 
Sherman's army, returning at the close of 
the war ; since then he has had charge of 
the telegraph repairs on the C. & A. R. R. 
three years; on the C, C. & I. C. R. R. 
two years ; five years on the U. P. R. R. 
from Omaha to Ogden ; since 1873, he 
has been in the employ of the Western 
Union Telegraph Co. He was married 
June 12, 1871, to Miss E. W. Putnam, of 
Little Falls, N. Y., and has one child — 
Samuel C. 

E. H. WEBB, dealer in dry goods and 
notions (firm of Chittenden, Northrup & 
Co.), Joliet; was born in Columbia Co., 
N. Y., May 20, 1844; when he was but 
2 years old his parents removed to 
Columbia Co., Wis. ; he received his edu- 
cation in a select school at Poynette, Wis., 
and at the State University at Madison ; in 
February, 1 863, he enlisted as a private in 
Co. H, 36th Wis. V. I., and served eight 
months in the army of the Potomac, par- 
ticipating in the battles of the Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna 
and Cold Harbor, besides smaller battles 
and skirmishes; at Cold Harbor he was 
disabled, and while lying in the hospital he 
received a commission as Second Lieutenant 
of Co. A, 51st Wis. V. I., and wiis trans- 
ferred to the A\'estern army in Missouri ; 
returning from the war, he entered the 
dry goods business at Portage City, Wis. ; 
he afterward spent three years in business 
in Dakota Territory, and, in 1871, came to 
Joliet and engaged in his present business. 
He was married May 20, 1874, to Miss 
Mary Chittenden, of Plainfield, 111., daugh- 
ter of George N. Chittenden, one of the 
early settlers of Will Co. ; they have two 
children — Elizabeth W. and Winuifred. 



724 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Mr. Webb is an active worker in the M. E. 
Church, of which he has been a member 
for the past eight years. 

EDMUND WILCOX, Justice of the 
Peace, Joliet; is one of the early settlers of 
Will Co. ; he came here in 1836 from 
Onondaga Co., N. Y., where he was born 
Sept. 18, 1816. After receiving a pre- 
paratory education at Schenectady, N. Y., 
he entered Hamilton College, Clinton, N. 
Y., when 15 years of age, graduating in 
1835 ; the following year, he came to 
Joliet, and was employed as a clerk one 
year, until he became of age, when he 
engaged in the mercantile business in com- 
pany with Charles Clement, and two years 
later purchased the interest of Mr. Clem- 
ent, and afterward changed to an exclu- 
sively dry goods business; in 1858, he 
sold out and became one of the originators 
of the Joliet Gas-Light Company; was its 
first President, and superintended the 
erection of the works ; he personally super- 
intended the gas works for five years, at 
the end of which time he resumed mer- 
chandising, which he continued until 1870 ; 
he was one of the gvntlemen designated by 
the act of the Legislature incorporating 
the city of Joliet in 1852, to lay ofi" the 
wards and organize the city government ; 
he was chosen the first Alderman from the 
Third Ward (now the Fourth ) ; served 
four years, and was again elected in 1870, 
serving two years; in 1854, the year of 
the cholera, he served the city as Mayor 
pro tern, in the absence of the Mayor ; he 
has been repeatedly solicited to become a 
candidate for Mayor, but has as often 
declined ; he was a member of the Board 
of Supervisors in 1S56, 1857 and 1859 ; he 
was prominent in obtaininsr the charter of 
the C, R. I. & P. R. R., and was one of the 
committee appointed to confer with Eastern 
capitalists, their efibrts resulting in the 
building of the road by the owner of the 
Michigan Southern Railroad. Mr. Wil- 
cox was elected Justice of the Peace in 
1877. He was married March 23, 1845, 
to Miss Sarah M, Green, of Washington 
Co., N. Y., and has three children living — 
William G., Fred C. and Charles C. 

GEORGE H. WOODRUFF, dealer in 
drugs, medicines, books, stationery, etc., 
Joliet; was born in Clinton, Oneida Co., N. 
Y., Aug. 16, 1814, and resided there until 
1834 ; he entered Hamilton College, Clin- 



ton, N. Y., in 1829, at the age of 15 years, 
and graduated four years later ; he then 
entered tlie law oflBce of Hon. Daniel Gott, 
in Pompey Hill, Onondaga Co., N. Y., and 
remained one year, at the end of which 
time he came West, as the clerk of M. H. 
Demmond, Esq., the original proprietor of 
the western portion of the city of Joliet ; 
he remained with him until the organiza 
tion of the county in 1836, when he was 
elected County Recorder, and re-elected in 
1839 ; on leaving the Recorder's ofiice, in 
1843, he entered upon his present business ; 
in 1838, he was elected County Judge, but 
resigned the office at the end of one year ; 
he served one term as a member of the 
Board of Trustees under the village organi- 
zation ; Mr. Woodruff is the author of 
" Fifteen Years Ago ; or. The Patriotism 
of Will County," and of two very admir- 
able lectures, entitled " Forty Years Ago," 
and consisting of reminiscences of early 
times in Joliet ; he is the author of the 
" General History of Will County" in this 
work, besides which he has been an occa- 
sional lecturer and contributor to news- 
papers and periodicals for many years. 

GEORGE WOODRUFF. President of 
the First JNational Bank, Joliet ; was born 
in Watertown, Jeff"erson Co., N. Y., Dec. 
7, 1812, and lived there until his removal 
to Will Co. in 1 836 ; on his arrival in Jol- 
iet, he engaged in the grocery and provis- 
ion trade, which he continued until 1841 ; 
he the spent two years in farming in Plain- 
field Tp.; at the end of which time he re- 
turned to Joliet and resumed trade ; in 
1852, he built an elevator and engaged in 
the grain business, in which he continued 
until 1864; some time after engaging in 
the grain business, he sold out his store, 
and about 1857 or 1858, associated him- 
self with F. L. Cagwin and others in estab- 
lishing the Joliet Bank ; he afterward pur- 
chased the interest of his partners, and in 
1864, the First National Bank was organ- 
ized with Mr. Woodruff as President and 
his son, Frederick W. Woodruff, as Cash- 
ier ; he was a partner with others in build- 
ing and operating the Joliet Woolen-Mill, 
which was burned down after running sev- 
eral years ; he is one of the original stock- 
holders of the Joliet Gas-Light Co., of 
which he has been Treasurer for a number 
of years ; he has served one term on the 
Board of Supervisors and one or two terms 



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JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



727 



as AUloruiiin. He was married May 9, 
1888, to Miss Dorothy Smitli, a native of 
Rutland, Jofl'erson Co., N. Y..aud has two 
childron living — Frederick W. and Mary 
C. (now Mrs. J. F. Wilcox, of Joliet) ; 
one daiiuhter — Cnrnelia M., wife of J. E. 
Bush, of Joliet, died in January, 1876. 

J. F. WILSON, Cashier Joliet Iron and 
Steel Works, Joliet ; was boru in the town 
of Cunda, N. H., in 184G ; in 1850, his 
father, George Wilson, came West to Illi- 
nois, and settled on a farm near the present 
village of Monee ; in 1857, the family 
moved to Joliet ; here, at the age of 14 
years, J. F. began the work of life for him- 
self in the capacity of clerk ; he enjoyed 
the advantages of the city schools, and his 
early training in business life gave him 
those necessary rjualifications which come 
to one only through the channels of per- 
sonal experience, and which have so well 
<[ualified him for his position of trust and 
responsibility; in 1874, at the re-opening 
and re-organization of the Iron and Steel 
Works, he was chosen to the position he 
now occupies. 

HORACE WEEKS, attorney at law, 
Joliet; was born in Homer Tp., Will Co., 
111., Sept. 20, 1837 ; he is the fifth son of 
Dr. Nathaniel Weeks, one of the pioneers 
of Will Co., who came West in 1833 and 
located in what was called Yankee Settle- 
ment ; his father moved to Lockport when 
Horace was quite a small boy ; here he re- 
ceived his education and grew to manhood; 
at the age of 13, he was employed in the 
office of the Lockport Telegraph, edited 
and published by Dr. J. F. Daggett and 
C. D. Holcomb, and played the " devil " 
for about two years ; in the summer of 
185-i, he learned the art of telegraphy and 
had charge of the office at Sheffield, on the 
C. & R. I. R. R.; here he continued about 
six months, and then returned to Lockport, 
and was engaged in the drug business in 
connection with his father two years ; he 
was next employed as book-keeper in the 
banking house of J. S. McDonald till 1851), 
when he entered upon a course of legal 
study under the direction of E. C. Fel- 
lows ; this he prosecuted two years ; sub- 
sequently, he was clerk in the post office at 
La Salle one year, wa.« clerk in the Canal 
office at Chicago one year and held the same 
position in the Provost Marshal's office at 
Joliet two years ; in 1865, he was employed 



as ticket agent and operator on the C. & R. 
I. R. R. at Joliet three years ; in 1868, he 
was admitted to the bar, and the same year 
was employed as Deputy Circuit Clerk, a 
position he held until 1872 ; in February, 
1872, he was appointed Collector of In- 
ternal Revenue for the Sixth Di-strict, and 
occupied the office till January, 1876 ; in 
1877, he was appointed Master in Chan- 
cery, and still occupies the office. He was 
married in 1862 to Mary Munson, a native 
of Illinois; has five children — Fannie E., 
Fred B., Kittie, Curtis M. and Henry S. 
WILLIAM WEUNKR,C(jntractor and 
stone quarryman, Joliet; was born in 
Frankfort-on-thc-Main, in Hesse-Darm- 
stadt, Grermany, Feb. 5, 1831 ; at the age 
of 16, he was apprenticed to the mason's 
trade, and, at the age of 20, came to the 
United States ; he spent three months in 
Stroutsburg, Penn. ; when, his brother 
Charles having come to Chicago, he came 
West and joined in the Hickory Creek 
Settlement, in the town of Frank Ibrt, in 
October, 1851 ; the Rock Island Railroad 
had just begun building and Mr. Werner 
began work on it as a mason, continuing 
during the winter as a laborer ; in the 
spring of 1852, he settkid in Joliet and 
began business as a contractor, the first 
building he built being for the late Deacon 
John Beaumont; he engaged in the 
(£uarry business about twenty years ago, 
and has built nearly all the prominent 
stone buildings in Joliet, among which 
may be named the Will County Jail, 
Union Schoolhouse, West Side Presby- 
terian and St. Mary's Catholic Churches, 
etc.; in 1856, he was elected Commis- 
sioner of Highways and Treasurer, serving 
three years; in 1861, he was elected a 
member of the Board of Aldermen, and 
served four years ; he was chosen one of 
the Draft Commissioners in 1863, to fill 
the quota of the town ; he served on the 
Board of Supervisors seven years, from 
1867 to 1874. He was married Dec. 7, 
1853, to Miss Barbara Goeble, a native of 
Prussia ; they have four sons living — Fred- 
erick Wilhelm, now a medical student at 
the University of Michigan; Frederiek 
Carl, George Washington and Edwart. 
Mr. Werner is a leading member of the 
German Lutheran Church in Joliet, of 
which he has been President for the past 

fifteen years. 

6 



728 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



GEORGE WHITTIER, manufact- 
urer of lime, Joliet ; born in Sommers- 
worth, N. H., Nov. 27, 1830, where he 
lived until 6 years of age, when he re- 
moved with his parents to Philadelphia, 
living there one year, then to Penobscot 
Co., Me., where he lived until 1861, 
being engaged in milling, lumbering and 
farming ; at the above date, he came to 
Illinois and settled in Will Co., where 
he has since resided ; he owns one-half 
interest in the limekiln, which is operated 
under the firm name of J. Whittier & Co.; 
the above firm manufacture and ship large 
quantities of lime to points further south. 
He married, Feb. 10, 1854, Sarah M. 
Lindsay ; she was born in Chester, 
Penobscot Co., Me., Jan. 16, 1832; 
they are the parents of three children now 
living, viz., AnseHne, Lucy M. and 
Clare. 

DR. FRANCIS WOERNDLE, drug- 
gist and chemist, Joliet ; born in Austria, 
April 14, 1817 ; he is a graduate of 
pharmacy and chemistry of the University 
of Vienna, Austria, known as one of the 
first in Europe, and has had many years' 
experience as a practical apothecary and 
chemist in different cities in Europe and 
America ; he emigrated to America, land- 
ing in New York in 1849 ; after spending 
seven years in the East, a portion of which 
time he was engaged in business and the 
balance in traveling and visiting diiferent 
cities, he came West, and, in 1857, he 
engaged in Joliet in the drug business, in 
which he has been very successful for a 
period of twenty-one years ; his success 
may be attributed to his thorough practical 
knowledge of his business and the close 
personal attention he has always given to 
the same. 

JOHN YOUNG, retired; P. 0. Joliet; 
was born in- Ulster Co., N. Y., July 18, 
1798 ; he remained at home on his father's 
farm until he was 1 5 years of age, when he 
went to work at the milling business under 
his father, who was also a mill proprietor ; 
he followed this business until the age of 
22, and then engaged in general merchan- 
dising in the village of Esopus, Ulster Co., 
and afterward removed to Greene Co., N. 
Y., where he was married, in 1825, to Miss 
Caroline Thompson, daughter of Rev. 
James Thompson, an Episcopal clergyman 
of Greene Co. He continued in the mer- 



cantile business eight years, and theni 
moved to Brooklyn and established the 
Brooklyn Collegiate Institute, which he 
continued till 1844, when he removed to 
New Y'^ork City and opened a private select 
school. In 1849, he came to Will Co. 
and entered 560 acres of land from the 
Government in the present township of 
Manhattan, to which he added by purchase, 
from time to time, until at one time he 
owned over nineteen hundred acres, being 
one of the largest land owners in the town- 
ship ; on the organization of the township 
in 1850, there were but ten voters living 
in the township, the most of whom were 
from New Y'ork ; Mr. Young proposed 
Manhattan as the name of the new town- 
ship, and it was immediately adopted. He 
was chosen the first Supervisor, and held 
the ofiice eight years; in 1851, he became 
President of the Will Co. Agricultural 
Society, serving until 1859 ; he has also 
held several subordinate offices, among 
which may be mentioned School Trustee 
Commissioner of Highways, etc. His 
wife died in 1858, leaving a very promis- 
ing family of three sons and one daughter 
— James T., now President of the New^ 
York Printing and Dyeing Company ; 
Mansfield and Edward, now among the 
substantial business men of Joliet, and 
Caroline E., wife of Francis L. Cagwin, of 
Joliet. Mr. Young continued to reside in 
Manhattan until May, 1876, when he re- 
moved to Joliet, and now resides with his 
son Mansfield. 

HENRY YOUNG, dealer in cigars and 
tobacco, Joliet; was born in the Province 
of Lorraine, France, Nov. 17, 1825 ; he 
came to this country in 1847, landing in 
New York August 2 ; he resided eleven 
years in Bufi"alo and vicinity, coming to 
Joliet in 1858 ; he engaged in keeping a 
public house, which he continued until the 
fall of 1874, when he engaged in his pres- 
ent business. He held the office of Con- 
stable for eight years, first being elected 
about 1860 ; in 1863, he was elected Street 
Commissioner, and, in 1873, Alderman 
from the Fourth Ward (now the Second), 
serving two years. He was married Oct. 
13, 1849, to Miss Mary Brack ; she was 
born in Luxemburg, Germany, May 5, 
1832 ; they have had ten children, eight 
of whom are now living — Margarita (Mrs. 
Julius Krause, of Joliet), Catherine, Henry 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



729 



J., Charles .]., Emma, Eosa, Elizalieth 
and Joseph; oiio son, Niehohis, lost his 
life, with several others, by lightning while 
attending worship in St. John the Baptist's 
Church, July 31, 1804; another son, 
Henry, died in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1854. 

MANSFIELD YOUNG, tea merchant, 
Joliet ; was born in the city of New York, 
Dec. L^fi, 1830; at the age of 18, he came 
West with his parents, who settled in Man- 
hattan Tp., in this county, in 1849, where 
he assisted his parents in farming up to 
1854, when he came to Joliet and engaged 
in the grain trade for a year, when he re- 
turned to New Y^ork, remaining there until 
1864. engaged in the manufticture and sale 
of hats ; in January of the same year, he 
went to California by way of the Isthmus, 
and was engaged in the hat business in 
San Francisco up to September, 1865, 
when he returned to New York ; in June, 
1868, he came to Joliet, where he has 
since resided ; he is at present engaged in 
the tea business. Was Town Clerk and 
Road Commissioner at different times 
during his residence in Manhattan Tp., 
and also one of the Supervisors. He 
married Miss Sarah Walker, daughter of 
Joseph Walker, of New York City, May 
6, 1863; she died in Joliet on Ascension 
Day, May 25, 1876, and now sleeps 
in Oakwood Cemetery ; she was a lady 
universally beloved, and her early death 
was greatly deplored by a large circle of 
friends and acquaintances. Mr. Young 
was a member of the famous 7th Regiment 
N. Y. N. G., and, in 1861, went with that 
regiment to the seat of war, being the first 
reuiment to march. 

CALNEH ZARLEY, of the firm of 
Zarlcy & Co., publishers of the Joliet 
Signal, Joliet ; among the very earliest 
settlers of Will Co., was the family of 
Reason Zarley, who emigrated from Pike 
Co., Ohio, in 1821), and, after spending 
two years in Vermilion Co., 111., settled in 
Joliet Tp., Will Co., in 1831, where he 
resided until his death, in 1859; his 
widow still lives on the original farm, 
being the oldest living inhalntant of the 
township ; of the eight children living at 
the time of their father's decease, three 
have since died, and the remaining five 
are all residents of Will Co.; the subject 
of this sketch was born in Pike Co., Ohio, 
April 21, 1825, and came to Illinois with 



the family, as above stated ; he remained 
at home on the farm until he attained his 
majority, in 1846; he thtn entered upon 
his editorial career as one of the editors 
and i)roiiriotors of the Joliet Sicfnal, in 
whicli capacity he has continued for the 
past thirty-two years, during which time 
the Signal has continued to increase in 
circulation, popularity and influence; in 
politics, it has always been Democratic; it 
now has a bona-tide circulation of 1,200 
copies weekly ; Mr. Zarloy held the office 
of Postmaster of Joliet during the admin- 
istration of Presidents Pierce and Bu- 
chanan, and has served for the past nine 
years on the Board of School Inspectors. 
He was married in 1862, to Miss Annie 
Keegan, of Joliet, and has five children — 
Katie. Edwin C, Sarah, Frank W. and 
Thomas K. 

W. H. ZARLEY, Clerk of the County 
Court, Joliet ; a son of Reason and Sarah 
Zarley ; was born on the Zarley home- 
stead, in the town of Joliet, on the 21st 
of February, 1837 ; he remained at home 
until he was 17 years old, when he entered 
the Joliet Postoffice as Deputy Post- 
master, under his brother, Calneh Zarley, 
serving under him seven years, and, on 
the appointment of J. L. Braden as Post- 
master, in 1861, he was retained as deputy 
for two years, until his election as City 
Clerk, in 1863; he held that office for 
fourteen years, until 1877, when he was 
elected County Clerk. He was married 
Jan. 30, 1860, to Miss Helen M. Patrick, 
daughter of Jacob Patrick, of Joliet, and 
has three children — Charles H., George 
P. and Ida. 

SARAH ZARLEY, Joliet. The sub- 
ject of this memoir, Sarah Zarley, was 
born in Pike Co., Ohio, Oct. 25, 1794 ; her 
maiden name was Sarah Mustard, being 
the daughter of Rev. William Mustard, 
one of the pioneer Methodists of that 
State, and is of the same faith still ; in 
1814, she was married to Reason Zarley, 
and in 1828, with' her husband and fami- 
ly, she came to Illinois and settled near 
Danville, where she resided until 1831, 
when the family moved to Joliet and set- 
tled on what is known as the Zarley farm, 
two miles south of the city, where she is 
residing at present, and has resided for the 
last forty-seven years. Mrs. Zarley is the old- 
est resident of Joliet, as well as the oldest 



730 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



living resident of Will Co; when she 
came here, Northern Illinois was a wilder- 
ness, inhabited only by Indians and wild 
boasts; with her husband, she bravely 
withstood the dan<2:;ers and hardships of 
frontier life, and aided in rearing a large 
family of children ; though 84 years of 
age. she is yet in the full possession of her 
mental faculties, and has a vivid remem- 
brance of the past; her husband died in 



1859, leaving her in charge of the farm 
and property, which she yet possesses ; she 
is the mother of twelve children, to wit, 
W. M., Lydia, John W., Susan, Calneh. 
Calvin, Linton, Sarah, Elizabeth D , 
James C. and William H.; of whom Su- 
san, Calneh, Elizabeth, James C. and 
William H. are living, and reside in Will 
Co. Indeed, few live to so ripe an age 
and have filled all the duties of life so well. 



LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP. 



JAMES L. ALEXANDER, farmer, 
P. 0. Lockport; was born in New Marl- 
boro, Mass., Aug. 22, 180.5. He was 
married to Betsy Hcaly, of Elbridsje, On- 
ondaga Co., N. Y., May 17, ISS-T; after 
marriage, he lived three years in Sodus, 
AVaync Co., N. Y., where he engaged in 
farming; in 1837, he came West and set- 
tled near Lockport, taking contracts on the 
I. & M. Canal on the section at Kankakee, 
and subsequently on Sees. 62 and 45; after 
the completion of the canal, he purchased a 
farm in the present limits of Dupage Tp., 
and occupied it in 1841; in 1860, he 
moved to the farm now owned and operated 
by his widow and son, James H. ; he died 
Dec. 29, 1876; has two children living — 
James H. and Sarah E. (now wife of C. 
W. Rathburn, of Joliet). The home farm 
contains 3S2 acres, worth $70 per acre. 
Never having sought political preferment, 
he held no offices higher than those of 
School Trustee and School Director. He 
wa.s a well-read, thorough-going business 
man ; perhaps no man in the communities 
in which he lived enjoyed the respect and 
confidence of his neighbors to a fuller ex- 
tent than did Mr. Alexander; starting in 
life a poor Iniy, he, by manly exertions, ac- 
cumulated a competency for his family, 
and, at his death, no man could truthfully 
say that he had accumulated one cent in a 
dishonest manner. 

MORGAN ASHLEY, farmer; P. 0. 
Lockport; was born in Lewis Co., N. Y., 
Jan. 29, 1818 ; at the age of 17, he left the 
East and came West to Illinois, settling in 
Plainfield; here he remained two years, 
and then moved north of the village one 
wile, to a farm, remaining six years ; he 



next moved to Dupage Tp., purchased a 
farm and remained there seven years ; he 
next moved to Lockport Tp., and located 
where he at present resides. He was mar- 
ried Jan. 21, 1843, to Emily R. Norton, a 
native of Ithaca, N. Y. ; has seven children 
— Lourina, Eli, Annie (now wife of Alva 
Culver), Harvey L., Gilbert M., Riley T., 
Preston D. Owns 200 acres, worth $12,- 

000. Held the offices of Constable and 
Collector in Plainfield ; was Justice of the 
Peace ten years in Dupage; he was ap- 
pointed Postmaster at Dupage under the 
administration of Andy Johnson ; this po- 
sition he held about two years ; is at present 
School Trustee. In addition to his com- 
mon school education, he attended for a 
time a select school at Martinsburg, Lewis 
Co., N. Y. Poor when he came West, he 
has accumulated his property through his 
own personal exertions, seconded by the aid 
of his faithful companion. 

C. ADELM ANN, farmer; P. 0. Lock- 
port ; was born in Bavaria, Germany, May 

1, 1817 ; he immigrated to America in 
August, 1846, and settled in Lockport, 
Will Co., 111., where he has resided ever 
since, excepting a temporary absence of 
about six months on the Au Sable ; he was 
a stone cutter by trade, and has erected a 
number of fine buildings in Lockport, and 
now owns some of the best and most eligi- 
bly situated business houses in town ; this 
he followed about twenty years and then 
bought and operated the tannery located 
in the south part of the village ; Jan. 11, 
1878, he sold out his business and has 
since lived a retired life on his farm ; 
own forty acres adjoining the corpo- 
ration, adorned with a fine stone res- 



LOOKPORT TOWNSHIP. 



731 



idence. He was luurrieil in Marth, 1847, 
to Mary Kuuineyer, a native of Germany; 
has six children — Peter, Mary, Charlie, 
Francis, China, Georiria. 

JAMES BAKKU, larnier; P.O. Lock- 
port was born in Nottinghamshire, Eng., 
Nov. 2, 1830 ; May 21). 1858. heimmi-rrated 
to America and first settled in Lockport, 
Will Co., 111., where he engaged in laboring 
for John Fiddymcnt ; here he remained 
one year and then moved to Wilmington ; 
after a residence of two years, he returned 
to Lockport and entered again the employ- 
ment of Mr. Fiddyment ; after three or 
four years service, he next entered the em- 
ploy of Norton &; Co., for whom he labored 
five or six years; in 1867, he moved to 
the farm of S. Wilson, which he cul- 
tivated two years ; next, to that of 
James Baker, and remained five years; 
in 1874, he moved to his present 
place of residence, three miles south 
of Lockport. He was married Dec. 
27, 1853, to Eliza Baker, a native of 
England ; has eight children — Thomas, 
Joseph, Mary A., Emeline, Elizabeth, 
James J., William and George. Possessed 
of a goodly amount of property, which he 
has gained by industry and hard toil, and 
largely deprived, through want of means, of 
an education himself, he provides as best 
he can the means for educating his chil- 
dren, and fitting them for useful citizens. 

J. A. BOYER, proprietor Lemont 
stone quarries, Lockport ; was born in Lock- 
port, Will Co., 111., Oct. 30, 1850; on leaving 
the schools of his native village at the age 
of 12, he attended a .select school at Chi- 
cago for some time, and also was a member 
of Bryant & Stratton's Business College 
two winters ; the last school he attended 
was kept by Dr. Parks, of Chicago, located 
near Graceland Cemetery ; at the age of 
16, he left off attending school, and his 
father having a contract on the deepening 
of the I. tS: M. Canal, young J. A. acted 
in the capacity of clerk tor him ; his father 
having died in 1868, he finished his con- 
tract and then engaged in opening up a 
stone quarry ; in the spring of 18G'J, he 
opened a quarry just north of Lockport, 
but finding it would not pay, he abandoned 
it; in the spring of 1871, he began oper- 
ations at Lemont ; he operates three (juar- 
ries with a large force, and finds ready sale 
for all his material. He was married Nov. 



25, 1874, to Helen C. Cook, a native of 
Chicago, 111.; has two children — Julius A. 
and Charles E. The Catholic Church, the 
finest and most costly of any in the town, 
is constructed out of material fiom his 
quarries. 

A. S. BROWN, salesman, with 
Norton & Co., Lockport; was born 
in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., Penn., May 
18, 1831 ; when 6 years of age, he came 
with the f;\mily to Ohio, his father settling 
near Canton, in Stark Co.; here he en- 
gaged in the coopering business, and his soq 
under his tuition also learned the cooper's 
trade ; after abandoning the trade, they 
engaged in farming; in 1849, the family 
came West, and settled in Wheatland Tp., 
Will Co., 111.; at the age of 22, the subject 
of this sketch left home and began farming 
for himself ; this he followed about twelve 
years ; ho then sold his farm and came to 
Lockport and opened a grocery store ; 
this he operated four years; July 13, 
1868, he entert'd the employ of Norton & 
Co. as salesman, which position he still 
occupies. He was married Oct. 27, 1853, 
to Susan Snyder, a native of Ohio ; has 
four children living — Franklin, Eda, Will- 
iam and Carrie ; six deceased. Mr. Br own 
is courteous aud accommodating, and is 
justly popular as a business man. 

JAMES BRUCE, quarryman; P. 0. 
Joliet; born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, 
Oct. 11, 1823, where he lived until 20 years 
of age, and followed the millwright business 
until he emigrated to America, in 1844, 
and settled in Will Co., 111., and engaged 
as foreman on the Illinois & Michigan 
Canal until its completion, when he en- 
gaged with Norton & Co., at Lockport, as 
millwriglit, following this business two 
years, when he engaged in the quarry 
business, which he has since followed. He 
owns one-half of what is known as Bruce 
& Co.'s quarry, situated just east of the 
Illinois Penitentiary in Joliet. He was 
married July 12, 1852, to Jane Stephen ; 
she was born in Scotland, Oct. 8, 1833 ; 
they are the parents of nine children ; the 
living are Bella G., William, Margaret, 
Ebenezer, James and Harry; the deceased 
are Georgiana. Frank and Jennie. 

WILLIAM BRADLEY, M. D., physi- 
cian and surgeon, Lockport; was born in 
West Greece, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 
17, 1837 ; in 1860, he matricidated in the 



732 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Geneva Medical College, from wliioh he 
graduated in 1864, having cunipleted a 
full course of study ; he then returned 
home, and, in connection with his father, 
practiced his profession one year ; in 18G5, 
he came West and located in liockport, his 
present place of residence, entering the 
employ of W. H. Kezler as clerk in his 
drug store ; he also served Probert and Dr. 
Daggett, successive owners of the store, in 
the same capacity ; in 1868, he opened a 
drug store for himself Was married May 
11, 1876, to Julia Parker, a native of New 
York ; has two children — Gertrude and 
^Villiam. Republican ; Congregation- 
alist. He has practiced ever since he lo- 
cated in the town, but much of his practice 
has been confined to the office. He is a 
gentleman of fine social qualities, of a 
genial disposition, such as is calculated to 
draw about him a host of friends, and is 
deservedly popular. 

C. H. BACON, M. D., physician and 
surgeon ; Lockport, was born in Albion, 
OrleansCo.,N. Y., Nov. 12,1834;inl849, 
enter'jd the High School at Rochester ; he 
remained three years, completing the full 
course ; at the age of 18, he began the study 
of medicine with Dr. Moore at Lockport, 
N. Y. ; a year later, entered the New York 
Medical University and remained t^o years ; 
at the age of 22, came West and located in 
Mokeua; AVill Co., and entered upon the 
practice of his profession ; here he remained 
two years and then came to Lockport ; in 
the winter of 1860-61, he attended the 
Chicago Medical College, from which he 
graduated March 4, 1862 ; he then re- 
turned to Lockport, his present place of 
residence ; in the summer of 1862, he 
raised a compauy of voluuteers and enlisted 
in the U. S. army as Captain of Co. C, 
100th Regiment 111. V. I.; resigned his 
position at the end of three months' service, 
and was appointed Assistant Surgeon of 
the U. S. Vol. Corps ; he was promoted to 
iull Surgeon August, 1863, and served 
until Nov. 21, 1865; during this period 
he served most of the time as Post Surgeon 
at Johnsonville, Tenn. ; he wa.s appointed 
Physician and Surgeon of the State Prison 
at Joliet, July 1, 1869, which position he 
he held till July 15, 1874. He was mar- 
ried Feb 14, 1854, to Mary L. Moore, a 
native of New Yoi-k ; has one daughter — 
Clara. Owns a fruit farm of eighty acres 



in New York. In 1876, he erected a fine 
three-story brick business house at a cost 
of S7,000. Dec. 15, 1876, opened his drug 
store, the finest in the city. Republican ; 
Methodist. Lockport Lodge, No. 538, of 
A., F. & A. M., occupies the third story of 
his building. Dr. Bacon was the first Mas- 
ter of the Lodge, and held the position a 
number of years in succession. He and 
Dr. Daggett do the leading practice of the 
city and srrounding country. 

CHARLES E. BOYER, contractor; 
Lockport. Mr. Boyer was born June 
5, 1813, in Reading, Penn.; in 1837, 
he came West, and located in Chicago, 
engaging at once in mercantile life ; in 
1839, he came to Lockport and com- 
menced business in connection with Messrs. 
Ayers & Iliff, under the firm name of 
Ayers, Iliff & Co.; he soon withdrew from 
the firm, and took a contract on the I. & 
M. Canal; in the Fall of 1844, he went to 
Galva, and engaged in a similar work ; in 
1850, he went to California and remained 
two years ; during his stay, he took a con- 
tract on the Bear River Canal, and later, 
on the levee at Sacramento City ; return- 
ing to Lockport in the summer of 1852, 
he was appointed Assistant Superintendent 
of the I. & M. Canal, and had charge of 
the Eastern Division ; this position he held 
some ten or twelve years ; the last years of 
his life were devoted mostly to dealing in 
real estate ; the Jacksonville Division of 
the A. & St. Louis R. R., extending from 
Bloomington to Jacksonville, was built 
under his immediate supervision. He was 
married April 14, 1840, to Elizabeth Run- 
yon, a native of Ohio ; has had five chil- 
dren, three living — Erurna B., Julius A. 
and Florence G. Owns 263 acres. Mr. 
Boyer was a stanch Democrat, though he 
took but little active interest in politics. 
He was chosen a member of the Legisla- 
ture in 1863, and at the time of his de- 
cease, which occurred Sept. 21, 1868, he 
was a candidate for a seat in the State 
Senate. His accomplished wife and family 
reside in one of the most eligible properties 
in the city. 

WILLIAM CAMERON, Superinten- 
dent State Machine Shops, Lockport ; was 
born in Aberdeen, Scotland, Jan. 20, 1836 ; 
he came with the family in 1848 or 1849 
to Hamilton, Canada ; here his father re- 
mained about twelve years, and then moved 



LOCKPOllT TOWNSHIP. 



733 



to London, Canada, where he died ; about 
the age of 16, William left home, and en- 
gaged in learning his trade at Kingston ; 
was an a])prentiee four years ; after ae<|uir- 
inghis trade, he worked in the shops nf 
the Great Western R. R. at Hamilton three 
or four years; he then went to the State 
of New York, and worked in various places ; 
In 1861, be came West, locating in Otta- 
wa, where he labored for Henry Foy in his 
machine shops; from there, in 1 860, he 
came to work on the I. & M. Canal, when 
the work of deepening the canal was be- 
gun ; in 1875, he came to Lockport, hav- 
ing been appointed to his present position. 
He was married in March, 1856, to Ann 
Beattie, a native of Canada; has two chil- 
dren — Andrew and Jane. Owns property 
in Lockport and some near London, Can- 
ada. 

HARVEY W. CHAMBERLAIN, 
blacksmith, Lockport; was born in Es.sex, 
Essex Co., N.Y., Feb. 22, 1843 ; in the latter 
part of the same year, the family came West 
and settled in Dupage Township, Will Co. 
In 1853, his father, a carpenter by trade, 
moved to Lockport and worked for Norton 
& Co., in erecting their mill. At the age 
of 14, H. W. went to work at his trade, 
serving an apprenticeship of three years ; 
he followed his trade until 1862, when he 
enlisted in Co. C, 100th Regiment I. V. 
I. ; he participated in the battles of Stone 
River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, 
Resaca, Dalton, Lookout Mountain, New 
Hope Church, Franklin, Nashville and 
others ; in the battle of Peach Tree Creek, 
fought July 22, 1864, he was wounded in 
the left shoulder and disabled for six 
.months ; on returning li'om the army he 
again went to his trade in Lockport. He 
was married May 7, 1868, to Asenath 
Johnson, of Lockport ; has four children 
— Fred, Willie, Flora and Jessie. 

B. B. CLARK, merchant, Lockport ; 
Mr. Clark, who is one among the earliest set- 
tlers of Will County, was born in Trumbull 
Co., Ohio, Feb. 9, 1814; in 1820, his father 
moved to Illinois and settled al)out mid- 
way between Vincennes, Ind., and Mt. 
Carmel, 111. ; a sketch of the family's re- 
movals and locations will be found in de- 
tail in the body of the work ; in 1 835, B. 
B. purchased a portion of the htime place, 
northeast of Plainfield, and went to work 
for himself ; that land he owns to-day ; in 



I 1850, he went to California; fivt; months 
were occupied in crossing the plains ; dur- 
ing the trip they ran short of provisions, 

' and lived t)n bran-bread three days ; on 
arriving at Sacramento City he engaged to 
furnish and superintend teams on the 
levee; this employment gave him the 
handsome income of §55 per day; after- 
ward, purchasing a stock of provisions, he 
went back into the mining districts and 
engaged in trade ; in 1852. he returned to 
IlliiKtis, being considerably ahead in a pe- 
cuniary point of view ; he continued ac- 
tively engaged in farming until 1868, when 
he moved into Lockport and engaged in 
the dry goods and clothing business early 
in 1860. He was married Dec. 16, 1848, 
to Harriet M. Bartlett, a native of Mas- 
sachusetts ; has had six children, three liv- 
ing and three dead. Owns 315 acres in 
Dupage Township, valued at S75 per acre. 
S. S. CHAMBERLAIN, furniture and 

I undertaker, Lockport; was born in Mon- 
roe Co., N. Y., Aug. 19, 1817; his 
father was amons the earliest settlers in 

I what is now Will Co. ; he left New York in 
January, 1833, and on the 27th of Feb- 
ruary, arrived at the head of Hickory 
Creek, now in New Lenox Tp., Will Co.; 

I Mr. S. S. Chamberlain, a boy of 15 Sum- 
mers, rode the entire distance on an Indian 
pony; a detailed account of their journey 
will be found in the body of the history ; in 

; 1837, his father sold his farm and moved to 
Peoria Co., not far from the present site of 
Peoria City; in 1844, S. S. returned to 
Lockport and engaged in house carpenter- 
ing ; in 1857, he opened his furniture 
store and undertaker's business. He was 
married in 1841 to Elizabeth Gray, a 
native of New York, sister of Charles M. 
and Capt. George M. Gray, the latter con- 
nected with the Pullman Palace Car Line, 
and the former for many years general 
freight agent of the M. S. R. R. ; has two 
sons — George M., Charles G. In connec- 
tion with his son George M., has the only 
undertaker's establishment in Joliet, 
operated by an American or Protestant. 

GEORGE B. COOK, salesman for 
Gay lord & Co., Lockport; was born 
in Jefferson Co., N. Y., July 13-, 
1838 ; in 1845, the family left New York 
State and settled near London, Can. ; his 
father was traveling salesman for the 
wholesale firm of Murray & Anderson ; in 



734 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



July, 1851, his father came to Illinois and j 
settled near Morris, on the Au Sable ; in 
March, 1852, he moved to Chicago and 
took charge of the lock at the head of the 
I. & M." Canal ; on the 9th of June 
following he died of cholera ; George B. 
remained with the family, and in the 
Spring of 1854, they moved to Lockport ; 
here, in connection with an older brother, 
he attended the lock and provided for the 
family; in 1861, he went to Channahon 
and followed various pursuits ; in August, 
1869, he took charge of a Ibrce of men 
engaged in the improvement of the Kan- 
kakee River, and afterward was engaged in 
the construction of the feeder to the I. & 
M. Canal on the same river; in 1871, in 
connection with C. E. Fowler, he opened a 
general merchandise store at the village of 
Shermanville, on the Kankakee River ; at 
the end of eight months, they closed 
out their stock, and he returned to Lock- 
port ; his family remained here, and he 
went to Chicago as foreman in the packing- 
house of Col. Hancock ; here he remained 
until May, 1873, when he entered the 
employ of J. A. Boyer as foreman in his 
quarries at Lemont ; in the Fall of 1873, 
he was employed as salesman by James E. 
Casey, of Lockport; then in the gTocery 
trade; December, 1875, he took the posi- 
tion he now occupies. He was married 
March 3, 1859, to Eliza Killeen, a native 
of Ireland; has two children — James R., 
born Dec. 3, 1859 ; George B., born Dec. 
9, 1864. 

JOHN F. DAGGETT, M. D., physi- 
cian and surgeon, Lockport. The subject 
of this sketch was born in Charlotte, Chit- 
tenden Co., Vt., Feb. 19, 1815; with a 
good common school education, he began 
teaching at the age of 16 ; he entered upon 
his professional studies at the age of 19, 
attending the medical college at Woodstock, 
Vt., in the Spring, and that of Pittsfield, 
Mass., during the Fall ; he graduated from 
Woodstock in 1836, and commenced the 
practice of medicine in 1838, at Lockport, 
his present home ; for forty years he has 
had the leading practice of the town and 
vicinity. He was married in 1842, to 
Angeline Talcott, a native of New York ; 
she came to Illinois in 1834; was sister of 
the late Mancel Talcott, of Chicago ; her 
brother, P'dward B. Talcott, assisted in 
surveying and laying out the [Uinois & 



Michigan Canal ; subsequently, he was- 
Superintendent of the St. Jo & Hannibal 
R. R., and at a later period, held the same 
position on the Chicago k Galena R. R. ; 
Mrs. Daggett died in 1844, without issue; 
his second marriage, to Cleora M. Parsons, 
of Marcellus, N. Y,, occurred in 1846 ; 
has had five children, three dead, two liv- 
ing — Belle F.jWife of Hugo VonBoehme, 
of Joliet (City Surveyor and Architect), 
and Clara P. Owns 500 acres in Lockport 
Tp. ; also a mill on the Des Plaines River, 
just below the town of Lockport ; this mill 
was built in 1836 or '37, and operates four 
run of stone. For many years Dr. Dag- 
gett did all the practical operative surgery 
of the surrounding country. In 1871, he 
was chosen to the Senate to represent the 
district composed of Will, Kankakee, 
Grundy and Kendall Counties. Repub- 
lican ; Episcopalian. Though 63 years 
of age, the Doctor bids fair to lead 
an active busy life for many years to 
come. 

REV. FATHER M. J. DORNEY, 
Pastor of St. Dennis' Catholic Church, 
Lockport ; was born in Springfield, Mass., 
March 11, 1851 ; at the age of 9 years, he 
entered the University of St. Mary's of 
the Lake, situated in Chicago, in which he 
remained a student seven years ; leaving 
there, he entered the college at Suspension 
Bridge, N. Y. ; here he remained three 
years, completing his literary course, and 
received the degree of A. B. ; one year 
after, that of A. M. ; he next entered up- 
on his theological course in St. Mary's 
Seminary, located in Baltimore ; this insti- 
tution is one among the oldest in our land, 
the grant of land on which it is situated 
having been made. by Chas. Carroll, one of 
the signers of the Declaration of Independ- 
ence ; he finished the course in December, 
her, 1873, and Jan. 27, 1874, was ordained 
a priest in the Holy Catholic Church. By 
appointment from the Bishop, he was sent 
to St. John's Catholic Church, in Chicago, 
to assist Father Waldron in the ministra- 
tions of the Church ; here he remained two 
and one-half years. Aug. 29, 1876, he 
came to his charge in Lockport ; under his 
direct supervision, a splendid stone church 
is now being erected, at a cost of $30,000, 
and which when completed will far surpass 
in size and beauty all other churches in. 
Lockport. 



LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP 



735 



AKTlIUll R. DEEMING, foreman 
grocery store, Lockport ; was born in Lie- 
cestershire, England, May 31, 1843; in 
1855, he emigrated to America, and settled 
in Lockport, 111. ; he entered the employ 
of Stephen Dowse as clerk in his grocery 
store, and remained in his employ about 
nine years ; leaving Lockport, he next 
located in Ottawa, La Salle Co., remaining, 
however, but a few months ; he next 
engaged in carpentering for a short time ; 
in 18G5, he engaged with Norton & Co., 
and at the end of six months took charge 
of their large grocery and boat stores, which 
position he now holds. He was married 
Dec. 26, 1868, to Annie M. Smith, a native 
of Illinois ; has one child — Leonora M., 
born Oct. 21, 1869. Mr. Deeming is at 
present Superintendent of the M. E. 
Church Sabbath school. 

H. O. EDDY, foreman I. & M. Canal 
yards, I-ockport ; was born in Oxford, 
Chenango Co., N. Y., March 19, 1829 ; 
at the age of 9, he came with the family to 
Lockport, his father having come the year 
before. His father was a mason by trade, 
and during the construction of the canal, 
worked upon it. At the age of 16. H. G. 
went to his trade, serving an apprentice- 
ship of five years ; in 1850, he went to 
California ; engaged in mining a short time ; 
in the winter of 1850-51, aided in putting 
up a mill on the North Fork of the Yuba 
River; he returned to Lockport about the 
1st of July, 1851 ; here his home has 
been ever since. April 19, 1861, he en- 
listed in the three months service, and on 
the 22d was in Cairo, where he superin- 
tended the mounting of all the guns of the 
battery, under Gen. Wagner, Chief of 
Artillery. This was the first battery that 
blockaded the Mississippi and brought to 
the first rebel boat. Capt. Eddy was most 
of the time in command of the fort. Novem- 
ber 22, 1 864, he re-enlisted in Cosgswell's 
1st 111. Indp. Battery, and served during 
the war ; was actively engaged in the bat- 
tles of Jackson, seige of Vicksburg, Mis- 
sionary Ridge, Cold Water, and went with 
Sherman through the Atlanta campaign. 
Since 1865, he has been in the employ of 
the canal company mo.st of the time. 
Beginning in 1868, he .spent some time in 
contracting and building bridges on va- 
rious railroads in the State ; in 1873, he 
came to the position he now occupies. He 



superintended the laying of the foundation 
of the Copperas Creek Lock on the Illinois 
River, a work of no small moment. He 
was married Sept. 12, 1852, to Mary J. 
Eyer, a native of Pennsylvania ; has two 
children — Lizzie J. (now wife of H. Rr 
Osgood, of Chicago), and Mania E. M. 

H. W. EMERY, lumber merchant, 
Lockport; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Ellsworth, Hancock Co., Maine, 
Dec. 18, 1821 ; at the age of 21, he left 
home and went to Boston, Mass., where 
he engaged in the trade of house car- 
pentering; in 1846, returned to Maine, 
and back again to Boston in 1849; in 
April, 1849, he went to California, and 
engaged one year in mining; he next .set- 
tled in Oregon City, where he engaged in 
house building ; in 1854, returned to 
Boston, and in 1855, came West to Illinois, 
and settled in Lockport; in 1860, he 
opened a lumber yard, and has continued 
the business ever since. He was mar- 
ried in 1860 to Sarah F. Bartlett, a native 
of Maine ; she died without issue. Re- 
publican ; Congregationalist. Mr. Emery 
is a member of the City Council ; he is 
highly esteemed as a man for his many 
good qualities, and is strictly upright 
and honest in all his business transac- 
tions. 

J.J. FOWSER, farmer; P.O.Plainfield; 
was born in Stark Co., Ohio, Aug. 13, 
1827 ; he remained with his parents till 
his majority, attending school winters, and 
farming summers ; in the spring of 1854, 
he came West, and settled on the north end 
of his present farm. He was married 
April 11, 1848, to Esther Ream, a native 
of Summit Co., Ohio ; she was born Oct. 
16, 1827 ; nine children have been born 
to them, of which five are living, and four 
are deceased — Elmira (now wife of G. W. 
Waisner, of South Bend, Ind.), Daniel 
F., Edwin T., Emma, Clara, living; Solo- 
mon, Newton, Diana and an infant sou 
deceased ; his present residence on the 
southern extremity of his farm was erected 
in 1856, and occupied in 1857 ; he owns 
186 acres in Sec. 6, Lockport Tp., valued 
at S70 per acre. Has held the oflfices of 
School Director and Pathmaster. He deals 
largely in horses, cattle, hogs and mules. 
Mr. Fowser is the heaviest, if not the 
largest farmer in his section, and is socially 
as jolly as he is large, and his presence is 



736 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



a synonym with his neighbors for mirth 
and iocularitv. 

JOHN A. FRASER, farmer; P. 0. 
Plainfiold ; was born in Sullivan Co., N. 
Y., July 3'), 1823; he remained with his 
parents until his majority, working on the 
farm summers, and attending school dur- 
ing the Winter months ; in the Fall of 
1849, he came West, and settled in Plain- 
field Tp., and engaged in farming ; he 
erected his present desirable residence in 
1854, and in the spring of 1855, occupied 
the same ; here he has lived ever since. 
He was married March 27, 1855, to Mary 
A. Van Horn, a native of New Jersey, 
Orange Co., N. Y.; has four children — 
Alice J., Edsel H., Clara B., Wilbur J. 
Owns 120 acres of land, valued at $8,400. 
Has held the office of School Director. 
Mr. Fraser is Republican in politics and a 
member of the Congregational Church. 
His well-cultivated farm, adorned with his 
neat and comfortable residence and out- 
buildings, breathes a spirit of thrift and 
enterprise. As an upright, square-dealing, 
honest and enterprising farmer, Mr. Fraser 
stands without a peer in his vicinity. 

EDWARD P. FARLEY, retired farm- 
er; P. 0. Lockport; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Cortland Co., N. Y., 
Aug. 21, 1816; in 1836, he left New 
York, stopping a short time in Ohio, and 
in February, 1837, came to Illinois and set- 
tled in Lockport ; soon after coming to Lock- 
port, he bought claims in Lake Co., Ind., 
and after improving them settled there and, 
and at the Grovernment land sale, at La 
Porte, bought a quartei'-section. He was 
married in 1845, to Mary A. Lotts, a na- 
tive of Pennsylvania ; he lost his wife by 
death in the early part of 1873, and No- 
vember of the same year, contracted his sec- 
ond marriage with Elizabeth Bartlett, a na- 
tive of Maine ; had one child by first mar- 
riage — Henry ; he died at the age of 9. 
Owned at one time 240 acres. Was Post- 
master at West Creek, Lake Co., Ind., 
twenty years; Justice of the Peace twelve 
3'ears, and County Assessor two years. 
Republican ; Congregationalist. He has re- 
tired from active business life to enjoy the 
honest rewards of a well-spent early life. 

JOHN FIDDYMENT, farmer; P.O. 
Lockport ; was born in Ashwellthorp, 
Norfolk Co., Eng., July 11, 1809 ; he im- 
migrated to America in 1837, and settled 



some three miles south of Joliet ; hei'e he 
engaged in farming the first year for Es- 
quire Half; the following year, he rented the 
farm and managed for himself; in the 
latter part of 1839, he moved to Joliet 
and engaged in brewing for Wade & Wood- 
rufi", remaining in their employ three 
years ; he then went into the distillery and 
was thus engaged until 1849, being a part 
of the time in company with Woodruff ; in 
1849, he came to Lockport, bought a dis- 
tillery and operated it until the spring of 
1865. In the fall of 1839, his wife and 
only son eame over and joined the hus- 
band and father at Joliet. In 1843, he pur- 
chased a farm on Flag Creek which he op- 
erated for some years. He was married in 
January, 1836, to Sophia Blogg, a native of 
England. The last years of his life were 
devoted to superintending his farm. At 
the time of his decease, Jan. 17, 1874, he 
owned 280 acres of fine farming land just 
outside the corporate limits of the city of 
Lockport. He held the office of Super- 
visor three terms. 

WALTER J. FIDDYMENT, farmer ; 
P. 0. Lockport ; only son of John and 
Sophia (Blogg) Fiddyment, was born in 
the parish of Great Milton, England, 
April 3, 1837 ; he was but 2 years of age 
when his mother crossed the ocean for 
America, his fiither having come the same 
year in which he was born ; he has always 
lived with his parents; since his majority has 
done business in company with his father. 
He was married July 3, 1862, to Ellen J. 
Clarkson, a native of Joliet, Will Co. ; 

I has had nine children, eight living, one 
deceased. At })resent he is engaged in farm- 
ing and stock raising. Has held the 
offices of Justice of the Peace, Town Clerk, 

I School Director, etc. 

J. E. GIFFIN, farmer; P. 0. Lock- 
port ; was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., 
near Carlisle, Aug. 7, 1814; in 1833, he 
came to Montgomery Co., Ohio, and r<!- 

I mained two or three years ; he next stopped 
at Oxford, Ohio, a short time ; he spent 
the winter of 1842, at the rapids of Rock 
River, in Whiteside Co., 111., engaged in 
feeding sheep; in the spring of 1843, he 
purchased a large drove of sheep and 
brought them to Oswego, and there laid a 
claim of eighty acres, which he afterward 
entered and improved. He was married 

I March 11, 1847, to Cynthia C. Rodgers, a 



LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP. 



737 



native of xVshtabula, Ohio; she was born 
Feb. 2, 1828, and came West with the 
family in 1832. In the Fall of 1850, he 
settled where he now lives, and opened up 
his farm. They have had six children 
born to them — Almira E., Martha I., El- 
liott R., Mary H., John E. and Cynthia 
A.; of these John E., died March 17, 
1862. Owns eighty acres, valued at 
$5,600. Mrs. Giffin remembers the days 
of the small beginnings of Joliet, Lock- 
port, Plaintield and other surrounding vil- 
lages ; she has lived to see the wild, 
unbroken prairie converted into fertile 
farms, and thickly studded with fine resi- 
dences ; vast areas, which, in her girlhood 
days, yielded naught but wild grass and 
countless flowers of sweetest perfume, now 
teeming with the rich golden harvest. 

JOHN GEDDES, City Meat Market, 
Lockport ; was born in Watervliet, N. Y., 
April 18, 1831 ; at the age of 12 or 13, 
lie came West to Illinois with the family ; 
his fother settled in Homer Tp., Will Co., 
and engaged in farming ; he remained at 
home till 18 years of age, when he com- 
menced the trade of carpenter and joiner ; 
this he followed between two and three 
years ; at the age of 21, he commenced 
boating on the I. & M. Canal, and was 
thus engaged three seasons ; a portion of 
the time in the employ of a Mr. Fish, of 
Joliet, and afterward in the employ of D. 
C. Norton, of Lockport ; about 1854, he 
opened his meat market in Lockport, and 
lias been thus engaged ever since. lie 
was married Dec. 24, 1850, to Martha R. 
Burdick,a native of New York; ha.s three 
daughters — Maria, Ada and Mary E. 
Owns twenty-two acres, adjoining the town, 
and a block of lots, together with a fine 
residence ; his is the oldest established 
meat market in the town ; his social quali- 
ties are excellent, and he has a host of 
friends. 

A. L. GAINES, Foreman George B. 
Norton's dry goods store, Lockport ; was 
born in Castleton, Rutland Co., Vt., Sept. 
1 1th, 1843 ; his boyhood days were passed 
in attendance upon the schools, and his 
early manhood years either as a student or 
teacher; about the age of 10, he entered 
Commercial College at New Haven, Conn., 
in which he completed a business course ; 
in 1866, he came West and located in 
Morris, Grundy Co., 111., whrre he engaged 



in the sale of dry goods ; in February, 
1873, he came to Lockport and entered 
the emj)loy of George B. Norton as fore- 
man in his dry goods establishment; a po- 
sition he still holds. He was married Oct. 
21, 1871, to Mary E. Allen, a native of 
Troy, N. Y.; has two children — llallie H., 
born Dec. 11, 1872, and Lula M., born 
Feb. 4, 1876. 

GEORGE GAYLORD, merchant and 
grain dealer, Lockport ; was born Feb. 
24, 1820, in Washington Co., N. Y.; he 
remained at home on the farm until 1839; 
when he went to Illinois, and stopped at 
Warrenville, Du Page Co., where he en- 
gaged in farm work ; during the Winter of 
1843-4, he taught school; in 1845 he com- 
menced blacksmithing in Warrenville, and 
continued the business two years ; in 1847, 
he came to Lockport, and engaged in the 
sale of dry goods, foruiing a copartnenship 
with Dennis Smith, under the firm name 
of Gaylord & Smith ; in the Fall of 1849, 
the firm was dissolved, Mr. Smith retiring ; 
Mr. Gaylord conducted the business alone 
until 1853, when the present firm of Geo. 
Gaylord & Co, was formed. A. J. Ewon 
becoming a partner ; in 1863, they 
built their large and commodious ele- 
vators, and commenced the handling of 
grain. He was married in May, 1846, 
to Ann A. Lull, a native of Vermont ; has 
eight children — Henry G., Frank ie A., 
Albin P., Willard, Edward L., Clarissa 
J., Laura E. and Robert. In 1868, he 
was chosen a member of the Legislature 
from the 43d District, and was made 
Chairman of the Committee on Canals ; the 
law authorizing the erection of a lock and 
dam across the Illinois River at Henry, 
and one establishing the rolling mills at 
Joliet, was passed during the session of 
which he was a member. Republican ; 
Baptist. 

P. N. HARTWELL, architect and 
builder, Lockport ; born in West- 
port, Essex Co., N. Y., Oct. 1, 1825; 
his educution is quite complete, comprising 
a full academic course in the County Acad 
emy; his father was a mechanic, and into the 
profession the son naturally grew up, spend- 
ing his vacation at work in the shop so that 
by the time his education was completed, 
he was also well advanced in his trade ; in 
1855, he came West, and settled in Lock- 
port, remaining about six months, he then 



738 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



moved to Marion, Linn Co., Iowa, where 
he remained until 18()-i, when he returned 
to Lockport, since which time he has been 
doing business in Lockport and Chicago, 
his home remaining at Lockport. He was 
married May 29, 18-i9,to Elmina Jackson, 
a native of Vergennes, Vt.: has three sons 
—John J., Harold W. and Fred W. Held 
the office of County Superintendent of 
Schools in Essex Co., N. Y., and seived 
five years as Assessor in Marion, Iowa ; 
was a member of the Board of Education 
eleven years in Lockport. 

WAKREN HAWLEY, farmer ; P. 0. 
Lockport ; was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., 
July 8, 1812 ; his father, Lyman Hawley, 
was born in what is now the State of Ver- 
mont, Aug. 4, 1782 ; his mother, Althea 
H. Moore, was born in West Hartford, 
Conn., Sept. 3, 1787. Lyman Hawley 
was among the early pioneers of Will Co., 
having come with his family in the Fall of 
1835; he settled just south of where his 
son Warren now resides ; here he led a 
quiet, useful life until April 29, 1844, 
when he rested from his labors. Warren 
Hawley was married in Elgin, 111., Feb. 
14, 1839, to Louisa S. Heath, a native of 
Connecticut; she came West in 1836; 
May 13, 1871, she passed peacefully away, 
leaving a devoted husband, two daughters 
and a son to mourn her loss — Mary L. 
(wife of Selah P. North), Harriet L. (wife 
of Horace Cadwallader, of Dwight, Liv- 
ingston Co.), and Edward W. (now ship- 
ping clerk for Ingraham, Corbiu & May, 
of Chicago; Edward married Katie French, 
of Madison, Wis. Warren, like his father, 
Lyman, has never changed his residence 
since he came to Illinois ; the land he owns 
to-day, 130 acres, passed from the Govern- 
ment into the hands of his father, and 
from his father to himself; here he has 
lived to see the '' Star of Empire " west- 
ward take its way, and the wave of emi- 
gration spread over the fair prairies beyond 
him, converting them into rich, productive 
farms, and where now an hundred fine res- 
idences adorn as many farms, when he first 
settled the eye could rest on no habitation 
of man ; from his home west to Plainfield, 
a distance of eight or nine miles, not a 
house was to be seen, but all was a vast 
stretch of unbroken prairie. He held the 
office of Assessor one year. He owns 130 
acres, valued at $8,000. Though past his 



three score years, he bids fair to live many 
years yet. 

HENRY HOPKINS, farmer; P. 0. 
Lockport ; was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., 
May 3, 1826; he remained at home till he 
was 18 years of age ; his early life was that 
of a farmer's son ; in February, 1-65, he 
came West to Illinois and settled near his 
present residence ; in December, 1874, he 
purchased his house, and occupied it the 
following February. He was married April 
12, 1853, to Caroline M. Sly, a native of 
New York ; has had three children — Irv- 
ing W., Eugene S., Lillian D. ; of these, 
Irving W. died in November, 1875. Mr. 
Hopkins has been very successful in his 
business transactions ; what he possesses 
to-day, he has accumulated through honest 
toil and well-directed energy. In the death 
of his eldest son he lost a most valuable 
factor from his workinir and his accumu- 
lating force ; he was a young man of more 
than ordinary promise. Mr. Hopkins owns 
160 acres, with fine improvements, valued 
at $15,000. In eai-ly life, he worked on 
the farm during the summer, and engaged 
in teaching school during the winter for 
six terms ; in this way, he saved about 
$600, a sum which, when he came West, 
started him on the road to success and 
competency. 

FRED. H. JACOBUS, Lockport Meat 
Market, Lockport; wasborn Aug. 18, 1848, 
in Kcenigsburg, East Prussia ; he immi- 
grated to America April 1, 1871, stopping 
a short time in Boston, and from thence 
came to Chicago, where he remained two 
years, engaged in working in the meat 
market; subsequently, he was engaged in 
the same business in Joliet, Wilmington 
and Mokena, in Will Co., in the latter 
place starting for himself; Sept. 15, 1877, 
he opened his present place of business in 
Lockport. He was married Nov. 23, 
1873, to Julia Scheer, a native of Will 
Co., III. ; have two children — Ida and 
Frank. By giving strict personal attention 
to business, and furnishing at all times the 
hesf the market affords, his is fast becoming 
the leading market of the town. 

M. P.' JOHNSON, meat market; 
Lockport; was born in Lockport, Will Co., 
111., July 14, 1851 ; until 15 years of age, 
he attended upon the public schools ; after 
leaving school he was employed as clerk in 
the office of the I. & M. Canal at Lockport, 



LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP. 



739 



lor two years; in 1SG9, he went to the 
office at Bridgeport and remained about 
live years; he was next eraplt>y<5d in the 
office of J. J. S. Wilson, General Superin- 
tendent of the Western Union Telef!;raph 
Company, and remained about eight 
months; he next engaged as ticket agent at 
Lockport, on the Chicago, Alton & St. 
Louis Railroad ; during the winter of 
1871-72, he was agent at Dwight, Living- 
ston Co.; Sept. 20, 1873, he opened the 
City Meat Market in Lockport. He was 
married July 20, 1873, to Emma Parks, a 
native of New York State; has two chil- 
dren — Mabel, born Aug. 9, 1874, and 
Bertie, born July 31, 1876. 

OTTO JOHNSON, boot and shoe shop, 
Lockport ; was born in Farnabo Co., 
Sweden, May 8, 1838 ; he immigrated 
to America in 1868, and settled in Lock- 
port, 111., where he has resided ever since; 
Mr. Johnson has resided in the same 
hou.se ever since he came to Lockport, first 
entering it as a boarder, and, later, pur- 
chasing!; it for himself He was married 
Nov. 2, 1871, to Lizzie Matthews, a native 
of England ; has two children — Louie G., 
John H. Republican ; member of the 
Swede Lutheran Church. Besides work 
of his own manufacture, he keeps on hand 
a fine assortment of ladies' and children's 
ready-made wear ; he uses nothing but the 
hest of stock in the manufacture of his 
boots and shoes, and warrants entire .satis- 
faction. 

GEORGE LYNN, mnfr. of boots and 
shoes, Lockport ; was born in Leicester- 
shire, P^ng., in the early part of February, 
1822; in 1832, he came with his family 
to America, his father settling first at 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ; in the fell of 1836, 
the family moved to Schuylkill Co., Penn., 
whither George followed in the spring of 
1837 ; in the Fall of 1844, he returned to 
Poughkeepsie, and in the summer of 
1852, came West and located in Lockport, 
where he has since lived. At the age of 14, 
he went to Pottsville, Penn., to learn the 
iron-molder's trade ; followed it one year, 
when he met with an accident that dis- 
abled him from prosecuting the work fur- 
ther ; he next engaged in boating for two 
or three summers and finally began the 
trade of shoemaking, though he never 
served an apprenticeship. He was married 
Dec. 28, 1843, to Ann Allison, a native of 



England ; 



has eight children — Elizabeth 
A., Louisa F., Kate A., Emma Tj., Elmira 
E., William H., Loyd G. and George H. 
While Mr. Jjynn is not a man of fini.shed 
education, yet from a course of extensive 
reading and research he has accumulated :i 
vast amount of valuable information, and 
writes many and very acceptable articles 
for the county papers. 

GEORGE M. LYND, merchant, Lock- 
port ; born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 8, 
1833 ; his father. Rev. S. W. Lynd, was a 
distinguished Baptist minister and held 
leading positions in the Church in the West, 
being at one time President of the Western 
Baptist Theological Seminary, located in 
Covington, Ky. ; afteward nmioved to 
Georgetown, Ky., Dr. Lynd still retaining 
the Presidency ; he was Pastor of the 
Church in Cincinnati nineteen yeai's ; sub- 
sequently of the Church in St. Louis, and 
later in Chicago. In 1852, George M. 
became a student in Georgetown College 
and remained three years, not, however, 
completing a full course; in 1856, he 
came West with his family to Illinois, and 
.settled at Gooding's Grove, Will Co., and 
engaged in farming ; this he pursued for 
two years, when he took the position of 
preceptor in the family of George Barnett. 
of Lockport, and was thus engaged for two 
years ; in 1 860, he entered the employ of 
S. W. Lull, as clerk in his grocery store. 
In 1862, he enlisted in Co. C, 100th 
Regiment I. V. I., and remained in the 
service till the close of the war ; he was 
mustered in as Orderly Sergeant, but by 
successive promotions arose to the highest 
position in his company, that of Captain ; 
on his return home, he formed a copart- 
nership with S. W. Lull for the purchase 
and sale of groceries ; this ho continued 
until June, 1877, when the firm was dis- 
solved, Mr. Lull taking the dry goods de- 
partment, added in 1872, and Mr. Lynd 
the grocery department. He was married 
May 4, 1874, to Mary Blount, a native 
of Illinois ; one child — Carrie. Republican ; 
Baptist. During his term of service as a 
soldier, he participated in the important 
battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Look- 
out Mountain, and in all the engagements 
in Sherman's march to Atlanta ; was at 
the battle of Na.shville, Tenn., and many 
minor engagements; was present in every 
battle in which the regiment was engaged 



740 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; 



during the term of service and escaped 
being wounded. 

JACOB F. LOTZ, receiver and shipper 
for Norton & Co., Lock port ; born in 
Blair Co., Penn., May 18, 182-i; at the 
age of 17, he worked in the Arch Spring 
Mills; in 1846, he worked in the Logan's 
Valley Mills one year ; in 1847, in the 
Scotch Valley Mills ; in 1848, he came 
West, and settled in West Creek, Lake 
Co., Ind.; thence to Dixon, Lee Co., 111.; 
in 1858, ho came to Lockport ; entered the 
employ of Norton & Co., for whom he has 
labored ever since ; he was Foreman in 
their mills for fifteen years ; for the past 
five years he has occupied the }»osition of 
receiver and shipper. He has been mar- 
ried twice. In July, 1848, he was mar- 
ried to Elizabeth Ramsay, a native of 
Pennsylvania ; she died Jan. 24, 1866 ; 
his second marriage occurred Nov. 13, 
1868, to Lucinda Ramsay, also a native of 
Pennsylvania ; three children were born to 
him from first wedlock, and four from 
second. He has been City Alderman two 
or three terms, and is at present School 
Trustee. 

JOHN H. MILLER, tonsorial artist, 
Lockport ; was born in Norderdeich, Ger- 
many, Nov. 1, 1854; till he was 14 years 
of age he attended school most of the time 
in his native country ; about the first of 
June, 1868, he immigrated with the family 
to America, his father settling in Lockport, 
Will Co., 111.; immediately after coming, 
John entered the employ of Louis Braum 
to learn the trade of barbering; he re- 
mained with him between three and four 
years . he next worked for Henry Falken- 
hagen, of Lockport, and subsequently fol- 
lowed his trade in Joliet for some months ; 
in February. 1874, he formed a copartner- 
.shipwith Louis Braum, and carried on the 
business- in Lockport until the following 
September or October, when he bought 
out his partner's interest, and has since 
conducted the business alone ; his shop is 
well located in the business part of the town, 
complete in all its appointments; he is 
polite and obliging, always at his post, and 
for an easy shave or anything in his line 
of business, we commend you to John. 

FRED. MULLER, miller, Lockport; 
was born in Prussia, Germany, Aug. 16, 
1827 ; ho immigrated to America in 1854, 
and stopped first in Chicago, but soon 



came to Lockport, and was employed at 
general work one year; in 1855, he en- 
gaged in work for Norton & Co.; in 1859, 
he went to St. Louis, where he worked at 
gardening. When the first call was made 
for troops he enlisted May 8, 1861, in Co. 
H, 5th Regt. Mo. V. I,, and served three 
and a half months; participated in the 
battle of Wilson's Creek, Mo., in which 
Gen. Lyon was killed ; returning, he re- 
mained a short time in St. Louis, and then 
came again to Lockport ; he worked for 
Norton & Co. a second time until June 
1874, when he leased the old mill, now 
owned by Dr. J. F. Daggett, which he is 
now operating. In the fall of 1863, he 
was drafted, but employed a substitute. 
He was married Nov. 10, 1865, to Eliza- 
beth Brinkey, a native of Bohemia ; has 
five children — Elizabeth, William, Mary, 
John, August. He is familiarly known 
as Honest Fred, the miller on the Des 
Plaines. 

HALE S. MASON, farmer, P. 0. Lock- 
port ; born in Attleboro, Bristol Co., Mass.,. 
March 30, 1804; when he was 12 years 
of age, his father moved to Ontario Co., 
N. Y.; in 1833, young Mason came West 
to Illinois, to prospect the country, return- 
ing home on the 6th of May, 183-1 ; he took 
up his line of march id a two horse covered 
wagon to the far West, his family consist- 
ing of himself, his wife, and three little 
boys, the oldest about 7 years of age ; June 
6, one month from the date of starting 
they landed at Gooding's Grove, Will Co.; 
here he I'emained engaged in farming till 
1846, when he removed to the village of 
Lockport, and in company with his brother, 
engaged in the manufacture of boots and 
shoes ; in 1849, he moved to the farm upon 
which he now resides, and engaged in the 
nursery business. He was married Jan. 5, 
1826, to Sabrina A. Codding, a native of 
Bristol, Ontario Co., N. Y.; has had seven 
sons— 'Edwin B., William T., Stephen C, 
John Q., Charles T., living; Hale S., and 
George H., deceased ; the latter was killed 
while in the United States' service, Dec. 13, 
1863 ; he was a member of the 14th I. V. 
C, and was Color Bearer of the regiment. 
Mr. Mason owns 180 acres of land in Lock- 
port Township. 

WILLIAM S. MYERS, attorney at law, 
Lockport ; was born in Rensselaer Co., 
N. Y., Oct. 29, 1815; in 1818, his father 



LOCKPOllT TOWNSHIP. 



741 



moved to Lewis Co., N. Y.; in May, 1841, 
lie left home and canu' to Lockport, 111., 
enterinj;- the employ of H. Norton aa clerk 
in his i;eneral merchandise establishment ; 
the spring of 1844, he went into business 
for himself; in the fall of 1859, he left 
the couutiug-room, and in March, 1861, 
went to St. Louis as the representative of 
the American Wine Comj»any, where he re- 
mained until July, ISGa; largely through 



his influence and good 



management, 



the 



goods were placed upon the market, and 
the business established on a sound basis ; 
after his return, he began dealing exten- 
sively in real estate, and was admitted to 
the bar March 18, 18(10. He was mar- 
ried Sept. 28, 1843, to Gertrude Norton, 
a native of New York ; has had two chil- 
dren ; both died in infancy. Republican ; 
Episcopalian. Has held the office of Jus- 
tice of the Peace seven years, and has held 
the office of Township Assessor. Mr- 
Myers does a large business in collections 
of every kind ; he is one of the solid busi- 
ness men of the town. 

JOHN MACKIE, miller, Lockport; 
was born in Perthshire, Scotland, March 
7, 1842 ; he immigrated to America in May, 
1865, and first settled in Gallipolis, Ohio ; 
here he entered the employ of W. H. Lang- 
ley, remaining about fifteen months, at which 
time Langley failed for a large amount ; 
he next came to Chicago, and worked for a 
short time in the City Mills ; in the latter 
part ol' 1867, he came to Lockport, and 
entered the employ of Norton & Co.; he next 
located in Pittsburgh, Penn., and worked 
in the City Mills ; in 1871, he returi-ed to 
Lockport, and again entered the employ of 
Norton & Co., until the great fire in Chicago; 
a portion of his time was spent in their 
mills here and the remainder in their mills 
at Chicago. He was married in November, 
1868, to Elizabeth Doran, of Canada ; has 
three children — Ella, Rachel and Thomas. 

ROBERT MILNE, farmer; P. 0. 
Lockport; was born in Banfishire, Scot- 
laud, Feb. 14, 1805; in August, 1836, he 
immigrated to America and settled in Chi- 
cago, engaging in the lumber trade, buying 
out the fir.^t lumber merchant in Chicago ; 
in the fall of 1839, he returned to Scot- 
land, and came again to America in 1840; 
soon after his return, sold out his business 
in Chicago, and took contracts on the 
Illinois & Michigan Canal, building five of 



the locks; in 1846, settled in Lockport; 
here he remained till 1849, when he re- 
turned to Chicago, and engaged again 
in the lumber trade, a full partner in the 
firm of Milne, Fergueson & Co. ; this 
firm established an agency at Lockport for 
the sale of lumber, buying the saw-mills 
formerly erected, and established a planing- 
mill in connection with them ; in 1850, he 
returned to Lockport, and has resided here 
ever since; in 1854, he sold out his interest 
in the mills and lumber trade and pur- 
chased the farm on which he now resides. 
Was married in December, 1846, to Labell 
Maitland, a native of Scotland; has nine 
children. In 1869, was appointed Canal 
Commissioner by Gov. Palmer and served 
four years; in 1874, revisited Scotland, 
and while there purchased some thorough- 
bred cattle, in the rearing of which he has 
since engaged. Owns 242 acres in Lock- 
port Tp. and 100 acres in Homer Tp. 
Republican ; Congregationalist. Mr. Milne 
is a very influential and deservedly popular 
citizen. 

JONATHAN S. McDONALD, editor 
Phamix, Lockport; born April 17, 1829, 
in the town of Salina, Onondaga Co., N. 
Y. ; his father, Asa McDonald, Esq., set- 
tled, with his family, in Joliet in 1838, 
and, the following year, rented the form 
under the bluff", east of the Penitentiary, of 
Dr. A. W. Bowen (now a resident of Wil- 
mington), and, soon after, became a tenant. 
at Five-Mile (jrrove, on land belonging to 
Edward, Ephraim and Pliny Perkins ; he 
afterward purchased a farm on Maple st., 
in New Lenox, on which he died, Dec. 4, 
1857 ; at the age of 20, J. S. McDonald 
started from home, and crossed the plains,, 
in search of California gold ; he returned 
in 1854, and attempted to acquire a col- 
legiate education by entering the University 
of Oberlin in 1855; within a couple of 
weeks, he found the undertaking altogether 
too irksome, and left that institution, to 
eventually establish a banking-house in 
Lockport; in this new, and to him strange, 
business of banking he prospered indiffer- 
ently well, and found himself involved in 
the general suspension of 1858-59 ; after a 
trip to the gold-mines of Colorado, he re- 
turned to Lockport, raised a company for 
the war, with Dr. Charles H. Bacon, and 
entered the service in the 100th I. V. 
Regiment, as a Second Lieutenant ; while 



742 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



ill the service, he took an active part in all 
the campaigns and battles in which the 
regiment was engaged, except the fight at 
Missionary Ridge, and resigned at the 
opening of the Atlanta campaign, having 
heen promoted to the rank of Captain. In 
1854, Capt. McDonald bought a controlling 
interest in the Will Coimt// Courier, and 
sold out after a brilliant career of six 
months ; he then, in the following year, 
started the Lockport Phanix, and, soon 
after, enlarged the enterprise to what is 
termed " The Family of Phoenixes" in 
Joliet, Wilmington, Lockport and Lemont. 
In 1857, he married Louisa, daughter of 
Col. George Snoad. 

HIRAM NORTON, proprietor of the 
Lockport Carriage Factory, Lockport ; born 
in Prince Edward Peninsula, Can., Oct. 3, 
1828 ; his schoolboy days closed at the age 
of 11 years, and from that date until 
he arrived at the age of 18 years, he 
was completely disabled by rheumatism 
from engaging in any active pursuits ; after 
recovering his health, he was three years on 
the farm, and, at the age of 21, went 
to his trade at Demorestville ; in October, 
1860, he came to Lockport and opened up 
his carriage factory. He was married in 
January, 1865, to Catharine Banner, a 
native of England ; has four children — 
Mary, Benjamin F., Charles B. and John. 
Mr. Norton uses nothing but the best 
of material, employs none but the best of 
workmen, and fully warrants every vehicle 
sent forth from his establishment. 

ISAAC NOBES, proprietor Oak Hill 
quarries ; P. 0. Joliet ; was born on the Isle 
Wight Feb. 28, 1822; at the age of 13, 
he was apprenticed to sea and served four 
years ; he then went as able seaman on 
board the clipper schooner Susan ; engaged 
in the fruit trade up the Levant ; he re- 
mained at sea nine years ; three years of that 
time he was on board the Granges, an 84- 
gun ship of the British navy, and was pres- 
ent at the destruction of the forts along the 
coast of Syria in 1841, the last fort de- 
stroyed being that of San Juan Diego ; in 
the taking of this fort, it was estimated 
that the Egyptian forces lost in killed, 15,- 
000 in two and a half hours. The Admiral 
of the British forces was Sir Charles Na- 
pier. Mr. Nobes came to Quebec in 
1843, on board a timber vessel ; he spent 
one summer on Lakes Erie and Ontario, 



sailing out from Gordon Island in the em- 
ploy of Cook & Calvin, in the lumber 
trade ; in June or July, 1845, he came to 
Buffalo, N. Y"., and engaged in sailing on 
the lakes ; during the summer of 1846, he 
sailed from Buffalo to Chicago ; Jan. 7, 
1847, he came to Joliet and engaged in 
hauling sand for the court house that win- 
ter ; in the spring, returned to Chicago and 
sailed upon the lakes. Mr. Nobes states 
that upon this trip he paid $2.00 fare, 
walked a good part of the way, and carried 
a rail to help the coach out of bad places, 
and was on the road from 8 o'clock A. M. 
until 4 P. M. of the following day before 
reaching Chicago, a distance of 38 miles ; 
the following winter, he returned to Joliet 
and soon went to Lockport, where he en- 
gaged in caulking the Gen. Fry, the first 
boat ever run on the I. & M. Canal, between 
Lockport and Chicago ; he engaged in 
caulking and building boats one year ; in 
the Spring of 1848, he purchased ten acres 
near his present location, and in March, 
1851, opened his present quarries in con- 
nection with G. A. Cousens & Co. A diffi- 
culty having arisen among the partners, 
he abandoned the (juarries and went again 
to the boat yai'ds at Lockport. After twelve 
years litigation, he obtained entire possess- 
ion of them in 1868, since which time he 
has successfully operated them. He was 
married Jan. 4, 1846, to Ann J. Haughey, 
a native of Ireland ; has seven children — 
Joseph, Charles J., Sarah, Ann I., Will- 
iam I. R., Elizabeth J. and Elizabeth J. 
(deceased) ; owns eighty-six acres includ- 
ing his quarries. In 1874, he erected his 
large stone residence at a cost of nearly 
$20,000, the finest in all this section of 
country. 

NELSON H. PEASE, assistant book- 
keeper for J. L. Norton & Co., Lockport; 
was born in Brasher, St. Lawrence Co., N. 
Y., Dec. 9, 1844; at the age of 15, he left 
home and entered the academy at Laurence- 
ville, remaining two years. September, 
1861, he enlisted in Co. I, 60th Regt. N. 
Y. V. I. ; Jan. 23, 1863, was discharged 
at Harper's Ferry on account of disability. 
Returning home, he engaged for a short time 
in farming ; Feb. 28, 1864, he came West, 
and stopping in Chicago, attended Bryant 
& Stratton's Business College. Re-enlisted 
in the 100 days' service, in Co. F, 134th 
111. V. I., and served 140 days. Next 







J ^Ax<J(^ Ua.^^ \\Ty^^yO^\^ 



PLAINFIELD 



4 



LOCKl'UllT TOWNSHIP. 



745 



locatod in Dwiglit, Livinp;ston Co., (Miter- 
in^ the employ of J. C. Hertzi-l as clurk in 
his dry goods and gi'ocer}'^ store ; at the 
expiration of five months, engaged in the 
service of the C. & A. R. R. as baggage 
master at the same place ; this position he 
held sixteen months ; he was next placed 
in charge of the station at Carrolltun on the 
Jacksonville & Chicago line ; here he re- 
mained one and a half years; was night 
operator on the Union Pacific at P]lm 
Creek, Neb., and at a later date at Jules- 
burg as agent six months ; returned to 
Dwight as night ojterator, remaining three 
months; in 1S0!>, he was appointed agent 
at Lock port, and remained one and a half 
years ; then returned to Dwight, and was 
agent two and a half years ; in 1872, took 
eliarge of Odell Station, remaining two 
years; in 1874, he abandoned railroad- 
ing, and entered the employ of J. L. 
Noiton & Co., in the pcsition he now holds. 
Was married March 22, 18G6, to Irene 
C. Riggs, a native of Dwight, 111. ; has 
two children — Alice L. and Myrtle 
K. Rep.; attends the Congregational 
Church. 

WILLIAM W. PRINDLE, manufoc- 
turer of wagons and buggies, Lockport ; 
was born in Prince Edward District, 
Canada, Sept. 30, 1823, in the town of 
Hollowell (now Picton) ; at the age of 
3 years, he went with the family to Oswego, 
N. Y.; here he spent his boyhood days; 
in the spring of 1837, he went to sea and 
remained till 21 years of age ; coming- 
home again, he found the family located at 
Logan.sport, Ind., and here he remained one 
year ; he next moved to La Fayette, Ind., 
and in connection with his father engaged 
in the hotel business ; this they carried on 
one year, and in the fall of 184G, came to 
Jolict. Mr. Prindle laid the cut stone in 
the court hou.se, working for the contract- 
ors, Shepard & Brown. In the spring 
of 1847, he came to Lockport, where he 
has since resided. He was married July 
25, 1847, to Mary A. Button, a native of 
Oxford, England ; has two children — 
Louisa and Ada. He opened up his pre- 
sent shop about 1873, and has met with 
good success. He is a first class work- 
man. Uses nothing but the best mate- 
rial, and gives his personal supervision 
to all the work going out from his estab- 
lishment. 



ISAAC I'RESTON, Lockport, whose 
portrait appears in this work, Wiis born in 
Fairfield, Cumberland Co., N. J., in 1792 ; 
he was left an orphan at the age of 6, and 
at the age of 7, went to Vermont; at 15, 
he began a six-yt;ars' apprenticeship at the 
tanning trade. In 1815, he was married 
at Grraiiville, Washington Co., N. Y., to 
Miss Betsy Walker. Following his trade 
in the State of New York until 1836, he 
emigrated with his family to Illinois, and 
settled at Hadley, in Will Co., where he 
remained four years, during which time he 
opened and improved a tarm of 200 acres ; 
in 1840, he moved to Kane Co., in this 
State, where he lived twenty-five years, re- 
moving to Lockport, in this county, in 
1865, where he still resides. Mr. Preston 
has been for more than half a century a 
firm and unalterable friend in the cause of 
human freedom, being among the first to 
espouse the Abolition cause in Western 
New York. He was a small stockholder 
in, and occasionally a conductor on the un- 
derground railroad, hut never ran a night 
train, always taking his passengers through 
in open day before the taces and eyes of 
his neighbors (many of whom were the 
abject minions of the slave-holders), and 
frequently employing the fugitive on his 
farm. Mr. Preston became a total ab- 
stainer before the first move was made in 
the temperance cause in Western New 
York. He was the first employer in the 
city of Rochester who expelled liquor from 
his workshop, and has since that time in 
his own way used his best endeavors to 
discountenance the sale and use of all in- 
toxicants and narcotics. He has also for 
more than fifty years been an open and 
persistent opponent of all oath bound secret 
societies. Freemasonry in particular, be- 
lieving their tendency to be hostile to the 
best interests of morality, religion and civil 
government. Mrs. Preston is still living, 
and their combined a";es aggregate over 
172 years; they are as healthy, active and 
industrious as most people at 70 ; they 
have raised a family of five children — the 
late John B., Elizabeth L. (Mrs. Dr. Dan- 
iels), Mariah P. (Mrs. Codding^, Julia 
M. (late Mrs. Bourland )and JosiahW., three 
of whom, Josiah W., Mrs. Daniels and Mrs. 
Codding, are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Pres- 
ton have shared the joys and sorrows of con- 
nubial life for more than sixty-three years. 



746 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



AMOS C. PAXSON, farmer; P. 0. 
Loc'kport ; was born in Eastern Pennsyl- 
vania Nov. 21, 1810 ; his father moved to 
the western part of New York, near Buffa- 
lo, in 1818, settling on what was called the 
Holland Purchase; in the Spring of 1838, 
young Paxson came West and settled in 
Dupage Tp., Will Co., working at his trade, 
that of carpentering, for five years ; in 
18-43, he purchased 100 acres of land and 
engaged in farming; in 1868, sold out and 
moved into Lockport, his present place of 
residence. In April, 1871, he was ap- 
pointed Postmaster, and occupied the posi- 
tion four years. His first marriage, to 
Sabra L. Boardman, a native of New York 
State, occurred Nov. 18, 1841 ; she died 
Oct. 8, 1852; his second marriage, to 
Elizabeth Killmer, also a native of New 
York, was celebrated July 10, 1854; five 
children were born from first wedlock — 
Luther B., born Feb. 12, 1843; Peninah 
L., born Aug. 4, 1844 ; Charles C., born 
Feb. 27, 1847 ; Julia E., born Dec. 6, 
1849 ; Sabra I., born Dec. 23, 1851 ; from 
second wedlock one child was born — 
Minora C, born July 11, 3 855. Peninah 
L. (wife of Robert Strong), died Dec. 22, 
1871 ; Charles C. died March 6, 1873; 
Sabra I. (wife of Samuel Buttles), died 
Jan. 1, 1876. Mr. Paxson has held the 
office of Supervisor three terms ; been Jus- 
tice of the Peace, Assessor, School Treas- 
urer, etc. Owns town property, and 104 
acres in Lockport Tp. 

FREDRICK RELF, farmer; P. 0. 
Joliet ; was born in ICast Kent Co., Eng., 
April 27, 1827; in March, 1849, he landed 
in New York City, and first settled in 
Vernon, Oneida Co., N. Y. ; here he 
engaged in farming for three years ; in the 
Fall of 1852, he came West to Illinois; 
settled in Joliet, and for a time engaged in 
labor^on the Chicago & Rock Island Rail- 
road; in February, 1866, he moved to 
Bureau Co., where he remained four years; 
in 1870, he returned to Will Co., and 
located on the farm now owned by the 
heirs of Edw. Kelley; in 1872, he 
moved to his present place of residence. 
He was married Oct. 2, 1852, to Sarah 
Beeching, a native of England ; nine chil- 
dren have been born to them — Emma J., 
Clara, Thomas H., Rosa, Laura, Julia, Allie, 
Charles H., Cora. When he came to 
America he was possessed of little or no 



means, but by industry and frugality 
he has reared his family and accumulated 
considerable property; he is a thorough- 
going, energetic farmer, and is highly 
esteemed for his many good qualities by 
his friends and acquaintances. 

HENRY RIPSOM, Superintendent of 
cooper shop, Lockport; was born in Gene- 
see Co., N. Y., Sept. 15, 1809; in 1811, 
his father moved to Syracuse, Onondaga 
Co. ; at that time but two or three houses 
were standing where Syracuse now is ; at 
the age of 15, he ran away from home, and 
coming to Lower Sandusky, Ohio, engaged 
in leai'ning his trade ; he afterward re- 
turned home, but at the age of 20 settled 
in Clarkson, Monroe Co., N. Y.; in 1848, 
he came West, settled in Lockport, enter- 
ing the employ of Norton & Co. ; in 
March, 1850, he took the position of 
Superintendent of the cooper shop, and has 
been continued in that position ever since. 
He was married in August, 1832, to Eliza 
Coleson, a native of New York State; has 
had eight children — Nancy, Isabel, Ursula, 
Alice (living), Elizabeth, Sarah, Clarkson, 
Cora (deceased). From 1832 to 1846, he 
was engaged in boating on the Erie Canal 
in the employ of the Merchants' line. 
The shadows of two great afilictions have 
rested upon the family hearthstone during 
the past ten years, that of the untimely 
death of the only son Clarkson, as also 
that of the sudden decease of the youngest 
daughter, Cora; in the early part of the 
winter of 1868, Clarkson, a young man of 
19 summers, while coasting with young 
friends on the streets of Lockport, was 
almost instantly killed by coming in con- 
tact with a team standing in the street ; 
a few years later little Cora, a bright 
and interesting child 9 years of age, fell 
from the suspension bridge into the canal 
and was drowned, her body being res- 
cued in about one hour from the time 
the accident. Mr. Ripsom at present 
holds the office of Township Collector. 

N. S. RAFFERTY, groceries and con- 
fectionery, Lockport; was born in Sligo 
Co., Ireland, Nov. 5, 1823 ; he immigrated 
to America Sept. 14, 1837, and settled in 
Hamilton, Canada West, and engaged in 
the merchant tailoring trade; in 1840, he 
moved to Jackson, Mich. ; here he re- 
mained two years; in 1842, located in 
Chicago, and in 1845, came to Lockport. 



LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP. 



747 



his presi-nt home ; in 1 8G8, ho opened out 
a full line of confectionery, and later added 
a small stock of groceries; in 1876, he 
purchased a full line of izroceries, and 
at present (1878) has a large and growing 
trade ; his fruit and confectionery trade is 
the most extensive of any in the city. He 
was married Jan. 2:i, 185(5, to Catharine 
Boland, a native of Tipperary Co., Ireland. 
Was elected Justice of the Peace in 
the Spring of 1877, which office he now 
holds. 

WM. M. STOWE, farmer; P. 0. Lock- 
port; was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., 
Aug. 5, 1842; he is the youngest son of 
Nathaniel H. and Eliza (Partridge) Stowe; 
in 1858, the family moved to Erie Co., 
Penn. ; in addition to his common school 
education, he attended for some time an 
academy in Waterford, Penn. ; he re- 
mained at home farming till he was 24 
years of age; in 1868, he came west 
to Illinois and settled two miles north of 
Lockport, where he engaged in farming 
and the dairy business; this he followed 
six years; in 1874, he purchased the farm 
on which he now resides, being the west 
half of the southwest quarter of Sec. 17, 
Lockport Tp. He was married Oct. 26, 
1865, to Laura Barnard, a native of New 
York; has two children — Frank J., born 
May 11, 1868; Howard D., born May 9, 
1877 ; owns eighty acres, valued at $5,000. 

MRS. KATHARINE SANBORN, 
farming ; P. 0. Lockport ; was born in 
Schoharie Co., N. Y., March 22, 1809 ; 
her maiden name was Smith. She was 
married Sept. 16, 1823, to Justin Taylor, 
a native of New York State ; he was born 
Oct. 25, 1801 ; in 1833, Mr. Taylor came 
West to prospect the country and returning 
East, in 1834, brought his family and 
erected a log cabin on the identical spot 
where the family residence now stands ; in 
1833, he laid a claim of 500 acres, which 
he afterward purchased at the Government 
land sale in 1835; this he improved and 
occupied till the date of his decease, which 
occurred Nov. 14, 1847. From first 
wedlock, she had eight children — Harriet, 
Francis, Smith, Sacia, Grosvenor, Harry, 
Justin and James L.; of these, Harriet, 
Smith, Sacia and James L. are deceased. 
Four of her sons went forth to battle for 
their country's honor, and two of them 
rest from toil far down in the Sunny South. 



He second marriage, to William Sanborn, 
occurred July 4, 1850 ; one son, William, 
has been born to them, and still lives with 
his parents. Her first husband was pres- 
ent in Chicago at the treaty made with the 
Indians in 1 833. Mrs. Sanborn says she 
has seen 400 or 500 Indians at her house 
at one time, when on their way to the Far 
West. Mr. Taylor held the offices of 
Supervisor, School Trustee, School Dii;ector 
and various other offices. Owns 155 acres 
in Lockport Tp., valued at $9,000. 

GEORGE SPANGLER, farmer; P. 
0. Lockport; was born in Center Co., 
Penn., May 18, 1826 ; he remained with 
his parents till about 19 years of age, en- 
gaged in farming ; in 1846, he left home 
and came to Germantown, Montgomery 
Co., Ohio, where he engaged in peddling 
pottery for a cousin, in whose employ he 
remained about two years. In 1848, he 
returned home, and May 17 of that year 
was married to Catharine Kopp, a native 
of Pennsylvania; as a result of this union, 
ten children have been born — George F. , 
Allie A., Wilson, Oliver Z., Elmore E., 
Howard, Agnes A., Mary C, Emma and 
Allie. Owns 400 acres of land in Lock- 
port Tp., worth $60 per acre ; his farms 
are well improved, and ornamented with 
good, substantial dwellings and barns. 
Most of his sons are married and started in 
life lor themselves. Mr. Spangler was not 
by any means wealthy when he came 
West, but, by industry and good manage- 
ment, he has reared his large family and 
secured a fine competency for them all ; 
he is recognized in his community as a 
very successful farmer. 

MRS. JACOB SMITH, farmer and 
fruit grower ; P. 0. Lockport. Mrs. Smith 
was born in Ripley, N. Y., Feb. 25, 1816; 
she is the daughter of Martin and Mar- 
garet (Sacia) Smith. She was married 
first to Almon Taylor, a native of Chenan- 
go, N. Y., Jan. 26, 1832. In the fall of 
1835, she came with her husband to Illi- 
nois, and settled in Lockport Tp., Will 
Co., on the farm just north of that now 
owned by Patrick Fitzpatrick ; in 1850, 
Mr. Taylor went to California and engaged 
in mining ; while there, he met with a se 
vere accident, from the effiicts of which he 
died Oct. 31, 1850. Mrs. Taylor was 
married a second time, March 26, 1852, 
to Jacob Smith, a native of Tennessee ; 



748 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; 



from first wedlock, four childron were born 
— Katie, Marcus M., Martiu S., Horace ! 
A. ; of these, Marcus and Martin are dead ; [ 
from second wedlock, she has two children j 
— George B. and Jennie L. Owns fifty 
acres in Lock port Tp., forty of which is 
set in fruit. Mrs. Smith has seen much of 
pioneer life in the West, and is one of the 
few that is loft who settled here in those 
early days. 

JULIUS SCHEIBE, dealer in boots 
and shoos, Lockport. To the handiwork 
of no one individual is Lockport more in- 
debted for her first-class buildini;s than to 
Mr. Scheibe. Under his immediate super- 
vision was erected the stone business 
houses of Messrs. Myers, Col. Martin, Lull 
& Lynd ; the M. E. Church, the brick 
business house of Dr. Bacon; in 1871, he 
built tlie Northwestern College, at Naper- 
ville. He was born iu Saxony, Germany, 
Jan. 20, 1828; immigrated to America in 
1850, and first settled in Milwaukee, Wis.; 
in 1851, he came to Lockport, and worked 
a short time for Bobert Milne in the saw- 
mill; in the Fall of 1851, engaged at his 
trade, that of stone and brick mason ; was 
engaged on the work of deepening the 
canal in 1864 and 18G5 ; in the winter of 
1873, engaged in the sale of boots and 
shoes bis present occupation. He was 
married in 185+, to Elizabeth Fickensher, 
a native of Germany ; has six i hildreii. The 
large and commodious stone school-building, 
an ornament to the city and a monument 
to the liberality and enterprise of its citi- 
zens, was erected by Mr. Scheibe ; this 
structure cost the district the snug sum of 
S-10,000. 

FJIED'K W. SCHOOP, M. D., physi- 
cian and surgeon, Lockport; Wis born 
in Mecklenburg, Germany, Feb. 20, 1849 ; 
his father's family immigrated to Amer- 
ica in 1852, and settled at Blue Island, 
111. ; here he engaged in farming, but 
soon abandoned it and moved to Chicago, 
where he now resides engaged in the 
real estate business ; at the age of 12, 
young Schoop left home and engaged in 
various purajiits till he was 17, when he 
located at the Grand Crossing, near Chi- 
cago, and entered the employ of the I. C. 
R. R. Co., working at night and attending 
school during the day; in Juno, 1874, 
he graduated from the Englewood High 
School, and the following October, began a 



course of study in the Chicago Medical 
College, which he completed March 20, 
1877 ; he entered upon the practice of his 
profession in Chicago, where he remained 
four months ; October 2, 1877, he located 
at Lockport. He was mai'ried March 27, 
1878, to Ida 0. Johnson, a native of Illi- 
nois. Rep. ; Episcopalian. Dr. Schoop 
is the first German practitioner ever lo- 
cated in Lockport, and is rapidly building 
up a fine paying ])ractice ; being a thor- 
ough scholar and polished gentleman he is 
worthy the support and confidence of the 
people. 

F. F. STOWE, merchant, Lockport; 
was born in Jamestown, N. Y., July 11, 
1834 ; his early life was such as is com- 
mon to most farmer's sons ; beginning in 
1850, he attended the High School at 
Jamestown for three years completing, the 
course in 1854; soon after finishing his 
studies, he came West and settled, pur- 
chasing 240 acres in Clayton Co., Iowa, 
which he improved ; having sold out his 
farm, in 1856, he went to Ei'ie Co., Penn., 
and purchasing 100 acres, engaged in 
farming and the dairy business ; in 1869, 
he came to Lockport and engaged in his 
present business, that of the retail grocery 
trade. He was married Oct. 27, 1855, to 
Sophia F. Barnard, a native of New York 
State ; has three children — Fred W., 
Grace E. and Wayne B. Much of his 
early life was spent in teaching, thus ac- 
quiring means to complete his education. 
While a citizen of Erie Co., Penn., he 
served the county as Auditor for a term 
of three years ; he is at present a Justice 
of the Peace ; has held the oifice six years ; 
is Master of Lockport Lodge, A., F. & A. 
M., No. 538. His son, Fred W., con- 
ducts the news oflice of the city. 

JUSTIN TAYLOR, farmer; P. 0. 
Lockport ; was born in Lockport Town- 
ship, Will Co., Jan. 24, 1843 ; he is the 
son of Justin and Katharine (Smith) Tay- 
lor ; he has lived all his life on the farm 
on which he was born, excepting his tempo- 
rary absence in the army. He enlisted in 
the service Aug. 20, "1862, in Co. C, 
100th Regiment, I. V. I. ; he remained in 
the service three and one-half years, and 
participated in the battles of Stone River 
and Chickamauga ; was in Sherman's cam- 
paign to Atlanta ; was also in the battle of 
Nashville and in the campaign of Gen. 



LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP. 



749 



Thomas ; he was niustoiv<l out of" the 
service at Nashville, Tenn., in July, 18(55. 
On returniiif>; from the army, he again en- 
caged in tiirining, and was married March 
7, IStlCi, to Marian Stewart, a native of 
Illinois; she died in Nov. 1874; his sec- 
ond marriage, to Catharine Chajiin, a 
native of Michigan, was celeltratcd Aug. 
Ki, 187t) ; has two children from first wed- 
lock — Lizzie and Gracie. Owns 10(1 acres, 
valued at §!•,()(>(!. Tn cimnection with his 
farming, he keeps a large number of milcli 
cows and ships milk daily to Chicago ; he 
has been engaged in the milk trade for the 
past ten years. 

WILLIAM THOMAS, General Su- 
perintendent of the Illinios & Michigan I 
Canal, Lockport ; was born in Bristol, 
Ontario Co., N. Y., Feb. 20, 1821 ; his 
opportunities for acquiring an education 
were limited ; at the age of 14, he came 
West to Michigan, engaging in various 
pursuits to obtain a livelihood ; m 1840, 
he returned to Western New York, and 
learned the trade of house carpentering ; 
here he remained till 1857, when he came 
West again to Lockport, 111., and served | 
four years as Master Mechanic on the i 
canal ; in 1862, he was appointed Assist- 
ant Superintendent, and placed in charge 
of the Western Division, with headquar- 
tors at Ottawa, La Salle Co. ; this position 
beheld till Dec. 1871 , when he was ap- 
j minted General Superintendent, with 
headquarters at Lockport, a position he 
at present holds. He was married Feb. 22, 
1844, to Phebe D. Wilder, a native of 
New York ; has one child — Ella P., 
wife of Col. D. Hapeman, of Ottawa. 
Rep. ; Cong. Mr. Thomas is altogether 
a self-made man and has attained to his 
present important position through indus- 
try and correct business habits. 

STEPHEN J. WILLIAMS, farmer , 
and dairy ; P. 0. Lockport ; was born in j 
Dupage Township, Will Co., 111., Sept. 
22, 1845 ; his literary attainments were so 
far advanced that at the early age of 15 he 
entered Wheaton and completed the full 
course, graduating in the second class 
sent out from the Institution, in the sum- 
mer of 1863; in 1864, he went with the 
force sent out to survey the Union Pacific 
R. R., and accompanied it as far west a.s 
Salt Lake City ; here he left the force j 
and returning to Omaha, spent some time 



prospecting with a view to specuhiting in 
property ; in 1866, he returned home and 
engaged in farming and raising stock. 
He was married Feb. 14, 1866, to Mary 
E. Burns, a native of Grundy Co., 111. ; 
he lost his wife Jan. 22, 1876 ; has three 
children — James, Thomas C. and Maud 
C. Owns 2(115 acres in Lockport Town- 
ship. In addition to his farming opera- 
tions, he keeps on hand about eighty 
milch cows ; at present he is milking 47 
cows and ships the milk daily to Chicago ; 
this he finds more lucrative than raising 
grain at present low rates. 

GEORGE WIGHTMAN, farmer; P. 
0. Lockport ; was born in Rome, Oneida 
Co., N. Y., Sej.t. 15, 1821 ; at the age of 
12 years, he came West with the family ; 
his father settled on the Au Sable in La 
Salle Co. (now Kendall); here they re- 
mained tAvo years ; then moved to Plain- 
field T}»., and at the end of two years 
moved to Wheatland Tp., where they re- 
mained until 1868, when they located in 
Dupage Tp., where his father now re- 
sides, at the advanced age of 78 years. 
George remained at home till 20 years of 
age. He was married Sept. 18, 1850, to 
Susan E. Sisson, daughter of Capt. Holder 
Sisson, one of the pioneer settlers of Will 
Co.; she was born June 7, 1831 ; after 
marriage he settled on his f;\rm in Wheat- 
land Tp., where he remained fifteen years ; 
in March. 1865, he moved to his present 
place of residence near Lockport ; twelve 
children have blessed their union ; ten — 
Annie B., Frank H., Josiah W., George 
S., Silas F., Clara S., Ella M., Mary P., 
Percy R., Clarence C. — are living; two — 
Holder J. and IlattieS.^ — are dead. Owns 
250 acres in Lockport Tp., valued at 
$18,000. Has held the offices of Justice 
of the Peace, Constable, School Director, 
etc. Though bordering on threescore 
years, Mr. Wightman bids fair to be an 
active and useful member uf society for 
many years to come. 

G. H. WEEKS, Foreman lumber yard, 
Lockport; was born in Homer Tp., W^ill 
Co., 111., March 10, 1S30; his father was 
among the earliest settlers of the county, 
having come to Illinois in June, 1833 ; 
although a successful practiti()ner of the 
healing art, he purchased a farm, on which 
he remained until 1843 or 1844, when he 
removed to the village of Lockport, and 



750 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



devoted himself alt()2:ether to his profession. 
At the age of 10, George began the trade 
of painting, which he followed about four 
years ; in 1850, he bought a boat and en- 
gaged in boating on the canal from Lock- 
port to various points ; in 1804, he left oiF 
boating, and engaged in various pursuits 
until June 17, 1808, when he entered the 
employ of Gaylord & Co. as Foreman in 
their lumber yard. He was married June 
3, 1801, to Ellen Morgan, a native of 
Newark, 111.; has three children — Arthur, 
Ida, George. 

MICHAEL WALTER, grocery mer- 
chant, Lockport ; was born in Kleinuelz- 
heim, Germany, Dec. 0, 1838; in 1851, 
came to America, and settled in Geneva, 
Kane Co.; in 1853, engaged in learning 
the .shoemaker's trade at St. Charles ; in 
the winter of 1855, worked at his trade 
in Batavia ; next to Dixon, Lee Co., a 
short time, and in August, 1850, came to 
Lockport, followed his trade a short time, 
and then entered the employ of J. S. 
Finch, as clerk in, his grocery store ; was 
in his employ one year, and then clerked 
in the clothing store of N. S. Raiferty six 
months ; he opened out a saloon for him- 
self, but not liking the business, sold out 
in 1859, and went to Pike's Peak ; in- 
vested all his funds in a sluice, and after 
one month's labor had as a reward for capi- 
tal and toil invested, a goose-quill of gold, 
valued at 40 cents ; returned to Lockport, 
and worked at his trade again, April 15, 
1861; enlisted in Capt. Hawley's Battery ; 
three month's service; Aug. 31, re-en- 
listed in the three years' service in Capt. 
Dressers' Battery ; was mustered out Oct. 
5, 1804 ; participated in the battles of Forts 
Henry and Donelson, in the battle of 
Shiloh and the siege of Corinth ; in the 
spring of 1805, he engaged in the grocery 
trade with his brother ; in a short time his 
brother retired, and the firm of Walter & 
Bohle was formed ; in 1872, he started in 
the dry goods business alone, and failed in 
October, 1873; in the spring of 1874, 
went to Lemont and superintended a gen- 
eral merchandise store for J. A. Boyer ; 
May 22, 1875, opened out his present 
grocery -store in Lockport. Was married 
Oct. 10, 1805, to iMargarct Pitts, a native 
of Germany ; has eight cliildren. 

JOHN H. WEEKS, carriage painting 
and trimming, Lockport; was l)orn in 



Monroe Co., N. Y.,Feb. 13, 1830 ; in the 
Spring of 1833, his father's family came 
West and settled in what is now Homer 
Tp., Will Co.; in 1843, the family moved 
into the town of Lockport; in 1847, John 
H. engaged in learning the trade of harness 
making with his brother, Judge C. H. 
Weeks, now of Joliet ; in 1858, he quit 
the harness trade; Sept. 1, 1801, he went 
into the United States service as assistant 
leader of the military band of the 19th 
Regt., 111. V. I.; he was mustered out 
March 18, 1862; during almost the entire 
term of service, he acted in the capacity of 
leader; in 1803, he commenced the trade 
of carriage painting and trimming with his 
present employer, H. Norton. He was 
married in 1852 to Maria Le Valley, a 
native of Lockport, Niagara Co., N. Y.; 
has had two sons — Frank (dead) and 
Edwin L., who at present is engaged in the 
same business with his father. 

ROBERT WHITLEY, Foreman Nor- 
ton & Co.'s mills, Lockport; born in the 
town of Wakefield, Yorkshire, Eng., in 
November, 1831; he immigrated to America 
in 1854, and first settled in Oswego, on 
Fox River, where he engaged in milling 
nine and a half years ; in 1804, he went to 
Chicago and remained a short time ; in the 
latter part ot the same year, went to Plain- 
field, Will Co., where he remained until 
the summer of 1806, when he came to 
Lockport and entered the employ of Nor- 
ton & Co. ; in 1871, went to Chicago and 
remained until after the great fire, \Fhen 
he returned to Lockport, his present home. 
Owns 120 acres of land in Lockport Tp., 
known as the Frasier Farm. Mr. Whitley 
is thoroughly posted in everything pertain- 
ing to first-class milling, and is an import- 
ant factor in the directing and working 
force of Norton & Co. 

SAMUEL WILMOT, Supt. Lockport 
Paper Co., Lockport ; born in Manchester, 
Eng., May 10, 1831 ; he immigrated to 
America June 5, 1851, landing in New 
York July 12 ; he first settled in Fitch- 
burg, Mass., and engaged in running the 
machiner}' in the Stone Mills, now owned 
by Burbanks & Crocker; here he remained 
six months ; thence to Pepperell, Mass., 
two years ; next to Manchester, N. H. ; 
thence to Lawrence, Mass. ; thence to 
Portland, Me, ; thence to Windsor Locks, 
Conn. ; thence to Rainbow, in the same 



REKD TOWNSHIP. 



751 



■^ate ; leaving the East, his next move 
was to Haiuilton, Ohio, :ind from there to 
Cincinnati; in the twohist-mentioned places, 
ho tarried ahout ten years ; in May, 1872, 
lie located in Lockport, his family follow- 
ini,' about a year later. He was married 
June IS, 1852, to Justina Monning, a 
native of Virginia; has three children — 
Adelaid, Vaucino and Justice. His entire 
life so far has been sjient in connection 
with paper manufacturintr establishments. 
ADOLPHUS YOUKER, dealer in 
agricultural implcMuents, Lockport ; was 
born near Ogdensburi^, Canada, Oct. 20, 
1882; May 24, 1857, he left Canada, 
going to St. Paul, Minn., where he stopped 
a short time ; thence to Rockford, where 
he engaged in carpentering a short time ; 
in the fall of the same year, came to Stony 



Creek, Mich., taking charge of a saw-mill 
for one year ; July 17, 1858, ho came to 
Lockport, 111., and entered the employ of 
Norton & Co. ; in 1859, he engaged in the 
business of underground ditching, and fol- 
lowed it two years ; in 18(51, came again 
into the employ of Norton & Co. ; in 1871, 
was employed in carpentering for the State 
in the yards at Lockport ; in 1875, went 
to Chicago and run a meat market and 
vegetable store one year ; in 1876, he, in 
company with Ira Williams, began the sale 
of agricultural implements. He was mar- 
ried'Sept. 12, 1859, to Mary M. Reinhart, 
a native of New York State ; has had two 
children — Eliza Elnora and Geory;e Ed 
ward, both deceased. Owns 160 
land in Kansas. 



acres of 



REED TOWNSHIP. 



PETER RARR, merchant, Braidwood ; 
was born in Renfrewshire. Scotland, Oct. 
2t», 18-40, and is the .son of Daniel and 
^largaret (Hercules) Barr, of Scotland. 
His father was a miner ; died February, 
1851). Mr. Barr, at 8 years of age com- 
menced working in the coal mines ; in 
1865, he emigrated to America, and landed 
in New York City ; came direct to Braid- 
wood, Will Co., 111., and entered the coal 
mines; followed mining until 1871; he 
then entered the saloon business ; to-day 
owns one of the best drug stores in Braid- 
wood, which business he commenced in 
1878. Mr. Barr is one of the prominent 
business men of Braidwood. Is one of the 
City Aldermen. Is a Republican in politics, 
and a Presbyterian in religion. Married 
in 1860, to Miss Jennie Stell, of Ayrshire, 
Scotland (the home of Robert Burns); 
six children. Mr. Barr's mother is living 
in Scotland. 

JOHN B. BACKUS, M D., Braid- 
wood ; the subject of this sketch is one of 
the most prominent physicians of Will 
'Co.; was born in Ontario, Canada, April 
29, 1845 ; his jiarciits are John A. and 
Sarah M. (Bostwick ) Backus. His father 
was educated for a lawyer, but was a retired 
gentleman. Dr. Backus received a grammar 
school education in Canada ; he received 



his medical diploma at McGills Medica 
University of Montreal, Canada, also re- 
ceived a second diploma from the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons, of Ontario, Can. ; 
he practiced medicine one year in Canada, 
and in 1871, he came to Braidwood and 
commenced the practice of medicine here ; 
he has been very successful, having received 
a very large practice. Dr. Backus has been 
married twice. Is a member of the Epis- 
copal Church. 

H. W. BLOOD, manufacturer of soda 
and mineral water, Braidwood ; was born 
in Erie Co., N. Y., Nov. 27, 1842; came 
West in 1863 ; farming for two years ; he 
then entered the bottling house of J. D. 
Page, of Joliet, 111., and remained there 
some two years ; he then went to Wilming- 
ton ; here he purchased a half interest in 
the manufacture of mineral water, in com- 
pany with J. D. Page ; also engaged in the 
ice business ; he then purchased entire 
control of the manufactory in 1870 ; in 
1873, he came to Braidwood and started 
the present manufactory, which to-day is 
one of the most complete in this vicinity. 
His many ingenious inventions have ren- 
dered the employment of a large number of 
men unnecessary, and with but few men, 
Mr. Blood can turn out of his establish- 
ment an equal (quantity of goods, with firms 



752 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



who employ a ftvr greater number of per- 
sons. Thus it will be seen that with the 
obviation of so much expense in his course 
of manufacturing, Mr. Blood is enabled to 
sell his goods cheaper than any other firm, 
and at the same time give the purchaser as 
fine a quality of goods as can be found in 
the country. The building is 24x50, two 
stories high ; capacity of 200 boxes per 
day ; employ three hands ; two two-horse 
wagons find sales for goods in Braidwood 
and towns in this vicinity. Mr Blood 
manxifactures soda and mineral water, 
bottled lager beer, ale, porter, cider and 
spruce beer. He was married in 1861, to 
Miss Francis Quackenbush of Illinois ; seven 
children. 

IRVING BARKER, foundry. Braid- 
wood, of the firm of I. Barker & Co., foun- 
dry ; this popular firm has been established 
in the city of Braidwood since 1873, and 
in that time, the superior quality of their 
work, coupled with their honest transact- 
tions, has lifted them to the front, as first- 
class manufacturers ; bo^h are gentlemen 
of long experience, and thoroughly practi- 
cal in the knowledge of all its details ; Mr. 
Irving Barker was born June 11, 1847 ; 
his father, Jas. M. Barker, with family, 
settled in Will Co., in 1849 ; when Mr. 
Barker was 17 years old, he commenced 
to learn the blacksmith trade, and worked 
at this trade for four years ; he then en- 
tered the foundry business with Wm. Mc- 
intosh, at Wilming-ton, Will Co.; he then 
entered partnership in company Russell, 
Barker & Co., of Wilmington; firm changed 
to I. Barker & Co.; his brother, Orsen Bar- 
ker, forms the company, is a native of Michi- 
gan ; was born in November, 1844 ; these 
gentlemen came to Braidwood in December, 
1873, and conmaenced business by erecting 
the present foundry ; the machine depart- 
rnent is 22x30, two stories high ; the molding 
department i.s 22x50 ; they make a specialty 
of manufacturing coal mine supplies and 
stove castings which they find sales for in 
the vicinity of Braidwood. Mr. Irving 
Barker has applied for a patent on a hand 
lawn mover which eclipses anything of 
the kind now in the market, is much 
lighter, cheaper, and can guage it to cut 
the grass at any height. 

JOHN BAMRICK, .saloon, Braid- 
wood; this gentleman was born in Queen's 
County, Ireland, May 18, 1847, and his 



parents are John and Ann Bamrick, of 
Ireland ; his fither was engaged in the 
mining business, and when Mr. Bamrick 
was but 1 years of age, he commenced the 
mining business, and in 1868, he emigrated 
to America and landed in New York City, 
from there he came direct West to Illinois, 
and settled in Braidwood ; here he com- 
menced mining, and engaged in this busi- 
ness until he met with a very unfortunate 
accident in Sept., 1872, by the steam cars 
running over and cutting off his left arm ; 
he then entered the saloon business which 
he has followed ever since. In April, '78. 
was elected Town Clerk of Reed Town- 
ship, by the National Greenback party. 
Mr. B. is a strong National Grcenbacker, 
and has been ever since the Peter Cooper 
movement originated. Married in 1867 
to Miss Sarah Mulligan of Ireland ; have 
had five children, three living. Is a mem- 
ber of the Catholic Church. 

JAMES BRAIDWOOD, proprietor of 
the Braidwood coal mines, Braidwood. The 
subject of this sketch is the founder of the 
city of Braidwood, which was named by Mr. 
John H. Daniel, Braidwood in honor of 
Mr. James Braidwood, who claims that he 
built the first house in Braidwood, had the 
first house to burn, sunk the first coal shaft 
in Braidwood, his wife had the first child 
born and the first child to die in Braidwood. 
Mr. Braidwood was born in Scotland March 
1, 1831, and is the son of James and Ellen 
( Hercules) Braidwood, of Scotland ; his 
father was engaged in the mining business, 
and when Mr. Braidwood was but 9 years 
of age he commenced coal mining ; he then 
worked at machinery and boiler mak- 
ing ; was four years engineer on a steam- 
ship ; shipwrecked twice ; two years with 
the East India Company ; in Oct., 1863, 
he landed in America, at New York City ; 
went to Middlesex, Penn.; here but a short 
time ; he then came West, to Illinois and 
settled in Belleville ; then to Danville, and 
in Aug., 1865, came to Braidwood; here 
he set out in coal mining, in working for 
the Chicago & Wilmington Coal Co.; was 
in the company that sunk the Eagle Shaft, 
near the depot, in 1 869 ; he went to Cham- 
paign Co., 111., and was engaged there in 
sinking a shaft for coal ; after working for 
six months, abandoned without finding any 
coal ; he lost $6,000 cash ; he returned to 
Braidwood and commenced the coal busi- 



REED TOWNSHIP. 



753 



ness on . the present shaft he now runs, 1 
wliidi he has* hcon very successful in ; when 
3Ir. Braidwood came to America, he wa.s 
financially very poor, but with hard labor- 
and good management, to-day he ranks as 
one of the successful miners ttf Hraidwood. 
Married in 18o-4, to Miss Ellen Ralston, by 
whom he has had twelve children, eight 
living; his oldest son, James, at 17 years 
of age, July 16, 1871, was struck by 
lightning and instantly killed. Mr. B. is 
a Republican in politics and a Presbyterian 
in religion. 

ROBERT BURT, saloon, Braidwood; 
was born in Lanark.^hire, Scotland, Nov. 
15, 1833 ; son of Peter and Christina 
(Hay) Burt, of Scotland; father was a 
miner ; Mr. Burt, at the age of 9 years, j 
commenced working in the mines, and fol- 
lowed this business for over twenty-seven 
years ; in 1858, he emigrated to America, 
and landed in New York City ; thence to 
the coal fields of Pennsylvania, and<3ngaged 
in mining until 18G0 ; on account of his 
health, he returned to Scotland ; returned to 
America in 1860; in Pennsylvania nine 
weeks ; thence to Braidwood ; here he com- 
menced mininii;, and followed this until 
1870; he entered the restaurant business 
and followed this for two years ; then in 
the saloon business ; to-day owns one of 
the best and most orderly sample rooms in 
this vicinity. Married in 1860, to Miss 
Sarah Carrigan, of Scotland, by whom he 
has three children. 

JOHN R. BRAIDWOOD, Secretary 
and Manager Braidwood Coal Co., Braid- 
wood; was born in Elderslie, Scotland, March 
29,1855, and is the son ot James and Ellen 
Braidwood. Mr. Braidwood at 10 years 
of au:e, entered the coal mines and has 
been engaged in the coal business ever I 
-ince; in August, 1865, he emigrated to 
America and settled in Braidwood ; here 
he has remained ever since. Married in 
1877 to Miss Hamilton, of Scotland. 

W. P. BARKER, foundryman, Wil- 
mington ; is a brother of 1. Barker k 
Co., foundrymen, and is engaged in work- 
ing in the molding department ; was born 
in November, 1837. Participated in the 
late war; enlisted in Co. A, lOOth 111. V. 
I., for three years or during the war ; was 
taken prisoner at the battle of Chicka- 
mauga ; was paroled, and finally mustered 
out in June, 1864. | 



JOHN BROADBENT, hotel, Braid- 
wood ; was born in Yorkshire, F]ngland, 
Dec. 12, 1833, and is the son of Wiliiara 
and Sarah Broadbent. Mr. Broadbent 
emigrated to America in 1856. He mar- 
ried Miss Jane Crepps of England; after 
marriage, made his residence in Morris, 
Grundy Co., 111.; from there he came tf> 
Braidwood in 1870. In 1871, erected the 
present hotel ; this business he has been 
engaged in ever since. The Braidwood 
House, very conveniently located, being 
adjacent to the depot, is a first-class hotel. 

THOMAS CONNOR, butcher, Braid- 
wood; was born in Ireland May 8, 1838, 
and is the son of Thomas and Bridget 
(Walder) Connor of Ireland ;his father was 
a farmer, died when Mr. Connor was 
young; his mother then married Patrick 
Carroll. In 18-t7, emigrated to Quebec, 
Canada, then to Vermont ; here Mr. Con- 
nor was engaged in working on a railroad, 
and in 18-48, came West to Illinois, and 
settled in Joliet ; here he was engaged in 
working in a woolen factory, then as a driver 
on a canal boat six years, then station 
agent for the canal company three years ; 
from here he went to coal digging in dif- 
fei-ent parts of Will and Grundy Counties ; 
in 1866, he settled down, and commenced 
f\irming and butchering, known as the Con- 
nor Brothers, who are the oldest butchers 
at the business in Braidwood; his mother 
is still living on the old homestead. Mr. 
Connor has held several offices of public 
trust. Is liberal in his politics, and is a 
a member of tha Roman Catholic Church. 
He came to America a poor boy, and with 
hard labor, good management, is one of the 
successful men of Braidwood ; owns 800 
acres of land. < 

WILLIAM CARLISLE, bakery, Braid- 
wood ; thesubject of this sketch is the oldest 
baker in Braidwood ; born in England ; his 
father, Wm. Carlisle, died when Mr. Carlisle 
was very young; here he started out in the 
world a poor boy ; learned his trade, bak- 
ing, in England, and this business he has 
followed throughout life; in 1862, he emi- 
grated to Canada, and remained there 
about two years. While in Canada, he 
was married in 1863. to Miss Mary Gibson, 
of Canada. In 1864, he came to Illinois 
and settled at Chicago ; from there he 
came to Will Co., and first stopped in Wil- 
mington, and then went to Braidwood ; in 



754 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



1873, he first commenced business of his 
own ; here he was very successful until 
May 2G, 1877, his bakery was destroyed 
by fire ; he rebuilt, and to-day owns the 
most complete bakery in Braidwood. Mr. 
Carlisle is a prominent Odd Fellow, and a 
member of the Episcopal Church. 

JOSEPH DONNELLY, merchant, 
Braidwood ; born in Durham Co., England, 
March 19, 1852, and is the sou of Mat- 
thew and Mary Ann (Hull ) Donnelly, of 
England ; his father was a dry goods mer- 
chant here ; with his father, Mr. Donnelly 
was engaged in clerking in the dry goods 
store, and in 1871, emio;rated to America, 
and landed in New York. City ; came di- 
rect to Will Co., 111., and settled at Braid- 
wood ; when Mr. Donnelly first came here, 
he was engaged as clerk in a store, and 
continued in this business until 1877 ; he 
then purchased the store he now owns, and 
commenced busine.ss on his own account ; 
ranks to-day as one of the leading mer- 
chants of Braidwood. He was married 
in 187J:, to Miss Mary Dwyer, daughter 
of Patrick and Bridget Dwye'r. who 
were among the first settlers of Reed 
Tp. 

PATRICK DWYER, farmer; P. 0. 
Braidwood ; the subject of this sketch is 
the oldest settler now living in Reed Tp., 
was born in Tipperary Co., Ireland, March 
17, 1828, and is the son of James and 
Catherine (Gary ) Dwyer, of Ireland ; 
father was a carpenter and wagon maker 
by trade, living on a farm here. Mr. 
Dwyer commenced life by farming ; in 
1840, he emigrated to America and landed 
in New York ; then to Susquehanna Co., 
Penn.,and engaged in farming about eight 
years ; iu 1848, came West to Illinois and 
settled in Wilmington, Will Co.; in 1850, 
he came to Reed Tp., and settled on the 
place he now lives on ; he first purchased 
1 20 acres at $3 per acre ; he made all im- 
provements on his place ; when he first came 
here, the country was very wild, plenty of 
wild game, deer and wolves in abundance. 
Mr. Dwyer has held several ofiices of trust 
in bis township. Married November, 
1851, to Miss Bridget Clark, of Ireland ; 
Beven children. Mr. D. is a Democrat in 
politics, and a member of the Catholic 
Church. He owns 232 acres of fine, im- 
proved land, made by hard labor, industry 
and good management ; his father died in 



1852, at 60 years of age ; his mother is 
now living on the farm at the good old age 
of 76. 

L. H. GOODRICH, merchant, Braid- 
wood ; the subject of this sketch is proba- 
bly one of the best known and highly re- 
garded business men of Will Co.; was born 
in Chenango Co., N. Y., July 26, 1834, 
and is the son of Elozur Goodrich, of Con- 
necticut, and Hannah (Way) Goodrich, of 
New York ; his father was a carpenter and 
joiner by trade, living on a farm ; here Mr. 
Goodrich spent his childhood and early 
youth, working on the farm from tlie time 
he was able to handle the plow, and in 
winter gathering instruction from the dis- 
trict schools ; at 17, he commenced teach- 
ing school and has taught twenty-one terms 
in New York and Illinois. In the fall of 
1855, he came West and made his home 
in Grundy Co., 111.; here and in other 
parts of the State he was engaged in teach- 
ing school ; also in the fruit business. In 
1860, he married Miss Annie J. Wheeler, 
of Pennsylvania. After marrying, he 
taught school about one year ; he then 
purchased a farm in Grundy Co. and com- 
menced farming, and continued in this busi- 
ness for eight years ; then to Gardner, 111., 
and was Superintendent of a coal shaft for 
six years. While Mr. Goodrich was in 
Grundy Co., he held several offices of pub- 
lic trust ; was Justice of the Peace eight 
years, and Supervisor six years. In 18 — , 
he came to Braidwood and entered the 
mercantile business, which business he has 
followed ever since. Mr. Goodrich took 
a very active part in getting the city of 
Braidwood incorporated, and was elected 
the first Mayor of the city in 1873, and 
re-elected to same oflBce. In 1875, he was 
nominated by the Republican party for 
Representative of the 15th District, and 
was elected to same office, and in 1876, 
was re-elected ; during his time in public 
office, from liis office as Justice of the 
Peace in Grundy Co., to a Representative 
of the 15th District, he has given entire 
satisfaction, having proven himself a gen- 
tleman of acknowledged ability, whose 
duties have been performed in a faithful 
manner. Mr. Goodrich is a Republican in 
politics and a member of the M. E. Church, 
which Church he has been a prominent 
member for the past fifteen years ; is 
Superintendent of the Sunday school. 



IIKED TOWNSHIP. 



755 



Mr. Goodrich ranks as one of the success- 
ful business men of Will Co. 

J. & J. IIYND, conlectionery and 
stationery, Braidwood. These guntleiuen 
commenced bu.siness in Braidwood in the 
spriiii^ of 1877 ; both were born in Scot- 
land ; James, born October, ISoS, and 
John, born in 1857 ; are the sons of John 
and Margaret ( MeKinley ) Hynd, of Scot- 
land ; their father died when they were 
very young. Messrs. Hynds have fol- 
lowed mining principally throughout life ; 
in 18G8, they emigrated to America; came 
direct to Illinoi.s anil settled in Morris, 
Grundy Co., and remained there, engaged in 
mining until 1871 ; they then came to 
Braidwood ; here engaged in mining ; in 
1877. James retired from the mines, and in 
partnership with his brother John, entered 
the confectionery and stationery business ; 
they own to-day one of the largest and 
best assorted stocks of confectionery and 
stationery in Braidwood. 

THOMAS HENNEBRY, boots and 
shoes, Braidwood ; was born in Ireland in 
1845 ; hi^ parents are James and Ellen 
(Kennyl Hennebry, of Ireland; his father 
was a farmer ; emigrated to America in 
April, 18-18, and settled in Du Page Co., 
111. ; here Mr. Hennebry remained on the 
farm until the breaking-out of the late 
war ; he enlisted Aug. 15, 1862, as private 
in Co. C, 90th I. V. I., for three years ; 
participated in some of the hard-fought 
battles during the war under Gens. Grant 
and Sherman — Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, 
Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Sherman's 
march to the sea, through the swamps of 
the Carolinas to Washington, on the grand 
review; wa.s mustered out as Corporal June 
5, 1865 ; returned to the farm in Du Page 
Co.; in 1869, went to Wilmington, Will 
Co., in the mercantile business with Richard 
Baskerville — " Baskcrville & Hennebry ;" 
then, in 1872, came to Braidwood; entered 
the boot and shoe business with C. O'Don- 
nell— " Hennebry & O'Donnell ;" then 
with John Handlon — " Hennebry & Hand- 
Ion ;" to-day he owns one of the best 
boot and shoe stores in Braidwood. Was 
elected Supervisor of Reed Tp. in 1871-5; 
this office he filled with honor and satisfac- 
tion. Is a Democrat in politics ; Catholic 
in religion. Married in 1875 to Miss 
Kate Keane, whose parents are among the 
first settlers of Reed Tp. ; one child. 



ESAIAS HALL, Superintendent of the 
Chicago it Wilmington Coal Co., Braid- 
wood ; the subject of this sketch was born 
in Rutland Co,, Vt., Sept. 6, 1822, and is 
the son of Gen. Robinson Hall, of Ver- 
mont, who was a prominent military man; 
his mother, Sarah (Munsonj Hall, of Con- 
necticut ; his father was owner of a farm 
here. Mr. Hall was engaged in farming 
until he was 30 years of age ; he then 
entered the mercantile business, and con- 
tinued in this business until 1865 ; in 
1806, he came West to Illinois and settled 
in Wilmington ; he first worked for the 
Hill & St. Clair Coal Company for two 
years ; since 1868, has been engaged with 
the Chicago & Wilmington Coal Company ; 
he first was engaged as a traveling agent, 
and in March, 1874, was appointed Super- 
intendent of the company. The Chicago 
& Wilmington Coal Company is one of the 
largest coal companies in the West ; this 
company has worked and partially aban- 
doned eight coal shafts ; now engaged in 
running two shafts. G. & H. employ 700 
men ; capacity, 1 50 cars per day, twelve 
tons to a car. Mr. Hall has been married 
twice ; his first wife was Miss Louisa Dan- 
forth, of Vermont; his second wife, Eliza- 
beth S. Cogdon, of Vermont ; have one 
child. In 1871, Mr. Hall moved to Chi- 
cago ; here he has been residing ever 
since. Member of the Congregational 
Church, and a Republican in politics. 

ROBERT HUSTON, merchant, Braid- 
wood ; was born in New York City, Aug. 
7, 1844, and is the son of Robert and 
EUzabeth (^Shawj Huston, of Ireland; his 
father was a weaver by trade, having emi- . 
grated to America about 1832. Mr. Hus- 
ton, when he was very young (1850), with 
his parents came West to Illinios, and settled 
in Grundy Co., here he was engaged on his 
father's farm at the breaking-out of the late 
war. In 1862, he enlisted as private in Co. 
I, 58th I. V. I., for three years or during 
the war. Participated in some of the 
hard fought battles ; at the battles of Fort 
Donelson, Tenn., and Pittsburg Landing, 
April 6, 1862 ; here he was taken prisoner 
and taken South as a prisoner ; was paroled, 
returned to his regiment, and at the battle 
of Yellow Bayou, La., 1863, he received a 
severe gunshot wound which caused the 
loss of his leg ; he was sent to the Hospital 
, at St. Louis, and in 1864, was discharged, 



756 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



returned home to Grundy Co., and engaged 
in teaching school ; in 1870, he entered 
the mercantile business in Braidwood, and 
has continued in this business ever since. 
Married in 1872 to Miss E. A. Blanchard. 
of Will Co., 111., whose parents were 
among the early settlers of Will Co. ; they 
have two children. When Mr. Huston 
first came to Braidwood he was worth $54 ; 
he was enmired at the coal mines in weigh- 
ing coal and speculating ; he managed to 
save enough capital to start in the mercan- 
tile business; to-day he ranks as one of the 
t^uccessful merchants of Braidwood. Is a 
Republican in politics. 

JOHN JAMES, coal office, Braidwood; 
was born in Scotland, and is the son of 
John and Mary (Law) James, of Scotland ; 
father was a miner ; when Mr. James was 
about 9 years of age, he entered tlie coal 
mines, and has principally followed coal 
raining through life ; in 1865, emigrated 
to America to Mercer Co., Penn., mining 
about one and a half years; thence to 
Braidwood in the fall of 1867 ; mined 
until 1869 ; then in the mercantile busi- 
ness until 1873 ; thence to Cleveland three 
years, returned to Braidwood, and is now 
engaged in the company's coal office. Mr. 
James is a National Greenback man in 
politics, and a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, and was married in 186-4, to Miss 
Agnes Campbell, of Scotland, by whom 
he has four children. 

ROBERT JAMES, insurance agent, 
Braidwood ; this gentleman was born in 
Scotland, in 1851 , and is the son of John and 
Mary (Law) James, of Scotland. His father 
was a miner. Mr. James in 1868, emigra- 
ted to America; came direct to Illinois, 
and settled in Braidwood ; here he was first 
engaged in working in the coal mines. He 
received a full business college education in 
Cleveland, Ohio ; in 1874, returned to 
Braidwood, and entered the insurance busi- 
ness this business he has been in ever 
since ; is agent for some of the most reli- 
able insurance 
States. 

JAMES KAIN, saloon, Braidwood; 
the subject of this sketch was born in 
Edinburgh, Scotland, Nov. 24, 1819, and 
is the son of John and Rebecca (McMurray ) 
Kain. His father, a native of Ireland, 
and mother of Scotland. Mr. Kain at 9 
years of age, commenced working in the 



companies in the United 



coal mines, and engaged at this business 
while in Scotland; in 1851, he emigrated 
to America, and landed in New York City ; 
then to the coal fields of Maryland ; thence 
to Ohio ; here he remained about two years 
engaged in coal mining, and in 1853, he 
returned to Scotland ; here he remained 
until 1862, when he returned to America, 
and went to the coal fields of Pennsylvania ; 
he remained there three years ; then went 
to Illinois in 1866, and was at one time, 
General Ujiderground Manager for the 
coal mines of the C. & W. Coal Co. In 
1875, Mr. Kain commenced the saloon 
business. In 1876, he started his two sons, 
John and Joseph, in the livery and furni- 
ture business, known as Kain Bros. ; these 
gentlemen have a large, first class stock of 
furniture ; also their livery cannot be beat 
in larger cities for fine turnouts. Mr. 
Kain came to America a poor boy, worked 
hard in the coal mines ; saved money ; in- 
vested and managed successfully, and to- 
day ranks as one of the successful business 
men of Braidwood. Married twice, first wife, 
May, 1842, who died Dec. 6,1852; married 
second wife, Sept., 1853, Miss Agnes 
Woods Patterson, Ayreshire, Scotland. 
Mr. Kain is liberal in politics, and a mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church. 

TIMOTHY KEANE, farmer; P. 0. 
Braidwood ; this 2;entleman was born in 
Ireland about 1818, and is the son of James 
and Catherine (Murphy) Keane, of Ireland. 
His father was a farmer.. Mr. Keane at 1 7 
years old commenced to learn the shoe- 
making trade; this he followed for over 
twenty years. In 1847, he emigrated to 
America, and landed in New York City ; 
then West to Illinois, and settled in Ottawa, 
La Salle Co., and remained here for about 
five years ; then to Grundy Co., 111., and 
commenced farming, and remained there 
until 1856, when he came to Will Co., 
and settled on the place he now lives on ; 
he made all the improvements, building 
house, planting trees. He at one time cut 
hay off the land that the city of Braidwood 
now occupies. When he first came here, 
he purchased eighty -five acres, at $16 per 
acre. Owns 205 acres of fine improved 
land. Commenced life a poor boy ; worked 
hard, and to-day is one of the succes.sful 
farmers of Reed To. Married to Miss 
Mary Daulton, of Ireland, who died 
on the old homestead in 1873; ten chil- 



REED TOWNSHIP. 



757 



dien. Mr. Keano is a member of the ' 
Catholic Church. 

HENRY LeCARON, M. D., drug 
store, Br.iidwood. The subject of this 
sketch is one of the most prominent men 
of Reed Towiiship ; was born in France 
Sept. 20, ISo'.l, and is the son of Francis 
V. LeCaron, who was a specuhitor and 
money broker. Dr. LeCaron remained in 
France until the breakiusjj-out of the late 
war; he then, with the intention of enlist- 
ing in the Union army, emigrated to 
America Aug. 20, 18()1. He first enlisted 
in the body guard of Maj. Anderson; was 
also body guard of G-en. Buel ; in 1862, 
he enlisted as Sergeant in the 15th Penn. 
Calvary, and participated in some of the 
most prominent battles — Antietam, Stone 
River, Chickamauga ; in July, 1864, was 
coTumissioned as 2d Lieutenant in the Reg- 
ular U. S. A., loth Regiment ; was wounded , 
in the side in a skirmish in Tennessee ; j 
was mustered out as 1st Lieutenant in 
March, 1866 ; was with Gen. O'Neal's 
Canada movement in 1866. He then 
came to Illinois, and settled in Lockport, 
Will County ; here he was engaged in the 
flour-mills of Norton & Co. In 1870, 
was a participant in the great Fenian 
movement. In 1868-69, attended the 
Rush Medical College, of Chicago; in 
1872, graduated in the Detroit Medical 
College, of Detroit, Mich. He then came 
to Will Comity, and has engaged in the 
practice of medicine ever since ; in 1873, 
came to Braidwood. Was Supervisor of 
Reed Township in 1875. Democrat in 
politics ; was in August, 1878, nominated 
by the Democratic party for Representa- 
tive. Dr. LeCaron married in 1864 to 
Miss Nannie J. M(!lvin, of Nashville, 
Tenn., by whom he has four children. 

DAVID MORIS, dry goods merchant, 
Braidwood ; the subject of this sketch is one 
of the prominent merchants of Braidwood ; 
was born in North Wales in March, 1832, 
and is the son of Robert and Kittie Arther 
V Williams) Moris ; his father was a coal 
mine manager ; when Mr. Moris was but 
9 years of age, he entered the coal mines 
and engaged in mining while in North 
Wales; June 25, 1860, in company with 
Thomas Radford, left Liverpool for Amer- 
ica ; landed in New York City ; his first 
work in America was on Monongahela 
River, in mining coaF one season ; then to 



Palestine, Ohio; thence to Illinois, to 
La Salle County; thence to Morris, Grundy 
County ; was engaged by Nicholas Cotto" 
in the coal mining busii^ess ; he leased, for 
ten years, a piece of coal land ; here he 
sunk the first coal .shaft on the C, A. & 
St. L. R. R., located near Braccville sta- 
tion ; he then was engaged by a company 
to sink two shafts ; one of them was in 
Reed Township, Will County, and was 
the first coal shafi sunk in Reed Township ; 
was engaged in overseeing the Braceville, 
coal shaft ; he then entered a mining com- 
pany composed of miners, known as the 
Joint Stock Coal Mining Company of 
Gardner. This company was engaged in 
sinking a coal shaft at Gardner; struck 
a large flow of water. After spending 
$25,000, they abandoned it. He then 
returned to Braceville ; thence with Odell 
& Cady, drilling for coal ; Mr. Moris is 
one of the oldest and best posted coal 
miners in this vicinity; Nov. 10, 1873, he 
entered the dry goods business ; this busi- 
ness he has followed ever since. Married 
Jan. 18, 1862, to Miss Eliza Jane Murphy, 
of New York, by whom he has had six 
children, two living. Father died in 1867 ; 
mother lives in North Wales. 

IRA R. MARSH, merchant, Braid- 
wood; was born in Attica, N. Y'., June 22, 
1843, and is the son of J. Wells and 
Laura (Smith) Marsh; his father was 
engaged in the mercantile business, and 
died when Mr. Marsh was but one year 
old. Mr. Marsh's first business in life was 
workin" at bookbindin<jr ; then in the den- 
tistry one and a half years ; he then set 
out in learning photography, and was 
engaged at this business about one and a 
half years in Buffalo, N. Y. In 1862, he 
enlisted as private in Co. B, 112th N. Y. 
V. T. for three years or during the war ; 
was with the Army of the James ; par- 
ticipated in some of the hard-fought battles 
during the war — Cold Harbor, Fort Fisher 
and in the battle of New Market Heights ; 
he received a wound in the side which dis- 
abled him for about four months ; he re- 
joined his regiment and served until the 
close of the war ; mustered out June, 1865 ; 
in 1866, he came West to Illinois and set- 
tled at Keifersville ; here he commenced 
the grocery business, this being the first 
store at the mines ; he remained there 
about two years ; returned East one year, 



758 



nOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



and in 1869, came to Braidwood ; here he 
commenced to clerk for Lawrence & Tin- 
ccler ; he purchased an interest, and then 
the firm was L. Tinceler & Co. ; to-day he 
is in business alone ; owns one of the best 
boot and shoe stores in Braidwood, and 
ranks as one of the leadintr merchants of 
this vicinity. Married in 187(5, to Miss 
Annie White; one child. Has held several 
offices of trust. City Clerk and Supervisor 
(if Reed Township. Republican in politics. 

WILLIAM xMOONEY, attorney at 
law, Braidwood. This gentleman was born 
in Lanarkshire, Scotland, July 18, 1841, 
and is the. son of Thomas and Ann (Clark) 
31ooney, of Ireland ; his father was a 
miner ; when Mr. Mooney was but 9 years 
of age, he commenced to work in the coal 
mines ; he followed mining while in Scot- 
land ; in 1865, he emigrated to America, 
landing in New York City ; thence to 
Pennsylvania and Ohio ; engaged in min- 
ing; in 1866, he came to Braidwood, Will 
Co., 111., and commenced to work for the 
C & W. Coal Co., mining. Mr. Mooney 
has held several offices of public trust ; in 
1870, was elected Justice of the Peace ; 
in 1873, was elected to the Legislature, 
Twenty-ninth General Assembly (elected 
on the Independent ticket) ; in 1877, was | 
elected City Attorney ; this office he still 
holds ; in these offices Mr. Mooney has ac- , 
quitted himself in a very creditable and j 
efficient manner ; was admitted to the bar 
to practice law by the Supreme Court of 
Illinois in 1875. Democrat in politics and 
a Catholic in reliijion. Married in 1876 i 
to Miss Kitty O'Connor, of Illinois ; have ' 
one child. f 

WILLIAM MALTBY, Superintendent 
of the Eureka Coal Co., Braidwood. The 
above-named gentleman is one of the prom- ^ 
inent men of Braidwood ; was born in 
Selston, England, March 7, 1840, and is [ 
the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Clark) 
Maltby, of England ; his father was en- 
gaged in taking care of the stock of a I 
large coal and iron company in England ; 
Mr. Maltby, when 7 years of age, com- ] 
menced to work on his father's farm by i 
straddling a mule and driving them tandem 
to the plow; he came in contact with the '• 
miners here ; he was induced to enter the 
mine, driving coal-cart and mining ; in 
1862, he emigrated to Canada and landed 
in Quebec ; then to Lake Superior ; from 



there he went to Jackson, Mich.; in 1863,. 
he came to Illinois, to Peoria and Fairbury ; 
then East to Pennsylvania ; entered the 
coal business for two years ; then to Nova 
Scotia, prospecting for coal, for Charles S. 
Richardson ; not finding coal, he returned 
to New York City ; then to Michigan ; 
from there he came to Chicago, 111., and in 
Dec, 1866, was appointed Superintendent 
of the Rhodes Coal Co., now known as the 
Eureka Coal Co. of Chicago ; this company 
employs between 400 and 450 men ; ca- 
pacity of seventy cars per day, twelve tons 
to a car. Mr. Maltby came to America 
financially a poor boy ; to-day he has risen 
from the lad that was engaged in driving 
the mule to the plow to a Superintendent 
of one of the largest coal companies in the 
West ; is the President and one of the 
founders of the Braidwood Library, with 
1 ,300 volumes. Mr. M. has been married 
twice ; to his first wife, in 1858, Miss Do- 
rinda Green, of England, and to his second 
wife, in 1873, Addie Varley, of England; 
has six children. 

DANIEL McLaughlin, Mayor of 
Braidwood, Braidwood. The subject of 
this sketch is one of the most prominent 
men of Braidwood ; was born in Lanark- 
shire, Scotland. Aug. 9, 1831, and is the 
son of John and Catherine (Hutton) Mc- 
Laughlin, natives of Ireland ; his father 
was engaged in stone cutting ; Mr. Mc- 
Laughlin, when he was but 10 years of 
age, set out in working in the coal-mines 
at VVoodside.s, Scotland, in the mining of 
coal and iron ; he has followed this busi- 
ness principally throughout life ; in 1869, 
he emigrated to America, and landed in 
New York City; from here he went to- 
Boston, Mass.; then he came West to Chi- 
cago, 111.; thence in Sept., 1869, to Braid- 
wood, Will Co., 111.; here he commenced 
working in the coal-mines, and followed 
this business until 1877; in April, this 
year, he was elected by the National Green- 
back party as Mayor of Braidwood by a 
large majority ; in this office Mr. McLaugh- 
lin is giving entire satisfaction to the people 
he represents, proving himself a gentleman 
of acknowledged ability. Mr. McLaughlin 
is in politics a National Greenbacker ; a 
memberof the Catholic Church. He mar- 
ried in 1851 to Miss Bridget Dougherty, 
by whom he had ten children, six liv- 
ing. 



REED TOWNSHIP. 



759- 



CORNELIUS O'DONNELL, saloon 
and boots and slioos. Braidwood ; this gen- 
tleman was born in Tippeiary Co., Ireland, 
and is the son of Jeremiah and Catherine 
(Powell) O'Donnell, of Ireland ; his father 
was enq;n<>;od in I'aruiinti; here ; Mr. O'Don- 
nell was raised on his father's farm, and in 
18(33, he emigrated to America, and landed 
in New York City ; came direct to Will 
Co., and ctimmeneed farming; theti in the 
coal-mines. Goose Lake ; thence to Keifers- 
ville ; here he remained until 1870 ; thence 
to Braidwood, and entered the mercantile 
business. Mr. O'Donnell has held several 
oflBces of public trust; that of Constable 
seven jcats, and Deputy Sheriff of Will 
Co. four years under George M. Arnold; 
these offices he has held in a creditable and 
efficient manner. Is a Democrat in politics, 
and is a very active worker; a member of 
the Catholic Church. Married Jan. 11, 
1872, to Miss Margaret Leo, by whom 
they have had five children — four living. 

FRANK T. O'REILLY, farmer ; P.O. 
Braidwood ; was born in Meath Co., Ireland, 
May 1820, and is the son of Michael 
and Rose (Tully) O'Reilly, of Ireland; 
his father was a blacksmith and a farmer; 
was raised on his father's fiirm ; at the age of 
14 years, he was engaged in driving a dray 
between Kells and Dublin, and engaged at 
this business until he emigrated to America, 
in 184:7, with his mother and children ; 
his father died when he was about 9 years 
of age ; landed in New l^'ork City ; they 
then went to Somerset Co., N. J.; here ' 
he was engaged in working in the copper- 
mines eighteen months ; then to Newark, 
N. J., and worked in chemical factory 
about one year; then to the city of New 
York, where he was engaged in driving a 
team for a sugar refinery ; at this business 
four years ; then purchased a horse and 
dray, and was drayman in New York two 
years ; then with the family they emi- 
grated to Illinois, and settled in Will Co., 
Reed Tp., on the farm they now own, in 
July, 1855; first purchased 200 acres 
at 8<J per acre, being among the first set- 
tlers of this township ; made all improve- 
ments on the farm ; country very wild ; 
plenty of deer and prairie wolves. Married 
in 1853, to Miss Mary Bradly, of Ireland, ' 
by whom they have had eight children, 
seven living. Has held several offices of 
public trust of Reed Tp. Democrat in 



politics, ami a member of the Catholic 
Church. Thomas O'Reilly is a brother of 
Frank T.O'Reilly,and\vasl)orn about 1817; 
have been with each other throughout 
life ; both are highly respected farmers of 
Will Co.; they started in life poor boys ; 
have worked hard — driving the diay to a 
successful farmer ; own 530 acres of im- 
proved land. 

ALEXANDER PATTERSON, furni- 
ture, livery stable, Braidwood ; the subject 
of this sketch is one of the prominent mer- 
chants of Braidwood ; wasborninFifeshire, 
Scotland, June 5, 1828; his parents are 
James and Christiana (Strong) Patterson 
of Scotland; his father was engaged in 
the mining bu.sin( ss ; when Mr. Pattersoa 
was but 8 years old, he commenced 
working in • the mines and followed this 
while he was in Scotland; in 1852. he 
emigrated to America, and landed in New 
York City ; then to the coal-fields of Penn- 
sylvania ; remained there two years, where 
he got the gold fever ; he then went to 
California seeking gold ; engaged in min- 
ing for gold two and a half years very suc- 
cessfully ; he then came to Illinois and 
settled in De Kalb Co., here he purchased 
a fiirm with his hard earnings in Califor- 
nia ; he commenced farming in De Kalb 
Co., this, his first experience; he remained 
here about five years, then to Morris, 
Grundy Co., engaged in mining, then in 
the manufacturing of brick with one of 
the largest brick-making machines in the 
State, having a capacity of 25,000 brick 
per day; he then, in 1872, came to Braid- 
wood and commenced the livery and feed 
business; firm's name Patterson, McKinley 
& Co., he then bought out McKinley, and 
it is now A. & J. W. Patterson : com- 
menced the furniture business in 1874 ; is 
the largest store-room in the city of Braid- 
wood, 22x80, two stories high ; the livery 
is one of the best liveries in Braidwood, 
keep from ten to fourteen horses on hand, 
with buggies and vehicles for the same. Mr. 
Patterson commenced life a very i)oor boy, 
his first start was in the gold-field of Cali- 
fornia; from this he has been very success- 
ful in life, to-day ranking as one of the 
successful men of Will Co. ; he is the 
founder of the Masonic Braidwood Lodge, 
No. 704, and he and his son J. W., are 
very active members. Mr. Patterson is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church, and 



760 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



a National Greenbacker in politics. Mar- 
ried in 1849 to Miss Jane McKinlej of 
Scotland; seven children, four living : two 
sons and two daughters ; his two sons J. 
W. and Alexander, are engaged in busi- 
ness with Mr. Patterson. 

JOHN E. PFINGSTON, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Braidwood ; was born 
in Kendall Co., 111., in 1855, and is the 
son of Henry W. and Annie (Manegold) 
Pfingston ; his father Henry W. Pfingston, 
was raised on a farm ; was born in Han- 
over, Germany, and emigrated to America 
in 1847, and settled in Kendall Co., 111. ; 
here he engaged in farming until 1855, 
and with his family moved to Will Co., 
and settled on the present homestead in 
Reed Township, being among the first set- 
tlers in this vicinity here he first purchased 
160 acres of land, and set out in farming 
in Will Co. ; here he remained until his 
death which occurred Nov. 8, 1875, at the 
age of 55 years, leaving a wife and two 
children ; his widow is now living on the 
old homestead with her son John E., who 
is engaged in working the farm. He 
married in 1878 to Miss Myra Olnjstead 
of Illinois. Sarah E. married I. G. 
McLane. 

MOSES PELTIER, merchant. Braid- 
wood ; was born in Soral, Lower Canada, 
Aug. 3, 1833, and is the son of Antoine 
and Scholastic (Boivin) Peltier, of Canada; 
his father was a baker by trade ; was born 
in 1811, and remained in Canada until 
the breaking-out of the war in 1837 ; he 
then came to Illinois and settled in Res- 
den, Grundy Co. ; here he was engaged in 
baking for the Canal Company ; then on- 
gaged in keeping a hotel and stage house ; 
was the first Postmaster of Resden ; held 
that office for nine years ; in 1840, he sent 
for his wife and son Moses, the only child, 
to come to Illinois ; arrived, settled in 
Resden, Grundy Co. ; here Mr. Peltier was 
engaged very extensively in the warehouse 
business ; in 1844, he took a contract on 
the Canal feeder, from Wilmington to 
Canal, and built this feeder; his part- 
ner left, taking with him what mon- 
ey he had of Mr. Peltier's, which 
was almost a financial ruin to Mr. Peltier; 
he died in the old town of Kankakee in 
1859, honored and respected by his fellow- 
man, leaving a wife and one son. Moses 
Peltier, in 1862, went to Wilmington and 



entered the mercantile business; in 1870^ 
came to Braidwood, and was engaged in 
the butcher business ; in 1876, entered the 
boot and shoe business ; to-day is engaged 
in the boots and shoes, flour and feed busi- 
ness. Democrat in politics ; Catholic in 
religion. Married April 13, 1861, to Miss 
Mary J. McCabe, of New York ; seven 
children. His mother was born in 1810, 
now living with Mr. Peltier. 

HENRY H. PARKINSON, editor and 
proprietor Braidwood Republican, Braid- 
wood ; was born in London, Eug., Dec. 22, 
1849, and is the son of Henry and Rachel 
Parkinson, of England ; when Mr. Parkin- 
son was very young, with his parents, emi- 
grated to America, and landed in New 
York City; then direct to Wilmintrton, 
Will Co., 111. In 1860, he entered the 
Independent office, of Wilmington, 111., 
and commenced to learn the art of print- 
ing , here he remained about three years, 
then in traveling in different parts of the 
country ; at St. Louis ; then to Joliet ; here 
he was engaged in working in ilrn- Repub- 
lican office ; thence to Lexington, McLean 
Co., 111. ; here he started the Lexington 
Courier, Republican paper ; then to Say- 
brook, 111., and started the Saybrook Ban- 
ner ; he returned to Wilmington, 111., and 
took charge of the Independent office, and 
remained there one year ; he then returned 
to Saybrook and .sold out his paper and 
moved to Bloomington, 111. ; here he com- 
menced the publication of the Bloomington 
Ant i- Monopolist, a Granger paper ; thence 
to Braidwood, and purchased the Braid- 
wood Republican from F. D. Dalton ; the 
Braidwood Republican is a dail}' paper, 
having a circulation of 500 daily ; this 
spicy paper is an earnest, live and unterri- 
fied Republican journal, free and outspoken, 
a terror to rings and corrupt office-seekers, 
and death to political stealings and unprin- 
cipled doings in general ; its columns are 
devoted to politics, literature, agriculture, re- 
ligion, science and local and general news ; it 
is the best of advertising mediums ; its editor 
and proprietor, Mr. H. H. Parkinson, 
ranks high among the citizens of Braid- 
wood, and personally is a gentleman of 
long journalistic experience; in connection 
with the paper, there are complete job 
printing rooms, with facilities for turning 
out first-class work, from a visiting-card to 
a cii'cus bill. Mr. Parkinson is a Repub- 





r 



<5^ 



(deceased) 
NEIV LENOX TP 



REED TOWNSHIP. 



763 



lican in politics. Married Miss Harriet 
A. Smith, of Michigan ; two chiUlrou. 

THOMAS ROE, farmer ; P. 0. Braid- 
wood ; was bom in Lanca-sliirc. En*;., 
in 1820, and is the son of Henry and 
Mary (Kniirht) Roe, of Enghind ; in 1855, 
he eraitiratod to America and hmded in 
New York City ; then to llHnois, and set- 
tled ill Chicago ; here he was engaoed in 
the lumber business ; he came to Will Co. 
in 1865, and Brst purchased eighty acres 
at $0 per acre ; here he has lived ever 
since, engaged in farming ; ownl a good, 
improved farm of 200 acres. Mr. Roe is 
a very prominent member of the P. 31. 
Church, having been a local preacher of 
this church over twenty years ; is Superin- 
tendent of the Sunda}^ School. Married in 
18-1:0, to Miss Sarah Hill of England, by 
whom they have five children living. 

JOSEPH RANDECK, saloon. Braid- 
wood ; was born in the county of Budevise, 
Bohemia, Nov. 21, 1850, and is the son of 
Michael Randeck, of Bohemia, who was a 
mason by trade ; when Mr. Randeck was 
about 12 years old, he commenced to learn 
his trade as a tinsmith ; in 1865, he emi- 
grated to America and settled in Chicago, 
111. ; here he remained about three years, 
engaged at his trade, tinsmithing ; he then, 
in 1868, came to Braidwood ; here he was 
engaged in working in the coal-mines, and 
remained in Braidwood ever since, except 
ing one and a half years he spent in Chi- 
cago. Mr. R. commenced the saloon busi- 
ness in 1877 ; to-day owns one of the lead- 
ing saloons pf Braidwood. In 1877, he 
was elected Constable ; this office he still 
holds. Married Miss Rossi Jerena, of 
Bohemia; three children. 

DUNCAN RANKIN, merchant, Braid- 
wood; this gentleman is one of the most 
solid and reliable merchants of Braidwood ; 
wa-s born in Fifoshire, Scotland, May 19, 
1828, and is the son of Angus and Mar- 
garet (Clark) Rankin, of Scotland; father 
at one time was connected with the Post- 
office Department, but in the latter part of 
his life was mining. When Mr. Rankin 
was but a lad he commenced mining ; this 
he followed, and in 1850, he emigrated to 
America and landed in Boston, Mass. ; 
then to the coal-fields of Penn.sylvania ; 
here he remained for about twenty months; 
not satisfied with mining for the black dia- 
mond, he caught the news that gold could 



be found in the Far West, and in 1852, he 
started lor the gold-fields of California ; 
here he arrived, and commenced mining 
for gold ; he remained about one year ; 
success very good ; returned to the States 
and settled in Illinois, De Kalb Co. ; here 
he purchased a farm with the money he 
he had made in California, and commenced 
farming in Illinois ; this, his first experi- 
ence in farming, but, with hard labor, he 
was successful ; remainod in De Kalb Co. 
ten years ; then to (Jrundy Co. ; here he 
entered the coal business by operating a 
coal shaft known as Rankin Coal Shaft; 
in this business two years ; he then wont 
to Morris, Grundy Co., and commenced 
the mercantile business ; here he remained 
about six years, and in 1869, he came to 
Braidwood ; opened a general store ; his 
success was very good, doing about the 
largest business of any merchant in the 
city ; he then opened on the opposite side 
of Main st., a clothing, dry goods, bf)Ot 
and shoe store ; on account of business 
he consolidated both stores, then opened a 
branch store in Morris. Mr. Rankin is 
President of the Braidwood Creamery 
Association, manufacturers of cheese and 
butter, which rank as No. 1 in Chicago 
and St. Louis markets ; is Inspector of 
Mines of Will Co. Also a prominent Odd 
Fellow and Mason. Member of the Pres- 
byterian Church, and Republican in pol- 
itics. Married Nov. 13, 1848, to Miss 
Elizabeth Brown, of Scotland, by whom 
they have had thirteen children, eight 
living. 

JOHN SHENK, butcher, Braidwood ; 
the subject of this sketch was born in 
Erie Co., Penn., 1842, and is the son of 
Michael and Sarah (Carter) Shenk, who 
are among the early settlers of Reed Tp., 
Will Co., having made their home here in 
1858 ; Mr. Shenk was raised on his fath- 
er's farm and remained there until 1875 ; 
he then entered the butcher business in 
Braidwood ; this business he has followed 
ever since ; forms a partnership of Shenk 
& Kellogg ; these gentlemen have one of 
the best meat markets in Braidwood. Mr. 
Shenk married in 1868, to Miss Sarah 
Wright. 

vi'ILLIAM H. STEEN, merchant, 
Braidwood ; was born in Renfrewshire, 
Scotland, July 29, 1849, and is the .son of 
James and Agnes (Hare) Ste<"n, of Scot- 

8 



764 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



land ; his father was a coal miner ; here 
Mr. Steen, at the age of 9, entered the 
minina: business; in 1865, with his father, 
emigrated to America and landed in New 
York City, thence to the coal field of Penn- 
sylvania, in Schuylkill Co.; engaged in 
tnining about three years ; then to Ohio 
one and a half years in mining ; returned 
to Schuylkill Co., Penn., and in 1870, 
came West to Illinois and settled in Braid- 
wood ; here he commenced working in the 
mines, and remained in this business until 
1877. Was elected City Clerk of Braid- 
wood in 1877, which office he still 
holds; was also Alderman of the city of 
Braidwood two years. Is a National 
Greenbacker in politics, and a member of 
the Presbyterian Church. Married in 
18G9, to Miss Mary Ann Robinson, of 
Scotland, by whom they have two chil- 
dren. 

W. D. STEWARD, farmer ; was born 
in Wayne Co., Ohio, July 30, 1826, and 
is the son of John P. and Elizabeth 
(Moatz) Steward; his father was a shoe 
maker by trade ; the latter part of his life 
was farming ; Mr. Steward was raised on 
his father's farm, and in 1850, came West 
to Illinois and settled in Custer Tp.; he 
first purchased 420 acres of land, at 80c. 
per acre, purchased from the Government ; 
here he has remained ever since, engaged 
in farming and stock raising ; owns to-day 
280 acres of fine improved land. Married 
Rosella Tanner, by whom they have six 
children. 

JOHN H. WARD, insurance, Braid- 
wood; was born in Ireland, Aug. 15, 1840 ; 
emigrated to America with his pai'ents in 
1846 ; his father, Hugh Ward, was a 
mason, by trade ; was engaged in working 
on the Erie Canal ; first settled in Pennsyl- 
vania, here about one and a half years ; 
then to Bufialo, N. Y., and remained for 
three years ; came West to Illinois and 
settled in Wilmington, Will Co., in 1851 ; 
Mr. Ward, in 1866, came to Braidwood, 
and has been engaged at his trade, mason, 
having plastered the first houses built in • 
Braidwood ; he is agent for some most reli- 
able insurance companies of the United 
States : Continental, of New York ; Home, 
of Columbus, Ohio ; German-American, of 
New York, etc. At the breaking-out of 
the late war, enlisted in Co. 1, 100th I. V.I.; 
was honorably discharged on the account 



of sickness. Mr. Ward has held several 
offices of trust in his township ; Town 
Clerk and School Director. Democrat in 
politics ; member of the Catholic Church. 
Married twice ; in 1865. to Miss Lustatia 
Brown ; second wife, 1876, to Miss Mary 
Keane, of Illinois; three children by first 
wife and one child by second wife. His 
parents are now living in Joliet, 111. 

COL. EDWIN WAKEFIELD. Justice 
of the Peace, Braidwood ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Monmouthshire, Eng., 
in 1830, ^nd is the son of Charles and Mary 
Ann (Lechie) Wakefield; his father was 
a professional gardener ; Col. Wakefield 
worked with his father in the garden until 
he was about 13 years of age; he then 
entered the coal mines, and followed coal 
mining for over twenty-five years; in 1855-6, 
Col. Wakefield served as gunner in the 
British Royal Artillery, in the Crimean 
war. In 1857, he emigrated to America; 
he has been enaged in mining in different 
parts of Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Ken- 
tucky and Illinois. At the breaking-out 
of the war, he enlisted as Captain of Co. 
D, 7th Mo. V. I., June 1861 ; he partici- 
pated in some of the hard-fought battles ; 
was at the siege and capture of Vicksburg, 
Miss.; was promoted as Major of the 7th 
Mo., Nov. 29, 1862; resigned Aug. 1, 
1863. He then came to Illinois, and set- 
tled in Braceville, Grundy Co., nine years 
in mining ; in 1874, came to Braidwood, 
and entered the mercantile business. Has 
held the office of Justice of the Peace in 
Grundy Co. Is a National Greenbacker in 
politics. Married in 1863, to Josephine 
Brumfield, of Ottawa, 111.; have four chil- 
dren. 

JOHN WALKER, saloon and boarding 
stable, Braidwood ; born in Ayrshire, Scot- 
land, about 1837, and is the son of Andrew 
and Jan('( Ritchie ) Walker, of Scotland. His 
father was an engineer in the coal mines ; 
Mr. Walker, at the age between 8 and 9 
years, commenced working in coal mines; 
and followed mining and sinkintr of shafts 
while in Scotland; in 1866, he emigrated 
to America, and came direct to Braidwood ; 
here he was first engaged in helping sink- 
ing coal shafts ; in 1868, he commenced 
the butcher business, and followed this 
business about sixteen months; he then en- 
tered the saloon business ; this business 
he has followed principally ever since. Mr. 



HOMEK TOWNSHIP. 



765 



Walker married Miss Elizabeth Steel, of ' 
Kilmarnock, Scotland, by whom they have 
had eicht children, five livinp:. 

J OilN YOUNG, merchant, Hraidwood ; 
was born in Gatcside, Ayrshire Co., Scot- ' 
land, Dec. 25, 1840, and ia the son of John 
and Margaret ( McCollum) Voung, of Scot- 
land. Mr. Younu:, when he wasabout 8 years 
of age, commenced to work in the coal ] 
mines in the Parish of Dairy, Scotland, and 
folK)wed this business ; in 18G7, he emi- 
grated to America, and landed in New 
York City ; he came direct West to Illinois, 
and settled in Braidwood in 18H7 ; here I 
he commented mining, and continued in 
this business until 1877, when he entered 
the mercantile business. He was nominated 



by the National Greenback party in 1877) 
for Supervisor of Heed Tp., and was elected 
to that office, and from the faitliful manner 
he filled the office, he was re-elected to the 
same office in 1878, by a large majority ; 
he has held other offices of public trust 
in which he has acquitted himself in an ef- 
ficient manner. Mr. Young was married 
in 1859 to Miss Mary Colquhoun of Scot- 
land, by whom they have had eleven chil- 
dren, five living. Is a National Green - 
backer in poliMcs, and is a strong worker 
in the ranks; member of the Presbyterian 
Church. Mr. Young's father died in 1849, 
at 58 years of age; liis mother is now liv- 
ing in Scotland, and is a descendant of the 
poet, Robert Burns. 



HOMER TOWNSHIP. 



J. B. AUSTIN, farmer. Sec. 11 ; Good- 
ing's Grove, P. 0. ; was born in Ontario 
Co., N. Y., July 4, 1824 ; he lived with 
his pai-ents up to the age of 14, when he 
came with his uncle, Ira Austin, to this 
county in 1838, who settled near Gooding's 
Grove P. 0., and lived with him until 
1851. He purchased the fiirm he now 
resides on in 1851. Has been Collector, 
Assessor, Constable and School Director. 
Mr. Austin was the Captain of the first 
canal-boat that went through the Illinois 
and Michigan Canal. His first wife was 
Laura Sanders of N. Y. State ; she died 
July 3, 18G5; they have four children, 
Wiiliaui B., born in 1851 ; Marion E., 
April 2(3, 1853 ; Albert H., Feb. 6, 1854; 
Lyman A., Nov. 26, 1856. He married 
his second wife. Miss Betsey McGregor, in 
Homer Township, Oct. 22, 1867; she 
■was born Nov. 17, 1845 ; have seven chil- 
dren— Jennie, born Dec. 16, 1868; BuelP., 
born Julv 22, 1870 ; Ira W., born Nov. 
6, 1871, and died March 3, 1873 ; Charles 
H., burn Nov. 16, 1874 ; James H., born 
Aug. 9, 1876, and John, born Aug. 4, 
1878. Mr. Au.stin served in the Com- 
missary Department during our late war, 
from Aut;. 2, 1862, to Feb. 1, 1865. 

THOSlAS BUMP, deceased, farmer. 
Sec. 24 ; was born in Chautauqua Co., N. 
Y., June 7, 1819 ; he came to this county 
in 1834 with his parents, who were among 



the pioneers of this county, and who laid 
claim to the land he afterward purchased 
from them, and upon which he lived up to 
the day of his death, Aug. 25, 1877. 
He married Miss Mary Fagen, of N. Y. 
State, in 1840 ; she died June 5, 1869 ; 
they had ten children, six living — Lucinda, 
born Jan. 11, 1841 ; Jacob, Jan. 30, '43; 
Albert, Nov. 6, 1845 ; Alonzo, June 20, 
1847; LydiaA., Jan. 25,1849; Leonard, 
Dec. 5, 1855, and Oscar R., Dec. 23, 
1861 ; four dead, Albert, born Nov. 6, 
1845, and died April 26, 1864, in Wash- 
ington, from disease contracted in the 
army ; Henry J., born April 4, 1858, died 
Nov. 24, 1861 ; Alfred J., born Oct. 25, 
1863, and died Aug. 24, 1864, and one 
born Aug. 19, 1854, died Aug. 21, 1854, 
in infancy. 

ISRAEL BROWN, deceased, farmer, 
Sec. 11 ; was born in New Jersey, June 
15, 1799 ; he first went to the State of 
New Y^ork, when quite a boy, and remained 
there until he was 2 1 years of age ; he 
then went to Black Rock, N. Y., remain-^ 
ing there ten yeai-s, working as a wagon - 
maker ; in 1822, he went to Canada, where 
he lived for thirty-six years carrying on the 
business of wagon-maker ; in 1 858, he came 
to this county and settled upon his farm 
where he resided up to the day of hia 
decease, Sept. 7, 1873 ; his widow still 
lives upon the fiirm. He held the office of 



'66 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; 



bailiff, seven or eight years, in Canada. 
Married Miss Jane B. Clark, of Black 
Rock, N. Y., Jan. 2, 1823 ; she was born 
in New Haiupslure, Dec. 29, 180-i ; had 
eight children, Rodney A., born Oct. 25, 
1823 ; Sarah Ann, in Sept. 20, 1825 ; 
Thomas W., April 7, 1828; Caroline, 
Dec. 7, 1831, died July 23, 183i ; Mary 
Jane, born June 23, 1833, died March 11, 
1868; Robert C, Sept. 23, 183G, died 
April 18, 1863, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., 
from disease contracted in army ; Nancy 
S. W., Oct. 31, 1840, and Daniel C, born 
June 7, 1842. 

SAMUEL J. BLOUNT, deceased, far.. 
Sec. 11 ; was born in Richmond, N. Y., 
on July 6, 1815 ; he lived there with his 
parents till he was 21 years of age, engaged 
in farming, until his coming to this county 
(1836), when he first worked for William 
Gooding, on Sec. 3, and resided always in 
the neighborhood of ''Gooding's Grove;" 
in 18-15, he purchased the claim to the 
farm his widow now resides on, and lived 
there until his decease, Feb. 28, 1878 ; 
had been Postmaster at "Gooding's Grove" 
many years, Justice of the Peace, School 
Trustee, Road Commissioner, Collector and 
Supervisor. Married Mrs. Caroline A. 
Bliss (daughter of James Gooding, Jr., 
and widow of Philenzo P. Bliss), in 
Homer Township, Jan. 3. 1841 ; Mrs. 
Blount had one child by Mr. Bliss — Phi- 
lenzo P., Jr., born June 16, 1S39, and 
eight children by Mr. Blount — Rhoda, born 
Nov. 12, 1841 ; James, born in April, 
1843, died in Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 11, 
1862, from disease contracted in the army; 
George, born Nov. 17, 1844 ; Mary M., 
Dec. 5, 1846; Caroline, June 3, 1849; 
Elva Lucretia, Dec. 3, 1851 ; Frank \., 
Julv 22, 1854, and Azuba, Oct. 17, 1857. 

WM. J. BENTLBY, farmer, Sec. 15; 
P. 0. Lockport ; was born in Homer Tp. 
March 28, 1843 ; he lived in this county 
until the age of 17, when he moved to 
Cook Co., remaining two years. In 1862, 
he enlisted in Co. F, 100th 111. V I., and 
served as such seven months, and dis- 
charged on account of disability. He 
married Miss Ann M. Dixon, of Lockport, 
in Homer Tp., Feb. 28, 1867 ; she was 
born Aug. 2, 1841. His father, Robert 
Bentley, was born in Cambridgeshire, 
Eng., Aug. 13, 1814 ; he came to Amer- 
ica with his parents in 1833, who settled 



in Lockport, N. Y., remaining there six 
years ; in 1842, he came West and settled 
in Homer Tp., living there sixteen years, 
when they went to Palos, Cook Co. ; in 
1862, they returned to Will Co. ; in 1875, 
he purchased his present farm. Has been 
School Director and Path Master. Mar- 
ried Catharine Rahill, of Southampton, 
Eng., in Lockport, N. Y., May 10, 1842 ; 
she was born Nov. 1, 1821 ; they had ten 
children, seven living — William Joseph, 
Robert James, Charles Edward, Mary 
Ann, Martha Ellen, Alice Kate, Asa Lin- 
coln ; three dead — Sarah Ann, Frederick 
Benjamin and Florence Jenette. 

H. F. BOWEN, farmer, Sec. 16 ; P. 
0. Lockport ; was born iii Oneida Co., N. 
Y., April 10, 1812; he lived there until 
the age of 20, when he went to Plymouth, 
Mich., and remained there ten years, car- 
rying on mercantile business and school 
teaching ; in 1850, he came to Chicitgo, 
remaining there nearly a year, and then re- 
turned to Plymouth, Mich. ; about a year 
after, he returned to Chicago, and went 
from there to Marengo, McHenry Co., and 
taught school ; in the fall of 1852, having 
moved to this county, he purchased the 
farm upon which he now resides. Has 
been Town Clerk four years. Married 
first wife, Miss Mary T. Bennett, from near 
Rochester, N. Y., in Plymouth, Mich., in 
April, 1835; she died in June, 1850; 
they had three children — Lowell M., John 
M. and Charles H., all dead. He married 
his second wife (widow of Alonzo Inger- 
soll) Feb. 20, 1852; she died Oct! 5, 
1861 ; he married his present wife (widow 
of David E. Davis) April 17, 1862; tli,ey 
have one child (adopted) — Mary E., 
daughter of David B. Peck, brother of 
Mrs". H. F. Bowen, born Feb. 9, 1863, in 
Des Moines, Iowa. 

JEFFERSON BUMP, farmer, Sec. 
15; P. 0. Lockport; was born in Chau- 
tauqua Co., N. Y., Jan. 31, 1826, and re- 
mained there until he was 8 years of age ; 
in the fall of 1834, he came West with his 
parents and settled in Will Co. ; in 1852, 
he crossed the plains to California, and 
prospected in the mines and tended pack- 
trains of mules across the mountains until 
1859, when he returned to this county and 
purchased the farm in 1860 upon which he 
resides, containing eighty acres, being one- 
half the laud originally preempted by his 



HOMER TOWNSHIP. 



767 



parents. Has been School Director throe 
years. Married Miss Fannie Mariah 
Rockafellow (daughter of James and Nan- 
cy Kockafelhiw. of Chautauqua Co., N. Y.) 
in Plainticld Dee. 20, 1860; she was born 
April ;»0, 1844 ; they have six children — 
Sarah Angelina, born Nov. 4, 1801 ; Nel- 
son James, May 7, 1864, Clarence Josiah, 
Oct. 24, 186^; Nanev Helen, Sept. 20, 
1807; Frank Gilo, July 20, 1809, and 
Luev Loretta, born June 28, 1873. 

LEANDFR BUMP, farmer, Sec. 15; 
P. 0. Lockptort ; was born in Otsego Co., 
N. Y., May 7, 1809; his parents moved to 
Crawford Co., Penn., when he was years 
of age, and after remaining there some four 
years, went to Chautauqua Co.,N. Y., and 
after remaining twelve or fourteen years, 
moved West in the fall of 1884, and settled 
in Will Co., in this township, on the farm 
he and his brother Jefferson now reside 
on. His father, Jacob, died Aug. 12, 
1849, and his mother, Lydia, April 16, 
1852 ; they were among the first settlers 
in this county, and with their families 
passed through the many hardships and 
trials of a pioneer's life. He married Miss 
Elizabeth Lucy Dixon, of Milton, Mow- 
bray, Leicestershire, Eng.. in Homer Tp., 
April 13, 1859; she was born Sept. 1, 
1839 ; they have four children — Walter 
James, born Sept. 4, 1860 ; Florence Ann, 
born Dec. 16. 1803, and died May 15, 
1870; Lydia Jane, born Sept. 25, 1807, 
and Greorge Jacob, born July 17, 1869. 

A. B. BROOKS, farmer. Sec. 10, P. 0. 
Lockport ; was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., 
Feb. 14, 1809 ; his parents moved to Del- 
aware County when he was 10 years old, 
and remained there until 1820, when they 
moved to Erie Co., N. Y.; in 1837, he 
moved to this county, his parents following. 
His father, Benjamin, died on the farm his 
son Alonzo now resides on, in 1804, and 
hismother, Annie, in 1830 ; in 1839, Alonzo 
moved to his present farm, where he has 
ever since resided. Has been Justice of 
the Peace nearly twenty years. Assessor, 
Highway Commissioner, School Director, 
President Homer Mutual Insurance Co. 
Married first wife, Annie Edmonds, of 
Delaware Co., N. Y., in October, 1831 ; she 
died October 14, 1837 ; they had one child 
— Joseph E., born October, 1833. He 
married second wife, Jane Weaver, in 
Homer Township, Aug. 29, 1838 ; she 



was born Jan. 20, 1807 ; they had five 
children, one living — Sterling A., horn Jan. 
21, 1848; four dead — William Harrison, 
Harrison and two who died at birth. 

JOSEPH E. BKOOKS, farmer. Sec. 1 1 ; 
P. 0. Gooding's Grove; was born in Erie 
Co., N. Y., Oct. 12, 1833; he lived there 
until he was 4 years of age, and then came 
with his mother, in 1837, to this county, 
and after the death of his mother in October 
of same year, he went to live with Holder 
Sisson until spring of 1838, when he lived 
with Wm. Frazer up to August, from which 
time until he was 21 he remained with his 
father, Alonzo; in 1867, he moved to the 
farm upon which he now resides. In 1869, 
he went to Cass Co., Mo., remaining four 
years, and then returned to this township, 
and has lived since on his farm. Has been 
School Director. Married Eunice Z. Coon, 
of Mokena, Will Co., Nov. 28, 1855; 
she was born Jan. 25, 1834; have three 
children — Louis D., born Oct. 5, 1856 ; 
William H., born Dec. 18, 1858, and . 
Annis L, born Aug. 13, 1862. 

JOHN BRINCKERHOFF, flir.. Sec. 
31; P. 0. Lockport; was born in Water- 
vliet, N. Y., May 15, 1836; he moved to 
this county with his parents in 1838, and 
worked upon the farm until the age of 22 ; 
in 1860, he crossed the plains to Pike's 
Peak, returning the same fall; in 1806, he 
went to Chicago and carried on the grocery 
business two years; he returned to this 
township; in 1869, he purchased from his 
father the homestead upon which he now 
resides, containing 160 acres. Has been 
School Dire(;tor three terms, and is such at 
present. He married Rebecca Breck en- 
ridge, of Canada in New Lenox Township, 
Aug. 19, 1858; she was born in Canada 
Dec. 7, 1839; they have six children — 
Clarence Eugene, born Nov. 9, 1859 ; 
George Erwin, March 8, 1862; Martin 
Schuyler, Jan. 29, 1866 ; John Jerome, 
Jan. 18, 1869; Howard Horace, Aug. 19, 
1872, and Gertrude Rebecca, Oct. 14, 
1875. 

MARTIN B. BRINCKERHOFF, re- 
tired flirmer. Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Lockport; was 
born in Albany, N. Y., July 11, 1806 ; he 
attended school to the age of 14, when his 
father sent him to the country to learn 
farming, receiving only his board; at the 
age of 20, he worked his own farm in 
Albany Co., and remained on it up to 



768 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



1837 ; he came West in 1838 and settled 
on farm See. 31, and continued such up to 
18G9, when his son purchased the farm, 
witli whom he has since resided. Has 
been School Director and Uoad Commis- 
sioner. He married Eliza Van Duser, of 
Madison Co., N. Y., in Montgomery Co., 
N. Y., Dec. 24, 1827 ; she was born in 
Madison Co., N. Y., in 1808, and died in 
Homer Tp., Jan. 4, 1873 ; they had 
seven children, three living — Gertrude 
(now Mrs. Mellen), born April 5, 1829; 
John, born May 15, 183G ; Mary (now 
Mrs. Harris), Feb. 4, 1834, and four dead 
— John, died Feb. 5,1832; James, March 
7, 1833; Martin, died at Nashville, Tenn., 
Feb. 8, 18G3, from disease contracted in 
the army, and Emma Cecilia, in Septem- 
ber, 1870. 

A. C. CUTLER, farmer, Sec. 26; P. 0. 
Hadley ; was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., 
Sept. 13, 1827 ; he lived there until he 
was 7 or 8 years of age, when he moved 
with his parents to Erie Co., Ohio, and 
from there to Huron Co., Ohio ; at the age 
of 13, he followed the life of a sailor upon 
the lakes; in the fall of 1844, he came 
with his parents to Illinois, traveling most 
of the way by team ; for some years he 
drove stage for Fink & Walker, of Chicago ; 
he also freighted through this Western 
country, and afterward went to Chicago and 
was engaged in the manufacture of shingles 
and also connected with the Police Depart- 
ment for eight years ; in 1865, he crossed 
the plains to Colorado, mining and pro- 
specting, and again in 1866 ; he came to 
this county in 1869, and first settled on 
Sec. 36, and moved from there to Hadley 
P. 0., being its Postmaster for three years ; 
in 1873, he came to his present farm of 
105 acres. He married Miss Elizabeth 
Glines, of Homer Tp., Sept. 6, 1870; she 
was born in Feb., 1864 ; they have two 
children — Clinton E. B., born July 3, 
1871, and Ida Lucy, Feb. 5, 1875. 

LEROY CORWIN, farmer. Sec. 2 ; P. 
O. (jroodinir's Grove ; was born in West 
Lockport May 15, 1851 ; he came with his 
parents to this township when he was 
about 3 years old ; he remained with his 
parents, engaged on the farm until he was 
15 years of age, from which time he has 
worked his own way through life ; he now 
works the farm of H. McGregor. He 
married Miss Hannah Adams, of Indi- 



diana, in Richland Co., Wis., Sept. 5, 
1875 ; she was born Feb. 11, 1855. 

FREDERIC COLLINS, farmer. Sec. 
21; P. 0. Lockport; was born in Berk- 
shire, Tioga Co., N. Y., June 29, 1812 ; 
he was engaged in farming with his parents 
until the year 1833, when he came to this 
county and first settled on Sees. 27 and 28, 
and obtained a pre-emption upon the land, 
where he resided forty-one years, and in 
the winter of 1874, moved to where he 
now resides ; Mr. Collins was among the 
first settlers, when a fence was a novelty 
and the red men were their neighbors. He 
married Miss Nancy Mason White, daugh- 
ter of Jonah White, of Spencer, Mass., in 
Lockport Tp., March 13, 1839; she was 
born in Skaneateles, N. Y., July 23, 1814 ; 
they had four children, three living — Ho- 
ratio, born Feb. 3, 1840 ; Adeline Eliza 
(now Mrs. Hatch), born Sept. 19, 1841, and 
Ellen Samantha (now Mrs. Bird, of Mich- 
igan), born Aug. 13, 1850, and Emma 
Adella, born Sept. 5, 1856, and died July 
26, 1857. Mr. Collins has passed through 
the many struggles and incidents and 
dangers so common to the pioneer of the 
Great West, and is to-day hardy and robust 
at the ripe old age of 66. 

NATHAN CORWIN, farmer, Sec. 21; 
P. 0. Lockport ; was born in Wayne Co., 
N. Y., March 15, 1810; he lived there, 

[ engaged in farming, up to the time he was 
24 years of age, when he came West, and 
first moved to Wayne Co., Mich., and was 

\ engaged in clearing up timber land ; two 

; years afterward, he moved to La Grange 
Co., Ind., where he remained thirteen 
years ; he came to this county in 1848, 
and first lived in Plainfield two years, and 
then in Lockport Tp. three years, farming, 
and in Lockport three years, keeping hotel ; 
in 1855, he came to this township, where 
he has since resided ; has been Poor Mas- 
ter and School Director. Married his first 
wife, Sophia Jewell, of Arcadia, Wayne 

! Co., N. Y., June 30, 1831; she died Jan. 
26, 1843 ; they had five children — Melissa, 
Mary U., Horace T., Henry E. and Lydia. 

. He married his second wife, Eliza Ann 
Cole, of Wayne Co., N. Y., in 1848 ; they 
had seven children — David R., Austin, 

: Leroy, De Witt C, Alice, Edward L. and 
William F. 

H. T. CORWIN, farmer, Sec. 21 ; P. 

[ 0. Lockport ; was born in Lima, La 



HOMER TOWNSHIP 



769 



•Grange 



Co., Tnd., Aug. 4, 18::5(); ho 



moved to this county with his parents in 
18;")'), and lived with them until the age of 
21 ; in 1874, he purchased (he {"arm upon 
whieh he now resides, now containing sev- 
enty acres. lie has been School Director 
three years. He married Miss Helen C. 
Reed (daughter of George Reed) in 
Homer Tp., Jan. 31, 1867 ; she was 
born in Bristol, Ontario Co., N. Y., 
Sept. 24, 1845 ; they have twti children 
— Elmer R., born Feb. 20, 1867, and 
Myrtie J., born June 10, 1877. Mr. 
Corwin served three years as Sergeant of 
Co. G, 39th 111. Inf., and was wounded at 
Bermuda Hundred in 1864, and served 
the balance of his enlistment in Marine 
Hospital in Chicago. 

REV. SAMUEL COWELL, Episco- 
pal clergyman, Lockport ; was born in 
Providence, R. I., July 3, 1820; at the 
age of 20, he graduated at Brown Univer- 
sity ; he then studied law one year with his 
father, the Hon. Benj. Cowell, Chief Justice 
of Court of Common Pleas of Rhode Island ; 
in 1844, he was ordained as an Episcopal 
Minister; he first preached in Western 
Pennsylvania for seven years ; in 1854, he 
moved to Saco, Maine, and was Pastor of 
Trinity Church four years ; in June, 1858, 
he came to Lockport, and was Pastor of 
St. John's Episcopal Church four years 
and Chaplain of State Penitentiary four 
years under the appointment of Gov. Bis- 
sell ; although compelled by ill health to 
retire from the ministry, Mr. Cowell has 
been engaged upon missionary work, and 
laid the corner-stones of two clmrches 
at Lockport and New Lenox, in this 
county ; he now resides on his farm, about 
one and one-half miles from Lockport. 
Married Margaret Marshall in Washing- 
ton, Penn., Oct. 4, 1852 ; she was born in 
Washington, Penn., Oct. 27, 1829; they 
had five children, four uf whom are liv- 



ing. 



BENJAMIN M. DANCER (de- 
cea.sed), farmer. Sec. 25; was born in 
the State of New York, Dec. 24, 1809; 
when he came West, first settled in Chica- 
go, remaining there about two years ; his 
parents coming West, they all went to 
Kankakee Co., 111., where his mother died, 
when he first came to this county he lived 
near Hadley P. 0. ; in 1843, he settled 
upon the farm his widow nuw resides on. 



and lived there until his death, Jan. 4, 
1864. Had been Supervisor. Married 
Miss Emily Simmons (daughter of Thomas 
Simmons, one of the early pioneers of this 
county, having come here in 1833, from 
Dunkirk, N. Y.) in Joliet, Oct. 30, 1843 ; 
she was burn May 3, 1823; they had eight 
children — John and William (twins), born 
Nov. 12, 1844, Mariah, March 7, 1846; 
Mary, born March 22, 1851, died March 
21, 1864; Emma, born May 16, 1853; 
Benjamin F., born Feb. 22, 1857, died 
November of the same year ; Alice R., 
born Aug. 12, 1859, died March 16, 
1860 ; George, born Dec. 30, 1861, died 
July 14, 1877. 

PATRICK DUNN, former. Sec. 22; 
P. 0. Jjockport ; was born in the parish of 
Laighlin Bridge, Carroll Co., Ireland, 
March 17, 1825, and lived there until he 
was 25, years of age when he emigrated 
to America, and first lived in Salem Co. 
Mo., one year ; he then crossed the plains 
to California, and remained six years, com- 
ing to this county where he has resided 
ever since ; he purcliased his present farm 
in 1861, now containing 150 acres. He 
enlisted as a private in Co. F, 100th 111. 
Inf., Aug. 10, 1862, and served to the 
close of the war in 1865. He married 
Miss Johanna Dugen in Lockport, March 
6, 1869 ; she was born in Tipperary, Ire- 
land, in 1839, and came to America in 
1858 ; they have two children — William, 
born Feb. 1, 1870, and Mary, born Nov. 
13, 1871. 

PETER DICK, farmer, Sec. 15; P. 
0. Lockport ; was born in Rheinboyer, 
Germany, May 19. 1821 ; he came to 
America with his father in 1845, who set- 
tled in Williams Co., Ohio, and lived there 
thirteen years; in 1858, he came to this 
county, and lived in Lockport Tp. five 
years, when he purchased and moved upon 
the farm he now resides on, containing 
eighty acres. He married Miss Barbara 
Saltsgiver Feb. 6, 1847, in Williams Co., 
Ohio, Dec. 25, 1828 ; they had nine 
children — George E.,born Nov. 23, 1847; 
Liddy C, born' Nov. 5, 1849 ; John W., 
Aug. 28, 1851 ; Lewis L., June 8, 1853 ; 
Theodore R., Feb. 6, 1855 ; Michael A., 
Jan. 23, 1858 ; William H., Feb. 24, 1862, 
died March 15, 1863 ; Mertie, June 15, 
1864. and Bertie, July 26. 1866— both 
the latter dying at birth. 



770 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



GEORGE DAMM, farmer, Sec. U; P. 
0. Lockport ; was born iu Bavaria. Ger- 
many, Feb. 8, 1828 ; came to America in 
in 1847, witli his parents, who settled on 
the I)u Page Co , 111., and lived with them 
until he was 27 years old ; in 1865, he 
came to this county and settled upon the 
farm upon which he now resides, containing 
IGU acres. Has been Road Master. Mar- 
ried Miss Elizabeth Ott in Du Page Co., 
111., May 8, 1855 ; she was born in Central 
Square, N. Y.; they had seven children — 
Laura Mariah and Francis Ellen (twins), 
born April 4, 1857 ; Frank Stephen, Jan. 
18, 1860; Edward Valentine, May 27, 
1862 ; Albert Casper, Aug. 27, 1866, and 
died Jan. 10, 1874; Barney Joseph, Nov. 
30, 1871, died April 17, 1872, and Mary 
Sophronia, April 6, 1873. 

JAMES D. FRAZER, farmer; P.O. 
Lockport ; was born in Pittsford, Monroe 
Co., N. Y., Oct. 5, 1821 ; he was one of 
nine children ; his mother was of Dutch and 
his father of Scotch extraction ; his great 
grandfather was frozen to death on the 
Green Mountains, Vt.; his parents being 
poor, the subject of this sketch was thrown 
upon his own resources early in life, work- 
ing upon a farm until 19 years of age, 
from which time up to the age of 27 he 
was employed in collecting and driving 
stock from Ohio, Pennsylvania and 
Western New York to Boston ; on June 
8, 1849, he came West and purchased a 
farm in this township, now owned and 
occupied by Harmon V., one of his 
brothers ; in 1852, he crossed the plains 
to California, remaining there nineteen 
months mining at Yreka ; he returned to 
this county in April, 1854, and has been 
engaged in farming ever since; in 1854, 
was elected Highway Commissioner, and 
in 1861, was elected Supervisor of the 
town, and having in that year offered a 
, resolution before the Board of Supervisors 
instructing the County Treasurer to receive 
the county taxes in "greenbacks" has been 
called and known as the "Veteran Green- 
backer;" in 1865, he was elected Assessor, 
and in 1874, was again elected Supervisor, 
beingre-elected in 1878 to the same posi- 
tion ; he has always taken an active part 
in politics, and in whatever would advance 
the interests of his county has always taken 
a prominent part ; he was a Delegate to 
the convention of 1856, which organized 



the Republican party. He married Mary 
F. Lane (daughter of John Lane, the 
inventor of the first steel plow), in Lock- 
port iu this county, April 12, 1857 ; she 
was born in Pittsford, N. Y., Sept. 4, 
1830 ; they have three children — John 
D., born March 29, 1858; Mattie J., 
Jan. 16, 1863, and Mary F., Feb. 16, 
1867. 

SAMUEL GOTTS (deceased), farmer; 
was born in Norfolk, Eng., Jan. 19, 1819 ; 
he came to America at the age of 14 ; he 
first settled in the State of New York, and 
afterward in Canada ; he came to this 
county in 1852, and lived here up to the 
time of his decease. May 2, 1878 ; he 
came to his present farm in the spring of 
1855, where his widow now resides, con- 
taining eighty acres. He married Mrs. 
Hannah Luther in Joliet Aug. 15, 1850; 
she was born in Franklin Co., Mass., April 
18, 1827; she has six children — Lydia 
Luther (by first husband), born Aug. 23, 
1848; bv second husband — Isabella, born. 
Feb. 9, 1856 ; Sarah, born Dec. 5, 1858 ; 
Alonzo, born Jan. 9, 1863 ; William, born 
Nov. 13, 1868, and Charles, born June 17, 
1872. 

JOHN HALEY, farmer, Sec. 35 ; P. 
0. Hadley ; was born in Waldec, Prussia, 
Germany, April 2, 1822 ; he lived there 
until he was 25 years of age, when he 
came to America in July, 1847, and settled 
first in Wayne Co., N. Y., Hving there six 
and a half years, blacksmithing ; moved 
from there to Prince Edward Co., Can., 
working at the same trade ; in the spring 
of 1860, he came to Will Co., and settled 
where he now resides ; farms 250 acres. 
Has been Highway Commissioner six 
years and School Director many years. 
He married Miss Elizabeth Kunzcn, of 
Prussia, in Alliance, Wayne Co., N. Y., 
in July, 1847; she was born Oct. 21, 
1823 ; they have eight children — John, 
born May 14, 1848 ; George L., born Jan. 
7, 1850; Carrie, born Nov. 3, 1852; 
William H., born Nov. 17, 1854; Charles 
F., born Sept. 26, 1857 ; Alexander, born 
Oct. 3, 1860; Frank, burn Dec. 18, 1864, 
and Emma, born June 16, 1868. 

CHARLES HALEY, blacksmith, Had- 
ley; was born in Waldec, Prussia, Ger- 
many, Jan. 21, 1836; he was engaged in 
learning the trade of blacksmith from the 
age of 15 up to 18, when he came to 



HOMER TOWNSHIP. 



771 



Canada with his mother in 1854. livintr 
tliero up to 1874, carrying on the trade of 
blacksmith, and from there he came to 
Hadley Postoffiee, in this townsliip, earry- 
iiig on a blacksmith shoj), and is now also 
Postmaster. He married Miss Aldura 
Lawson, of Prince Kdward Co., Upper 
'Canada, May 5, 18G3; she was born April 
l;^, 18-12 ; they have four children — Manly 
IJ., born June 20, 1864; John C, born 
April 7, 18()7 ; Adolpli, born Dec. 13, 
187(1, and Carrie, born Oct. 10, 1872. 

PETER HOMEDING, farmer, Sec. 24; 
P. 0. Gooding's Grove ; was born in Prus- 
sia, Germany, Sept. 18, 1821) ; he lived 
there until he was 23 years old, farming ; 
in 1852, he came to America, and came to 
Will Co., and has lived here ever since; in 
18tj4, he purchased the farm upon which 
he lives, containing sixty-four acres. Mar- 
ried Miss Susan Miller, of Prussia, in 
Joliet, Nov. 28, 1858 ; she was born Feb. 
2, 1824; had five children — Katie, born 
Sept. 15, 1858; Maggie, born April 16, 
1860; Matt, born May 10, 1861; Nicho- 
las, born in 1864, died in 1865, and Peter, 
born March 24. 1866. 

LEVI HARTWELL, farmer, Sec. 20; 
P. 0. Lockport ; was born in Hadley, 
Mass., Dec. 10, 1817 ; at the age of 11, 
he was thrown upon his own resources ; at 
the age of 12, he learned the trade of black- 
smithing with John Lane, and served an 
apprenticeship of seven years — three years 
in New York State and four years in Illi- 
nois, having come to this county in 1833 
with Mr. Lane ; he also worked for John 
P. Manny one year, and in Galena about a 
year; returnmg to this township in 1838, 
he again woi'ked for John Lane up to 
1842, when he settled upon the farm upon 
which he now resides, making all the im- 
provements on thirty acres, at the same 
time carrying on the manufacture of steel 
plows up to 1862, since which time he has 
devoted himself to his farm, now contain- 
ing 11(1 acres. Has held the office of 
Constable and Path Master seven or eight 
terms ; Town Commissioner thirteen years ; 
School Director twelve years ; Supervisor 
two years and Poor Master one year. He 
married his first wife, Miss Louisa Poor, 
in Homer Tp., Nov. 3, 1842 ; she was born 
in Indiana, Sept. 11, 1823, and died Oct. 
26, 1867 ; they had five children, one only 
living — Samuel, born June 27, 1856, and 



four dead — William E., fir.st, died Jan. 12, 
1846; William E., second, died at East- 
port, Miss., May 5, 18(55. of disease con- 
tracted in the army ; Charles died Feb. 14, 
1869, and Levi died May 20, 1873. He 
married his second wife, Mi?s Emma Trask, 
of St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in Chicago, 
April 22, 1868; she was born Nov. 10, 
1847. 

A. A. INGE HSOLL, farmer, Sec. d ; 
P. O. Lockport ; was born in Plainfield, 
Will Co., 111., Nov. 20, 1839 ; he has 
always been a resident of this county. His 
mother catne with her parents from Syra- 
cuse, N. Y., in Oct., 1833, and settled upon . 
the farm upon which he now resides, and 
died there. The subject of this sketch 
lived with them up to the year 1862 ; he 
then enlisted in Co. G, 100th Regt. I. V. 
L, serving three months, when he was 
transferred to the Pioneer Corps of the 
Army of the Cumberland ; remained in 
such from Nov. 27, 1862, to Oct. 8, 1863, 
and then was transferred to the First U. S. 
Vet. V. Engineers until mustered out, 
July 2, 1865. Has been Town Clerk, and 
is now Justice of the Peace. He married 
Miss Fanny M. Myrick, of Orland, Cook 
Co., March 28, 1866; she was born Sept. 
19, 1847 ; they had three children, two 
living — Annie A., born Oct. 15, 1867, and 
Walter Judson, born March 19, 1869, 
and one dead — Florence B., Born Aug. 1, 
1874, and died April 20, 1877. His grand- 
parents, Benjamin and Phojbe, came to 
this county in October, 1833, and were 
amons: the first settlers in the county, there 
being but very few families, and as the 
pioneers of this county, they and their 
families passed through the many dangers 
and hardships only to be found in a new 
country. In 1847, his grandfather, Ches- 
ter Ingersoll. crossed the; plains to Cali- 
fornia, and was the first white man that 
built a house in San Francisco. Benjamin 
Weaver died March 2, 1870, and Phoebe 
died Nov. 15, 1859, and lie buried in 
Brooks' burying-ground, on Sec. 10, near 
the homestead. 

JOHN JUNGEL, farmer. Sec. 12; P. 
0. Gooding's Grove ; was born in Luxem- 
burg, Germany, May 8, 1829 ; he lived 
there until he was 23 years of age, engaged 
in farming, when he came to -America 
(1852), and settled in Du Page Co., living 
, there three years ; in 1855, he came to this 



772 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



county and settled where he now resides ; 
forms 200 acres. He married Miss Mary 
Ann Wagner, of Rhenish Prussia, Germany, 
Dec. 31, 1856; she was born Nov. 15, 
1836 ; they have ten children — Peter, 
born Dee. 14, 1856; Mary K., Sept. 4, 
1858 ; Susie, March 8, 1860 ; Katie, Feb. 
25, 1862; Nicholas, May 1, 1864; 
Maggie. April 5, 186() ; Johnnie, April 
13, 1868 ; Lizzie, April 19, 1870 ; Barney, 
Aug. 25, 1872, and Annie, May 28, 
1875. 

SP]TH B. JONES, deceased, farmer. 
Sec. 11 ; was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., 
Aug. 31, 1828 ; his parents moved to On- 
tario Co., N. Y., when he was a child, 
where he remained until he was 27 years 
of age, engaged in farming; in 1855, he 
moved West and settled in Kankakee Co., 
111., where he lived until his coming to this 
county in 1865, and settled upon the farm 
containing 110 acres, upon which his widow 
now resides, and where he lived until his 
decease, Nov. 20, 1875. Had been School 
Trustee. Married Miss Julia K. Codding, 
of Bristol, Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov, 28, 
1850 ; she was born in Bristol, N. Y., 
March 3, 1831 ; they had five children — 
Elliott E., born Sept. 20, 1853 ; Arthur, 
born March 30, 1857 ; Annette 0., born 
Dec. 3, 1858, and died Feb. 17, 1861; 
Theresa L., born Oct. 17, 1860, and Marcia 
C, born Aug. 22, 1862, and died May 3, 
1876. 

W. H. LAN FEAR,, farmer and stock 
raiser. Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Lockport ; was born 
in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Dec. 25, 1830 ; he 
moved with his parents to this township, 
when he was 5 years of age, and was en- 
gaged with them in farming until the age 
of 21 ; his father died June 23, 1871 ; 
his mother still lives, at the ripe old age of 
82. The subject of this sketch purchased 
the farm, upon which he now lives, in 
1852, having made all the improvements 
and set out all the trees upon it, contain- 
ing at present 200 acres. He was Town 
Commissioner in 1875, 1876 and 1877 ; 
also School Director six years. He mar- 
ried Miss Emily M. Savage, daughter of 
Levi Savage, of this township, Feb. 25, 
1852; she was born in Granville, Wash- 
ington Co., N. Y., July 24, 1830 ; they 
had seven children, three living — Mary 
Ann, born Dec. 16, 1852; Albert H., Oct. 
31, 1865. and Nettie E., Dec. 26, 1867, 



and four deceased — Asa W., born Nov. 8, 
1854, died March 22, 1871 ; Ida M.,born 
Aug. 2, 1856, died Jan. 6, 1860 ; Charley 
E.. born Nov. 3, 1872, died July 24, 
1873, and Willie H., died Sept. 1874; 
the last two being twins. 

J. S. L\NFEAR, farmer and stock 
raiser. Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Lockport ; was born 
in Homer Tp., July 25, 1837, in the 
homestead where his parents had resided 
since 1835, and where his father died June 
23, 1871 ; Mr. Lanfear has farmed the 
same since he was old enough to do so, and 
lives on the same place at present, now 
containing 150 acres. He has held the 
office of Town Clerk six years, and School 
Director seven years, which position he 
still holds. He married Miss Amelia Hill, 
a daughter of Isaac F. Hill, of Madison 
Co., N. Y., in Homer Tp., Sept. 1, 1857 ; 
she was born in Oneida Tp., Madison Co., 
N. Y., Oct. 1, 1834 ; ttiey have one child 
— De Etta, born March 20, 1852. 

RICHARD S. McLAUGHRY, farmer. 
Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Lockport ; was born in 
Onondaga Co., N. Y., Feb. 13, 1822; he 
lived there until he was 12 years of age, 
when he came West with his parents, who 
first settled in Paddock's Settlement, 
in Cook Co., where his parents died; in. 
1850, he crossed the plains to California, 
prospecting and mining one year, when he 
I'eturned to Cook Co.; in 1860, he lived 
upon his farm near Gooding's Grove. 
In the fall of 1862, he enlisted in Co. F, 
100th 111. V^. I., and was elected as Captain 
of the same company, serving up to 1864 ; 
he was wounded at Mission Ridge, Georgia. 
He married his first wife, Mary Fitzsim- 
mons, in Cook Co., 111., Oct. 10, 1844 ; 
she died Dec. 8, 1845 ; they had one child 
— Thomas J., born Dec. 8, 1845, died in 
Anderson ville prison, Georgia, in 1864 ; 
he married his second wife, Jane Petty- 
john, in Cook Co., in 1847 ; she died 
in April, 1853 ; they had two children — 
William L., born in June, 1848, and Han- 
nah M., born Sept. 21, 1850, died Oct. 
20, 1869 ; married his present wife, Eliza- 
beth Benton, of Geauga Co., Ohio, Jan. 3, 
1854; they have seven children — Richard 
M., born Nov. 23, 1853 ; Helen E.. Jan. 
17, 1858; Alice G., Feb. 26, 1860 ; Jessie 
P., Nov. 19, 1862 ; Herman T., July 15, 
1865 ; Bernice, Jan. 28, 1868, and Flor- 
ence M., July 10, 1870. 



HOMER TOWNSHIP. 



773 



HORACE MESSENGER, farmer and " 
stock raiser, Sec. 33; P. 0. Lockport : 
was born in Chenango Co.. N. Y., April 
26, 1807; he Hved with his parents to the 
age of 20, fanning, then farujed six years 
in Onondaga Co., N. Y., by the month; in 
1834, he came to this county (then Cook) 
and made his claim ; then returning to 
Onondaga County, married and returned 
with his wife in 1835, and worked and 
improved the farm u})on which he lias 
ever since resided, containing over four 
hundred acres ; Mr. Messenger is one of 
the earliest settlers in tlie cuutny. Has 
been Highway Commissioner, but, although 
repeatedly rcijuested, steadily has refused 
to hold any other oflSce. Married Miss 
Fanny Shead (daughter of Stephen Shead, 
Onondaga Co., N. Y.) in Onondaga Co., 
N. Y., in April, 1835 ; she was born in 
Vernon, N. Y., June 13, 1810 ; they had 
seven children, six living — Horace, born 
April 20, 1807 ; Fanny S., June 13, 
1810; Mary Jane, Nov. 4, 1838; Francis 
Ann, March IS, 1840 ; Horace Isaac, Feb. 
5, 1844, and Helen Louisa, April 18, 1847 ; 
one dead — William 11., born Feb. 20, 
1830, died April 4, 1839. 

JAMES W. MOONEY, farmer. Sec. 
32 ; P. 0. Lockport ; was born in Ulster 
Co., N. Y., Nov. 6, 1815, where he was 
engaged in farming, except four years, 
when he clerked in a grocery store ; he 
came to this county in 1848, and first set- 
tled in Homer Tp. ; in 1861 he moved, 
into Lockport Tp. and after remaining 
sixteen years, returned to Homer Tp, and 
for two years was engaged in boating 
on the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and 
now resides with his sons, John H. 
and Charles W., who work the Garden 
Farm in this township. Was Township 
Assesor and Highway Overseer in Lock- 
port Tp. Married Lydia Ann Burt 
(daughter of Harlow and Hannah Burt, 
of Wayne Co., N. Y.) in W^iyne Co., N. 
Y., Dec. 31, 1830 ; had eleven children — 
Jane M., born Aug. 10, 1839; Julia A., 
May 1, 1841 ; Francis, born Aug. 30, 
1842, died Aug. 20, 1843 ; Charity, born 
Feb. 3, 1844 ; died March 4, 1849 ; Mary, 
born April 14, 1840 ; Helen, Aug. 24, 
1847; John Henry, Dec. 30, 1849; 
Harriet Francelia, March 17, 1851 ; 
Lydia Josephine, Sept. 11, 1853; Will- 
iam Burt, April 7, 1855, died May 4, 



1856, and Charles Wesley, born July 7, 
1857. 

BARNKY OTT, farmer. Sec. 14; P. 
0. Goodiuii's Grove ; was born in Baden, 
Germany, June 5, 1 821; he lived with 
his parents fifteen years; from that time 
up to the age of 2 i , he worked at the trade 
of weaver ; he came to America in 1842; 
and the first year lived in Onondaga Co., 
N. Y., working in a salt factory ; from 
there he went to Canada, remaining two 
years farming; in 184(5, he came to this 
State and lived in Du Page Co. nineteen 
years farming, when he moved to this 
county (1805), and purchased the farm 
upon which he now resides, of 152 acres. 
He married Miss Elizabeth Walter (daugh- 
ter of Andrew Walter, of Darmstadt, 
Germany,) in Du Page Co., Sept. 10, 1851 ; 
she was born June 8, 1831 ; they had 
thirteen children — Frank, born Feb. 10, 
1853, died Feb. 20, 1854; Michael, born 
May 10, 1854; Eva, Oct. 30, 1855; 
Catharine, born April 16, 1857, died Feb. 
26, 1858 ; Mary, born Feb. 2, 1859 ; Lib- 
bie, Jan. 8, 1861 ; John, Aug 8, 1862 ; 
Katie, July 14, 1804; Peter, Jan. 2, 
1866 ; Clara, March 20, 1868 ; Emma, 
March 9. 1870; Maggie, Oct. 21, 1872, 
and George B., Nov. 24, 1874. 

DWIGHT PRESTON, farmer, Sec. 
11 ; P. 0. Gooding's Grove; was born in 
Herkimer Co., N. Y., Feb. 21, 1823; he 
moved with his parents to Otsego Co. 
when he was 4 years old, and lived there 
until 1852, when he came to this 
county and settled on Sec. 11 ; in 

1857, went lo Marion Co., III. In 1861, 
enlisted in Co. F, 39th Reg. III. Inf., and 
was promoted to 1st Sergeant Nov. 15, 
1802, serving until the close of the war ; 
he was wounded at Warebottom Church, 
Va., May 20, 1804, and remained in hospital 
until his discharge June 8, 1805; he then 
came to Will Co., and has remained here 
ever since. Has been Collect(tr and Con- 
stable. He married Emeline Brooks, of 
Otsego Co., N. Y.,Dec. 1, 1844; shedied 
Nov. 28, 1872 ; they have two children — 
Adelbert D., born Sept. 13, 1845, and 
Hannah E., June 15,1848. His son Adel- 
bert D., married Lydia Coon Dec. 20, 1869 ; 
they had four children — Marion D., born 
Oct. 2, 1870; Grace E., Feb. 28,1873; 
W^illiam Adelbert, June 23, 1875, died June 
21, 1877; and Mary L., Aug. 25, 1877 



774 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



NELSON REED, farmer, Sec. 9; P. 
0. Lockport; was born in Ontario Co., N. 
Y., Dec. 4, 1827 ; he lived with his par- 
ents until 9 years of age, when he was 
thrown upon his own resources, and has 
made his way in life upon his own exer- 
tions ever since ; he came to this county 
in January, 1852, and first settled on a farm 
in Sec. 9 ; in 1872, he purchased the farm 
he now resides on, his wife's parents, James 
and Eve Ritchey, residing with them from 
that time. Has been School Director sev- 
eral terms, and is so at present. Married 
Miss Margaret Ritchey in Homer Tp. Jan. 
21, 1858 ; she was born on the " Ritchey 
Homestead," Nov. 6, 1838; they have 
four children — Carson, born Feb. 19, 1860; 
William R., April 14, 1866; Mary P.^ 
Dec. 8, 1868, and Harry, Oct. 25, 1874. 

JAMES RITCHEY, retired farmer. 
Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Lockport ; was born in 
Bedford Co., Penn., Oct. 30, 1800 ; he 
remained there until he was 4 years of 
age, when his parents moved to Ross Co., 
Ohio, and remained there until Oct. 20, 
1830. when Mr. Ritchey and flxmily moved 
to Fountain Co., Ind., and in Nov. 24, 
1830, he came to this county, and took up 
his claim to the land he now resides on, 
and returning, brought his family on in 
the fell of 1831; in 1832, himself and 
family were compelled to take refuge in 
Fort Dearborn for eighteen days ; his fam- 
ily then returned to Indiana, and he him- 
self came back to his farm, returning sev- 
eral times that season to visit his family; 
the fall of same year, he brought his fam- 
ily again to Will Co., where they have re- 
sided ever since. He married Miss Eve 
Thatcher (daughter of Sylvester Thatcher, 
of Ross Co., Va.) in Ross Co., Ohio, Dec. 
30, 1823; she was born in Aug., 1801 ; 
they had eight children — Mary (now Mrs. 
Lewis Bush), born Dec. 5, 1824 ; Riley. 
Oct. 2, 1827, and died Nov. 7, 1862, at 
Cave City, Ky., from disease contracted 
in the army; George, April 26, 1830 
(now residing in Oregon) ; Samuel I., 
Aug. 16, 1833 (now living in Montana); 
John, May 24, 1836* (residing in Boulder 
City, Colo.; Margaret (wife of Nelson Reed), 
Nov. 6, 1838; James Marion, April 7, 
1841, and died at the age of 10 months, 
and Elizabeth R. (wife of Levi Poor, of 
Audrain Co., Mo.), Oct. 30, 1843. Mr. 
Ritchey and wife are the only living per- 



sons who were in this township who were 
" forted " in May, 1832; when he came 
here there was but one family (the John- 
stons, now all dead) ; as a pioneer of this 
county, he has encountered many hard- 
ships and struggles in the wilds of this 
great West, when their only companions 
were the Indians and the wild beasts of 
the forest ; his recollection of the events 
of that early day are vivid and fresh to 
him, and he is now in the enjoyment of 
a hale and hearty old age, being near 78 ; 
he lost, however, his eyesight from inflam- 
mation in 1854 ; his journey to Indiana 
from Ohio, was made by horse-teams, and 
from there to this county by ox-teams, as 
the roads at that day were impassable to 
horses, being " mired down ;" he has 
made numerous trips to Indiana for pro- 
visions, it being the only place they could 
get them in the years 1831, 1832 and 
1833, as they raised nothing until 1834 ; 
Chicago in 1833 contained only 170 per- 
sons. 

PETER RE UTER, farmer. Sec. 23; P. 
0. Lockport; was born in Trier, Rhenish 
Prussia, Oct. 10, 1834, and farmed until 
he came to America in 1864, and settled 
in Will Co. ; in 1874, he purchased 
the farm of ninety-six acres upon which 
he now resides. He married Helen Bea- 
ver in Prussia, Jan. 7, 1862 ; she was 
born in 1 840 ; they have nine children — 
Angelina, born Nov. 4, 1862 ; Susie, born 
Aug. 4, 1864 ; Mary, born Dec. 5, 1865; 
Louisa, born Feb. 2, 1867 , Lizzie, Jan. 2, 
1869 ; Katie, Aug. 9, 1871 ; Peter, Aug. 
19, 1872 ; Edward, Qct. 16, 1875, and 
John, born Nov. 21, 1877. 

HENRY REED, farmer, Sec. 20 ; P. 0. 
Lockport; was born in Ontario Co., N. 
Y., Nov. 30, 1825 ; he lived there until 
there until the age of 27,engaged in farming; 
in January, 1852, he moved to this county 
and with his brother was engaged in buy- 
ing and selling cattle, near Gooding's 
Grove, for two years ; he then purchased 
a farm near Hadley, and lived on it until 
the winter of 1864, when he returned East, 
and after remaining one year, returned and 
purchased the farm upon which he now re- 
sides, in January, 1868. Has been Super- 
visor two years. Assessor one year. Road 
Commissioner two years in Orland.Cook Co., 
111., and is now Road Commissioner of 
Homer Tp. He married Miss Mary Tot- 



HOMER TOWNSHIP. 



775 



miiD of Ontario Co., N. Y., June 18, 1854 ; 
she was born, in Jeii'erson Co., N. Y., June 
10, 1834 ; they had six children, five liv- 
ing — Morris A., born Aui;. S, 18(>(); Edna 
L., born Nov. 4, 180L!; Wallace L., born 
Aug. 9, 18G6; Frank L., born May 4, 
1868, and Henry B., born Nov. 27, 1875; 
one dead — Emerson W., born Aug. 31, 
1S5C), <lied June 20, 1850. 

J. B. ROWLEY, farmer, Sec. 20 ; P. 
0. Lockport; was born in Ontario Co., N. 
Y., Feb. 11, 1811, where he resided fifteen 
years, and afterward in Monroe Co. seven 
years; in 1833, he moved to this county 
and made a claim, and afterward purchased 
the land upon which he now resides, at 
the land sale in Chicago in 1 835 ; his fiirm 
now contains over 210 acres, which he laid 
out, and upon which he made all the improve- 
ments. Marri'^.d Miss Ardelia Lanfear in 
Homer Tp., April 13, 1836 ; she was born in 
Cayuga Co., N. Y., Feb. 17, 1818; they 
had six children, two living — Olive (now 
Mrs. Link), born April 21, 1838; Irvin 
E., born May 11, 1863, and four dead — 
Francis B., born April 17, 1844, died Dec. 
9, 1844 ; Adelia Ann, born Feb. 25, 1846, 
died April 23, 1848 ; Albert, born Feb. 27, 
1851, died April 6, 1865, and Ella M., born 
June 21, 1858, died Dec. 30, 1859. Mr. 
Rowley was among the first settlers, and 
passed through the many struggles of a 
pioneer life. 

HIRAM ROWLEY was one of the 
earliest settlers of Will Co.; he arrived in 
the year 1833 ; we are indebted to his son, 
John K. Rowley, of Chicago, the historian 
of the Rowley family in the United States, 
for the following extract from the proof- 
sheets, pertaining to the lineage of Mr. Row- 
ley ; he says, "After years of research, my 
conclusions are that the Rowleys arc all 
related ; that Moses Rowley, who emigrated 
from South Wales in the year 1700, was 
the original Rowley in this country ; he 
married at Cape Cod, Mass., and set- 
tled in East Haddam, Conn. Joseph 
Rowley, the grandfather of Hiram, resided 
in Richmond, Ma.ss., where he enlisted Oct. 
1, 1775, in the Revolutionary war; was 
in Col. Simon's regiment ; marched to 
Lake George, thence by boats to Ticon- 
deroga, N. Y., where trace is lost of his 
exploits. Li 1776, he served under Col. 
Ford, hunting Tories ; in 1777, was in the 
same service under Col. Ashley. During 



1778, 1779 and 1780, frequently volun- 
teered to go out in scouting parties after 
Tories and Indians. He was a brave soldier, 
and would haV(! served longer had it not 
been lor an accidental fall, which rendered 
him unfit for hard service. He was born 
in Colchester, Conn., in 1752, and died at 
Victor, N. Y., Dec. 23, 1835. Col. Aaron 
Rowley, of Revolutionary fame, was a 
brother of his." Capt. Jireh Rowley, the 
father of Hiram, was twice married. The 
second time to the mother of Charles M. 
and George M. Gray, well-known citizens 
of this county, as well as the county of 
Cook, in fact, throughout our whole coun- 
try. The Captain in business, was the 
Vanderbilt of his time, and distinguished 
himself as a true citizen and brave defender 
of his country in the war of 1812. More 
of his life will be found elsewhere in this 
history. Hiram Rowley was born Nov. 16, 
1813, and was one of the family of eight 
children who grew to maturity by the first 
wife, consisting of one daughter and seven 
sons, all of whom are now living but three. 
Jireli Rowley, Jr., died Aug. 6, 1875. It 
is a singular coincidence, that he was named 
after the father of so large a family, and 
filled a similarly prominent place in the 
estimation of the public in Western New 
York, where he always lived. Hiram had 
none of the advantages in early life for cul- 
tivation children now have. His mother 
died when he was quite young, and to use 
his own language, " he came up instead of 
being brought up." The spirit of advent- 
ure seized him at the age of 20 years, and 
he left his home in Victor, Ontario Co., 
N. Y., and all the hallowed associations of 
his youthful days for the uninhabited West. 
The journey by boat and stage took three 
weeks. He settled on a tract of 376 acres 
of land at Beebe's Grove, three miles east 
of Crete, where he commenced the struggle 
for a livelihood on his own account. Farm- 
ing in those days meant hard labor without 

j any of the luxuries of life, and as an evi- 
dence, one year in particular, Mr. Rowley 
transported oats by ox-teams to Chicago, a 

J distance of thirty miles, and sold them for 
10 cents per bushel, and other cereals at a 
proportionate rate; but notwithstanding all 
di.scouragements, he persevered and finally 
built on his place a comfortable log house, 

j and married Cynthia Kile, in 1837, who, 

I like himself, had come with her family 



776 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; 



from an adjoining county in the Empire ' 
State. H. N. Marsh, Esq., of Joliet, mar- 
ried Miss Mary Kile, a sister of Mrs. 
Rowley, for his first wife. Aunt Cynthia, 
so called, on account of her eagerness to be 
doing Christian acts for everybody and 
everywhere, proved a helpmeet indeed, 
and the young couple, prospered in a worldly i 
point of view. A few years later, they 
sold their farm and moved to Yankee Set- 
tlement, now Homer Tp., and settled per- \ 
manently upon the east half of his father's 
homestead, about one mile west of Hadley. 
Here is where the old settlers locate them, 
and where a thousand memories cluster, 
dear to their hearts, because the scenes en- 
acted there were at a period in their lives 
when they had become matured and best 
calculated to enter into the arena of life in 
earnest. They added farm to farm, and 
were honorably prosperous. The result of 
their marriage, has been three sons and one 
daughter. The eldest son became quite 
well known as a teacher in this county 
before he took up his abode in Chicago, 
where he has for many years been prom- 
inently identified in the banking and real 
estate business. The second son, Andrew 
"W., also became known as a'music teacher. 
His youngest son, Asa B., and charming 
daughter, Sarah E., the Benjamin of the 
flock, also became proficient in music before 
the family moved to Lockport, and after- 
ward to Chicago, where they all now reside. 
Mr. Rowley was too far advanced in lit'e 
U> imitate his forefathers in the late re- 
bellion, but the Union army had his hearty 
sympathy, and his sons, although they did 
not enlist, aided with their means the fam- 
ilies of those who did enter the service. 
In politics, he has been an unswerving Re- 
publican since the organization of the 
})arty. The success of the Roman Catho- 
lic Church in this country has given him 
much uneasiness. He has always been a 
warm advocate of free schools and of hav- 
ing the Bible read in them. Personally, 
Mr. Rowley is of a sympathetic nature, 
and clings with great tenacity to the be- 
liefs he has once espoused. His house was 
a home for itinerant Methodist preachers, 
and he has for forty years been a zealous 
member of that denomination. He is hale, 
hearty and temperate, and has the promise 
of many years of life. His sons are all 
married and settled in life, and he has a 



competence even in these depressing times, 
and an abiding faith in the future that it 
will be well with him. 

JOHN SUTTEN, farmer. Sec. 16 ; P. 
0. Lockport ; was born in Hackonby, Lin- 
colnshire, P]ng., Sept. 21, 1819; he was 
engaged in farming up to the time of his 
coming to America, in 1854 ; he first 
stopped in Arnoldsville, Steuben Co., N. 
Y., eighteen months, when he came to 
Lockport ; in 1870, he settled upon the 
farm upon which he now resides. He 
married Mrs. Ruth Beals (widow of Eben- 
ezer Beals, of Cambridge, Eng.) in Lock- 
port on Nov. 20, 1870 ; she was born in Dit- 
ton, Cambridgeshire, Enu'., Dec. 24, 1814. 
GEORGE SPERRY,' farmer, Sec. 14 ; 
P. 0. Lockport ; was born in Rochester^ 
N. Y., April 27, 1826; he carried on ag- 
ricultural implements business two years, 
and taught school for three years in the State 
of New York ; in 1856, he came to this 
county, teaching school eight years during 
the winter months and farming during the 
summer ; in 1857, he came to the farm he 
now resides on. He enlisted as a private 
in 1862, in the 100th 111. V. I., serving 
two years, and was promoted to First 
Lieutenant 22d N. Y. Cav., serving as such 
six months, when he was promoted as 
Captain in the same regiment, and also 
served as Regimental Quarter«iaster, and 
subsequently, before being mustered out, 
as Brigade Quartermaster ; he was pro- 
moted to the rank of Major for service in 
the field in the capture of Early's army at 
Waynesboro, Va., and remained such until 
mustered out July 4, 1865 ; Mr. Sperry, 
during his term of service, was responsible 
for over one million and a half of Govern- 
ment projjerty, and, what very few offi- 
cers of our army can say, has certificates of 
non-indebtedness from every department of 
the Government from which he had drawn 
supplies, consisting of the Quartermaster's, 
Ordnance and Commissary. In 1873, he 
went to Kansas and took up a claim of 
160 acres under the " Homestead Law." 
He married his first wife Miss Mary D. 
Cook (daughter of Hon. Bates Cook, for- 
mer Controller of the State of New York 
under the late Gov. DeWitt Clinton) in 
Lewiston, N. Y., July 6, 1851 ; she died 
in Henrietta, N. Y., April 6, 1853; he 
married his second wife, Mrs. Oliver Peck. 
April 5, 1857. 



HOMER TOWNSHIP 



777 



HON. AMOS SAVAGE, farmer, Sec. 
28 ; P. O. Lockport ; was born iu lloiuer 
Tp. June 18, 18!J(j, on the homestead 
"where his parents had settled in 18ii;:5; his 
educational advantaiics were limited, as 
was the case amuni; the early settlers in 
thb wilds of the West; the subject of this 
sketch taught district school from the age 
of ll> to li-1: during the wintoi- months, 
working upon the farm during the summer ; 
he was first elecU^d Supervisor in 1861, and 
resigned shortly afterward to enter the 
army as Second Lieutenant of the 3yth I. 
V. I., being afterward promoted to First 
Lieutenant, and then as Captain, serving 
three years and three months, until dis- 
charged on account of disability ; upon his 
return to the county he was again elected 
Supervisor, serving continuously until his 
election to the Legislature of Illinois iu 
the fall of 1872, serving one term of two 
years, upon which he was again elected 
Supervisor, serving up to 18715, when he 
was elected to the State Board of Equali- 
zation for the Seventh Congressional 
District for the term of four years. Mr. 
Savage has always been active iu politics, 
and has worked faithfully in whatever 
position he has been elected to fill to the 
best interests of the county. He married 
Miss Mary L. Slate (daughter of Asahel 
Slate, of (ieorgetown, S. C.), in Lemon t, 
Cook Co., Feb. 25, 1864 ; she was born in 
Georgetown, S. C, June 22, 1837; has 
five children — Helen E., born Dec. 8, 
1864; Frank M., born July 19, 1867; 
John H., born June 25, 187U ; Willard 
A., born Sept. 14, 1872, and Mary A., 
born May 13, 1874. 

WILLIAM TILSY, farmer. Sec. 24; 
P. 0. Gooding's Grove ; was born in 
Mecklenburg, Gemiany, May 15, 1833; 
when he was 17 years of age, he came to 
America and worked on the canal, and 
afterward worked for many farmers in 
Will Co. — six years for A. B. Brooks ; he 
purchased his farm in 1856, and settled 
where he now lives in 1876 ; has been 
School Director six years. Married Miss 
Dora Holm, of Mecklenburg, Germany, in 
Chicago, Nov. 7, 1857 ; she was born 
Sept. 3, 1838; they have five children — 
Lewis, born Sept. 3, 1858; William, born 
May 3, 1862; Mary E., born Nov. 25, 
1864; Henry, born Dec. 29, 1869, and 
Carrie, born Aug. 5, 1873. 



P. P. THOMAS, farmer. Sec. 2; P. O. 
Gooding's Grove; was born in Darien, N. 
Y., Nov. 17, 1834; hv. went with his 
parents to Naperville in June, 1835, and 
remained with them until the age of 12, 
wlien his mother died in December, 1846, 
and he was then thrown upon his own 
resources; at the age of 13, he drove >a 
notion wagon through Northern Illinois 
and Wisconsin ; at the age of 16, he 
worked in the lead mines near Mineral 
Point, and at various other jilaces, and 
smelted for Corwith & Co. at thc^ age of 19, 
after which he worked at the trade of car- 
penter and joiner up to the spring of 
1S64 ; in May of the same year, he crossed 
the plains to Montana, mining and pros- 
pecting for five years; in December, 1868, 
he returned to Chicago, and, in February, 
1869, purchased the farm upon which he 
now resides, containing 320 acres; has 
been School Director. Married Miss Mary 
Rogers, daughter of D. B. Rogers, of Lu- 
zerne Co., Penn., Dec. 30, 1870. 

MATHIAS WAGNER, farmer, Sec. 
13; P. 0. Gooding's Grove; was born in 
Rhenish Prussia, Germany, in October, 
1822 ; he lived there until he was 3 years 
of age, when he came to this country 
in 1852 ; he first lived in Du Page Co., 111., 
three months, and then lived with Augustus 
Gooding about a year ; in the spring of 
1854, he moved where bo now lives; he 
owns 138 acres. He married his first 
wife, Annie Piefer, of Rhenish Prussia, 
Germany, in 1852; she died in April, 
1862 ; they had four children ; two died in 
infancy — Martin, born May 4, 1853; Mary, 
born in 1854, died the same year. He 
married Margaret Hermon, of Rhenish 
Prussia, in May, 1862; they have seven 
children — Mary, born Dec. 29, 1866; 
Katie, born June 28, 1867; Maria, born 
March 14, 1869; Lena, born June 24, 
1871; Attila, born March 24, 1873; Su- 
sanna, born Nov. 28, 1874, and Pete, 
born July 30, 1878 ; two died — Margaret, 
in 1864, and an infant. 

ROBERT WHITE, flvrmer. Sec. 17; 
P. 0. Lockport ; was born in Cambridge- 
shire, Eng., March 19, 1833; he came to 
America in 1854; he farmed up to his 
coming to this county ; he settled in 
Yankee Settlement Homer Township, the 
same year, and worked for Robert Bentley ; 
in 1865, he moved to Orland, Cook Co., 



778 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



111., remainiug there seven years farming, 
when he returned to this township and 
settled where he now resides ; has fifty-one 
acres. He enlisted in Co. F, lOOth Reg- 
iment Til. luf , and served during the war, 
being mustered out with his regiment June 
13, 1865 ; he wa.s wounded through the 
thighs at Keuesaw Mountain, on June 27, 
ISG-i. Has been School Director seven 
years. He married Mrs. Francis Vande- 
water (widow of Daniel Vandewater) in 
Homer Township, March 14, 1861 ; they 
have eight children, three by Mr. Vande- 
water-Hannah ( now Mrs. Martin O'Brien), 
born March 17, 1852; Sai'ah Jane, Sept. 
3, 1855, and William D., Aug. 29, 1857; 
five by Mr. White — Robert J., born Dee. 
31, 1861; John Thomas, Dec. 8, 1866; 
Elizabeth Ann, Jan. 25, 1869 ; Charles 
H., July 1, 1871, and George W. R., Nov. 
29, 1873. 

NICHOLAS WELTER, farmer, Sec. 
13; P. 0. Gooding's Grove; was born in 
Moltzh, Rhenish Prussia, Germany, Nov. 
16, 18il ; he lived there until he was 15 
years old, when he came to America (1857) 
and first went to Chicago, staying there 
three or four years; in 186-J:, he came to 
Will County and settled upon his farm; 
in 1872, kept store at Gooding's Grove P. 
0., and came to where he now lives the 



year after. Mamed Maggie Meyer, of 
Prussia, in Chicago, in January, 1862 ; 
she was born April 13, 1843; they had 
nine children — Katie, born Oct. 27, 1863; 
Lina, Oct. 13, 1864, died Aug. 11, 1865 ; 
Nicholas, born Nov. 15, 1866 ; Lizzie, 
Aug. 6, 1868; Mathew, Sept. 15, 1869, 
died in October, 1 874 ; Cecilia, born Jan. 
25, 1872 ; Christian, May 4, 1873 ; Susie, 
Sept. 15, 1875, and Maggie, July 3, 1877. 
MATTHIAS ZIMMER, farmer. Sec. 
12; P. O. Gooding's Grove; was born in 
Rhenish Prussia, Germany, July 16? 1832; 
he lived there twenty-five years farming; 
came to America in 1857, and first went 
to Chicago, and from there to Lake Tp., 
Cook Co., remaining fifteen years, and came 
from there to this county, and purchased 
the fai'ra he now resides on; farms 190 
acres. He married Catharine Yeager, of 
Rhenish Prussia, Jan. 7, 1853; they had 
thirteen children — Nicholas, born Jan. 6, 
1851; John, March 4, 1856; Anthony, 
July 17, 1858; xMatthias, Sept. 26, 1860; 
Mary, Oct. 26, 1862 ; Pete, Jan. 25, 
1866; Kate March 19, 1868; Clara, 
June 29, 1872 ; Christoph, Jan. 25, 
1875; Susanna, Jan. 20, 1876, and three 
dead — Matthias, died Jan. 1, 1849 ; Ange- 
line, Oct. 19, 1865 ; Cecilia, Feb. 26, 
1870. 



NEW LENOX TOWNSHIP. 



ABEL BLISS, farmer and stock-raiser ; 
P. 0. New Lenox ; was born in Hampden 
Co., Mass., Feb. 9, 1810; came to this 
State in 1837, and settled in New Lenox 
Tp., Will Co.; the township at that time 
was called Van Horn's Point, deriving its 
name from the point or stretch of timber 
running south from Hickory Creek, and at 
that time owned by Mr. Van Horn. Mr. 
Bliss was married May 6, 1840, to Mies 
Lucinda Blake ; she was born in Hampden 
Co., Ma.ss., Oct. 14, 1816; they have had 
seven children, three of whom are living — 
Harriet M., Abel, Jr. and Alice P.; 'de- 
ceased — Ellen J., William S., Mary B. and 
Josic. Mr. B.'s farm contains 500 acres, 
valued at S60 per acre. 

MRS. ANN BROADIE, farmer; P. 
0. New Lenox; one of our earliest set- 



tlers; was born in Brown Co., Ohio, Feb. 
28, 1832; came to this State with her 
father's family when she was 3 years old, 
and settled in New Lenox, Will Co., where 
she has since made her home. She was 
married May 11, 1854, to the late Robert 
J. Broadie, deceased, who was born in 
Ohio Feb. 5, 1829, and who died Dec. 21, 
1873; they have had five children, three 
of whom are living — Esther Ann, John C. 
and Sarah A.; deceased — Lydia and Anna. 
The farm of Mrs. Broadie consists of 735 
acres, valued at $40,000. 

GEORGE S. BROWN, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. New Lenox ; was born 
in Tolland Co., Conn., May 18, 1825 ; 
came to this State in 1850, and settled in 
Mokena, where he remained two years ; 
he removed from there to Lockport in 



NEW LENOX TOWNSHIP. 



781 



1852, and from there to New Lenox in 
1S7<), whon^ he now resides ; his fann con- 
sists of ei!j;hty acres, valued at S'').0<)0. 
Was married in New York Dec. 5, 1818, 
to Miss Martha A. Petteys, who was born 
in Wayne Co., N. Y., Pec. 22, 1830 ; they 
have had seven children, five of whom are 
livin-— Ida E., G. W., Rose Belle. Ed- 
ward C. L. and Lillie May ; deceased — 
Millard P. and Frankie. Mr. Brown was 
a participant in the Mexican war of 184(J. 
In his boyhood, he had a curiosity to see 
the world, and travel ; he, therefore, lefc his 
home at the a<z;e of Ki, and set out for 
New London, where he shipped on board 
the ship Mystic, bound for the northwest- 
ern coast of North America ; she left her 
port Sept. 14, 1844 ; he was discharged at 
the Sandwich Islands, and there shipped 
aboard the sloop Portsmouth, a man-of- 
war, for the Mexican service; he served 
two years, and was discharged at the close 
of the war, at Boston, Mjiss., in May, 1848. 

MRS. BRIDGET CUNNINGHAM, 
fiirmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Spencer ; 
was born in Kilkenny Co., Ireland, Oct. 
8, 1822 ; came to this country in 1850, and 
settled in the East, where she remained 
several years, when she removed to this 
State, and settled in Manhattan, Will Co., 
in 1857; she removed from there to her 
present home in New Lenox in 1866 ; she 
now owns 160 acres, valued at $8,000; 
is the widow of the late James Cunning- 
ham, deceased, who was born in Long- 
ford Co., Ireland ; they have had eight 
children — Mathew, Thomas, Richard G., 
Martin, Mary E., Michael J., Katie L., 
and Maggie E. Mr. C., previous to his 
death, held several public offices in New 
Lenox Tp.; he died March 27, 1874. 

PEL KG CROSS, farmer and dairy- 
man ; P. 0. New Lenox ; was born in 
Rhode Island, May 10, 1821; came 
to this State in 1869, and settled in 
New Lenox, where he now resides; his 
farm consists of 113 acres, valued at 
$7,000. He was married Dec. 31, 1852, 
to Miss Phebe Felps, who was born in 
Clumbia Co., N. Y., Feb. 16, 1829; they 
have had three children — Sarah P]., Mary 
A., and Phebe F. Mr. Cross, previous to 
his coming to this State, held the offices of 
Township Clerk and Asses.sor several 
terms in Rotterdam Tp., New York 
State. 



R. W. CROSSEN, carriage manufact- 
urer. New Lenox ; was born in Coburg, 
Ont., Feb. 25, 1855; came to the United 
States in 1865, and settled in Joliet, Will 
Co., 111.; he obtained a liberal education by 
close and early attendance at school until he 
was 1 8 years of age; he engaged as an appren- 
tice in carriage-making, and served three 
years, at the expiration of which time he 
went into business on his own account, and 
in which he continued for two years ; 
finally disposing of his stock and other 
collaterals, he removed to New Lenox and 
purchased the right he now owns. His 
parents and relations are still residents of 
Joliet. 

JEROME DOXTADER, farmer and 
hotel-keeper ; P. 0. New Lenox ; was born 
in Montgomery Co., N. Y., Nov. 1, 1829; 
came to Illinois, and settled in New Lenox, 
Will Co., in 1852, where he now resides. 
He was married to xMiss Delia Hartshorn 
Sept. 24, 1856 ; she was born in Will Co., 
111., Oct. 23, 1840, and died July 24, 
1878 ; they have had three children — 
Willard, born Jan. 6, 1859; John D., 
Feb. 13, 1862 ; Lydia L., Oct. 6, 1868. 
Mr. Doxtader is now the proprietor of the 
first hotel constructed in New Lenox ; his 
present farm consists of ninety-four acres, 
valued at $7,000. 

JOHN FRANCIS, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. New Lenox ; was born in Will 
Co. , 111., Jan. 8, 1843 ; is the .son of the late 
Abraham Francis, deceased, who was one of 
our first settlers ; the farm of Mr. Francis 
consists of 375 acres of land, valued at $18,- 
500 ; is situated on Sees. 9, 5 and 8. He 
was married to Miss Harriet INI. Bliss, who 
was born in New Lenox, Will Co., 111., 
Sept. 5, 1846; they have had three chil- 
dren — John E., Howard B. and Hattie. 
Mr. Francis has held the office of School 
Trustee nine years. Township Collector 
two years, and Supervisor five years. 

A. ALLEN FRANCIS, farmer and 
dealer in live-stock, also breeder of short- 
horn Durham cattle ; P. 0. New Lenox ; 
was born in New Lenox, Will Co., 111., 
Sept. 7, 1840 ; is the son of the late 
Abraham Francis, who came to this State 
in 1831 ; the farm of Mr. Francis consists 
of 1,000 acres, valued at S60,00(». He 
was married to Miss Lizzie J. Haven Sept. 
15, L870, who was born in New Lenox, 
Will Co., 111., March 31, 1849 ; they have 



782 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; 



one child — Mary Luella, born Oct. 20, 
1877. At present holds the position of 
President of Will Co., Agricultural and 
Mechanical Association, and President of 
New Lenox Mutual Fire Ins. Co. 

ISAAC M. GILLETT, Jr., farmer and 
stock, Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Spencer ; was born 
in Wayne Co., N. Y., Oct. 6, 1850; he 
lived in New York about six years ; then 
with his parents came West and settled in 
Homer Tp., Will Co.; he remained here on 
the farm about sixteen years when he came 
to his present place and has remained here 
since ; the place belongs to his father, and 
contains 300 acres, 240 of which are 
located on Sec. 1, in Manhattan Tp., and 
is principally devoted to stock-raising ; he 
makes a specialty of pure Sufiblk swine. 
See advertisment. 

WILLIAM GOUGAR, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. New Lenox ; was born 
in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Aug. 24, 1818; 
came to this State with his father's fam- 
ily in 1831 ; has been a farmer and 
stock-raiser from boyhood ; his present 
farm consists of 372 acres of land, valued 
at $22,000, situated on Sec. 20, in New 
Lenox Tp., and on Sec. 20, in Joliet. 
He was married Dec. 29, 1859, to Miss 
Clarissa HawTiins, who was born in Kanka- 
kee Co., 111., Feb. 19, 1839 ; they have had 
four children, three of whom are living — 
William, Nellie and Frank ; deceased, 
Hester. Mr. Gougar participated in the 
Black Hawk war, which is fully described 
by him in the general history of the town- 
ship. 

A. GALLAGHER, hardware dealer; P. 
0. Spencer ; was born in New Brunswick, 
Dominion of Canada, April 25, 1848 ; 
came to this State and settled in New Len- 
ox in 1876, where he has since resided. 
He was married to Miss Jane Denny, who 
was born in Will Co., 111., Jan. 4, 1848 ; 
they have had two children, viz. : Elsie 
May and Jennie M. Mr. G., beside his 
merchandising operations, owns and carries 
OQ a farm situated on Sec. 23, and valued 
at $3,000. 

MRS. N. GOUGAR, farming and 
dairy; P. 0. New Lenox; was born in 
Knox Co., Ohio, Jan. 3, 1823, and is the 
widow of the late Nicholas Gougar, who 
was born in Montour Co., Penn., Oct. 30, 
1813, and who died Jan. 12, 1878; they 
were married April 9, 1851; have two 



adopted children, viz.: Lydiaand Eugene. 
Mrs. G. came to this State from Ohio in 
1850, and settled with her parents in New 
Lenox. Her farm contains 135 acres, val- 
ued at $10,000. 

J. E. GOUGAR, farmer and dairyman ; 
P. 0. Joliet ; was born in New Lenox, 
Will Co., March 21, 1834 ; excepting the 
time spent in receiving his education at 
Beloit, Wis., and Joliet, 111., he has been 
a permanent resident in New Lenox. He 
was married to Miss Hattie Perkins Nov. 
24, 1864; she was born in Grundy Co., 
111., Dec. 28, 1841 ; they have had four 
children, two of whom are living, viz. : 
Charles P. and Hattie May ; deceased — 
Ella and Florence. Mr. Gougar has fol- 
lowed the pursuits of a farmer fi-om boy- 
hood ; he now owns 1 60 acres, valued at 
$10,000. He has also held the office of 
Assessor three terms, and Township Col- 
lector several years. 

JOHN GOUGAR, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Joliet ; one of our very early 
settlers; was born in Montour Co., Penn., 
March 20, 1810 ; he removed with his 
father's family to Ohio when he was 8 
years old, and from there to Indiana when 
he was in his 12th year ; he remained 
there but a short time, when he came to 
this State and settled where he now re- 
sides in New Lenox; at the time of his 
arrival, the surrounding country was all 
embraced in Cook Co., and what is now 
the township of New Lenox did not then 
have a name ; he arrived here Sept. 10, 
1830, at which time there was but one 
building in Chicago, which was then used 
as a French trading-post, and was situated 
on the west side of the river ; Mr. Gougar 
has now spent forty-eight years in this 
county, during which time his occupation 
has been that of a farmer and stock-raiser ; 
his present farm contains 340 acres, valued 
at $20,400. He was married in this State 
Jan. 2, 1849, to Miss Mary A. Miller, 
who was born in Pennsylvania May 21, 
1813; they have had one child, viz.: 
Lewis, born Nov. 10, 1852, 

SAMUEL H. HINE, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P.O. Spencer; was born in. Chau- 
tauqua Co., N. Y., Feb. 19, 1825 ; came 
to this State in 1836, and settled in New 
Lenox, Will Co., where he now resides ; 
his farm consists of 290 acres, valued 
at $17,000. He was married Jan. 1,. 



NEW LENOX TOWNSHIP. 



788 



1867, to Miss Barbara Leisure; thoy have 
had four chiUlroii — Esther M., Ida E., 
Isaac II. and Mary Rosoanna. 

G. L. HALEY, farmer; P. 0. Hadley; 
was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., Jan. 7, 
1850; eamc to tliis State in 1S6U, and 
settled in Homer Tp.; hv removed from 
Homer to New Lenox in 187(> ; he has 
now under euUivation thirty-five acres, val- 
ued at $2,1(10. He was married Nov. 25, 
1875, to Miss Emma L. Dancer, who was 
born in Homer, Will Ct>., 111., May 14, 
1851 ; they have liad one child — Mary 
Edna, born Nov. 19, 1877. 

DENNIS IIOGAN, farmer and stock- 
raiser; P. 0. Spencer; was born in Ire- 
land March 12, 1820 ; came to the United 
States in 1848, and to Illinois in 1854; 
settled in New Lenox, where he now re- 
sides. He was married to Miss Mary A. 
McCabe, who was born in Ireland May 6, 
1837 ; they have five children — Kllen E., 
Katie M., Denice L., Gregory M. and 
Theresa J. The farm of Mr. Hogan con- 
sists of 240 acres, valued at §14.500. 

J. S. HOLMES, dealer in grain, coal and 
ground feed ; P. 0. Spencer ; was born in 
New Lenox, Will Co., Aug. 30, 1848 ; is 
the son of the late Asher Holmes, deceased, 
who came from New York State in 1835. 
Mr. H. was married Jan. 24, 1871, to 
Miss Sophie Willis, who was born in New 
York City Aug. 14, 1852 ; they have had 
five children — Rayuor E., Arthur W., 
Laura E., Herbert H. and Bessie J. Mr. 
H. is at present School Trustee ; was elected 
in April, 1878. 

JAMES E. HOLMES, farmer andstock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Spencer ; one of our early 
settlers ; was born in Chautauqua Co. N. 
Y., June 25, 1827; came to this State 
with his father's family and settled where 
he now resides, in New Lenox Tp, in 
1835. He w;is married Jan. 8, 1854, 
to Miss Mary E. Stiffler, who was born in 
Miami Co., Ohio, Jan. 29, 1838; they 
have had four children, three of whom are 
living, viz. : Delia J., William R. and 
George E. ; deceased — Rosilla. The farm 
of Mr. H. consists of 138 acres, valued at 
$8,500. Since his residence in this town- 
ship, he has held the ofl5ce of Town Clerk 
one year, Postmaster twenty-two years, 
which position he still retains ; also the 
ofiice of Street Commissioner nearly two 
years. 



CHAS. E. 

stock-raiser ; 
New Lenox, 



ASHKR HOLMES, decea.sed, New 
Lenox Tp., whose portrait appears in this 
work, was born in Sherburne, Clu'iiango Co., 
N. Y., in September, 179(5 ; at the age of 9, 
his parents moved to Chautauqua Co., N. 
Y. ; in 182G, he returned to Chenango 
Co., and married Aug. 2G of the same 
year Miss Eliza Ann Elmore ; they moved 
back to Chautauqua Co., and remained 
there until the year 1831, when they 
again returned to Clienango Co., remaining 
there until his coming to Will Co. in the 
spring of 1835 ; he settled on Sec. 22, in 
New Lenox Tp., where he died ; his 
widow still lives on the homestead. He 
held the ofiice of Justice of the Peace in 
Chenango Co., and that of School Treas- 
urer in New Lenox Tp. He had six 
children, five living — James E., born June 
25, 1827 ; Myron P., born June 8, 1830; 
Orsamus, born in August, 1838 ; Lydia E., 
born Feb. 5, 1840, and Sophie, born 
Aug. 14, 1852, and one deceased-r-Eliza 
Ann, born Jan. 18, 1834, died in May, 
1873. 

KERCHEVAL, farmer and 
P. 0. Joliet ; was born in 
Will Co., Sept. 21, 1843; 
he is the son of the late Jas. C. Kerche- 
val, deceased, who was a native of Ohio, 
and emigrated to this State in 1830; he 
was a participant in the Mohawk war, and 
one of the first settlers in the State ; Mr. 
Chas. Kercheval was married April 29, 
1868, to Miss Hattie A. Frazer, who was 
born in. Will Co., 111., Jan. 20, 1850. 
Mr. K. for the past ten years has. in addi- 
tion to farming, given special attention to 
raising and breeding fancy swine ; his 
present farm consists of eighty acres, val- 
ued at $6,000. He has also acted as 
School Trustee ; held offices of Assessor 
and Township Collector. 

M. H. KELLOGG, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. New Lenox ; was born in 
Madison Co., N. Y., May 17, 1830; came 
to this State and settled in Chicago in 
1853; he removed from there to New 
Lenox, Will Co., where he now resides, in 
1867. He was married to Mi.ss Mary A. 
McElcheran Aug. 24, 1 861 ; she was born 
in Albany, N. Y.,Sept. 24, 1830; they have 
had two children — one of whom is living, 
viz., Myron B., born Oct. 26, 1863 ; de- 
ceased — an infant. Mr. Kellogg's farm 
consists of 100 acres of fine rolling prai- 



784 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



rie situated on Hickory Creek, and is part 
of Soc. 22 ; it is valued at $12,000. 

TUNIS LYNK, general merchant, 
New Lenox; an old and prominent set- 
tler ; was born in Columbia Co., N. Y., 
Jan. 20, 1829 ; came to this State and 
settled in New Lenox in 1 848, where he 
has siuce resided. He was married to Miss 
Lydia Ann Hartshorn, who was born in 
Kutland Co., Vt., May 30, 1831, and who 
died Jan. 7, 1877 ; Mr. L. wa.s marrii;d 
again Feb. 5, 1878, to Miss Olive 0. 
Rugg, who was born in New Lenox, Will 
Co., 111., March 1, 1847. Immediately 
after his arrival in this township, he pur- 
chased the property now owned by Will- 
iam Gougar, which then consisted of 105 
acres, and on which was located the second 
saw-mill built in the township ; he pursued 
the business of millwright and farmer 
until his purchase of his second farm, 
now owned by Jacob Waltz. At the out- 
break of the war, Mr. L. entered into mer- 
cantile business, in which he yet continues ; 
he has also acted as general depot agent 
since that time and has also held the 
office of Postmaster in New Lenox Tp, 
from April, 1867, until June, 1869 ; he 
was also the first express agent in the 
township ; has held the office of Township 
Collector four terms ; is at present general 
freight agent. 

CORIDON S. LEWIS, retired ; P. 0. 
New Lenox; was born in' Decatur, Otsego 
Co., N. Y., Dec. 13, 1816 ; came to this 
State in 1849, and settled in Stephenson 
Co. ; removed from there to New Lenox, 
Will Co., in 1865, where he now resides ; 
his occupation while in Stephenson Co. 
was that of a carpenter and builder. He 
was married Jan. 11, 1838, to Miss Cath- 
erine Bogardus, who was born in Berne, 
Albany Co., N. Y., June 14, 1814 ; they 
have had four children, three of whom are 
living, viz. : Leslie, Candace and Carrie ; 
decea.sed — Marilla. 

CYRUS A. LEWIS, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. New Lenox ; was born in 
Otsego Co., N. Y., July 19, 1824 ; came 
to this State in 1850, and settled in New 
Lenox ; his farm consists of 268 acres, 
valued at SI 8,000. He was married to 
Miss Emeline Seward, who was born in 
Otsego Co., N. Y., Sept. 20, 1825 ; they 
have had nine children, seven of whom are 
living, viz. : Mary R., Spencer, Cannie, 



Nellie, Almon, Sherman and Jennie ; de- 
ceased, two infants. Mr. L. has held 
the offices of School Director, School 
Trustee and Road Commissioner several 
years. 

WM. PINK, farmer and stock-raiser ; 
P. 0. Spencer ; was born in Germany Feb. 
28, 1830 ; came to this country in 1856, 
and settled in Illinois ; he has been a resi- 
dent of New Lenox since 1860 ; his farm 
consists of seventy-five acres, valued at 
$4,000. He was married to Miss Mary 
Fullman, who was born in Germany ; they 
have had eight children, seven of whom 
are living, viz. : Bernard, Susie, Kittie, 
Peter, Annie, Mary and Nick ; deceased, 
Mary. 

GEN. J. S. REYNOLDS, lawyer, Chi- 
cago, formerly of New Lenox Tp. ; was 
born Dec. 3, 1839, in New Lenox Tp., 
Will Co., III., where his parents, Isaac N. 
and his wife, still reside ;. the son, after 
arriving at the age of 17, went to Chicago, 
and attended tne public schools, graduating 
from the high school in 1861. On the 
breaking out of the war, he presided over 
a series of war mass-meetings of young 
men ; he soon enlisted, and began recruit- 
ing the battalion called Yates' Sharpshoot- 
ers ; he was in active service nearly four 
years, and made a gallant record ; he was 
promoted five times by commissions from 
the Governor of Illinois, and twice by 
commission from President Lincoln ; he 
took part in seventeen battles and many 
skirmishes, was thrice wounded, and had 
his sword shot from his hand at Resaca ; 
he commanded the 64th I. V. I., which 
he had once helped to recruit under the 
name of l''ates' Sharpshooters, during its 
march with Gen. Sherman from Atlanta to 
the sea; at the recommendation of his 
superior officers, he was promoted to Brig- 
adier General, near the close of the war. 
After leaving the army, in 1865, he began 
the study of law in Chicago, graduated 
from the law department of the Chicago 
University, was admitted to the bar in 
1866, and began the practice of law in 
Chicago, at first with a partner; he is now 
engaged in the practice of admiralty alone 
in the city of Chicago. In 1867, he was 
elected a member of the Illinois Legisla- 
ture, from Chicago, and re-elected in 1869, 
where he served with honor ; he also served 
four years on the Chicago Board of Educa- 



NEW LENOX TOWNSHIP. 



785 



tion ; in lS72,lie waselectedtoreitresorit the 
First Distrietiii the Illinois State Senate, aft- 
er which he was appointed, by the Governor, 
a commissioner from Illinois to the Expo- 
sition at Vienna; in May, 187:5, he sailed 
ahroad, and his travels extended through- 
out most of the countries of Europe and 
into Asia Minor; in 187"), he became a 
a member of the Board of Commissioners 
to loeate the State Institution for the Ed- 
ucation of Feeble-minded Children ; in 
1875, he was elected Senior Vice Com- 
mander in Chief of the Grand Army of the 
Kepublie. Jan. ol, 1877, he was married to 
Mattie A. Carey, of Chicago, daughter of 
George W. Carey, Es(|. ; has one child — 
born Jan. 23, 1878, named Joseph S., 
Jr. 

ISAAC N. REYNOLDS, former and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Ne\^^ Lenox ; one of 
the earliest and most prominent settlers ; 
was born in Champaign Co., Ohio. Oct. 
13, 1811 ; came to this State with his 
father's family in 1818, and settled in the 
southern part, where he remained until 
1833, when he came north to Will Co. 
and settled in New Lenox, where he now 
owns 365 acres, valued at 327,000. He 
was married April 10, 183-t, to MLss Ruey 
A. Halderman, who was born in Ross Co., 
Ohio, March 26, 1815 ; she is the daugh- 
ter of Abram Halderman, who was among 
the very first settlers in La Salle Co. ; they 
have had ten children, seven of whom are 
living, viz.: Abram, Joseph S., Isaac N., 
Charlotte E., Hattie A., William N. and 
Ruena P. ; deceased, Sarah J., John H. 
and Charles P. 

JOHN M. REYNOLDS, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Mokena; one of our 
early settlers ; was born in Champaign Co., 
Ohio, Feb. 11, 1813; came to this State 
with his father's family in 1818, and set- 
tled in the southern part, where he remained 
until 1833, when he came n^rth to Will 
Co., and settled in New Lenox. He was 
married Oct. 15, 1835, to Miss E. W. 
Snapp, who was born in Cayuga Co., N. 
Y., Oct. 2, 1818. She is the daughter 
of Mr. Abram Snapp, now decea.sed, who 
w;is the first settler, and constructor of the 
first building on the prairie then called the 
Yankee Settlement ; they have had four 
children, two of whom are living — Clara M. 
and Nellie I. ; deceased — Abram S. and 
Sarah J. The farm of Mr. Reynolds con- 



sists of 290 acres ; its probable value is 
$18,(»00. 

MRS. CARRIE STORMS, farmer ; P. 
0. Hadley ; was born in New York Nov. 
3, 1851 ; came to this State in 1860 ; is 
the widow of the late James Storms, de- 
cea-sed, who was born in Scotland Dee. 15, 
1S46, and who died May 23, 1877 ; they . 
have one child — Harry W., born Aug. *J, 
1874. The farm of Mrs. Storms consists 
of sixty acres, valued at St, 000. 

HEINRICH STEIN, faruier and stock- 
raiser; P. 0. Spencer; was born in Ger- 
many, Jan. 15, 1837 ; came to the United 
States in 1856, and settled on his present 
farm in New Lenox, Will Co., 111. ; it con- 
tains 148 acres ; is situated on Sec. 34, 
and is valued at $7,500. He was married 
to Miss Louise Stricher, who was was born 
in Germany July 22, 1838 ; they have had 
four children — Henry, Lizzie, Emma and 
Louise. Mr. Stein has held offices of 
Street Commissioner and School Trustee, 
three years each. 

MRS. W. A. S HARTS, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. New Lenox ; was born 
in Herkimer, N. Y., Jan. 20, 1822; is the 
widow of the late W. A. Sharts. who was 
born in Columbia Co., N. Y., Feb. 12, 
1825, and who died Feb. 2, 1878; they 
were married Oct. 23, 1851 ; they have 
had three children, two of whom are living 
— Ellen, born Nov. 11, 1852; Josephine, 
June 22, 1857 ; Charles T., born Jan. 1, 
1856; died Jan. 17, 1864. Mrs. Sharts 
continues the business in which her hus- 
band was engaged, it being that of a farmer 
and stock-raiser; her farm contains 108 
acres, valued at $7,000. 

HENRY SCHRADER, farmer ; P. 0. 
New Lenox ; was born in Germany, Jan. 
13, 1816; came to the United States in 
1851 ; settled in Joliet, 111., in 1853, where 
he remained until 1873, when he removed 
to New Lenox; his present fiirm consists 
of 140 acres, valued at 811 ,000. He was 
married Nov. 15, 1855, to Miss Dora Bues, 
who was born in Germany March 28, 
1835; they have had seven children, five 
of whom are living — Arvine, William, 
Alfred, Meta and Cora; deceased — Henry 
and an infant. Mr. S.is at present School 
Director in District No. 2, New Lenox 

DWIGHT M. SNOW, farmer and 
breeder of herd registered Jersey cattle ; P. 



786 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



0. New Lenox ; was born in Worcester Co., 
Mass., Sept. 28, 1826 ; came to this State 
in 1861, and settled in McLean Co.; he re- 
moved to Will Co., and settled in New 
Lenox in 1870 ; his present farm consists 
of eighty acres, valued at $6,000. He 
was married Oct. 9, 1849, to Miss Maria 
A. Woods, who was born in Worcester Co., 
Mass., March 8. 1826 ; they have had four 
children, three of whom are living — Nellie 
M., Kate F. and Fred M.; deceased — 
Charles E. 

CALVIN SEWARD, farmer and stock- 
raiser; P. 0. Joliet ; one of our early set- 
tlers; was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., Sept. 
23, 1812; came to this State, and settled 
in Joliet. Will Co., in 18-46, where he re- 
mained until his arrival on his farm in 
New Lenox, which contains 160 acres, 
valued at $10,000. He was married May 
17, 1838, to Miss Sarah M. Van Dusen, 
who was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., March 
22, 1815 ; they have had ten children — 
five of whom are now living — Nancy E., 
Gilbert, Lucinda J., Margaret E. and 
.Sarah M.; deceased — four infants and 
Andrew J. Mr. S. has held the office of 
Collector in New Lenox Tp. one year. 

FRANK SEARLES, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Hadley ; was born in West- 
chester Co., N. Y., July 24, 182S ; came 
to this State in 1850, and settled in 
Homer, where he remained four years ; he 
removed from there to New Lenox in 1854, 
where he has since resided ; his farm con- 
sists of 104 acres, valued at S8,000. He 
was married to Miss Emily White April 

1. 1851 ; .she was born in Lake Co., Ohio, 
June 6, 1827; they have had two children 
— Frank* W. and Agnes E. Mr. S. has 
held township offices of different kinds in 
New Lenox for several years. His son 
Frank W. passed examination and re- 



ceived diploma at Chicago Medical College 
as physician and surgeon ; he is at present 
the only physician in New Lenox. 

ALEXANDER M. STORMS, farmer 
and stock raiser ; P. 0. New Lenox ; was 
born in Rcss-shire, Scotland, Jan. 10, 1840 ; 
came to the United States in 1861, and 
settled in New Lenox, Will Co., 111., where 
he now resides. He was married Feb. 17, 
1876, to Miss Emily M. Frank, who was 
born in New Lenox, Will Co., 111., March 12, 
1848 ; thev have one child — Frank R, 
born Ai5rir4, 1877. The farm of Mr. 
Storms consists of 172-V acres, valued at 
$13,000. 

JOHN J. WALZ, farmer and stock 
raiser ; P.O. Spencer ; was born in Germany, 
Feb. 5, 1836 ; came to the United States 
in 1854, and settled in New Lenox, Will 
Co., 111., in 1856 ; his farm contains 240 
acres of land, valued at $14,0U0. He was 
married April 6. 1868, to Miss Henrietta 
Stricher, who was born in German)^ Nov. 
20, 1846 ; they have had three children, 
two of whom are living — Adeline and 
George A.; deceased, Herman Frank. Mr. 
Waltz is at present Commissioner of High- 
ways. 

W. C. WILSON, farmer and carpen- 
ter ; P. 0. Spencer; one of our early set- 
tlers ; was born in Cortland Co., N. Y.; 
came to this State in 1835, and settled in 
Joliet ; he removed from there to New 
Lenox in 1837, where he has since resided ; 
his farm consists of eighty-five acres, val- 
ued at $4,500 . He was married to Miss 
Eliza Ann Gougar, who was born in Indi- 
ana ; they have had eight children, six of 
whom are living — Charles L., Cafharine 
J., William W., John F., Lewis F. and 
Mary L.; deceased, George W. and Eliza 
A. 



WESLEY TOWNSHIP. 

SCHUYLER ACKERMAN, farmer; i raised on his father's farm ; in 1857, with 

P. 0. Wilmington ; was born in Passaic his brother Henry, they emigrated West 

Co., N. J., May 4, 1834, and is the son to Illinois, and settled in Wesley Tp.; 

of John V. W. and Helen Ackerman, of ' here he has remained ever since, en- 

New Jersey ; his father was a farmer, died gaged in farming His brother, James E., 

in 1859, 56 years old ; his mother died in was in the late war ; participated in some 

1878, 74 years old; Mr. Ackerman was of the prominent battles. Mr Ackerman is 



WESLEY TOWNSHIP. 



787 



a Republican in politics. Held several 
offices of trust in Wt\sley Tp.; is Township 
Treasurer, which office lie has lillcd tor the 
last three years. Married in January, 18(j7, 
to Miss Abbie C. Carpenter ; born Feb. 26, 
1840; daughter of Charles Carpenter of 
New York ; born March 4, 18U8. Was 
an early settler of Will Co.; have one child 
— Annie Klizabeth. Mr, Ackerraan is a 
member of the M. K Church. 

GUY M. BECKWITH. fanner; P. 0. 
Kankakee ; was born in Wesley Tp., Will 
Co., Ill, Sept. 12, 184(t, and is the son of 
Geo. M.and Phiobe S. (Barden) Beckwith; 
his father was born in Bedford Co., Penn., 
about the year 1816 ; when he was 21 
years old, his parents moved to Newark, 
Wayne Co., N. Y.; he and his brother left 
New York together for the Far West, first 
stopping on the Wabash River near Terre 
Haute, Ind., thence to North Ann l^rairie, 
four miles northeast of Paris, 111., which is 
thirty-six miles south of Danville, 111., 
where they broke land ; in 1818 or 1819, 
they came to the salt-works, four miles | 
west of Danville, where they worked 
hard for several years. June 22, 1827, 
George M. Beckwith married Charlotte 
Gilbert, by whom he had one child — 
Lucy E.; the wife died Feb. 10, 1831, 26 
years old. He was a Captain, and his 
brother was a Mujor in the Black Hawk 
war. He came to Wesley Tp., W^ill 
Co., at an early day, being about the 
first settler here ; he engaged in farming ; j 
he died respected and honored. Guy M. | 
Beckwith enlisted as private in Co. A, 100th 
111. VM.,in August, 1862; participated in all 
the battles of this re.iduient; was mustered out 
in June, 1865. In 1873, was Supervisor of 
Wesley Tp. Owns 228 acres of fine im- 
proved land. Married in 1868, to Miss 
OrceHa K. Pain, of Michigan, by whom 
he has three children. 

HIRAM GOULD, farmer; P. 0. Wil- 
mington ; was born in New York, Dec. 25, 
1827 ; son of James and Lydia (Goodwin) 
Gould. James Gould, with wife and five 
children, came west, and settled in Ohio ; 
here they remained about seven years en- 
gaged in farming ; they then moved to Illi- 
nois, and settled in Wesley Tp., in 1844 ; 
here he first purchased 120 acres of land ; 
he died Aug. 29, 1876, at 76 years of age, 
leaving wife and eleven children ; his wife 
(Lydia Gouldj died in 1878, at 71 or 72 



years of age. Mr. Hiram G ould was married 
in 1855 to Mi-^s Klizabeth Binney, daugh- 
ter of Richard Binney, who was among the 
early settlers of We-sley Tp.; came here 
about 1841 or 1842. Mr. Gould, in 1849, 
went to CaliforntH ; engaged in gold-min- 
ing ; was very suc(;essfal ; returned home 
in 1851 ; three children — two boys and one 
girl ; he was a resident of Wilmington, but 
principally has been engaged in farming 
throutrhout life. 

WILLIAM GOODWIN, deceased; 
this gentleman was one among the first 
settlers <if Will Co., 111. ; was born in 
Watertown, N. Y., June 8, 1815, on his 
father's farm ; was a millwiight by trade. 
In 1832, he emigrated West to Illinois, 
and settled in Joliet ; here he helped build 
the first house ; also helped build a distillery; 
here he worked, and having saved sufficient 
money, he came to Wesley Tp., and pur- 
chased a farm, and commenced farming; 
this was about 1844; here he remained 
until 1850 ; that year he went to California, 
and remained there until 1852, engaged in 
gold mining with very good success; he 
then returned to his fiirm in Wesley Tp. 
He first married Rebecca Althouse, 
deceased ; he then married Mrs. Sarah 
Budlong in 1870, wife of the late Hamil- 
ton Budlong, who died in 1868, daughter 
of Benjamin and Betsey (Lawton ) Butter- 
field, who emigrated West to Will Co. in 
1844 ; father died in 1864, at 66 years of 
age ; mother died in 1877, at 79 years of 
age. Mr. Goodwin came West financially a 
poor boy, but, with hard labor and good 
management, before his death he ranked 
as one of the successful farmers of Will 
Co. ; he was entirely blind five years be- 
fore his death; he died June 18, 1877. 
Thus passed away one of the old settlers 
of Will Co., honored and respected by all, 
leaving a wife and seven children to mourn 
his loss — Elizabeth, wife of Hazard Jones; 
Hiram, in Colorado ; Dolly, wife of Will- 
iam Cramer, of Mis.souri; Irwin, in Idaho; 
John, William and Phillip ; farm contains 
about 670 acres of land with fine improve- 
ments. 

GEORGE GOODTNG, farmer; P. 0. 
Wilmington ; was born in Ontario Co., N. 
Y\, Oct. 18, 1802, and is the son of George 
and N. (Wilder) (looding; father was a 
farmer, and was a soldier of the war of 
1812. Mr. Gooding was raised on his 



788 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



father's farm, and remained East until 1856 ; 
he had obtained while in his native State 
a fortune, but going the securities of others 
he failed; hethen, in 1856, came West 
with a borrow-ed capital invested in the 
present farm ; first purchased 280 acres of 
land, at $2U per acre ; here he set out 
forming and stock-raising ; has been very 
successful ; to-day owns 900 acres of fine 
improved land. He married Jan. 25, 1826, 
to Miss Achsah Reed, born in Hartland, 
Conn., July 31, 1801 ; six children. 

CHARLES R. HAZELTON, farmer; 
P. 0. Wilmington ; was born in Benning- 
ton Co., Vt., Dec. 31, 1809; son of 
Elisha and Mary (Kent) Hazelton ; father 
was a cloth-dresser by trade. Mr. Hazel- 
ton was broixght up on a farm ; in 1833, 
he moved to Sandusky Co., Ohio, and 
there engaged in farming about eighteen 
years ; in 1854, he came to Will Co., 
111., and settled in Wesley Tp. ; he first 
purcljased 160 acres of land; to-day he 
ranks as one of the successful farmers of 
Will Co. ; owns 516 acres of fine improved 
land. Mr. Hazelton has been married 
twice ; his first wife was Mary Wolcott of 
Sandusky Co., Ohio ; second wife Ann 
Ball ; have seven children, two by first 
wife, and five by the second. 

HENRY H. JONES, farmer; P. 0. 
Wilmington ; was born in Ross Co., Ohio, 
July 7, 1832, and is the son of John T. 
and Salome Jones ; his father was a farm- 
er, and in 1850, came to Illinois and settled 
in Will Co., Wesley Tp.; he is now living in 
Chicago, 111.; his mother died in 1876, at the 
age of 68 years ; Mr. Jones was brought 
up on his father's farm, and has farmed 
principally through life ; with his parents, 
in 1850, came to Will Co., and settled in 
Wesley Tp.; here he has remained ever 
since ; he made all the improvements on 
his farm. Mr. Jones, in his political opin- 
ions, is a Republican, and a Methodist in 
religion. Married Miss Linda V. Packard, 
of New York, daughter of Ansen Packard 
of Plymouth, Mass., who with his wife and 
three children, emigrated West, and settled 
in Will Co., in about 1844 or 1845 ; both 
parents are dead ; have seven children. 

HAZARD JONES, farmer; P. 0. 
Wilmington ; the subject of this sketch is 
one of the prominent farmers of Wesley 
Tp. ; was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., 
April 1, 1826, and is the son ^of Samuel 



and Annie (Hazard ) Jones, who emigrated 
West and settled in Will Co., Wesley Tp., 
on the present farm, in 1851 ; here Mr. 
Jones has been engaged in farming ever 
since ; when the family first came here, the 
surrounding country was comparatively 
new ; built all the improvements on the 
farm ; Mr. and Mrs. Jones have retired 
from the farm, and are now living in Wil- 
mington, Will Co., 111. Mr. Hazard Jones 
married Elizabeth Goodwin ; have seven 
children, and is the daughter of William 
Goodwin, who was born in Watertown, 
N. Y., in 1815 ; raised on a farm, and emi- 
grated West to Illinois, and settled in 
Joliet, Will Co., in 1832; one of the first 
settlers of the county ; he helped build the 
first house in Joliet ; he died respected and 
honored by his fellow-men, June 18, 1877, 
Mr. Jones is a Republican in politics. The 
farm contains some 600 acres. 

ELNATHAN W. JONES, farmer; P. 
0. Wilmington ; the subject of this sketch 
is one of the prominent farmers of Wes- 
ley Tp.; was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., 
May 11, 1808, and is the son of Seth and 
Betsey ( Simmons j Jones ; mother was born 
in Rhode Island ; father was a native of 
Massachusetts, having moved to New 
York at an early day ; here Mr. Jones re- 
mained on his father's farm until he was 
25 years of age. He was married Jan. 28, 
1834, to Laura M. Briggs ; born in 1814, 
wife of Nathaniel Briggs, who was a soldier of 
war of 1812 ; he then moved on a farm, 
and in 1848, he returned to his father's 
farm; here his father died Oct. 8, 1848, 
at 78 years of age, leaving wife and eleven 
children ; nine children still living. In 
1849, he came West to Illinois, and pur- 
chased 131 acres of land of John Will- 
iams of the present farm ; he then in 1851 , 
moved his wife and five children west to 
the present farm ; here he has been engaged 
in farming ever since ; the street he lives on 
is known as Virginia street, on the account 
at one time of a great many Virginians 
living on this street ; Mr. Jones lost his 
wife, who died Sept. 8, 1870. 

BENJAMIN F. MORGAN, farmer; 
P. 0. Wilmington ; this gentleman is one 
of the old settlers of Wesley Tp.; was born 
in Herkimer Co., N. Y., April 2, 1811, 
and is the son of Ebenezer and Hannah 
(Chapman)Morgan; father, from Massachu- 
setts ; was engaged in farming and stock- 



WESLEY TOWNSHIP, 



789 



\ 



raising ; mother, from New York, who died 
whou Mr. Morgan was very young ; his 
father remarried ; lie moved to Chautau- 
fjiia Co., N. Y.; here Mr. Morgan remained ] 
until 1840 ; Aug. 12, 1840, he married 
Miss Elizabeth J. Sternburg, of New York ; 
started West to Illinois ; arrived and settled 
in Wesley Tp., Nov. 12, 1840; when he 
first came here, the country was very wild; 
set out and made all the improvements on 
his fiirm, which to day is one of the finest 
improved farms of Wesley Tp. ; he owns 
200 acres of land that were nwde by hard 
labor and good management; Mr. Morgan's 
first wife died ; he then married Miss 
Betsey E. Gould in Oct., 18G1, who was 
born in- Ohio about 1841, and is the daugh- 
ter of James and Lydia Gould. Mr. Mor- 
gan has held several ofiices of public trust. 
Republican in politics. Five children ; 
Erie F. was in the war, 100th I. V. I., but i 
on the account of disability, was honorably 
discharged; Philip C, Irwin C. (^Sidney 1 
S., deceased), and Mary E. 

A. RICHARDSON, farmer; P. 0. 
Wilmington ; was born in Vermont, June 
23, 1805, and is the son of William and 
Mary (Starks) Richardson; father was a | 
shoemaker ; with his parents he moved to | 
New York ; here he remained until 185G, 
and with his wife and nine children emi- 
grated to Illinois, and settled on the pres- I 
sent homestead ; here he has remained 
ever since. He holds the oflice of Justice 
of the Peace ; this office he has held for i 
the last twelve years. Married Miss Mar- 
tha Goodwin, of New York. Mr. Rich- j 
ardson is a Republican in politics ; owns | 
170 acres of improved land; one son, [ 
Joseph W., enlisted in the late war, in j 
39th I. Y. I., First Lieutenant ; died of 
sickness in the war. 

DAVID M. REDMAN, farmer; P.O. \ 
Wihnington ; was born in Upper Canada, 
Nov. 20, ISOG, and is the son of Charles 
and Susanna (Marr) Redman ; father was 
a school teacher, and a native of Ireland ; 
was in the war of 1812; was taken pris- 
oner at Queenstown Heights, was slightly 
wounded in the leg ; his mother, a native 
of Penn.sylvania ; with his parents came 
to America when he was very young ; at 
17 years old he started to learn his trade 
as carpenter and joiner in Stroudsburg, 
Penn. ; in 1856, he came to Illinois and 
settled in Kankakee, and remained there 



about seven years engaged at his trade ; iu 
18()3, he came to Will Co., and .settled on 
the present farm. Married twice; first wife 
Miss Sallie Ann Yettei", of Pennsylvania ; 
married second time to Miss Rachel King, 
of Indiana ; fourteen children ; owns 184 
acres of fine improved land. His son John 
F., was in the late war, 113th I. V. I. ; 
served until the end of the war, and was 
honorably discharged ; Thomas M., born 
Oct. 29, 1855 ; has taught in the District 
School, is now with his brother Eugene 
engaced in farming on the farm. 

BENJAMIN b. RITCHEY, farmer ; 
P. 0. Wilmington ; was born in Ross Co., 
Ohio, Oct. 24, 1815, and is the son of 
Matthew and Rachel (Davis) Ritchey ; 
father was a native of Scotland, having 
emigrated to America when he was very 
young ; was a soldier during the Indian 
war. also a soldier of the war of 1812 ; 
died in 1822, at 65 years of age ; mother 
died in June, 1 862, at 88 years of age. In 
1855, Mr. Ritchey came to Illinois and 
settled in W^esley Tp. ; first purchased 
560 acres of land at $15.50 and S8 
per acre ; has been engaged in farming and 
stock-raising ever since ; owns to-day, 367^- 
acres of fine improved land. Republican 
in politics. 

HARVEY WARNER, farmer; the 
subject of this sketch is one of the best 
known and highly respected farmers of 
Wesley Tp. ; was born in Lima, Liv- 
ingston Co., N. Y., May 9, 1807, and 
is the son of Asahel and Sarah (Ketchum) 
Warner, 'of Columbia Co., N. Y. ; his 
father was a farmer. Mr. Warner was 
brought up on his father's farm ; in 1830, 
he married Miss Elvira Aurther, of New 
York, by whom he has two children ; 
in 1849, emigrated West to Illinois and 
settled in Wesley Tp. ; here he has lived 
ever since. In 1851, he was elected 
Supervisor of Wesley Tp., and held this 
office for four years ; in 1874, he was 
elected to same office, and holds same office 
to-day ; this office he has filled with honor 
to himself and to the people of Wesley 
Tp. His political opinions are Democratic. 
When he first came here he purchased 
250 acres of land for S2,700. 

UNCLE JOHN WILLIAMS, farmer; 
P. 0. Wilmington ; the subject of this 
sketch is the oldest of the living settlers 
that first settled in Wesley Tp.; was bora 



790 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



in Greenbrier Co., near the White Sulphur 
Springs, Va., April 5, 1801, and is the son 
of Richard and Thankful (Morrison) Will- 
iams, of Virginia ; his father was a farmer ; 
here he was raised on his father's farm. 
When he was about 21 years of age, he 
maiTied Elizabeth Burr, daughter .of Aaron 
Burr. His father then placed him on a 
farm, and he farmed in Virginia until 1831 ; 
he then, with his wife and three children, 
emigrated West to Illinois, and settled in 
Vermilion Co., and remained there until 
1S:^4; he then moved with his family to 
Will Co., and settled in Wesley Tp. May 
5, 1834 ; here he has remained ever since. 
To tell of his reminiscences of when he 
settled in here, would make a history in 
itself; he came here when the country was 
wild ; plenty of Indians, deer and wolves ; 
was here in 1832 during the Black Hawk 
war ; attended the great (powwow) Indian 
treaty in Chicago in 1833 ; has met the 
great Indian chiefs, Robinson and Billey 
Caldwell, and remembers when John Went- 
worth first came to Chicago. He lost his 
first wife, who died in April, 1845. Mar- 
ried second time to Miss Susan Graff", of 
Butler Co., Ohio, who died Aug. 27, 1860. 
Married his third wife, Mary Cownover, of 
Butler Co., Ohio. He attended Govern- 
ment land sale in Chicago in 1838, and 
purchased 420 acres of land at SI. 25 per 
acre ; states that the first sermon preached in 
Wesley Tp. was in 1835, by David Black- 
well. Mr. Williams is a member of the 
Methodist Church, which church he has 
belonged to for the last sixty years. Had 
two sons in the late war — Leroy S. and 
John R.— in the 100th 111. V. I.; both did 
good service and were honorably dis- 
charced. 

ALFRP:D WARNER, farmer; P.O. 
Wilmington ; was born in Lima, Livings- 
ton Co., N. Y., May 19, 1814, and is the 
son of Asahel and Sarah (Ketchum ) War- 
ner of New York ; Mr. Warner was brought 
up on his father's farm, and when 19 years 
of age, he was farming it by the month ; 
in 1844, he came West and settled in 
Ohio ; engaged in farming and mercantile 
business ; in 1849, came to Will Co., 111., 
and settled in Wesley Tp.; the country was 
very new at that time ; but few houses 
between him and Joliet; in 1853, he made 
a trip ti) Australia, prospecting ; returned 
in 1875. Married in 1839 to Miss Rachel 



L. Curtis, born in New York May 24, 
1818. Mr. Warner's political opinions 
are Democratic. Owns 217 acres of fine 
improved land. His son, Norman C, was 
born in New York Nov. 26, 1839; came 
West with his parents ; received a good 
common-school education, and taught 
district school before the war. At the 
breaking-out of the late war, he enlisted in 
the 39th 111. V. I., as 2d Lieutenant; he 
took a very active part in recruiting for 
the regiment ; participated in some of the 
hard-fought battles; Aug. 16, 1864, was 
wounded in the leg at the battle of Deep 
Bottom on the James River ; this wound 
caused his leg to be amputated ; for his 
gallant service at this battle, he was bre- 
vetted as Major ; he then received a clerk- 
ship in the War Department at Washing- 
ton, D. C. Here he studied law and 
graduated at the Columbia College in 
1867 ; came West and is now practicing 
law in Rockford, 111.; ranks as one of the 
prominent attorneys of that vicinity. He 
has taken a very active part in politico in 
Will County. 

A. H. WARNER, farmer ; P. 0. Rock- 
ville ; was born in Lima, Livingston Co., N. 
Y., Dec. 5, 1804, and is the son of Asahel 
and Sarah (Ketchum) Warner ; father 
was a farmer ; here Mr. Warner was 
brought up on his father's farm ; in 1846 
or 1847, he came West and was looking for 
location in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and 
Illinois ; in 1848, with his wife and 
three children, came to Illinois and set- 
tled on a farm in the southern part of 
Illinois, near Shawneetown ; here he 
rented, and in 1850, started for Will 
Co., with 150 head of cattle, and three 
head of horses; drove through, and arrived 
I in 1850, and first settled in Wesley Tp., 
on what is known as the Beckwith farm ; 
the first year he was here, he put up 150 
tons of hay ; here he set out in farming, 
and has farmed it ever since ; in about 
1853 or 1854, he built the present home- 
stead. He is a Democrat in politics. 
Married Sophia Merrill of Now York; 
have had eight children ; six living ; owns 
425 acres of fine improved land, which 
improvements were made principally by 
Mr. Warner. Had two sons in the late 
war — Frank and Charles ; participated in 
some of the hard-fought battles ; was hon- 
orably discharged. 



FLORENCK TOWNSHIP. 



791 



JUDGE DAVID WILLARD, fanner ; 
V. (). Wilmington; the above-named gen- 
tlctnaii is one of tho best known men of 
NVill Co.; was born in AUogaiiy Co., N. Y., 
June 13, 1818, and is the son of Daniel 
and Elizabeth (Sanders) Willard ; father a 
native of Massachusetts, engaged in farm- 
ing ; mother, of Fort Edwards, Washington 
Co., N. Y. His father was a volunteer in 
the war of 1812; was one of the first set- 
tlers of Allegany Co., N.Y., he died in 1877, 
at 90 years of age ; Judge Willard was raised 
on his father's farm ; he received a high- 
school education, and at the age of 21, he 
was en^ajred in the winter months inteach- 
ing the district schools. In 18-14, he 
married Miss Hodah Axtell, of Allegany 
Co., N. Y.; he then with his wife started 
for Illinois, then the Far West, in a wagon 
drawn by horses, taking them eighteen days 
in making the trip ; came via Jamestown, N. 
Y., Erie, Penn., then following the lake- 
shore to Cleveland, Ohio, thence through 
La Porte ; arrived in Illinois, and settled in 
Wesley Tp., Will Co., on the farm he now 
lives on, which was purchased before he 
left New York State ; the country was new. 



but few settlers, and no improvements on 
his farm ; he set out in farming ; here "he 
has lived ever siiKtc, with the exception of 
a few years he lived in Joliet ; he has made 
all the improvements on his farm, which 
ranks among the many fine improved farms of 
Wesley Tp. Judge Wilson has hi'ld vari- 
ous offices of public trust ; was Township 
Treasurer of Schools about 1 846, Justice 
of the Peace about 1848; this office he 
held for several years; was Supervisor of 
township for many years ; was Chairman of 
the Board of Supervisors of Will Co.; he 
was SupiTvisor of township during the war, 
and took a v-ery active part in tlie enlist- 
ment of men for the army, from Wesley 
Tp.; in 1865, he was elected County Judge 
for four years, and in 1809, he was re- 
elected to same office, term expiring in 
1873 , during all of his offices in township 
and county, he has proven himself a gentle- 
man of acknowledged ability, whose duties 
have been performed in a faithful manner ; 
his political opinions are Republican, 
which party he has taken a very active part 
in ever since its organization. Have two 
children. 



FLORENCE TOWNSHIP. 



JAMES BASKERVILLE, farmer, 
.Sec. 22 ; P. 0. Wilmington ; owns 290 
acres, valued at S40 per acre ; born Oct. 
1 2. 1833, in Tipperary, Ireland ; emigrated 
to the United States in 1847, with two 
sisters and six brothers — nine in all — their 
parents having died in Ireland in 1845 ; 
the whole family located in Oneida Co., N. 
Y., where James remained three years ; 
thence to this township in 1850. Married 
Jane Fogarty in February, 1 860 ; she was 
born in November, 1836, in Tipperary Co., 
Ireland, and emigrated to this country with 
her parents in 1846 ; have seven children — 
Mary A., Andrew J., Charlotte J., Anna 
M.. George, John and Ella H. His brother 
Andrew enlisted in 1862, in the Chicago 
Board of Trade Battery, and died in the 
service, of typhoid fever, at Louisville, Ky., 
in 1863. 

RUFUS CORBETT, f\irmer. Sec. 29 ; 

P. 0. Wilmington ; owns 101 acres, valued 

: at S50 per acre ; held the offices of H igh way 



Commissioner and School Director eleven 
years; born Feb. 26, 1811, in Kenne- 
bec Co., Me. Married Mary A. Currier 
Nov. 13, 1844; they emigrated to Illinois 
that fall, locating near Joliet, this county; 
there Mr. Corbett rented what is known as 
the Kinsey Farm, in partnership with Dr. 
HoflFman, for one year ; thence to the farm 
where he now resides in 1846, his family 
staying at the residence of A. Hill until he 
built the house in which he resides at pres- 
ent, which residence they had covered and 
occupied as soon as Aug. 31, 1846; have 
three children living — Frank M., Helen 
A. and Emily C; one died in infancy. 
Frank M. enlisted in the war of the rebell- 
ion, in Co. E, 39th 111. V. L, Frb. 24, 1864, 
to serve three years, or during the war ; was 
discharged Dec. 6,1865. He married El- 
laer Meede Aug. 24, 1875 ; she was born in 
Louisville, Ky., in 1858. Helen A. mar- 
ried Thomas McQueen and Emily C. mar- 
ried Archibald McQueen, both of Scotland. 



792 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



JOHN FKIDLEY, farmer, Sec. 10; 
P. O. Wilmington ; owns 160 acres, valued 
at $50 per acre; born in Switzerland 
March 26, 1838 ; emigrated to the United 
States in 1857, and came direct to this 
township. jMarried Mrs. Meria Dellen- 
bach, of this township, in 1866 ; she was 
burn in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1827, 
and came to this country in 1852 ; Mrs. j 
Fridley's children by her first husband are 
John and Frank Dellenbach ; one child by 
second marriage — E. Franklin Fridley. 
Mr. Fridley enlisted in the 100th 111. V. 
I. Aug. 21, 1862; was wounded in the 
knee, near Kenesaw Mountain, June 18, 
1864, from the eifects of which he was 
helpless for two months ; he remained in 
the hospital nearly eight months before he 
rejoined the regiment ; was mustered out 
June 12, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn. When 
Mr. Fridley proposed leaving his native 
country, like many others, 

" Chill penury repressed his noble rage, j 

And froze the genial courage of his soul." 

However, he was encouraged by a friend, 
who lent him money to pay his fare ; so 
when he arrived here he was not only with- 
out money, but actually in debt for his 
passage to this country ; now he enjoys a 
comfortable home. 

CHARLES HAZARD, farmer, Sec. 
33; P. 0. Wilmington; owns 120 acres, 
valued at $50 per acre ; held the office of 
Supervisor four years. Highway Commis- ' 
sioner and Justice of the Peace one term ; 
born Aug. 13, 1813, in Sidway, R. I.; em- 
igrated to New York in 1822 ; remained 
there until 1852 ; thence to Will Co., 111. 
Married Fannie Broadrick in 1834, in 
Chenango Co., N. Y.; she was born at 
Conway, Mass., Oct. 31, 1815 ; have five 
children — Enos E., Sarah F., Charles D., 
Greorge B. and Ellen M., all born in Sulli- 
van, N. Y., except Eaos E., who was born 
in New Berlin, N. Y. Mr. Hazard and 
his family located on the farm he now owns 
on his arrival (November, 1852) in Will 
Co., which was then unimproved prairie. 

JOHN HENNINGS, tenant farmer; l 
P. 0. Wilmington ; occupies a farm of the j 
Whitter estate; born in Denmark Dec. 2, 
1823; married Catherine Youngson in 
Denmark Oct. 1854; they emigrated to 
the United States in 1854, locating in Will 
Co., where he has still remained ; have 
eight children, Frank, Catherine, Dory, , 



Mary, John, George, Willie and Fred; 
Mrs. Hennings died here, Nov. 23, 1873. 
Mr. Hennings enlisted in 39th 111. V. I., 
Co. A, March 8, 1864, was wounded simul- 
taneously on the head and right shoulder 
while in the conflict before Richmond, 
from the effects of which he was confined 
to the hospital three months ; at the ex- 
piration of said time joined his regiment 
again ; was captured by the enemy in the 
morning of the day on which Gen. Lee sur- 
rendered. 

JOHN HEYDON, Sr., farmer and 
stock-raiser, Sec. 12; P. 0. Elwood ; owns 
665 acres of land, valued at $55 per acre ; 
born in Carlow Co., Ireland, March 15, 
1814. Married Hannah Kinsler, in Car- 
low Co., in 1834 ; she was born in said 
county in 1814 ; they emigrated to the 
United States in 1834, and located in Ken- 
nebec Co., Maine, where they lived for 
seventeen years ; then moved to Illinois in 
1851, and located in Joliet, where they lived 
three years ; thence to the place which he 
now owns, in ]854; have five children 
living, Daniel ; Thomas, married Margaret 
Byi'on ; John, Jr., married Bridget Bergan ; 
Catherine, widow of the late P. Tulley, 
and Hannah. When Mr. Hevdon came to 
this county, his finances were very limited, 
but by industry, care and economy, he has 
accumulated a competency, and is one of 
the most extensive farmers in Will Co. ; 
he has given to those of his family, who 
are doing for themselves, a good start in 
the world; Thomas got 160 acres of land 
on Sections 8 and 17, and to John, Jr., he 
gave 180 acres of land on Sees. 11 and 12 ; 
besides having, as above stated, 665 acres 
in reserve, in a high state of cultivation, 
in a beautiful location. Such is the reward 
of industry. Daniel and Hannah reside 
with their parents on the old homestead. 

DELANCY M. JACKSON, farmer. 
Sec. 8; P. 0. Elwood; owns 160 acres of 
land, valued at $50 per acre ; Highway 
Commissioner, one term, and School Di- 
rector over twenty years ; born in Corn- 
wallis. Nova Scotia, Sept. 3, 1823, and 
came here with his father, as will be seen 
in the general history. Married Harriet 
Gould Feb. 4, 1849 ; she was born in 
Houndsfield, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1830, and 
emigrated to Ohio with her parents ; thence 
to Illinois, in 1845, and located in Wesley 
Township ; have five children, Andrew M., 



FLORKNCE TOWNSHIP. 



793 



Aaron Iv, Albert J., Arthur D. and 
James I. 

CHARLES JACKSON, farmer, Sec. 
!); P. O. Wilmington ; own.s eighty acres of 
land, valued at $50 per acre ; born in 
Corriwallis. Nova Scotia, March 18, 1815; 
left his native place for the West in 1850, 
stopped one year in Bo.ston, where he 
worked at the carpenter trade ; then set 
out for the West again, and arrived in 
Illinois in May, 1851, and located in 
this (Florence Tp. ), Will Co. Married 
Martha E. Cating in this county, Nov. G, 
1851 ; she was born in Koss Co., Ohio, 
Oct. 80, 1825, and came here with her 
sister Vernelle (now Mrs. Charles Dille) ; 
have five children living, and one deceased ; 
Hannah died Sept. 28, 1854; Fannie, 
Malcolm, Estella, Margaret and Josephine. 
Mr. Jackson's residence has been in 
Florence Township ever since he came to 
Illinois in 1851 ; purchased his present 
fiirm in 185(5 ; traded and repurchased the 
same in 18G'J. 

THOMAS LACEY, farmer, Sec. 6; P. 
O. Wilmington ; owns 2-10 acres, valued at 
^50 per acre; born in Tipperary Co., Ire- 
land, in 1812; he emigrated to United 
States, landing at New" York, May 27, 
1840, and located in Oneida Co., N. Y., 
where he resided about four years. Mar- 
ried Catherine McCarty in Utica, N. Y., 
Feb. 28, 1844 ; she was born in Cork Co., 
Ireland, and emigrated to this country with 
an uncle — M. Crimmins — when she was 
about 4 years old ; they (Mr. and Mrs. 
Lacey) emigrated from New York to Ver- 
mont, where they kept boarders on a line 
of railroad ; thence toMichigan, where they 
were about two years ; thence to Chicago, 
111., two years, where he had charge of the 
grading of streets ; thence to Aurora, where 
he had charge of the grading of the first sec- 
tion on the C, B. & Q. R. R. Before he 
left Chicago, although working for 75 
cents per day, he went to Joliet and bought 
eighty acres adjoining the city limits for 
about $10 per acre. He has resided in and 
in the vicinity of Will Co. for the last 
thirty years, and came to his present home 
in March, 1873, from Grundy Co., where he 
had been for two years previous. His wife 
died in La Salle in 1854, and was buried 
at Joliet ; left three children — Annie, born 
in New York Nov. 22, 1850; Nellie, 
March 10, 1852, and John J., March 12, 



1854. Married second wife, Ro.sa A. Con- 
lin, at Joliet ; she was born in Longford 
Co., Ireland, in 1820,andcanieto the United 
States with a cousin in 1840. Two chil- 
dren by second marriage — Jerry, born Oct. 
25, 1857; Thoma.s, born Dec. :'>0, 1858. 

WILLIAM MARTIN, dairying; P. 
0. Wilmington ; owns 240 acres, valued at 
$40 per acre ; |born April HO, 1849, where 
he now resides. His lather, James Martin, 
mother, Catherine Graham (Martin), both 
born in Ireland ; emigrated to the United 
States at different periods. Were married 
in Rochestei, N. Y., in 183G, and emigra- 
ted to Will Co. in 1837, locating in Wil- 
mington, where he lived for about ten years ; 
thence to the farm now owned by William 
in 1847. There were eight children, three 
living — Mary (now Mrs. T. Baskerville) ; 
James W. and William. Mr. Martin, Sr. 
went to California, the overland route, in 
the spring of 1850, where he died the 
succeeding fall. Thopaas enlisted July, 

1862, in Co. A, 100th 111. V. I., and died 
of disease contracted by exposure June, 

1863, at Murfi-eesboro, Tenn. Two died 
in infancy — Edward died herein 18G4 ; 
John died January, 1870. 

JAMES W. MARTIN, farmer, Sec. 
23 ; P. 0. Wilmington ; owns 240 acres, 
valued at $40 per acre. Was elected 
County Treasurer in November, 1873, and 
re-elected in November, 1875, and served 
until Dec. 5, 1877. Was born in Wilming- 
ton, this county, Feb. 22, 1846. Married 
Viola M. Linton Jan. 13, 1875 ; she was 
born Jan. 23, 1846, in Montezuma, Ind., 
and came to Illinois with her pai-ents in 
1862. One child— Charles H. 

DANIEL McINTYRE, farmer and 
stock-raiser; P. 0. Wilmington; owns 
248 acres, valued at $45 per acre. Been 
Highway Commissioner three years and 
School Director three terms. Born Sept. 
26, 1841, in this township, on what is now 
the Selah Morey farm. Sec. 28. Married 
Roselma Thoniburg Feb. 19, 1862; she 
was born March 15, 1843, in Channahon 
Tp., this county; her father, Robert 
Thornburg, and mother, Clorinda Wright, 
were among the earliest settlers of Channa- 
hon Tp., as will be seen in the general 
history. Mr. Mclntyre's father was one 
of the earliest settlers of Wesley Tp., and 
subsequently into Florence in 1837. Have 
six children living and one dead — Clorinda 



794 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



L., William, Daniel J., Margaret E., John 
R. (deceased), Martha A. and Jessa. 

MRS. LUCINDA McINTYRE, farmer, 
Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Wilmiuglun ; widow of the 
late Duncan Mclntyre ; owns 172 acres, 
valued at $60 per acre ; she was born in 
Orleans Co., N. Y., Nov. 2, 1827, and 
came to Wesley Tp., this county, with her 
ftvther, Joseph Hadsall, and family, as will 
be seen in the general history, at a very 
eiirly date; her husband D. Mclntyre, was 
born Dec. 13, 1807, in Perth, N. Y.; he 
settled in Wesley Tp., also at a very early 
date, but subsequently moved to I'lorence 
Tp. in 1837, where he purchased a farm 
on Sec. 28 ; had the family of Nelson 
Wright, formerly of Ohio, keep house for 
him; and one Lutz also lived with him 
some time. Was married Sept. 8, 1840, 
in Wesley Tp., at her father's, J. Hadsall ; 
had seven children, four living — Daniel, 
John, Annie E., deceased, Thomas R., 
deceased, Archibald D., James W. and 
Margaret E., deceased. Mr. Mclntyre, wife 
and two children, went to Perth, Fulton 
Co., N. Y., in 1844 ; they purchased the 
farm which they now own, and returned in 
1855. Mr. Mclntyre died here Nov. 3, 
1858. 

WILLIAM McGINNIS, farmer; P. 
0. Wilmington ; owns 270 acres here, 
valued at $50 per acre, and 400 acres 
in Livingston Co., valued at $35 per 
acre ; born in Rochester, N. Y., in I82G ; , 
they moved to Boston when he was very 
young ; thence to this county with his 
mother in 1837, his father having died in 
New York ; they located at Joliet, where 
they resided until 1849, at which date he 
went to California, and returned to Joliet 
in 1851 ; he left Joliet in 1852, and settled 
in Reed Tp., where he lived until 1870; 
thence to Livingston Co. four years ; thence 
to his present residence in 1874. Married 
Kliza Palmer Nov. 11,1 855, in ihis county; 
she was born in Orange Co., Vt., Feb. 20, 
1840, and came to this county with her 
parents in 1850; have four children living 
— Margaret, died Sept. 15, 1872; John, 
Frank, Mary and Gertrude ; William, died 
Nov. 30, 1872. 

S. R. MOREY, farmer, Sec. 17 ; P. 0. 
Wilmington ; owns eighty acres, valued at 
$40 per acre. Has held the oflBces of 
Township Clerk, School Treasurer and 
Road Overseer. Born May 7, 1830, in 



Clearfield (now Elk) Co., Pa.; came to 
Will Co., with his father's family Dec. 31^ 
1847. Married Louisa H. Smith in 
Oswego Tp., Kendall Co., 111., Jan. 3, 
1801 ; she was born March 15, 1840, in 
Connecticut, and came to Kane Co., 111., 
with her parents in 1852 ; thence to Ken- 
dall Co. in 1853; four children — Kmeline, 
Grace, Horace and Selah. His two brothers, 
Vinal and Charles, enlisted in the late 
rebellion in 1862 ; Vinal, in the 88th I. 
V. I., was in the service until the close of 
the war, and Charles, in the 100th I. V.I., 
was in the service until 1864, at which 
time be was discharged, on account of 
sickness; he died at home Nov. 4, 1865 ; 
Oscar also enlisted Feb. 24, 1864, and 
served until December, 1865, at which 
date he was discharged. 

WILLIAM NELSON, farmer. Sec. 15; 
P. 0. Wilmington ; owns eighty acres, val- 
ued at $40 per acre; born Nov. 8, 1816, 
in Sterlingshire, Scotland ; emigrated to 
Canada in 1830; thence to the United 
States in 1833 ; located at Trenton, Oneida 
Co., N. Y.; remained there four years ; 
thence to Joliet, Will Co., 111., remain- 
ing about six months ; thence to what is 
known as the Five-Mile Grove, Manhattan 
Tp., and remained there one year ; there 
were only two habitations in the township, 
both owned by Perkin Bros., one of which 
Mr. Nelson rented ; being so sparsely 
settled in that vicinity, Mr. Nelson pre- 
ferred to go to New Lenox Tp., whic-h was 
then better populated ; there he lived 
with A. Francis for about four years ; in 
partnership he bought a farm with Asa 
McDonald, where he lived three years ; 
sold to McD., and returned to Five-Mile 
Grove, where he lived until 1860. Mar- 
ried Mary A. Rudd in 1846, in New 
Lenox Tp.; she was born in New Y'ork 
State, and came to Illinois with her 
parents in 1845 ; have five children living 
—Mary E. (now Mrs. W. Cook), William 
W., James (deceased), Nettie (now Mrs. 
C. Faut), Olive Z. and Leonard. Mr. 
Nelson was Supervisor of Trenton (now 
Manhattan Tp.), also Assessor of Trenton 
and Florence, which office he now holds in 
Florence; in March, 1860, he moved to 
his present residence. 

JOHN J. OHLHUES, farmer. Sec. 
14 ; P. 0. Wilmington ; owns ninety- 
three acres, valued at $50 per acre ; born 



FLORENCE TOWNSHIP. 



705 



in Hulstein, Germany, Oct. I'J, 1837; 
eniitiiatod to the United States in 1859, 
with his father's family, which consi.sted of 
parents, Jacob Uldhiies and jMargaret 
Graf (Ohlhues) and their three sons John, 
Pi'ter and Henry, besides their daughter 
and son-in-hiw Mrs. and Mr. Keils. John 
married Mary Schultz, at Joliet, in Sept., 
18t37 ; she was born in Hanover, Ger 
many, July 2-1, 184H, and came to this 
country with her parents in 1857 ; have 
five children — Magdalena, Henry, Edxyard, 
Emma and Mary. His brother Ilenry en- 
listed in February, 18(J-t, in Co. K, 111. 

V. I., and was killed while pursuing the 
enemy at Fort Gregg, Va., on April 8, 
1865. He was married to Ellen Neiman, 
here, in November, 1864; left no children. 
Peter Ohlhues resides with his brother-in- 
law, Mr. J. Keils. 

DENIS KIOKDEN, fanner, Sec. 14; 
P. O. Wilmington; owns 160 acres, val- 
ued at $50 per acre ; born in McCrome, 
Cork Co., Ireland, 1817; when about 
20 years of age, he went to England, 
and was employed by Pratt & Sewil, 
contractors, for five years in London ; then 
he went to Shetlam, Scotland, where he 
worked eighteen months ; thence to 
Gravesend, where he worked two years ; 
returned to London, and took pas- 
sage on the Christiana, Capt. Ham- 
mond, and was seven weeks on the 
ocean ; landed at New York ; went to 
Bridgewater, Mass., and worked there for 
the Mount Hope Iron Work Co. fifteen , 
years ; eleven years of said time was night 
work ; at the expiration of said time he 
moved to Illinois, and located in Florence 
Tp., Will Co., where he worked by the 
day, and rented farms on the share for 
about nine yeai-s ; then purchased the 
farm which he now owns, for $35 per 
acre. Married Sarah Moran, daughter of 
Paul Moran, of Leitrim Co., Ireland ; she 
came to the United States about the year 
1843 ; have three children — Hannah, 
Timothy and Mary. Mr. Riordeu's 
brother Timothy enlisted in the late 
war in the 69th Majss. V. I., and was 
captured by the enemy, and died in prison 
at Salisbury, N. C. 

JOHN KEILS, farmer, Sec. 14; P. 
0. Wilmington ; owns ninety-four acres, 
valued at $50 per acre ; held the ofiice of 
School Director for lour years, which office 



he still holds ; born in Holstein, Germany, 
Dec. 15, 1827. Married Catharine Ohl- 
hues Nov. 1, 1856, in ILjlstein ; she was 
born March 13, 1832 ; they emigrated to 
the United States in 1859, and came di- 
rect to Florence Tp.; he rented various 
liirms for about six years, then purchased 
the farm which he now owns, for $23.25 
per acre, in 1869 ; have three cliildren — 
Charles, Alice and Sarah. Mr. Keils, like 
many of the people who began life in the 
West, had nothing to begin with but good 
health and willing hands ; he now owns a 
a very nice and comfortable home. 

JAMES SIME, farmer, stone-mason 
and bricklayer ; P. 0. Wilmington ; owns 
160 acres, valued at $50 per acre ; born in 
Fifeshirc, Scotland, March 15, 1847 ; 
emigrated to the United States in 1869, 
with his father, James Sime, Sr.; his 
mother and rest of thefamily followed soon 
after ; they all located in Plainfield Tp., 
this county ; there his mother still resides ; 
his father sustained injuries in his own 
house which proved fatal, from one John 
Wiley, who was giving them unnecessary 
disturbance while in a semi-drunken and 
epileptic fit, Oct. 2, 1876. Married Mag- 
gie Douglas March 30, 1875, in Chicago; 
she was born in Newark, N. J., Oct. 21, 
1853, and came to Wilmington, this coun- 
ty, with her parents. in 1872; have one 
child — James. Mr. S. worked on the 
building of the Iron Works at Joliet for 
six years ; four and a half years of said 
time he was foreman on the building ; also 
built the masonry along the line of the D. 
between the Illinois and Mississippi Kivers. 

ALLEN SMITH, farmer, Sec. 16; P. 
0. Wilmington; 100 acres, valued at $50 
per acre, owned by his sons Oscjr and Silas. 
Silas married Mary Niece in March, 1878. 
Mr. Smith, Sr., was born in Franklin Co., 
Vt., Oct. 24, 1809. Married Annie Bell 
in 1831, in Vermont; she was born in 
Franklin Co., Vt., and died there in 1833. 
Married for his second wife Annie Rice ; 
she was born May 15, 1811; they emi- 
grated to Illinois in 1857, and located in 
this neighborhood ; had eleven children — 
all by second marriage — ten living — Elvira, 
Olive (deceased), Warner, Edgar D., Ed- 
nah K., Laura M., Joseph A., Ezra W., 
Oscar L., Silas C. and Emma R.. all ])orn in 
Franklin Co., Vt. Warner enlisted in 1861 
in Co. 1, 100th 111. V. I.; Edgar D., in 1861 



796 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



in Co. A, 100th 111. V. I.; both served un- 
til the close of the war. Elvira is now 
Mrs. Philo Draper, of ]NIinnesota ; Ednah 
is now Mrs Andrew Baird, of Iowa ; Laura 
is Mrs. W. Baskerville, of this county ; 
Emma is Mrs. Alex. Niece, of this county. 

JOSEPH SHIRK, farmer and stock 
dealer, Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Wilmington ; owns 
318 acres, valued at $30,000; born Aug. 
17, 1819. in Washington, Penn.; moved 
with his parents and family to Franklin 
Co., Ind., in 1824 ; thence to Parke Co., 
Ind., in 1828, with all his father's family, 
consisting of seven boys and seven girls. 
Married Margaret Linion July 18, 1841, 
in Parke Co., Ind.: she was born in Craw- 
ford Co., 111., in 1824 ; they moved to 
Will Co., 111., in 1854; had five children 
— David L., Emily J., Joseph N., Sarah 
0. and William H. Mrs. Shirk died here 
March 5, 1854. Married for his second 
wife Mary A. Brown Dec. 15, 1854 ; she 
was born in 1829 in Parke Co., Ind.; had 
four children by second marriage — Andrew 
J., Alice, Albert and Isabell. Mr. Shirk's 
grandfather was born on the Alps, Switzer- 
land, and emigrated to this country on the 
breaking-out of the Revolution with fifteen 
of his relatives, who settled in what is now 
Washington Co., Penn.; he was in the 
Revolution, participating in the battles of 
Trenton and Yorktown, at the latter being- 
wounded in the heel so as to cripple him 
for life. At Mr. Shirk's residence may be 
seen the discharge from service of his 
grandfather in Gen. Washington's own 
hand-writing ; he died in Franklin Co., 
Ind., at the advanced age of 81 years. 
Mr. Shirk's father ( David) was a soldier 
in the war of 1812, under Capt. Arm- 
strong, whose discharge Mr. Shirk has also 
as a relic ; he (David) died in i^arke Co., 
Ind., at the aire of 73 years. 

LAURANCE TINSLAR, farmer ; P. 
O. Wilmington ; owns 161 acres of land, 
valued at 81 0,000 ; born June 19, 1823, in 
Madison Co., N. Y. Married Delia S. 
Marsh Nov. 9, 1847, in Alleghany Co. ; 
they moved to Skaneateles, Onondaga Co. ; 
thence to Auburn, where he was superin- 
tendent of the spinning department in the 
Auburn Woolen Mills for three years; 
gave up said position with the intention of 
going to California, but finally abandoned 
the idea. From Rochester, N. Y., they 
came to Illinois, located at Braceville, 



Grundy Co., where they resided until 
November, 1866, at which date they moved 
to Wilmington, Will Co., where he estab- 
lished a meat market, which he conducted 
one year; disposing of his interest in that, 
he opened a similar establishment in Braid- 
wood, which he owned for two and a half 
yeai's ; at the end of said period, he opened 
a boot and shoe store in Braidwood, which 
business he was in about one year, then 
sold, and purchased the establishment 
(boats and shoes) of Arnold & Sisson, of 
Wilmington, which establisnment he owned 
three years, then traded it for his present 
farm. Children by first marriage are Lu- 
cian W. , Eva A. and Esther A. Mrs. Tins- 
lardied in Braceville. 111., 1866 ; married 
second wife, Katie McCabe ; she was born 
in Malone, Franklin Co., N. Y., June 2, 
1842 ; children by second marriage are 
Laurance (deceased), Hiram, Delia, Lau- 
rance (deceased), and Katie B. 

JAMES WHITE, farming and dairy ; 
P. 0. Wilmington ; owns 133 acres of 
land, valued at S40 per acre ; born Oct. 26, 
1842, Lycoming Co., Penn.; came to 
Wilmington, Will Co., with his parents 
when alDout 2 years old. Married Sarah 
Hazard Dec. 26, 1865, in this county ; 
she was born Dec. 15, 1844, in Madison 
Co., N. Y., and came to this county with 
her parents in 1853 ; have four children — 
Clarence E., Fannie E., Florence A., 
Charles A. His father, Adam White, and 
mother Margaret Watson (White), were 
natives of Scotland, and emigrated to the 
United States in 1833 ; they had twelve 
children, five living — John M. (mentioned 
elsewhere), Mary, Adam, Robert and 
James. 

JOHN M. WHITE, farmer. Sec. 28 ; 
P. 0. Wilmington ; owns 300 acres of 
land in this county, and 413 acres in Kan- 
kakee, valued at $35,600. Held office of 
Collector two years. Supervisor one term, 
in 1865, and Township Tru.stee for eight 
years, which office he now holds ; born 
Dec. 23, 1823, in Glasgow, Scotland, and 
came to this country with his father's 
family in 1833 ; they located in Living- 
ston Co., N. Y. ; thence to Ontario Co., 
two years later ; thence to Williamsport, 
Penn. All the family, consisting of his 
father (Adam White), mother (Margaret 
Watson White), five brothers and two 
sisters, located within two miles of Mr. 



MANHATTAN TOWNSHIP. 



799 



"White's pivsont res^idonce in IS 1^4. Mr. 
White married Margery Mcintosh, daugli- 
ter of D. Melntosh, Jan. 2(», 1858; 
she wa.s born in liittle Falls, N. Y., Jan. 
IH, 1884; have six children— William 
W., Daniel M., Ida S., John B., Frank E., 
Arthur K. ; Williain W., married Juliette 
Nelson April 1, 1874 ; Daniel M., married 
Sarah A. Nelson Dec. 25, 187(1. Mr. 
White went to California across the plains 
in the spring of 1850 ; remained about 
two years, then returned to this Township 
to the farm whore he now resides, and 
on which he has remained ever since. 

HENRY WARD, farmer. Sec. 7 ; P. 
0. Wilmington; owns 120 acres of land, 
valued at $50 per acre. School Director 
one term ; was re-elected in 1878. Born in 
Norfolk Co., England, Nov. 29,1882; emi- 
grated to the United States in 1850, with his 
brother John, who located in St. Lawrence 
Co., N. Y., and married Jane Thompson; 
she died in 1859, leaving one child — Mar- 
tha J.; he married his second wife, Mar- 



garet Robinson. John died in New York, 
in 1868; Mr. Ward .stopped in St. Law- 
rence Co., N. Y., whore he lived about six 
years; then moved to P('oria, 111., in 1856, 
where he lived four years. Married Diana 
Pratt in Peoria in 1860; they moved to 
Will Co., this township, where they have 
have lived ever since ; she was born in 
Peoria Co. April 14, 1841. Mrs. Ward's 
parents came to Peoria, 111., from Mass. in 
1888 ; like many pioneers of the West, they 
suffered much di.'^comfort, privations, and 
even sustained heavy loss, his entire effects 
being lost during the voyage on the lakes ; 
he and his wife and one child crossing the 
country by stage and canal, as they suited 
the location and circumstances ; it took 
four months to make- the trip from 
Massachusetts to Peoria, 111., which may 
now be accomplished in so many days, 
have five children — Myron H., Arthur J., 
Julia E., Mary and Carrie F.; one dead, 
a girl, a twin with Mary. 



MANHATTAN TOWNSHIP. 



ANDREW AMEND, firming. Sec. 28 ; 
P. 0. Joliet ; was born in Germany in the 
spring of 1829. He married Miss Suzan 
Zipf in 1848; she was born in Bavaria in 
1816 ; they have one adopted daughter, 
viz., Suzan. He left Germany when quite 
young and came to the United States with 
his parents, who settled in Huron Co., 
Ohio, and engaged in farming ; remained 
until 1850, when he went to Iowa and 
remained a few months, when he came to 
Will Co., 111., and settled in Plainfield ; 
remained two years; thence to Sec. 1 of 
Joliet Tp., and lived there four years; he 
then moved on the Plankroad and re- 
mained some ten years ; he then went to 
Ohio and engaged in grocery and saloon ; 
remained until 1865, when he came to 
Joliet and engaged in saloon and boarding- 
house ; he also acted as Constable some ten 
years; in 1878, he came to his present 
place ; he started in poor circumstances, and 
now owns lOl acres here, besides some 
residence property in Joliet. His mother 
died in Ohio in 1855, and his father died 
in Canada in 1860. 



GEORGE A. BUCK, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; Sec 17 ; P. 0. Joliet ; the subject of 
this sketch was born in Berkshire Co., Mass., 
Sept. 10,1829. He married Miss Helen C. 
Wolcott May 12, 1856 ; she was born iu 
same place, and died April 16, 1857. His 
present wife was Miss Sarah H. Baker, 
married March 22, 1859 ; she was born in 
Rensselaer Co., N. Y., Oct. 20, 1886; 
they had ten children, six living, viz., 
Helen C, Laura C, Werden, Jennie T., 
Kate F. and Fred A. He lived in Massa- 
chusetts until 1856, being engaged in 
farming and general merchandise, also 
teaching ; he then came We.st and settled in 
Lake Co., 111., where he remained about 
six months, and then came to Will Co., 
and S(!ttled on his present place, part of 
which he bought in 1854, while here on a 
visit ; he o ns 640 acres in this township, 
and has improved over 8,000 acres. He 
has been Town Clerk, Supervisor and 
Town Treasurer. 

CLARK BAKER, farmer, Sec. 8; P. 
O. Joliet ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Hoosick, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., 

10 



800 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



March 3, 1796. He married Miss Lucina 
Welsh Dec. 20, 1826 ; she was born in 
Montgomery Co., N. Y., Aug. 28, 1806 ; 
they had five children, two living — Mary 
E. and John C He lived in New York 
until 1850, being engaged in farming and 
surveying ; he then came West and settled 
on his present place ; while in New York, 
he served in the militia of that State in 
the 1812 war; he came West in poor cir- 
cumstances and at present owns over 1,200 
acres, mostly in this township. He has 
been Supervisor some ten years, and Jus- 
tice of the Peace for twenty-five years. 

JACOB LUTZ, farmer, Sec. 29 ; P. 0. 
Joliet ; was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, 
April 24, 1848. He married Miss Laura 
Evans Feb. 25, 1869 ; she was born in 
Iroquois Co., 111., Nov. 14, 1848; they 
have four children — Elton, Evaline, Willis 
and Rosy. He lived in Ohio twelve years, 
then moved to Indiana with his parents ; 
remained about six months, then came to 
Illinois and settled in Will Co., Jackson 
Tp. ; he lived there with his parents until 
1871, when he settled on his present place. 
In 1863, he enlisted in the 64th 111. V. I., 
1st Battalion Yates' Sharp Shooters ; was 
in the battles of Resaca, Kenesaw Moun- 
tain, Atlanta, etc. He started without any 
capital, and now owns eighty acres, which 
he has earned by his own labor. 

THOMPSON MACKEY, farming, Sec. 
7 ; P. 0. Joliet ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, June 
14, 1824. He married Miss Sarah SjToule 
Aug. 31, 1852 ; she was born in Hancock 
Co., West Va. ; they had eight children, 
five living, viz., Edgar S., Flora J., James 
E., Adam W. and Bellella. He lived in 
Ohio about nineteen years on the farm ; 
he then followed steamboating on the Ohio 
and Mississippi for about nineteen years ; 
he then came to Illinois and settled on his 
present place. He has been Assessor and 
Road Commissioner a number of years 
each. 

M. E. MOYER, farming. Sec. 19 ; P. 
0. Joliet ; was born in Cumberland Co., 
Penn., Nov. 18, 1829. He married Miss 
Abbie F. Neitz Sept. 29, 1 859 ; she was 
born in Lehigh Co., Penn., Nov. 21, 1836 ; 
they had five children, three living, viz., 
Priscilla S., Clara M. and Addie F. He 
lived in Pennsylvania until 1847, when he 
came to Illinois and settled in Naperville, 



where he remained about nineteen years, 
being engaged in farming and brick- 
making ; in 1866, he came to his present 
place, and has lived here ever since carrying 
on the farm. 

HIRAM OLNEY, farming and stock- 
raising Sec. 3 ; P. 0. Joliet; the subject of 
this sketch was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., 
July 13, 1800. He married Miss Harriet 
Daniels Jan. 17, 1822; she was born in 
Otsego Co., N. Y., Feb. 22, 1803 ; they 
had seven children, four living, viz., Cephas 
C, William H., Marietta A. and Henrietta. 
He lived in New York until 1835 ; was 
principally engaged in farming and teach- 
ing ; he then came West, and settled in the 
town of Homer, this county, and engaged- 
in farming ; remained until 1854, when he 
came to his present place, and has remained 
here since, except six years in Joliet. He 
owns 120 acres in this township. He has 
been Road Commissioner, Assessor, Town 
Clerk and Justice of the Peace, also Town- 
ship Trustee ; was also Town Clerk in 
Homer, and Trustee. 

ADAM ROHRBACH, farming, Sec. 
10 ; P. 0. Joliet ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Hesse, in Germany, March 3, 
1835. He married Mrs. Hazemann, form- 
erly Miss Catheron P. Bernard, March 12, 
1860 ; she yas born in Alsace, France, 
Jan. 28, 1828 ; they had four children, 
three living, viz., Henry J., Frederick A. 
and Louisa J. ; his wife had three children 
by former marriage, one living, viz., Eliza 
Ann. He lived in Germany nineteen years ; 
he then came to the United States and 
settled near Peoria, 111. ; and after three 
years residence there, he became converted 
and joined the Evangelical Association, 
and became a preacher in same, traveling 
to most all parts of the State ; in 1875, he 
settled in Will Co., and in 1877, he settled 
on his present place. He came to the 
United States in very poor circumstances, 
and now owns 160 acres well improved in 
this township. 

STEPHEN ROBINSON, farmer, Sec. 
21 ; P. 0. Joliet ; was born in Cumber- 
land Co., Me., June 3, 1820. He mar- 
ried Miss Sarah Grundy July 8, 1843 ; 
she was born in Shefiield, England, March 
4, 1824 ; they had six children, five living, 
viz., Ellen J., Mary F., Frank, Annie and 
Eva. He lived in Maine eighteen years ; 
then came to Illinois and.settled in Tazewell 



WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 



801 



Co., where he followed fanning and car- 
pentering, and remained until 1S53, when 
he came to Will ('o., and sottlod in Plain- 
tield Tp., where he followed farming, also 
acted aa foreman for a hridge-building 
company. In 18(!7, he came to his 
present place, and has lived here ever since. 
He has held the office of Supervisor for two 
terms, also School office. His oldest son, 
Orestes, enlisted in the Ud 111. Regt. V. 
C, and died in New Orleans Oct. i), 1863. 

JOHN W. SMITH, farmer and stock- 
raiser Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Jolict ; the subject of 
this sketch was born in Lincolnshire, En- 
gland Feb. 10, 1825. He married MissCatli- 
ei'on Phillips April 15, 18G1 ; she was born 
in Herefordshire, England, March 19, 1834; 
they had seven children, four living, viz., 
Saline C, Anna N., Mary C. and Martha 
Jane. He lived in England until he was 
20 years of age ; he then came to the United 
States via New Orleans ; thence to St. Louis, 
when he returned to England, remaining 
some sis months ; he went to Australia, 
where he remained one year, and then 
again come to the United States and settled 
in Ohio, where he remained a short time, 
and came to Illinois ; in 1858, he settled in 
Will Co., and in 1869, he settled on his 
present place. He had no means to begin 
with, and now owns 480 acres in this town- 
ship, all of which he has earned by his own 
labor. 

HENRY THIEL, farming. Sec. 29 ; 
P. 0. Joliet ; was born in Cur Hessen, 
Germany, Aug. 16, 1829. He married 
Miss Chri.-^tianna Winneka April 2, 1866 ; 
she Wiis born in the same place in Germany 
Aug. 21, 1843; they had three children, 
two living, viz., Henry August and Chris- 
tian Frederick. He lived in Germany 
twenty-eight years, working at his trade of 
stone mason ; he then came to the United 
States, and settled in Will Co., 111., at 
Troutman's Grove, where he engaged in 



farming, and remained fourteen years, and 
then came to his present place, and has 
lived here since. He came to this county 
in poor circumstances, working by the 
month ; he now owns 1 60 acres in this town- 
ship, which he has earned by his own labor. 

THOMAS WHITK, farmer and stock. 
Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Wallingford ; the subject 
of this sketch was born in Lincolnshire 
England Sept. 23, 1831. He married' 
Miss Kittie Reeson July 1, 1851 ; she 
was born in Lincolnshire, England, July 
31, 1827; they had six children, three 
living, viz., John T., William and Fannie, 
He lived in England until 1853, when he 
moved to Canada, where he remained but 
a short time, and moved to Cleveland, 
Ohio, where he engaged in the stone quar- 
ries ; he then went to Du Page Co., 111. ; 
remained about three years ; then he went 
to Lee Co. ; then, in 1863, he came to Will 
Co., and settled near where he now lives ; 
in 1868, he came to his present place, and 
has lived here since.. He started in very 
poor circumstances and now owns 320 
acres in this township. 

RICHARD WxVTKINS, farming, Sec. 
22 ; P. 0. New Lenox ; the subject of 
this sketch was born in Herefordshire, En- 
gland, Feb. 12, 1826. He married Miss 
Catherine Russell Oct. 10, 1854 ; she was 
born in Herefordshire, England, Oct. 3, 
1830 ; they had eleven children, nine 
living, viz., William J., Rosa, Richard, 
Annie I., Frank, Lillie J., Ellen K., John 
A. and Clara M. He lived in England 
twenty-one years, then came to the United 
States and settled in Ontario Co., N. Y., 
where he remained six years ; he then came 
to Illinois and settled in Will Co. ; in the 
spring of 1874, he settled on his present 
place, and has resided here since. He owns 
107 acres in this township, which he has 
earned by his own labor, having atai 
without any capital. 



WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

EDMUND ALLEN, proprietor of the he engaged in mercantile business ; Mr. 
Wilmington Butter and Cheese Factory, Alkn put up the first barrel of beef that 
Wilmington; born in Broome Co., N. Y., was sent from Chicago to the New York 
May 21, 1814; removed to Illinois in the market; the packing was done at the pack- 
summer of 1835, locating at Joliet, where ing-house of G. W. Doll, and the beef 



802 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



shipped by the old favorite steamer Illi- 
nois to Ralph Mead, New York City. 
Jan. 1, 1814, he removed to Wilmington, 
engaged in merchandising and milling, at 
the same time making the butter trade a 
specialty, being instrumental in establish- 
ing a trade in the latter commodity which 
has placed Wilmington foremost as a 
market for a good grade of butter ; since 
1856, he has given his entire attention to 
this line of business, buying and shipping 
to the St. Louis market, until 1875, when 
he erected one of the best butter and 
cheese factories of the Northwest. Mar- 
ried in 1842 to Miss Elizabeth Shoemaker, 
who was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y.; 
four children by this union — Robert L., 
Edmund A., John J. and Mary E. 

VINCENT BANYARD, staple and 
fancy groceries, wooden and willow ware, 
confectionery and bakery, Wilmington ; 
born in County of Norfolk, England, Sept. 
23, 1830; came to this country in 1850, 
locating in Erie Co., Penn., and, five years 
later, removed to Union Co., Iowa; came 
to Wilmington, his present home, in 1859, 
and engaged in his present line of business 
in the building formerly occupied by Mr. 
Mitchell, and known as the Eagle Hotel; 
he built the store he now occupies in 1865 ; 
was a member of the City Council in 
1865-66. Married in 1863 to Miss Mary 
A. Dickson, who was born in Erie Co., 
Penn., Dec. 12, 1844; three children by 
this union — Bessie V., born Jan. 16, 
1864; Mary J., Dec. 18, 1865, and Vin- 
cent W., Oct, 8, 1870. Mr. Banyard is 
a member of the following Masonic bodies : 
Wilmington Lodge, No. 208, and Wilming- 
ton Chapter, No. 142. 

ALBERT W. BOWEN, retired, Wil- 
mington ; born in Berkshire Co., Mass., 
Feb. 6, 1803, but removed in early child- 
hood with his father's family to Oneida 
Co., N. Y., this and Herkimer Co. being 
his home for many years ; in 1827, 
he graduated at the Western College of 
Physicians and Si^rgeons at Fairfield, N. 
Y., and, six years later, lemoved to Illinois, 
locating in Joliet in the spring of 1834, 
where he engaged in the practice of his 
profession ; in December of the following 
year, he went to Vandalia, then the State 
Capital, at his own expense, for the purpose 
of having Will County set off and the 
county seat located in Joliet; in 1836, he 



partially gave up the practice of medicine, 
and engaged in mercantile business, under 
the firm name of A. W. Bowen & Co., and 
the following year purchased a half-interest 
of Thomas and Joseph Cox in the present 
city of Wilmington (then called Winches- 
ter); in 1838-39, he built the Wilming- 
ton Mill, which was the first flouring-mill 
built here, and, the same season, sold his 
store to Gov. Matteson, giving his special 
attention for several years thereafter to the 
practice of medicine ; in 1849, it became 
necessary for him to devote a greater share 
of his time to his business interests at Wil- 
mington, and, in the fall of that year, he 
removed his family. He served as the 
Treasurer of the Board of School Trustees, 
for several terms ; also served as member 
of the Town Board and City Council. 
Married in March, 1831, to Miss Mary C. 
Shoemaker, who was born in Herkimer Co., 
N. Y.; four children by this union — Rod- 
ney S., Major of the 100th 111. I.V.; was 
wounded at the battle of Franklin Dec. 1, 
1864, and died of wounds on the 3d. As 
the Doctor was among the first settlers of 
the county, much morj will be found con- 
cerning him in the general history of the 
county ; also the separate histories of the 
cities of Joliet and Wilmington given in this 
work. 

JOHN BOVEE, farmer, Sec. 14; P. 
0. W^ilmington ; born in Wyoming Co., 
N. Y., Feb. 19, 1831 ; removed to Catta- 
raugus Co., of that State, in 1836 ; thence 
to Crawford Co., Penn., in 1841 ; came to 
Illinois in July, 1854, locating in Rockville 
Tp., Kankakee Co. Owns 160j acres of 
land, valued at $8,000. Served as School 
Trustee one term. Married in 1861 to 
Miss Sarah A. Frazer, who was born in 
Wesley Tp., this county; two children — 
Frank and Mary. 

LEROY A. BAKER, insurance, Wil- 
mington ; born in Cortland Co., N. Y., 
June 10, 1835, where he resided until 
1855 ; then removed to Illinois, locating at 
Wilmington ; was employed in the dry 
goods store of R. W. Watterman for sev- 
eral years, and, about one year prior to the 
rebellion, was engaged at carpenter's work. 
On the 5th of August, 1861, he enlisted 
in the 39th (Yates' Phalanx) I. V. I., and, 
in October, this regiment was ordered to 
the Army of the Potomac ; commissioned 
Second Lieutenant Aug. 5, 1861 ; pro- 



WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 



803 



nioted to First Lieutenant Nov. 17, 18G1, I 
and, on the 1st of the followin}^ month, re- 1 
ceived a Captain's commission ; at the bat- 
tle of" l^et'i' Run, Va., ho was severely 
wounded, losiiiij; his left U'g, Au^. IG, 
18G4, and, on the 17th of the following I 
December, at his rei|uest. he was mustered 
out, by order of the War Department. 
Was appointed Postmaster at Wilmington 
in June, 18G5, and held the office up to 
the time of his resignation, April 1, 1874; 
has served as School In-spector, School 
Trustee and Town Clerk, and is now Dep- 
uty Sheriff". Married, in 1857, to Miss 
Betsey E. Spicer, who was born in Cort- 
land Co., N. Y.; she died in February, 
18G1 ; two children — Frank D. and Lizzie 

B. Was again married, in 1861, to Miss 
Mary L. Spicer, who was born in Cortland, 
N. Y. ; one child by this union — Minnie 

C. Mr. Baker is a member of the follow- 
ing Masonic bodies: Wilmington Lodge, 
No. 208, and Wilmington Chapter, No. 
142. 

ROBERT H. BEGGS, Principal Pub- 
lic Schools, Wilmington ; born near Vir- 
ginia, 111., Sept. 24, 1844 ; lived on farm 
till 18G5, teaching at intervals during the 
last three years of this time ; graduated at 
Illinois College in 1868; taught three 
years in Virginia. 111., as Principal ; gradu- 
ated at Illinois Normal University inl872 ; 
returned to Virginia the same year, as Su- 
perintendent of Schools and Principal of 
High School, retaining the position till 
1875. Married Gertrude Town, of Bloom- 
ington. 111., Sept. 1, 1875, and removed to 
Wilmington shortly afterward, to take 
charge of the public schools, which posi- 
tion he still retains; two children — Helen 
Orlena, born Sept. 18, 1876, and DoUie 
Kate, born Jan. 2, 1878. 

UOxMER C. CASTLE, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Wilmington ; born in 
Ontario Co., N. Y., May 22; 1884, where 
he resided till 1854, when he removed to 
Illinois, locating in Wesley Tp., this 
county ; he also resided in Homer and 
Wilton Tps., and in 1867, removed to his 
present location ; owns IGO acres of land, 
valued at $8,000. Married, in 1856, to 
Miss Adaline Gooding, who was born in 
Ontario Co., N. Y. ; nine children by this 
union. Mr. Castle is extensively engaged 
in breeding and shipping Poland-China 
hogs. 



EDWARD D. CONLEY, Wilmington ; 
born in Toronto, Canada, in 1844, and 
soon afterward came to the United States, 
.settling in Buft'alo, N. Y.; removed to 
Wilmington, 111., in May, 184!). At 19, 
enlisted as a private in the 3t)th I. V. I„ 
and .served about two years; participated 
in Grant's last campaign, and was present 
at Lee's surrender at Appomattox ; on his 
regiment's muster-out, he returned home 
and resumed going to school. In 18G7, 
engaged in the furniture and undertaking 
business, in which he had alreadj' served 
an apprenticeship ; afterward, became a 
drusr store clerk, and also dabbled some in 
writing newspaper locals and verse ; pur- 
chased a half interest in the Peoples Ad- 
vocate newspaper in February, 1871, and 
became sole editor and proprietor in 1872. 
Was repeatedly elected to the town and 
city clerkships. On Dec. 28, 1874, was 
married to Miss Mary A. O'Connell. Is 
still publisher of the Wilmington Advocate, 
up to the date of this publication. 

HERBERT L. CADY ( Holmes& Cady, 
hardware, Braidwood ) ; P. O. Wilmington ; 
born in Essex Co., N. Y., July 16, 1834, 
where he resided until his removal to Illi- 
nois in 1861 ; he first located at Lockport, 
this county ; in 1863, he took charge of 
the Braceville Coal Shaft, the mining in- 
terest then just developing in this part of 
the State, this shaft being the first operated 
in that locality ; in 1866, he removed to 
Wilmington, his present home, and the 
same year Odell & Cady leased land of D. 
Glenney and opened what was known as the 
Glenney Shaft, which they sold to A. B. 
Meeker the following year; in 1871, the 
firm of Holmes & Cady engaged in the 
hardware business at Braidwood, and now 
have, in connection with that line, a harness 
shop at Wilmington and Braidwood. In 
1858, he was married to Miss Lucy, daugh- 
ter of William L. Wadhams ; she was born 
in Essex Co., N. Y.; had four children by 
this union — AVilliam L., Frederick E., 
Herbert A. and Frank B. ( deceased ). Mr. 
C. is a member of the following Masonic 
bodies : Wilmington Lodge, No. 208, and 
Wilmington Chapter, No. 142. 

EDWARD DON AHOE, groceries, pro- 
visions, crockery, glassware, etc.; Wilming- 
ton ; born in County Tijtperary, Ireland, 
Jan. 7, 1848 ; came to this country in early 
childhood with his jiarents, who located at 



804 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Joliet, this county, in April,, 1854 ; in 
September, 18t)7, he removed to Wilming- 
ton and engaged in business, and, in 1874, 
established a branch store at Braidwood, 
A^iich he afterward gave to his brother 
John T.; was member of the City Council 
in 187(5-77. Married Feb. 1, 1872, to 
Miss Bridget M. Feehan, who was born 
in Ireland ; have three children by this 
union — Mary J., Timothy J. and Mathew 
J. 

C. HILL DUCK, editor and publisher 
of the Wilminoton Phoenix, Wilmington; 
born in Du Page Co., 111., May 15, 1842, 
but moved to Chicago in early childhood, 
where he resided until 1854, when he 
moved to Lockport, this county, and en- 
tered the drug store of Dr. Hanley, with 
whom he remained four years ; then re- 
turned to Chicago and continued in the 
same business. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. 
I, 127th 111. V. I., and the same year he 
was appointed Hospital Steward, Acting- 
Assistant Surgeon ; mustered out in the 
latter part of 1863. Soon after his return 
from the army, he located at Seneca, La 
Salle Co., and engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness under the firm name of Wright & 
Duck ; in April, 1877, he took charge of 
the Wilmington Phoenix, as editor and 
publisher : Mr. Duck is now a member of 
Wilmington Lodge, No. 208, A., F. & A. 
M.; also Past Master and charter member 
of Seneca Lodge, No. 532. 

JAMES E. EVANS; livery and feed 
stable, Wilmington ; born in Oneida Co., 
N. Y., Oct. 8, 1853, but moved to Illinois 
in early childhood with his parents, who 
located in Will Co. in 1856; removed to 
Wesley Tp., this county, in 1860 ; in 1865, 
he removed to Hamilton Co., Iowa ; thence 
to Chicago in 1872 ; came to Wilmington, 
his present home, and engaged in the livery 
business in May, 1877. 

BRYAN FISHER, miller, Wilming- 
ton ; born in Chester Co.. Penn., Sept. 18, 
1824 ; removed to Illinois with his father's 
family in June, 1839, stopping in Chicago 
for a few montlis and locating in Wilming- 
ton, his present home, in the following 
September ; Mr. Fisher has been engaged 
in milling since he came to this city, a 
period of nearly forty years. In 1850, he 
was married to Miss Lucy A. Hitchcock, 
who was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y. ; 
five children by this union — Eliza J., 



Thomas B., Cornelia, Maria L. and 
Walter F. 

JOHN C. FISHER (J. C. Fisher & 
Co.), milling, Wilmington; born in 
Rochester, N. Y., Feb. 15, 1834 ; when 
about 5 years of age, his father's family 
removed to Illinois, and, after a short stay 
in Chicago, located in Wilmington, in Sep- 
tembeT, 1339; here his father engaged in 
the milling business, which he followed up 
to the time of his death. The subject of 
this sketch has followed his present busi- 
ness since boyhood,* and, in 1860, pur- 
chased an interest in the mill ; owns forty 
acres of coal land, valued at $4,000, and 
city property, including mill interest, 
valued at $30,000 ; served as member of 
City Council in 1870. Married, in 1858, 
Miss Annie F. Ford, who was bora in the 
North of Ireland ; seven children by this 
union, five livings John T., George R., 
Frank C, Charles V. and Fannie F. ; lost 
one— Mary C., died in 1867. 

RICHARD H. GURNEY, livery, 
Wilmington ; born in Gloucestershire, En- 
gland, Feb. 9, 1837 ; came to the United 
States with his father's family, locating at 
Joliet, this county, in 1844 ; after a resid- 
ence in Channahon Tp. for several years, 
he removed to Wilmingtou, his present 
home, in 1863, and engaged in his present 
business ; owns 720 acres of farm and coal 
lands, valued at $30,000, and city property 
valued at $10,000 ; was a member of City 
Council in 1869 and 1870 ; member of Wil- 
mington Lodge, No. 208, A., F. & A. M.; 
Mr. Gurney is giving considerable atten- 
tion to the breeding of Norman grades of 
horses, and also extensively engaged in 
raising cattle for Chicago and other 
markets. 

MILTON H. HILBURN, proprietor of 
Phoenix Foundry & .Machine-Shops, Wil- 
mington ; born in Livingston Co., N. Y., 
Jan. 31, 1828, but removed, when about 
9 years of age, to Columbia Co., Penn., 
where he resided until 1847, then remov- 
ing to Illinois, and, after spending about 
one year in other parts of this county, 
located at Wilmington in the fall of the 
following year, when he engaged in the 
manufacture of agricultural implements, 
making the manufacture of plows a spe- 
cialty; in 1867, he removed to Ilion, N. 
Y., where he continued in the same busi- 
ness until his return to this city in 1877 ; 



WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP 



805 



was II member of the Boai'd of Trustees in 
18G4; durinji; his term of service, the 
charter of the town of Wihnintrtmi was 
amended and the city incorporated. Mar- 
ried, in 185S, to Miss Sarah Tattle, who 
was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y.; she 
died in 18r)5; their (huii!;ht('r, Sarah J., 
died in 185t); was again married, in 1858, 
to Adalade J. Marsh, who was born in 
Hartford, Conn. ; throe eliildron, one liv- 
inj: — Cora E.; Etta E. died in 18()3 ; 
MiUon M., in 1874. Mr. Hilburn is a 
member of the following Masonic bodies : 
Wilmington Lodge, No. 208, Wilmington 
Chapter, No. 142, and Joliet Commandery, 
No. 4. 

HKNRY F. HOWLAND, Sr., dealer 
in furniture, Wilmington ; born in See- 
konk, Mass., May 5, 1836; removed to 
Providence, R. I., in childhood, which was 
his home until he came West ; removed 
to Illinois in 1870, locating at Wilming- 
ton, his present home. Married in 1857 
to" Miss Mary Carlin, who was born in 
Ireland ; seven children by this union, 
four" living — Mary E., Ludia A., Henry 
F., Jr., and John F.; lost three — Lydia, 
Susan and Joseph. 

WILLIAM HART, draying, Wilming- 
ton ; born in county of Kent, England, 
March 14, 1819; entered the navy of his 
native country in 1835, serving until 1841, 
when he entered the merchant service, 
where he remained two years; in 1850, 
he moved to this country, locating at Wil- 
mington, his present home, Saturday, Nov. 
30. Married in 1845 to Miss Isabella 
A. Knight, who was born in county of 
Kent, England ; they have one child by 
adoption — Bertha. Mr. Hart is a member 
of the following Masonic bodies, Wil- 
mington Lodge, No. 208. and Wilmington 
Chapter, No."l42. 

JOHN HOLMES, contractor and build- 
er, Wilmington ; born in Glasgow, Scot- 
land, Dec. 17, 1832 ; came to this country 
in 1857, stopping for a short time in Chi- 
cago, and locating in Wilmington, his 
present home, in October of that year, 
where he engaged in contracting and 
building; in 1867, the firm of Clute & 
Holmes built the planing-mill which they 
operated in connection with contracting 
and building for several years. Married 
in 1862 to Miss Adeline E. Kelley, who 
was born in Wesley Tp., this county ; five 



children by tlii.s union, four living — Fred 
G., Mabel, Isabelle and James; Frankie 
died in 1864. Mr. Holmes is a member 
of Talmud Jyodge, No. 24, Knights of 
Pythias. 

JOHN D. HENDERSON, Henderson 
& Stewart, dry goo(is, Wilmington ; born 
in Herkimer Co., N. Y., December, 1814, 
where he resided until his removal to Illi- 
nois in 1845, locating at- Joliet in the 
spring of that year ; in connection with 
the work on the Illinois & Michigan 
Canal, then in progress, he superintended 
the work on the upper dam at Joliet ; in 
3Iay, 1848, he removed to his present 
home, and engaged in mercantile business, 
under the firm name of Bowen & Hender- 
son, which continued until 1857, when 
Dr. Bowen's interest was purchased by Geo. 
T. Stewart, member of the present firm. 
Mr. Henderson has served in various 
official capacities ; was member of the first 
Board of Trustees of the town of Wil- 
min'j;ton in 1854; also served as Mayor of 
the city in 1867, 1868 and 1869. Mar- 
ried in 1837 to Miss Helen M., daughter 
of Daniel Johnson, of New York ; by 
this union there are two children — Helen 
L. and Mary A. 

JOHN B. JOHNSON (Johnson & 
Rowe), contractors and builders, Wilming- 
ton; born in Erie Co., Penn., Feb. 8, 1830 ; 
removed to Illinois in October, 1851, lo- 
cating in Wilmington, his present home, 
where he engaged in contracting and build- 
ing, which he has followed for nearly 
twenty-seven years; in 1868, he was em- 
ployed by the Cayuga Chief Manufactur- 
ing Co., and spent several years in traveling 
throughout the Northwestern States, re- 
siding at Aurora during that period. 
Married in 1854 to Miss Anna M. Jones, 
who was born in Madison Co., N. Y. ; two 
children by this union — William H. and 
Anna H. Mr. Johnson is a member of 
the following Masonic bodies : Wilmington 
Lodge, No. 208, Wilmington Chapter No. 
142, and Joliet Commandery, No. 4. 

ORREN S. KNAPP, teaming, Wil- 
mington ; born in Channahon Tp., this 
county, Oct. 14, 1836 ; his father, Ira 0. 
Knapp, was one of the first settlers of the 
township, locating there in the fall of 1834, 
and now resides on the original claim made; 
the subject of this sketch removed to Wil- 
mington Tp. in 1860, locating on a farm 



806 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



on Sec. 4, where he resided until 1872, 
removing to Wilmington, his present home, 
that year ; owns 320 acres of land, valued 
at SI 2,800. Married in 1858 to Miss 
Elizabeth C, daughter of Henry Althouse; 
she was born in Florence Tp., this county; 
five children — Ira 0., 3Iinnie E., Herman, 
Mason and Samuel. 

TOWNSEND W. KAHLER, grocery 
and bakery, Wilmington ; born in Colum- 
bia Co., Penn.j'Aug. 15, 1836, where he 
resided until his removal to Illinois, in 
May, 1859, locating in Florence Tp., this 
county, where he engaged first in teaching, 
and afterward in farming ; removed to 
Wilmington, his present home, in 1872, 
and engaged in his present business, under 
the firm name of McQueen, Kahler & Co., 
which was soon after changed to McQueen 
& Kahler, and, two years later, he sold his 
interest in the firm, and commenced busi- 
ness on his own account ; owns eighty 
acres of land in Florence Tp., valued at 
$3,000, and city property to the value of 
SI, 000. Served as Town Clerk, in Flor- 
ence Tp., two years, and member of the 
Board of School Trustees, in this town- 
ship. Married in 1858 to Miss Emily 
Price, who was born in Columbia Co., 
Penn. ; one child by this union — Clarence 
H. Mr. K. is a member 
Lodge, No. 301,1. 0. 0. F. 

SOLOMON LOUER, clothing and 
gents' furnishing goods, Wilmington ; born 
in Bavaria, Germany, March 26, 1826 ; 
came to this country 1845, locating in 
Greene Co., N. Y., where he resided until 
1852, then removed to Massachusetts; 
thence to Illinois the following year, 
locating at Joliet, where he engaged in 
his present line of trade, and is now the 
oldest established house in the line of 
clothing and gents' furnishing goods in 
Will Co.; in 1860, he established his Wil- 
mington store, continuing both houses un- 
til 1875, when he sold his stock at Joliet. 
Married in 1857 to Mi.ss Regina Bohm, 
who was born in Bavaria, Germany ; nine 
children by this union, six of whom are 
living — Albert, Charles, Helen, Emma, 
Cora and Daisy ; lost three — Hedwig, 
Henry and Edward. 

ADDISON I. LYON, restaurant, Wil- 
mington ; born in Allegany Co., N. Y., 
April 23, 1828; removed to Michigan in 
early childhood with his parents, who set- 



of Wilmington 



tied in Kalamazoo Co., that State, in 1833; 
in December, 1854, he removed to Kanka- 
kee City, Kankakee Co., 111., then a town 
of about 300 inhabitants, where he opened 
a harness-shop, but soon sold to another 
party ; these, he says, were hard times, 
and, in order to pay his taxes, which 
amounted to the sum of only sixty cents, 
he borrowed a gun and ammunition, went 
out in search of game, and, at three shots, 
secured one dozen prairie chickens, sold 
them for $1.25, and met the demands 
against him ; he followed farming for some 
ten years near the city, and) in 1866, 
removed to Wilmington, his present home. 
Served as member of the City Council in 
1870 and 1871; City Marshal in 1872 
and 1873. Married in 1851 to Miss Sarah 
E. Stewart, who was born in New York ; 
she died April 28, 1861; three children, 
two living — Worthington A. and Edward 
S. Anna E. died May 28, 1861. Was 
again married in 1862 to Mrs. Mary E. 
Robinson (Marks) ; she was born in Seneca 
Co., N. Y. Mr. L. is a member of Will 
Lodge, No. 301, I. 0. 0. F., and Talmud 
Lodge, No. 24, K. of P., at Braidwood, 111. 

MOSES MERRILL, fiirmer and local 
preacher ; P. 0. Wilmington ; Mr. Mer- 
rill is a native of New Hampshire ; he was 
born at Warren, in that State. Married 
his wife at Haverhill, and removed to 
Ohio in 1838, settling near Cleveland, at 
the village of Brooklyn ; in early life, his 
plan was to enter the ministry ; he com- 
menced his course of education to that 
end ; he fitted for Dartmouth College at 
Newbury, Vt., but a severe illness, long 
protracted, hindered his carrying out this 
idea ; nevertheless, he pursued his classical 
studies, of which he was very fond, until he 
had read the whole college course ; he has 
kept up his Greek to the present day, and 
now, at the age of 78, he reads it with 
as much ease and correctness as a college 
professor; at Brooklyn he established a 
school — Brooklyn Academy — of which he 
was Principal for several years, but his 
health failing him, he made up his mind to 
remove West and engage in farming ; he 
came to this State in 1849, and settled at 
Riverside, his present place of residence, 
one mile below Wilmington. 

JOHN W. MERRILL, attorney, Wil- 
mington ; is the son of Moses Merrill, and 
was born at Rumney, N. H., Aug. 30,, 



WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 



8»)7 



1829 ; he received his education chiefly at ' 
Brooklyn Academy, Ohio, pursuin<i his 
chjssical studies, however, under lii>; father's 
private tuition ; concluding;' to make law 
his profession, he entered Judge Norton's 
office at Joliet in 1856, and after reading 
the usual length of time he was admitted 
to practice ; his diploma, signed hy Sidney 
Breese, Chief Justice of the State, is dated 
April 19, 1859 ; after spending a year or > 
more in a real estate office in Chicago as an 
examiner of titles, etc., he returned to Wil- | 
mington, in this county, and opened an 
office, where he has continued to practice 
as an attorney up to the present time. 

THOMAS S McINTOSH, dealer in 
paints, oils, varnish, gla.ss, hrushes, wall 
paper, etc., Wilmington, 111. ; born in Wil- 
mington, Will Co., 111., Aug. 25, 1841 ; his 
father, Daniel Mcintosh, who was a native 
of Scotland, was among the first settlers of 
Wilmington, locatinu here in the winter of 
1836 and 1837. ^Thomas S. followed 
farming till 1864, and then engaged in his 
present business, which he has followed 
since. Married in 1866 to Miss Emma 
E., daughter of Charles Cottel ; she was \ 
born in W;ushington Co., Me.; four chil- 
dren by this union, three living — Alice, 
Nellie and Emma. Laura died Aug. 8, 
1878. Mr. Mcintosh enlisted in the 
138th I. V. I. in 1864, and served until the 
close of the war. Member of Will Lodge, 
No. 301, I. 0. 0. F. 

THOMAS McQUEEN (McQueen & 
Morris), grocery and bakery, Wilmington ; 
wa.s born in the city of Pai-sley, Scotland, 
Sept. 12, 1841, but removed to this coun- 
try in early childhood with his father's 
family ; they settled in Fulton Co., N. Y., 
in 1842, where the subject of this sketch 
resided until 1861, then removed to Illi- 
nois, locating in Florence Tp., this county, 
and engaged in farming ; served as Col- 
lector, Postmaster and School Director, one 
term each. On the 7th of August, 1862, 
he enlisted in Co. A, 100th Regt. I. V. I.; 
wounded at the battle of Chick amauga, 
Sept. 19, 1863, and discharged the follow- 
ing June, on account of gunshot wounds. 
Removed to Wilmington in 1 872. and en- 
gaged in his present business. Married in 
1870 to Mi.ss Helen Corbett, who was 
born in Florence Tp., this county. Mr. 
McQueen is a member of Bowen Post, 
No. 17, G. A. R. 



WILLIAM McINTOSH, manufacturer 
of farm-wagons, Wilmington ; was born 
in Herkimer Co., N. Y." July 12, 1825, 
but resided in difterent parts of the State, 
his father being engaged on public works 
f(u- many years ; removed to Illinois with 
his father's family in the winter of 
1836-37, making the journey by laud, in 
wagons and sleighs, locating first, in Flor- 
ence Tp., this county, twn miles east of 
the present city of Wilmiuyton; he re- 
moved to Wilmington 1843, and learned 
blacksmithing, and, in 1856, engaged in 
the manufacturing business. Married in 
1847, to Miss Sarah, daughter (»f John 
Fisher ; she was born in Pennsylvania ; 
five children by this union — Elizabeth, 
(wife of I. Barker), Margrie (wife of D. 
Hart), Mary, Fannie and William. 

FRANKLIN MITCHELL, market \ 
gardener, Wilmington ; was born in what 
is now Sullivan, then a part of Chester 
Co., N. H., Feb. 8, 1812, but removed 
when quite young, to Windsor Co., Vt., 
where he resided until 1833 ; thence to 
Jeffijrson Co., N. Y.; in April, 1836, he 
removed to Illinois, locating at Joliet, 
where he engaged in the mercantile 
business, and, four years later, to Wil- 
mington, continuing in the same business 
for one year, under the firm name of 
Mitchell (& RolCe; in 1841, he opened the 
Eagle Hotel, in a building on the corner 
where A. D. Wright's store now stands, and, 
in 1844, he erected a brick building for 
that purpose, which wtis the first hotel 
built in the city ; this he occupied until 
1862 ; owns sixty acres of land, valued at 
$1,800, and city property valued at 
S12,000 ; member of the Board of Town 
Trustees, in 1857 ; also served as County 
Commissioner some twelve years. Married 
in 1838, to Miss Hannah Poor, who was 
born in Jefferson Co., N. Y.; she died 
Jan. 15, 1847; four children by this 
union — William C, Mary A. (wife of Wm. 
H. Vaughn), and Carrie P. (wife of Thos. 
C. Linton), and Charles F., who enlisted 
in Co. A, 100th Regt. I. V. I., in August, 
1862 ; commissioned Second Lieutenant 
Aug. 30, 1862, wounded at the battle of 
Stone River, Tenn., Dec. 31, 1862 ; died of 
wounds, Jan. 4, 1863. His second mar- 
riage was in 1850, to Miss Ann Van De . 
Car, who was born in Canada ; four chil- 
dren — Josephine (wife of John R. Getty), 



808 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES ; 



Louisa (wife of Frank Burnham), Fran 
D. and Georgiana. Mr. Mitchell is a 
member of the following Masonic bodies : 
Wilmington Lodge, No. 208, Wilmington 
Chapter. No. 142, and Joliet Commandery. 
No. 4. 

H. F. MOULTON, conductor C, A. 
& St. L. R. R., Wilmington ; was born 
near Portland, Me., Feb. 4, 1830 ; when 
about 15 years of age, he left his native 
State and went to Massachusetts, where he 
■was employed for several years in the fac- 
tories at Lowell and Lawrence; in 1853, 
he removed to Illinois, locating at Bloom- 
ington, McLean Co., and. on the 1st of 
August of the following year, engaged as 
brakeman on the Chicago & Alton R. R., 
which was put in operation that season ; 
in the spring of 1855, he took charge of a 
freight train, as conductor, and in Febru- 
ary, 1861, was transferred to a passenger 
train, which position he has held for over 
seventeen years, without loss of time, and 
is now the oldest in the service of any 
conductor on the road. Married in 1856 
to Miss Josephine Connor, who was born 
in New York City ; four children by this 
union — Belle, Jennie, Charles and Harry. 
Mr. Moulton is a member of the following 
Masonic bodies : Wilmington Lodge, No. 
208, Joliet Chapter, No. 27, and Joliet 
Commandery, No. 4. His longest absence 
from service on the railroad was during 
his trip to England, from June to Sep- 
tember, 1877. 

DAVID R. MONTBITH, Bogart & 
Monteith, Center Market, Wilmington ; 
born in Watertown, Jeft'erson Co., N. Y., 
Oct. 26, 1836, but removed to Illinois in 
early childhood with his father's family, 
locating at Monteith's Grrove, Florence 
Tp., this county, in 1840 ; his father 
superintended Gov. Matteson's woolen- 
mill at Joliet, fur several years, but on 
account of failing health removed to Wil- 
mington ; the subject of this sketch made 
the overland journey to Montana in 1866, 
with the Montana Gold & Silver Minirkg 
Co. of Philadelphia ; from Ft. Laramie 
they took the new route, called Boseman's 
Cut-off, 300 miles nearer than the old 
Salt Lake route, reaching Virginia City on 
the 4th of October ; this route, though 
less in distance, was far more dangerous ; 
Mr, M. acted as scout during the trip, 
having encounters with the Indians nearly 



every day ; his letters to the Independent 
of April 3 and Sept. 25, 1867, give a full 
account of the trip and life in the mines 
during his stay ; he visited mines in 
Washington Territory, Montana. Idaho, 
California and Utah, returning in 1869; 
owns 184 acres of laud, valued at $7,200. 
Married in 1869, to Miss Sarah J. Bell, 
who was born in Ohio ; three children 
by this union — Mamie, Fred and Ern- 

GSfc 

ARCHIBALD J. McINTYRE (de- 
ceased), Wilmington Tp.; born in Fulton 
Co., N. Y., in 1814; removed to Illinois 
in 1837, locating in Wilmington, where he 
first engaged in farming ; afterward, in 
mercantile pursuits for several years ; at 
the organization of the First National 
Bank of Wilmington, he became Presi- 
dent, which position he held up to the 
time of his death, which occurred on the 
2d day of March, 1877. In 1865, he 
was elected to the Statei Legislature on the 
Republican ticket, serving during the 
session of 1865-66. Married in July, 
1845, to Miss Jane Whitten, who was 
born in DarHng, Canada; by this union 
there were ten children, seven of whom 
are living — Annie (wife of M. N. M. 
Stewart), Nettie, Mary, Maggie, Archibald 
J., Lottie and Nellie ; three deceased — 
John, Andrew and (Teorae. 

DENNIS E. O'HERON (D. E. 
O'Heron & Co.), grocers, Wilmington; 
born in Cork, Ireland, Dec. 4, 1846, but 
removed to this country in early child- 
hood, with his parents, locating in New 
York City in 1852, where he resided 
about five years ; then removed to Illinois, 
locating at Wilmington, his present home ; 
his early experience in his present line of 
business was first with D. L. Bachelers, 
and afterward with Randall Bros., of Wil- 
mington, serving also as clerk in the stores 
of Geo. Monroe & Sons, and Chittenden, 
Northup & Co., of Joliet ; in March, 
1876, he commenced business at his pres- 
ent location, on his own account, Mr. W. 
C. Mitchell becoming a pai'tncr in April of 
the present year. Married in 1875, to 
Miss Sarah M., daughter of Norman H. 
Case ; she was born in Connecticut ; two 
children by this union, one living — Katie 
May; Norman C. died Sept. 17, 1876. 
Mr. O'Heron is a member of the follow- 
ing Masonic bodies : Wilmington Lodge, 



WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 



809 



No. 208, WilmintitDn Chapter. No. U2, 
and Joliet Comiiiaiuk'rv, No. 4. 

JAMES A. 1»K1111Y, proprietor of 
Riverview Sttxk Farm ; P. O. Wiliiiiii-j:- 
toii ; born in Wliitestown, Oneida Co., N. 
Y.,' Aug. G, 1832 ; where he resided until 
1S51>, when he removed to Illinois, and, 
after a short stay in Chicago, loeated in 
Florenee Tp., this county, in the fall of 
that year ; he followed farming for several 
years, and afterward enira'jred in the grain 
trade at El wood ; since IStU, he has been 
engaged in raising, importing and export- 
ing Norman and English thorough-bred 
horses, having now on hand a large num- 
ber of fine horses at Riverview Stock 
Farm, near Wilmington; owns 425 acres 
of good fiirm land. Married in 1854 to 
jMiss Esther Rockfeleller, who was born 
in the State of New York. 

SAMUEL RAUWORTH, proprietor 
of the Cit}^ Meat Market, Wilmington ; 
born in Sheffield, England, May 12, 1842 ; 
came to this country in October, 1860, lo- 
cating in Wilton Tp., this county, where 
he engaged in farming, working in the 
packing houses in the city of Chicago dur- 
ing the winters; in 1870, he returned to 
England, remaining there about six months ; 
on his return, he took up his residence at 
former location, where he resided until 
1877; then locating in this city and en- 
gaging in his present business; owns 120 
acres of land in Iowa, valued at $3,240. 
INIarried in 1864 to Miss Hannah, daugh- 
ter of Charles Robinson ; she w;\s born in 
Edwinstowe, England ; had seven children 
by this union, five living — Lottj'-, Harry, 
Ellen, Gracie D. and Eddie S.; Joseph B. 
died Feb. 26, 1866. and Florence P. Feb. 
28, 1869. Mr. R.' is a member of Will 
Lodge, No. 301, I. 0. 0. F. 

WESLEY P. RAY, (Ray & Thomp- 
son, dealers in grain, coal, live and dressed 
hogs), Wilmington ; b 'rn in Monroe, Sara- 
toga Co., N. Y., Dec. 28, 1825 ; removed 
to Western New York when about 7 years 
of age, his parents locating' in Chautauqua 
Co.; in 1840, he removed to the State of 
Michigan; thence to Illinois in 1844, lo- 
locating at Lockport, this county, and four 
years later, came to Wilmington, his pres- 
ent home ; in 1850, he went to California, 
by the way of tlie Isthmus, reaching San 
Francisco, then a city of tents, in Novem- 
ber of that year, and engaged in mining 



operations, which he followed till 1855; 
then returned to the States ; his second 
trip to the Pacific Slope was made in 1H60, 
by the overland route; spent considerable 
time in prospecting in the mining districts 
of California, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, 
Montana, and, in 1862, his exploring party 
(led by a Mr. (irimes, who wivs killed in an 
encounter with the Indians) di.scovered the 
Boise mines of Idaho ; he was also 
among the first at the Owyhee mines, and 
in 1863, he discovered the Poor Man's 
Mine, which proved to be one of the richest 
silver-mines of the Pacific Slope. Married 
Jan. 1, 1850, to Miss Susan L.Tuttle, who 
was born near Portland, Me.; had five chil- 
dren by this union, four living — R. Belle, 
Joseph H., Georgie L. and Susie; Frank 
died in 1876 from injuries sustained while 
getting oflf the cars near Joliet. 

JOHN P. . RANSOM, Justice of the 
Peace and insurance agent, Wilmington ; 
born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Nov. 29, 
1817 ; removed to Illinois in Jiine, 1844, 
locating in what is now Richmond Tp., Mc- 
Henry Co.; served as Assessor in that town 
in 1850 ; this was the first assessment 
made after the township organization ; he 
followed farming until 1851 ; then en- 
gaged as millwright till 1862. Enlisted in 
Co. H, 95th 111. v.. L, Aug 13, 1862; 
commissioned Second Lieutenant in June, 
1863, having command of the company in 
all the following engagements : Champion • 
Hill, siege of Vicksburg, Red River cam- 
paign, Guntown, Miss., siege of Mobile 
and battle at N ashville ; mustered out Aug. 
22, 1865. Removed to Wilmington in 
1868, and engaged in the grocery business ; 
was elected Justice of the Peace in 1873; 
re-elected in 1877. Married in December, 
1842, to Jane M. Denison, who was born 
in Herkimer Co., N. Y.; she died in 1849 ; 
had two children by this union, one living 
— Mariah, widow of Eugene I. Thomas ; El- 
len, wife of A. Brown, died in June, 1866. 
He was again married in 1850 to Louisa 
A. Streeter ; she was born in Ontario Co., 
N. Y.; had two children, one living — John 
C; Martha died in 1855. Mr. R. is a mem- 
ber of Wilmington Lodge. No. 208, A., F. 
& A. M. and Will Lodgcj No. 301, I. 0. 
0. F. 

ORLANDO D. ROWE (Johnson & 
Rowe. contractors and builders), Wilming- 
ton ; born in Warren Co., Penn., Jan. 12, 



810 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



1843; moved to Ottawa Co., Mich., in 
1855, where he resided until 1870, remov- 
ing to Topeka, Kan., that year ; came to 
Wilmington, his present home, in 1875. 
Married in 1871 to Miss Frances E. Spen- 
cer, who was born in Branch Co., Mich., 
in 1853 ; have three children by this 
union — Elanor M., Mary A. and Eva M. 
Mr. Rowe is a member of Wilmington 
Lodge, No. 208, A., F. & A. xM. He'' en- 
listed in the 3d Mich. V. I. in June, 1801 ; 
transferred to Battery K, first U. S. Artil- 
lery, Jan. 3, 18G3, and remained in the 
service until June 10, 1864; participated 
during his term of service in the following 
battles; Blackburn's Ford, July 18, 19, 
and 20, 1861 ; first Bull Run, July 21 ; all 
engagements on the Peninsula up to and 
including the battle of Williamsburg; 
Chancellorsville, May 4, 1863; Beverley's 
Ford, June 9; Upperville, June 19, 20 and 
21; Gettysburg, Md., July 3 ; Williamsport, 
July 6 ; Boonsboro, July 7 and 8 ; Brandy 
Station, Aug. 1 and 4; Culpeper, Sept. 13; 
Rapidan River, Sept. 14; movements against 
Richmond from May 4 to June 10, 1864. 
FRANCIS SHIELDS, groceries and 
farming, Wilmington; born in County 
Roscommon, Ireland, in 1833 ; removed 
to this country in 1852, locating in New 
York City, where he engaged as clerk in a 
wholesale dry goods house, and, two years 
later, came to this State, locating at Wil- 
.mington ; in 1856, he engaged in the 
grocery business; owns 410 acres of land, 
valued at $10,450, and city property 
valued at $10,000. Married in 1857 to 
Miss Elizabeth Mahar, who was born in 
Queens County, Ireland ; nine children by 
this union, six of whom are living — Thomas, 
Mary A., Caroline, Agnes, William and 
Julia ; lost three — Francis, died in Sep- 
tember, 1862; Michael, Sept. 29, 1864; 
Ann, Aug. 21, 1868. 

SAMUEL SILLIMAN, boots, shoes, 
hats and caps, Wilmington , born in Will- 
iams Co., Ohio, June 3, 1848, where he 
resided until his removal to Wilmington, 
his present home, in 1870 ; engaged in his 
present business in the spring of 1874. 
Married, in 1877, to Miss Lettie, daughter 
of John Thomson ; she was born in the 
city of Wilmington ; they have one child 
— Chauncy L. 

CHARLES E. STINSON (Trott & 
Stinsonj, homeopathic physician, Wil- 



mington; born jiear Bath, Me., Jan. 22, 
1848, where he resided until he came 
West ; he received his early education at 
Litchfield Academy, graduating at that 
institution in 1869. and, in September of 
the following year, removed to Illinois, 
locating at Wilmington, where he com- 
menced the study of medicine with Dr. S. 
E. Trott ; he completed his course of 
study in the Hahnemann Medical College of 
Chicago, and graduated with the class of 
'72 and '73 ; commenced the practice of 
medicine in this city in 1873, and, the fol- 
lowing year, removed to Pontiac, where he 
continued his practice for two years, re- 
turning to Wilmington at the expiration of 
that time ; he is a member of the Will 
Lodge, No. 301, I. O. 0. F. 

ELI D. SMALL, dealer in lumber and 
agent for the negotiation of loans, Wil- 
mington ; born in Noblesville, Hamilton 
Co., Ind., March 5, 1841, but removed to 
Ohio in early childhood, with his father's 
family ; thence to this State in 1851, locat- 
ing in Wilmington Tp., this county ; came 
to the city of Wilmington, his present 
home, in 1854; since 1862, he has been 
engaged in the lumber trade and boating, 
in connection with other business ; in, 
1867, he engaged in mercantile business, 
under the firm name of Small Bros., which 
continued till January, 1872, when he dis- 
posed of his interest in the store, and en- 
gaged in the lumber business on a more 
extensive scale, under the firm name of E. 
D. Small & Co. ; they own propeller 
Mohawk Belle, and ship all lumber by way 
of canal and river to their lumber-yards at 
this place — Horse Creek and Hanford's 
Landing, the one at Horse Creek opened 
in 1875, and the latter in 1878. Several 
experiments have been made by difierent 
parties, and, up to 1866, over $260,000 
had been expended on the Illinois & 
Michigan Canal and Illinois River in de- 
vising ways and means by which steam 
could be made a cheaper means of trans- 
portation on the canals than horse-power ; 
great credit is due Mr. Small, owner of the 
Mohawk Belle, and N. Rullison, owner of 
the Whale, for their persistency and 
final success in this undertaking. In 
June, 1871, he was married to Miss 
Kate W., youngest daughter of I. B. 
McGinnes, of Gardner, 111. ; she was born, 
in New Brunswick, N. J.; two childrea 



WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 



811 



by this union — Charles D. and Howard 
Mc(l. 

MAL(K)LM N. M. STKWART, l.ank- 
inir, Wilminjjton ; born in Amsterdam, 
Mont-om.M-y Co., N. Y., July 1*4, ]S'.U, 
and is a son of Peter and Elizabeth Stew- 
art ; in 1836, his father's family removed 
to Illinois, locatinti in the north part of 
the present city of Wilminicton. the loca- 
tion having been selected by his father the 
year previous ; this has been the home of 
the subject of this sketch since the above 
date. At the breaking-out of the war in 
ISlil, he enlisted in the Chicago Dragoons I 
(April 17), beins the first volunteer from 
Will Co.; on the 15th of July, 1862, he 
enlisted in the 100th I. V. I., receiving 
his commission of First Lieutenant of Co. 
A on the 80th of the following month ; 
promoted to Captain in September, 1864, 
and on the 13th of March, 1865, received | 
Brevet Major's commission ; during his 
terra of service, he participated in the fol- 
lowing battles; Phillipi, Rich Mountain, 
Laurel Hill, Chaplin Hill, Stone lliver, 
Chickamauga, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, 
New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Columbia, 
Franklin and Nashville. Owns several 
tracts of farm and coal lands ; also city 
property. Married in 1871j to Miss An- 
nie, eldest daughter of A. J. and Jane 
Mclntyre ; two children by the union — 
Jean and Margaret. Mr. St(;wart is giv- 
ing considerable attention to thorough-bred 
horses, having imported from both France 
and England some very fine stock. 

JAM^ES N. STEWART, farmer; P. 0. 
Wilmington; born in Wilmington Tp., 
^Vill Co., 111., July 14, 1838, and is a son 
of Peter Stewart, who settled there in the 
spring of 1836 ; this has been the home 
of Mr. Stewart since childhood, and he is 
the oldest native-born of Wilmington Tp. 
now living ; owns an undivided interest in 
1,400 acres of farm lands. He was a 
member of the City Council in 1868, and 
has served as President of the Board of 
School Inspectors one term. In 1863, he 
was married to Mi.ss Emily, daughter of 
Charles Stowell ; she was born in St. 
Charles, Kane Co., 111. ; two children by 
this union — Edward P. and Charles J. 
Mr. Stewart is giving con.siderable atten- 
tion to raising fine cattle for Chicago and 
other markets. 



DANIEL STEWART, deceased; born 
in Scotland in the year 17!'y ; in 1825, he 
removed to this country, locating in Her- 
kimer Co., N. Y., where he resided until 
1836, when he removed to Illinois, locating 
near Wilmington in the i'all of that year; 
here he engaged in farming, which was 
his occupation up to the time of his dfath, 
which occurred Aug. 15, 1874. His mar- 
riage to Miss Cali)hurnia Jackson, of 
Herkimer, N. Y., was in 1836; she sur- 
vived him but a few years, her death occur- 
ring Nov. 'J, 1877 ; by this union, there 
were seven sons, only two of whom are 
living — Peter D. and Jerome B., now res- 
idents of Wilmington. Thomas enlisted 
in the 3()th I. V. I. in Augu.st, 1861; 
wounded Oct. 13, 1864, at the battle of 
Peter.sburg, and died of wounds on the 
30th of the same month ; Lincoln died at 
Chicago May 15, 1875. 

JOHN D. SMALL, general stock of 
merchandise, Wilmington ; born in Find 
lay, Hancock Co., Ohio, July 10, 1846; 
removed to Illinois in the spring of 1852, 
locating in Wilmington; in 1864, he 
attended school at Notre Dame, Ind., and 
four years later commenced business on his 
own account in this city, purchasing the 
stock of groceries owned by M. F. Blish. 
Married in 1868 to Lura Phelps, who was 
born in Lawrence, Mich. ; three children 
by this union. Mr. Small is extensively 
engaged in the butter trade, having shipped 
over 100,000 pounds during the past year. 
ROBERT C. THOMPSON (Ray & 
Thompson, dealers in grain, coal, live and 
dressed hogs), Wilmington ; born in Gallo- 
wayshire, Scotland, Nov. 28, 1828; re- 
moved to this country in childhood with 
his father's family in 1833, stopping in 
New York City until the following spring, 
when they removed to Oneida Co., N. Y.; 
in 1853, he removed to Illinois, locating in 
Wilmington, his present home, and soon 
after engaged in boating on the Illinois 
and Mississippi Rivers, which he followed 
some five years, and then took the position 
of foreman for Taylor & Co, of Joliet, 
stone contractors; a few years later, he 
engaged in the grocery and provision busi- 
ness at Wilmington, and, in 1868, in the 
grain trade under the firm name of Ray 
& Thompson. Has served as Deputy 
Sheriff of Will Co. four years, Supervisor 
of Wilmington Tp. three years, and mem- 



812 



BIOGRA-PHICAL SKETCHES: 



ber of the City Council six years. Mar- 
ried ill 1S56 to Miss Christie Zuell, who 
was born in Johnston, Fulton Co., N. Y. ; 
one child — Sarah L. Mr. Thompson 
served as foreman on the mason work in the 
construction of Hush and Madison Street 
Bridges, Chicago, using the debris of old 
Fort Dearborn for the abutment of the 
former. 

DAVII> C. THOMPSON, manufact- 
urer of carriages and farm-wagons, Wil- 
mington ; born in Wigtonshire, Scotland, 
Oct. 20, 1820 ; came to this country with 
his father's family in 1834, settling in 
Oneida Co., N. Y. ; in 1850, he removed 
to Illinois, locating in Wilmington, his 
present home, and four years later engaged 
in his present business, in which he has 
continued since. Owns eighty acres of 
land in this county, valued at $1,500; 
eighty acres in Minnesota, valued at $1,000, 
and city property valued at $10,000. Mar- 
ried in 1847 to Miss Ellen Wright, who 
was born in England; she died in 1853; 
three children by this union, one living — 
James W. John C. died in 1849; Samuel 
in 1853. Was again married in 1856 to 
Miss Helen, daughter of H. D. Risley ; 
she was born in Salina, Onondaga Co., N. 
Y. ; five children by this union, four living 
— Ellen E., Jesse D., Frederick W., 
Helen J. Minerva J. died Nov. 24, 
1871. 

STINSON E. TROTT (Trott & Stin- 
son), homeopathic physician, Wilmington; 
born in Whitefield, Lincoln Co., Me., Oct. 
26, 1842 ; he received his early education 
at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, located 
at Readfield, Me. ; in the winter of 1864 
and 1865, he attended lectures at the Com- 
mercial Hospital and Eclectic Medical In- 
stitute at Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating at 
the Hahnemann Medical College at Chi- 
cago in 1867 ; he commenced the practice 
of medicine in Iroquois Co., this State, in 
1866, and two years later removed to Wil- 
mington, his present home, where he has 
been in the constant practice of his profes- 
.sion since, having also taken an active part 
in the business interests of the city, espe- 
cially in connection with the water-power, 
being instrumental in securing the location 
of the paper-mill and the adoption by the 
City Council of the Holly system for pro- 
tecting the city from fire ; elected Mayor 
of the city of Wilmington in March, 



1877, and is the present incumbent. Mar- 
ried in 1873 to Miss Augusta J. Swart- 
hout, who was born in Romulus.; Seneca 
Co., N. Y. ; one child by this union — Jo- 
sephine. 

EDWIN RUTH YEN WILLARD, 
physician and surgeon, 'Wilmington ; born 
in Aurora, Erie Co., N. Y., Aug. 29, 
1829 ; his father, Samuel Willard, was 
the son of Nathaniel Willard, of Lancas- 
ter, Mass. ; he received his education at 
Fowler's and McElvane's seminaries, in 
the States of New York and Michigan, 
and commenced the study of medicine in 
the ofiice of Samuel Niles, M. D., in 1848 ; 
attended Rush Medical College, Chicago, 
graduating at that institution in 1852, lo- 
cating at Wilmington, his present home, 
the same year. Served as Vice Pi'esident 
of Will Co. Medical Society in 1861, Sec- 
retary in 1865, President in 1876 and 
member of the Board of Censors of the 
same ; he is also a member of the Illinois 
State Medical Society and the American 
Medical Association ; his contributions to 
medical literature consist of papers on 
" Puerperal Fever," " Inversion of the 
Uterus," " Extraordinary Surgical Cases," 
" Perineal Section," " Placenta PrjBvia," 
" Diphtheria," etc. ; he has also furnished 
the press with frequent contributions. 
During the war of the rebellion he was 
Surgeon of the 13th I. V. C. ; held also 
the different positions of brigade, division 
and post surgeon ; he continued in active 
service in the medical department until 
after the close of the war, and during his 
term of service was at the following bat- 
tles : Shiloh, siege of Vicksburg, Bayou 
Metre, Austin, Little Rock, Benton, 
Batesville. Pine Bluff, Arkadelphia, Oko- 
lona, Little Missouri River, Prairie de 
Ann, Camden, Jenkins' Ferry, Cross 
Roads, Mount Elba, Douglas Landing and 
Monticello. Served as Supervisor in 1866 
-67, School Inspector several terms and 
member of the City Council in 1866-67. 
In 1868, he engaged in the drug business, 
under the firm name of Willard & Fox, 
and, the following year, purchased his part- 
ner's interest; owns 315 acres of land, 
valued at $15,750, and city property val- 
ued at $10,000. Married Sepf. 27, 1853, 
to Miss Ann Mcintosh, who was bom in 
New York ; five children by this union — 
George E., now practicing medicine in the 



-WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 



8ia 



city of Chicairo ; Eujrene S., !Murcia G. 
A., Samuel aud Daniel Mel. The Doctor 
has been in the constant practice of his 
profession in this vicinity since 1852. 

ANDKKW D. WIUGIIT. dry goods, 
Wilmington ; born near Edinburgli, Scot- 
land, Aug. 6, 1833, but removed to Can- 
;ida in early childhood, with his parents; 
in 1858, he came to Illinois, locating at 
Chicago, where for a time he was employed 
as clerk in the wholesale and retail establish- 
ment of Potter Palmer; in 1861, he removed 
to Elgin, Kane Co., and engaged in the dry 
goods business, under the firm name of 
Wright & Martin ; some two years later, 
he sold his interest in the store to his 
partner, and afterward ^vas engaged in 
business at Seneca, La Salle Co., under 
the firm name of Wright & Duck ; re- 
moved to Wilmington in 1868, and en- 
gaged in his present business. Married in 
1863 to Miss Susanna B. ^H. Duck, who 
was born near Naperville, 111. ; four chil- 
dren by this union — Archibald D., Mabel 
J., Lottie L. and Georgie L. 

CHARLES M. W^LLAKD, W^ilming- 
ton ; born in Friendship, Allegany Co., 
N. Y., Aug. 25, 1820, where he resided 
until 1859, then removing to Steuben Co., 
Ind. ; while a resident of the State of New 
York, he followed teaching for many years ; 
in March, 1869, he came to this State, 
locating at Wilmington, engaging as clerk 
in the drug store of E. W. Willard for 
several years. Mr. W. is a member of 
Will Lodse. No. 301, L 0. 0. F. 

EKASTUS \V. W^ILLARD, druggist, 
books and stationery, Wilmington ; born 
in Allegany Co., N. Y., Oct. 22, 1838; re- 
moved to Illinois in January, 1856, locat- 
ing at Wilmington, where he engaged as 
clerk in the drug store of Dr. Matthew J. 
Johnson ; this was the first store of its 
kind established in the city ; Mr. ^Villard's 
present store contains a part of the furni- 
ture and fixtures of the former establish- 
ment, and, as a relic of former days, has in 
his possession a druggist's show-bottle, 
first owned by Dr. Bowen, and then by 
Henderson & Stewart, from whom he pur- 
chased it and its contents, the latter said to 
have been manufactured at Aldens dis- 
tillery, and the age now not less than 30 
years. In 1860, he returned to his native 
State, and enlisted in the 23d N. Y. V. I., 
in April, 1861, remaining in the army till 



May, 1863; served as Chief Hospital 
Steward at Falls Church, Va., and after 
the army moved to other points, he was 
commissioned First Lieutenant in the 78th 
N. Y. V. 1., but did nt)t muster; in May, 
1863, he was appointed Enrolling Offieer, 
and during the following months enrolled 
the township of Friendship, Allegany 
Co. ; returned to Illinois in September, 
1863, and enlisted in the 138th 111. V. I. 
the following April ; commissioned First 
Lieutenant June 21, 186-1. Engaged in his 
present business in 1865, and, two years 
later, built the store he now occupies. 
Marricdin 1871 to Miss Jessie R., daughter 
of Dr. Daniel and Jessie Duck ; she was 
born near London, England ; two children 
—Francis D. and Erastus J. Mr. Willard 
is a member of the following Masonic 
bodies : Wilmington Lodge, No. 208, 
Wilmington Chapter, No. 142, and Joliet 
Commandery No. 4. 

JAMES WHITTEN, Cashier of the 
First National Bank, Wilmington; bom 
in Canada May 2, 1829, and is a son of 
Andrew and Janet (McPhee) Whitten, 
both natives of Scotland, the former born 
Jan. 12, 1801, and the latter Dec. 13, 
1803; they left Scotland May 21, 1821, 
and located to Canada the same year ; the 
removal of the family to Illinois was in 
1838, locating, first in Dresden, Grundy Co., 
thence to Wilmington in 1841 ; the subject 
of this sketch, together with his brother, 
John Whitten, J. W. Stewart, and others 
from this place, made the overland trip to 
California ; they were afterward joined by 
a company from Joliet, but became sepa- 
rated from both the Wilmington and Joliet 
companies, making the last four to six 
weeks of the journey alone, reaching the 
Pacific Slope in 1850; he spent about two 
years in the mining districts of California 
before his return ; for several years he was 
engaged in merchandising and farming 
prior to the opening ol"ihe First National 
Bank of W^ilmington. which was organized 
in 1863, and commenced business the fol- 
lowing year, at which time he became 
Cashier, and has since held the position. 
Owns 680 acres of coal lands, valued at 
$68,000 ; 500 acres of farm lands, valued 
at §30,000, and city property valued at 
820,000. 

ABNER WRIGHT, stone and brick 
mason, Wilmington ; born in Steuben Co., 



814 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; 



N. Y., Dec. 27, 1812, afterward residing 
in Livingston Co., that State, for several 
3'cais prior to his coming West; in 1836, 
he came to Illinois, Wilmington being his 
first location, which he reached in Decem- 
ber of that year. Mr. Wright has been 
engaged in his present business for the 



most part since his residence here, a period 
of forty-two years, and in a greater portion 
of the buildings in this city he can see his 
handiwork. Owns forty acres of land in 
Custer Tp., this county, valued at $1,000 ; 
also city property in Wilmington. 



WHEATLAND TOWNSHIP. 



THOMAS BURNET, farmer; P. 0. 
Tamarack ; was born in Scotland in 1811, 
and is the son of James Burnet, a weaver 
by trade; Mr. Burnet, at the age of 12, 
commenced to learn his trade — weaver ; 
this business he followed while in Scot- 
land ; in 1834, he emigrated to America ; 
he first stopped in Saratoga Co., N. Y. ; 
here he remained about one and a half 
years, then West to Michigan and thence 
to Connecticut; from Connecticut he re- 
turned to New York, and, in 1852, he 
came West and settled in Will Co., 111. ; 
*ere he has remained ever since. Mr. 
Burnet is one of the deacons in the Union 
Scotch Church in Wheatland. Married 
Miss M. Willie, of Ayrshire, Scotland, bv 
■whom they have three children. Mr. 
Burnet owns 105 acres of improved land. 
He was the cause of naming Tamarack, as, 
when he came West, he brought some 
tamarack trees with him ; these were 
planted, and the present post office Tama- 
rack derived its name from these trees. 

WARREN W.BOUGHTON,deceased, 
Wheatland Tp. ; the subject of this sketch 
was among the first settlers of Wheatland 
Tp. ; was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., 
Feb. 10, 1817, and was the son of Orris 
and Sibyl Ann (Newel) Boughton, who 
emigrated West, with six children, to Illi- 
nois, and settled in Wheatland Tp., Will 
Co., May, 1842; here they set out in 
farming. Orris Boughton died in August, 
1843, at 61 years of age ; his wife, Sibyl 
Ann, died in February, I860. Mr. War- 
ren W. Boughton married Mary Scott, 
born in Geauga Co., Ohio, Jan. 9, 1822. 
Mr. Boughton, in 1850, started for the 
gold-field of California, and died on his 
way, leaving a wife and two children- 
Newel J., who was a soldier in the late 
war; enlisted (1861) in Co. L, Boulton's 



Battery, and served until the close of the 
war ; was honorably discharged ; he died 
in 1876. William D. is working on the 
old homestead, engaged in farming ; was 
born in Wheatland' Tp., Will Co., 111., 
Feb. 28, 1846. Married Miss Emma J. 
Boardman, daughter of Franklin and Mina 
(Bates) Boardman, who settled in Will 
Co. in 1844. 

JAMES BARCLAY, farmer; P. 0. 
East Wheatland ; was born in Ayrshire, 
Scotland, July 16, 1820, and is the son of 
Andrew Barclay, a weaver by trade ; Mr. 
Barclay learned the trade of weaver, and 
was foreman in a weaving department ; in 
1856, he emigrated to America, and came 
direct to Will Co., 111. ; here he has re- 
sided ever since, engaged in farming. He 
married Miss Rachel McMicken, of Scot- 
land. Member of the United Presbyterian 
Church. 

FRANKLIN BOARDMAN, farmer; 
P. 0. East Wheatland ; this gentleman is 
one of the best known farmers in Wheat- 
land Tp. ; was born in Colchester, Vt., 
March 15, 1818, and is the son of Amos 
and Harriett (Ames") Boardman ; father 
was born in Burlington, Vt., October, 
1789 ; was a farmer, and also engaged in 
the lumber business ; was a soldier of the 
war of 1812; he died March 17, 1877; 
mother was born in Vermont July 22, 
1791; died July 29, 1846. Mr. Board- 
man was raised on his father's farm ; in 
1844, he emigrated West, via canal and 
lake, to Chicago; thence by wagon and 
team to Will Co. ; he first lived with his 
uncle two years ; then to the present 
homestead ; here he has remained ever 
since, engaged in farming. Mr. Board- 
man has held several offices of public trust ; 
was Supervisor in 1854, 1855 and 1856; 
has held office as Township School Treas- 






■/ 



, .. a| 















CHANNAHON 




WHKATLAND TOWNSHIP. 



817 



urer since 1852; was appointed Postmas- 
ter at East Wlioatlaiul in altout 1 STO. Mr. 
Bdardnian is a Republican in politics, and 
a member of the Baptist Church of Plain- 
field. He was married Sept. 2, 1842, to 
Mina Bates, of Colchester, Vt., daughter 
of Georije Bates, who was born in Thom- 
son, Conn., 1786, died about 1875, and 
Mary ( Hine) Bates, born in Colchester, 
Vt., March 1, 1788; died in the tall of 
1874. Mr. Boardman came West and 
landed in Chicago, having but $33 in 
n)oiiey ; he came to Will Co. ; with hard 
labor and gnod management, to-day owns 
a fine improved farm. 

JAMES CLOW, farmer; P. 0. East 
Wheatland; came to Will Co., in 1844; 
was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. 

AUGUSTUS B. COTTON, farmer; 
P. 0. East Wheatland ; Justice of the 
Peace; was born in Isle of Wight, Eng., 
Sept. 14, 1828, and is the son of William 
and Jane (Brett) Cotton, who emigrated 
to America in 1841, with four children ; 
came direct to Will Co., 111., and settled 
in Plainfield; here they remained until 
1843; then to Wheatland Tp. William 
Cotton was born in Fresh Water, Isle of 
Wight, Sept. 28, 1790; his wife, Jane 
Cotton, was born May 15, 1798; they 
returned to England, and father died at 
Plymouth, Eng., October, 1870 ; mother 
died at Leamington, Eng., May, 1870. 
The children are Caroline (married E. 
Clark I, born Jan. 12, 1 818, died in the fall 
of 1853 ; John, born April IG, 1824, died 
in February, 1842 ; Cornelius, born Jan. 
21. 1838, died in September, 1854 ; Will- 
iam, born July 6, 1840, and Augustus B., 
who married Georgianna Robins, of En- 
gland, daughter of James and Sarah Rob- 
ins ; came to Will Co. in September, 1843; 
parents both dead. 

DETMAR DELIUS, farmer; P. 0. 
Aurora; was born in Germany May 12, 
1812, and is the son of William Delius. 
Mr. Delius emigrated to America, and 
landed in New York City in 1852 ; he 
came West and settled near Naperville, 
111.; then to the present farm ; he owns 
eighty acres here ; he and his brother 
William have been engaged in farming; 
his brother William is now dead, having 
died in Auirust, 1878. 

GEORGE W. DAVIS, flirmer; P.O. 
Aurora. The subject of this sketch was 



born in Rutland Co., Vt., and is the son of 
Jonathan and Jerusha (Lochlin) Davis, 
who, in 1842, emigrated West and settled 

1 in Wheatland Tp., Will Co., III.; here 
they lived until their death. Jona- 
than Davis was a soldier in the war of 
1812, died Jan. 10, 1850, aged 04 years 
and G months ; Jerusha Davis died Feb. 
9, 185(1, aged Gl years; they came to this 
country very poor ; they first settled near 
what is now known as the Vermont School- 
house, which was erected by the settlers 
from Vermont, in about 1847. Mr. Davis 
is the only male that is left in the neigh- 
borhood out of a large settlement that set- 
tled in here from Vermont ; he has been 
engaged in farming and at his trade, wag- 
on-making, in Will and Grundy Counties. 
To-day owns a fine improved farm of IGO 
acres of laud. Married in 1847, to Miss 
Harriet Curtis, of Vermont, daughter of 
Thaddeus and Charlotte (Kimble) Curtis, of 
New Hampshire ; have ten children. 
DAVID DAGUE, farmer and stock- 

' raiser ; P. 0. East Wheatland ; was born 
in Washington Co., Penn., Feb. 9, 182G ; 
son of Jacob and Catharine (Belman) 
Dague ; father was a flirmer, now living in 
Wayne Co., Ohio, having emigrated there 

j when Mr. Dague was but 6 years old ; 

I here Mr. Dague remained until he came to 

i Will Co., 111., April 15, 1854; here he 
has remained ever since, engaged in farm- 
ing and stock-raising, having brought to 
Wheatland Tp., the first Jersey stock ; 
this he is engaged in breeding f jr dairy 
stock ; owns 140 acres of fine, im- 
proved land, and ranks as one of the lead- 
ing farmers of Will County. Married 
Miss C. Grill, of Pennsylvania, by whom 
he has had five children, three living. 

I JOHN EICHELBERGER, farmer; 

' P. 0. Naperville ; this gentleman was born 
in Lancaster Co., Penn., Dec. 21, 1814, 
and is the son of George Eichelberger, of 
Lancaster Co., Penn., who was a farmer 
here ; Mr. Eichelberger was brought up 
on a farm and farmed it through life ; in 
1848, he came West to Illinois and pur- 
chased fifty-four acres of land, paying 
S200 for the same ; he returned East, and, 
in 1852, with his wife and two children, 
came to Will Co., 111., and settled in 
Wheatland Tp.; here he has remained ever 
since ; been engaged in farming, and, with 
hard labor and good management, to-day 

11 



818 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



owns a fine, improved farm, 276 acres. 
He married Susan Hembright, of Lancas- 
ter Co.. Penn. 

S. B. FllASER, farmer ; P. 0. Plain- 
field'; this gentleman was born in Sullivan 
County, N. Y., Sept. 24, 1832, and is the 
son of Robert and Elizabeth (Brown) 
Fraser, natives of Ireland, having emi- 
grated to America when they were young ; 
Mr. Fraser was brought up on his father's 
farm, and has been engaged in farming ever 
since; in 1847, he started West with his 
father and mother, but on the way his 
mother took sick on the lake and died in 
Chicago ; came to Will Co. and first 
settled near Plainfield, then near Lock- 
port, thence to Wheatland Tp. here he has 
remained ever since; owns to-day IGO 
acres of fine, improved land. Mr. Fraser 
married Miss Ann Brown, daughter of 
James Brown. 

DAVID FRY, farmer ; P. 0. Plain- 
field ; was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Dec. 
7, 1850, and is the son of Jacob and 
Catherine (Grill) Fry, who emigrated from 
Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1841, then, in 
1854, to Wheatland Tp., Will Co., 111.; 
Mr. Fry was brought up on his father's 
farm, and has farmed it through life. He 
was married, Dec. 19, 1872, to Miss 
Mariah Bopp ; she was born in York Co., 
Penn., June 27, 1857, and is the daugh- 
ter of William Bopp, who was born in 
Saxony, Germany, in July, 1821, and 
Catherine (Ganserd) Bopp, born in Baden, 
Germany, in 1828; they emigrated to 
America in 1852 ; came to Illinois in 
1864. Mr. Fry is a member of the Ger- 
man Lutheran Church, of which Church 
his father, Jacob, is one of the first 
members. Have three children. 

JACOB FRY, farmer; P. 0. Plain- 
field ; the subject of this sketch is one of 
the successful farmers of Wheatland Tp.; 
was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., March 
9, 1816, and is the son of Henry Fry, a 
farmer; Mr. Fry, when he was 12 years 
of age, was sent out and brought up among 
strangers, and remained in his native State 
until 1841 ; he then emigrated West to 
Ohio, and settled in Wayne Co. ; liere 
he was engaged at his trade, blacksmith- 
ing, and remained until 1854 ; then came 
to Will Co. and settled in Wheatland Tp.; 
here he has remained ever .since, engaged 
in farming. He was married to Miss 



Catherine Grill, of Berks Co., Penn. ; had 
four children; when he married, he was 
worth about $150 cash ; he went to work 
at his ti'ade, blacksmithing, saved a little 
money, and invested in land, the present 
farm, and, with hard labor, good manage- 
ment and industry, to-day owns 871 acres 
of fine, improved land, with improvements 
that rank among the first of Will Co. ; 
Mr. Fry is one of the first members of the 
German Lutheran Church of Wheatland 
Township. 

SAMUEL GRILL, farmer; P. 0. 
Plainfield; was born in Berks Co., Penn., 
1820, and is the son of Samuel and Han- 
nah Grill, of Pennsylvania ; his father was 
a farmer ; Mr. Grill was brought up on 
his father's farm ; in 1841, he moved to 
Wayne Co., Ohio ; here he was engaged 
in farming, and remained there until he 
came to Will Co., 111., in 1854, and settled 
on the farm he now owns ; when he first 
came here, he was worth about S3,000 ; lie 
invested in land, and to-day is one of the 
successful farmers of Will Co. ; owns 404 
acres of fine, improved land. Married 
Miss I>. Dague, by whom he has had 
eleven children, eight living. 

GEORGE HERZOG, farmer; P. 0. 
Plainfield ; was born in Baden, Germany, 
July 9, 1836, and is the son of George 
and Razan (Swenty) Herzog ; father was 
a firmer ; Mr. Herzog was raised on farm, 
and, in 1852, emigrated to America, with 
his parents ; they first settled in York Co., 
Penn. ; here they were engaged in farm- 
ing, and, in 1858, he came to Illinois and 
settled in Will Co. ; here he has remained 
ever since ; Mr. Herzog came to this county 
very poor, but, with hard labor and good 
management, owns 204 acres of land, with 
improvements that rank with the best in 
Will Co. He married in 1860 Miss 
Sarah Grill, ot Lancaster Co., Penn., by 
whom he has had five children, four 
living. His father is now living, at the 
good old age of 69 years ; mother died at 
52 years of age. 

LEONARD HAAG, farmer; P. 0. 
Aurora; was born in Germany Dec. 7, 
1826, and is the son of Peter Haag, of 
Germany, a weaver by trade ; in 1842, 
with his father, mother and family, emi- 
grated to America; first settled in New 
York State ; remained there about one 
and a half years, then went West to Illi- 



WHEATLAND TOWNSHIP. 



819 



nois, and settled in Kendall Co. ; thence to i 
Kane Co. ; here four years ; he then, in 
1869, settled on the present farm. Mr, 
Haag married Miss Mary Bruner, of 
Germany, by whom he has eight chil- 
dren. 5lr. Haag came to the State very 
poor, but, with industry, he is one of the 
successful farmers of Wheatland Tp. ; 
owns 280 acres of improved land. 

CHARLES KINLEY, deceased ; was 
born in Nova Scotia, 1821, and the son of 
William Kinley, who was a farmer ; Mr. 
Kinley was brought up on his fiither's 
farm, and engaged in farming through 
life ; he came to Will Co. about 1843, and 
settled on the present homestead with his 
father and mother and eight children ; his 
father, William Kinley, died in Oswego, 
111., aged 84 years and 7 months; Mr. 
Charles Kinley was a man who was loved 
and honored by his fellow-men ; he died 
June, 1861, leaving an estate of 200 acres 
of land, which had been made by hard 
labor and good management, to his wife 
and five children. He married in 1849 
Miss Mary Vinson, born in Prince Ed- 
ward Island, in 1831, daughter of Will- 
iam and Mary (Cory) Vinson, of En- 
gland, who emigrated t"b America 1845; 
now residents of Plainfield, Will Co., 111. 

DANIEL LANTZ, farmer; P. 0. Au- 
rora ; this gentleman was born in Erie Co., 
Penn., Nov. 23, 1831, and is the son of 
Peter and Catherine (Schelly) Lantz, of 
Lancaster Co., Penn. ; father was a farmer, 
and died in Pennsylvania, at about 53 
years of age ; his mother came West to 
Will Co., and died in 1870, at 73 years of 
age; Mr. Lantz was raised on a farm ; he 
came West with mother and family, and 
settled in Wheatland Tp. ; here they first 
purchased eighty acres of land, set out and 
commenced farming, and has been engaged 
in forming in Wheatland Tp. ever since ; 
to-day, owns a fine, improved farm of 120 
acres. He married Miss Elizabeth Holdi- 
man, of Pennsylvania, by whom he has 
had ten children ; seven children living. 
Mr. Lantz has held several offices of public 
trust ; was Constable some ten years ; also 
School Trustee. Is a member of the 
F^vangelical Church, and is one of the 
Trustees of this Church. 

JOHN LANTZ, farmer; P. O. Naper- 
ville; wasborn in Lancaster Co., Penn., Nov. 
26, 1815, and is the son of Peter and Cath- 



erine (Schelly) Lantz, of Pennsylvania ; 
father a farmer ; Mr. Lantz was raised on 
his father's farm, and, in li^'A), came West 
to Illinois, and settled in Will Co., Wheat- 
land Tp.; here he has been engaged in 
farming ; they first purchased eighty acres 
of land, and Mr. Lantz, by hard work and 
good manasrement, at one time owned 480 
acres of land. He married Annie M. 
Schott ; have six children — Isaac V., born 
1840 (married Lena Staedle, of Germany, 
who died April, 1876; four children ; he 
is now farming the old homestead of 200 
acres); Jacob, born 1842 (married Isa- 
bella Fendeman, of Illinois ; five chil- 
dren); Betsey Ann, born 1843 (married 
Christian Schaal ; seven children ) ; Sarah 
L. (married Israel Stark ; seven children) ; 
Peter, born 1846 (married Amelia Minnich, 
of Pennsylvania ; two children) ; Susan 
born 1850 (married John Stoner ; four 
children). Mr. Lantz has had forty grand- 
children. Is a member of the Evangel- 
ical Church. 

JOHN LEPPERT, JR., farmer ; P. 0. 
Naperville ; was born in Baden, Ger- 
many, Sept. 26, 1833, and is the son of John 
and Magdalene (Baum) Leppert, of Ger- 
many ; they started for America with six 
children, and landed in New York City in 
January, 1854; they came to Will Co., 
111., and arrived in Wheatland March 20, 
1854; here they set out in farming; first 
purchased the 160 acres now owned by 
Mr. George Leppert, at SIO per acre ; 
here they have remained ever since. Mr. 
John Leppert, Sr., was born in Baden, 
Germany, Dec. 15, 1804. Mrs. Magda- 
lene (Baum) Leppert was born March 
12,1803; she died June 11, 1878. John 
Leppert, Jr., was married, Jan. 24, 1861, 
to Miss Elizabeth Studle, of Germany ; 
have three children ; own 160 acres of fine, 
improved land, which improvement was 
made principally by his father. 

GEORGE LEPPERT, farmer; P. 0. 
Aurora; was'born in Baden, Germany, in 
1838, and is the son of John and Magda- 
lene (Baum) Leppert ; father a farmer ; 
was born in Baden, Germany, Dec. 15, 
1804; mother born March 12, 1803; 
with six children emigrated to America, 
and in January, 1854, landed in New York 
City; they first went to Ross Co., Ohio; 
here they remained about two months, 
I then went to Illinois and settled in Wheat- 



820 



BIOGRilPHICAL SKETCHES : 



land Tp., Will Co., on the farm that is 
now owned by Mr. George Leppert ; here 
they set out in farming; being poor, they 
worked very hard, and to-day they rank 
among the successful farmers of Will Co. 
Mr. John Leppert, St., is one of the first 
members of the German Lutheran Church 
of Wheatland Tp.; he and Mr. Jacob Fry 
were the first Trustees ; these gentlemen 
took a very active part in erecting the 
present Lutheran Church of Wheatland 
Tp. Mrs. Magdalene Leppert died a 
Christian lady, June 11, 1878. Mr. 
George Leppert has been married twice ; 
first wife was Miss Wilmina Schaefer, of 
Germany ; died in 1868 ; second wife, 
.Miss Elizabeth Westphal, of Germany; 
two children — one by first wife and one 
by second wife. Owns 160 acres of 
land. 

JACOB MATTER, farmer; P. 0. 
Naperville ; was born in Dauphin Co., 
Penn., Feb. 1, 1818, and is a son of Chris- 
tian Matter ( was a soldier of the war of 
1812), was a shoemaker by trade and was 
engaged in farming the latter years of his 
life. Mr. Matter learned the shoemaker 
trade, but, on account of his health, turned 
his attention to farming ; moved to Jeffer- 
son Co., Penn., with his parents; here his 
father died, leaving a wife and five chil- 
dren. In 18-44, he came West to Illinois; 
first settled in Naperville ; his first pur- 
chase was eighty acres of Government 
land, at $1.25 per acre, the present farm 
now farmed by his son Abraham ; Mr. 
Matter was a resident of Aurora eight 
years. Married Miss Nancy Milliren, of 
Jefferson Co., Penn., by whom he has had 
ten children — five boys and five girls. 
Abraham was a soldier in the late war; 
was taken sick at Vicksburg, Miss.; was 
honorably discharged. 

JOHN McMICKEN, farmer; P. 0. 
Aurora ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Ayrsliire, Scotland, January, 
1815, and is the son of William McMicken, 
a shoemaker by trade ; he, with wife and 
four childreif, emigrated to America in 
1843 ; came West same year to Milwaukee, 
Wis., then to Chicago, thence to Aurora, 
III.; he purcha.sed 160 acres of Govern- 
ment land, at $1.25 per acre, situated on 
Sec. 6, Wheatland Tp., Will Co., in 1843 ; 
this is supposed to be the first entry of 
Government land in that part of Wheat- 



land Tp. William McMicken married 
Grace McCracken, of Ayrshire, Scotland ; 
both were members of the Union Presby- 
terian Church of Scotland, he being an 
Elder of the Church for a number of 
years; he died August, 1848, aged 65 
years; she died in 1857, aged 73 years. 
Mr. John McMicken is, perhaps, one of 
the best known farmers of Wheaton Tp.; 
has held several offices of public trust ; in 
1857, he was elected Assessor of Wheat- 
land Tp.; this office he filled until 1877 ; this 
year he was elected Supervisor of Wheat- 
land Tp., which office he still holds ; also, 
has been Justice of the Peace for the last 
twelve years ; in all of these offices he has 
given entire satisfaction, having proved 
himself a gentleman of acknowledged abil- 
ity, whose duties have been performed in 
a faithful manner. He is a Republican in 
politics. Mr. McMicken was married in 
1852 to Miss J. Harvey, of Scotland, 
daughter of James Harvey. Owns 130 
acres of fine, improved land. 

JAMES PATTERSON, farmer; P. 
0. East Wheatland ; was born in Dum- 
friesshire, Scotland, January, 1832, and is 
the brother of D. Patterson, who was 
born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, Oct. 8, 
1829, who came to Will Co., 111., and set- 
tled in Wheatland Tp. in 1849; came 
here very poor, but, with industry, to-day 
they own 440 acres of land, with improve- 
ments that rank with the best of Will Co ; 
in 1853, they purchased the present farm 
from John H. Hall, who had erected a 
house 12x14, two stories high, the first 
floor used for a horse-stable, and the sec- 
ond story used to sleep in; this house was 
also the home of Messrs. D. and J. Patterson 
for several years, and is now standing on 
the farm. Mr. D. Patterson married in 
1859 ■ Miss Jane Williamson, of Scot- 
land, daughter of John Williamson, a 
farmer of Lake Co., 111. 

THOMAS PATTERSON, farmer; P. 
O. East Wheatland ; was born in Scotland 
Jan. 14, 1822, and is the son of John and 
Jane (Howell) Patterson, of Scotland; 
father was a farmer ; Mr. Patterson emi- 
grated to America in 1858, and, same 
year, came to Will Co., 111.; here he has 
remained ever since. He married Miss 
Agnes Palmer, of England ; have three 
children, two daughters and one son. 
Owns 120 acres of improved land. 



WHEATLAND TOWNSHIP. 



821 



MUNGO PATTKKSON, farmer; P. 
O. East Wheatland ; was bi>rn in Dum- 
friesshire, Scotland, and is the son of John 
and Jane (Howell ) Patterson ; his father 
was a farmer ; Mr. Patterson was raised 
on his father's farm; in 1S41, he emi- 
grated to Anierira, and landed in New 
York City ; he then went to Wayne Co., 
N. Y.; here he was engaged in farming, 
and remained there until 1844. While in 
New York, he was married in 1842 to 
Miss Agnes Clow, of Scotland. In 1844, 
they emiixrati'd West to Illinois, and set- 
tled in VVheatland Tp., Will Co.; here he 
has remained ever since, engaged in farm- 
ing. Mr. Patterson is a Presbyterian in 
religion. Have six children ; Johu was 
in the late war ; enlisted in the 52d I. V. 
I., served full time and at the close of the 
war was honorably discharged, and is now 
living in Indiana. 

SAMUEL E. RANCK, farmer; P. 0. 
East Wheatland ; was born in Lancaster Co., 
Penn., Jan. 9, 1834 ; his ancestry came, 
in an early day, from "der Faderland," 
and settled in the State, purchasing their 
land directly from William Penn ; Mr, 
Kauck is able to trace his descent in a di- 
rect line through six generations, extend- 
ing through a period of 200 years; his 
early life was that of a farmer's son ; he 
enjoyed the advantages of the public 
schools, and acquired a good common- 
school education ; having lost his father 
when he was 14 years of age, his older 
brother and himself conducted the home 
farm till he grew to manhood ; in March, 
1859, he came West to Illinois, and pur- 
chased eighty acres in Du Page Tp., Will 
Co., built a residence thereon, and farmed 
it six years; he then sold out, and pur- 
chased where he now lives. He was mar- 
ried in 1856, to Catherine M. Emery, a 
native of Pennsylvania ; she died in 1867 ; 
his second marriage, to Mrs. Barbara Mus- 
selman, occurred in 1868 ; from first wed- 
lock, six children were born — Matrsrie A., 
Carrie E., Ida F., Mary C, Effie C7, Min- 
nie A. ; of these, Mary C. is deceased. 
Owns 165 acres, valued at $12,000. Has 
held the office of School Director for the 
past twelve years. He also owns 160 acres 
in Texas. 

JOHN ROBINS, farmer; P. 0. Ea.st 
Wheatland ; was born in the Isle of 
Wight, England, Feb. 7, 1824, and is the 



son of James and Sarah Robins ; his 
father was a pilot; he, with wife and fam- 
ily in 1843, emigrated to America ; rame 
direct to Illinois, and settled in Wheatland 
Tp.; here they ])urcha.sed forty acres of land, 
and built a small house and commenced 
farming; father died the second winter 
after they came here; mother died Oct. 

6, 1870, "aged 78 years. 

DANIEL SLICK, farmer ; P. 0. Na- 
perville ; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., 
Aug. 7, 1823, and is the son of John and 
Annie ( Stoner) Slick, of Lancaster Co., 
Penn. ; father was a carpenter by trade ; 
Mr. Slick at 18 commenced to learn his 
trade, shoemaking, and followed this jirin- 
cipally while in Pennsylvania ; in 1844, 
he emigrated West to Illinois, and first set- 
tled in Du Page Co. While here, he 
married Margaret Swilly, of Laiicaster Co., 
Penn. ; he then came to Will Co. ; returned 
to Du Page ; thence to the present faim 
here ; he has been engaged in farming ever 
since ; Mr. Slick first made a purchase of 
forty acres of Government land, at $1.25 
per acre ; owns to-day 120 acres of fine, 
improved land ; when he came West he 
was very poor ; to-day is one of the suc- 
cessful farmers of Wheatland Tp. Mem- 
ber of the Evangelical Church. 

CHRISTIAN SCHAAL, farmer; P. 
Q. Naperville ; was born in Germany Aug. 

7, 1832, and is the son of Christian and 
Annie Mary (Leib ) Schaal, of Germany ; 
emigrated to America in 1856 ; came to 
Illinois, and was very poor ; he first was 
working on a farm by the month near 
Naperville ; then to Will Co. ; here he 
worked very hard ; he saved his money, 
invested in land, and to-day owns a farm of 
120 acres, with good improvements. He 
married Miss Elizabeth Lantz, of Lancas- 
ter Co., Penn., daughter of John and Annie 
Mary Lantz, who were among the early 
settlers of Wheatland Tp. ; have seven 
children. 

JACOB STARK, farmer; P. 0. Na- 
perville ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Lancaster Co., Penn., and is the 
son of William and EHzabeth (CoUer) 
Stark, of Pennsylvania, who emigrated 
West in 1844, with nine children, and 
settled on the present farm that Mr. Stark 
now owns ; here they set out in fuming 
and made all the improvements on the farm, 
as the country was comparatively new ; 



822 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



Mr. William Stark has retired from farm- 
ing, being in his 78th year; now living in 
Du Page County ; Jacob Stark married 
Miss Mary Hartman, daughter of Adam 
and Susan (Buget) Hartman, of Lancaster 
Co., Penn., who emigrated West to Illinois, 
in 18-42; have ten children. Is a member 
of the Evangelical Church. Owns 220 
acres of fine, improved land. 

ISRAEL STARK, farmer; P. O. 
Naperville ; was born in Lancaster Co., 
Penn., Dec. 11, 1842, and is the son of 
William and Elizabeth ( Collerj Stark ; his 
father was born in Lancaster Co., Penn.; 
his mother was born near PhiIadelphia,Penn; 
in 18-14:, with nine children, emigrated 
West to Illinois, and settled in Wheatland 
Tp., Will Co., on the farm where his son 
Jacob now lives ; here they set out in farm- 
ing ; Mr. Wm. Stark having retired from 
iarming, he moved to Plainfield, then to 
Naperville; at present, he is living in Du 
Page Co., at the good old age of 78 years. 
Mr. Stark married Miss Sai-ah Lantz, of 
Erie Co., Penn., by whom he has seven 
children. He is a member of the Evangel- 
ical Church. His brother Martin was in 
the late war ; enlisted in the 33d 111. V. I.; 
served until the end of the war and was 
honorably discharged. 

A. S. THOMAS, farmer; P. 0., 
East Wheatland ; the subject of this 
sketch is one of the old settlers of 
Wheatland Tp., Will Co.; was born 
in Franklin Co., N. Y., June 26, 
1809, and is the son of E. and 
Lepha (Smith ) Thomas, who both died in 
New York ; his father was a shoemaker, 
tanner and currier, by trade ; Mr. Thomas 
learned the shoemaking trade, and followed 
this and farming, while in New York ; in 
1837, he and Mr. Orlaud Royce started 
in a wagon drawn by two horses, for 
Illinois, then the Far West, taking them 
the whole of November to make the trip ; 
they arrived in 1837 ; Mr. Thomas pur- 
chased 160 acres of the present farm at a 
Government land sale in Chicago, in 1839, 
at $1.25 per acre; he states there was not 
a house between his farm and Plainfield 
when he first came here, only a shanty 
standing on what is now known as Jacob 
Fry's farm, and also say.s the first frame house 
built in this vicinity was on the farm now 
owned by Wm. King. Mr. Thomas mar- 
ried in 1872. 



ADAM THOMSON, farmer; P. 0., 
East Wheatland ; was born in Dumfriesshire, 
Scotland, Sept. 6, 1822, and is the son of 
Benjamin Thomson, of Scotland ; when 
Mr. Thomson was but 17 years of age, 
he commenced to learn the carpenter trade ; 
this business he followed for over twenty- 
three years, working in Scotland, England 
and America ; in 1854, he emigrated to 
America, and landed in New York City, 
and, on June 29, 1854, arrived in Will 
Co., 111.; here he has lived ever since. 
Mr. Thomson has held several ofiices of 
public trust ; at present, holds ofiice as 
Township Assessor, which ofiice he was 
elected to in 1877- Is a Republican in 
politics, and a Presbyterian in religion. He 
married Miss Mary Patterson, of Scotland. 

THOMAS VARLEY,far.; P. 0., Au- 
rora ; the subject of this sketch was born in 
Yorkshire, England, June 25, 1824, and 
is the son of William and Mary (Newsam) 
Varley, of England ; Mr. Varley was a 
laborer; in 1850, he emigrated to Ameri- 
ca, and came West to Will Co., III.; here 
he worked by the day, farming ; he saved 
a little money by hard labor, and, in 1854, 
sent for his wife and three children, who 
arrived the same year ; he then settled on 
a small piece of land ; to-day he ranks as 
one of the successful farmers of Wheatland 
Tp.; owns 280 acres of fine, improved 
land. He married Martha Craven, of En- 
gland, who died with dropsy. May, 1878. 

HENRY WESTPHAL, farmer; P. 0., 
Aurora; was born in Germany, Feb. 15, 
1824, and is the son of Henry and Doris, 
(Leapstolf ) Westphal, of Germany; his 
father was a farmer ; here Mr. Westphal 
was raised on his father's farm, and, in 
1857, with his parents, emigrated to 
America; he came direct to Illinois, and 
settled in Du Page Co.; then to Will Co., 
and settled in Wheatland Tp.; his father 
and mother both died in Wheatland Tp.; 
when they came to this country they were 
very poor, but, with hard labor and good 
management, Mr. Westphal ranks to-day as 
one of the successful farmers of Will Co.; 
owns 245 acres of fine, improved land. 
He married Miss Sophia Worn key, of 
Germany, by whom he has had six 
children — four living. He is a member of 
the German Lutheran Church, and was 
one of the first members of this Church 
in Wheatland Tp, 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 



823 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 



ARA BROWN deceased ; was born in 
New York, near Syracuse, Feb. 19, 1820. 
He married Miss Martha Hou.u;ham Oct. 
11, 18-tG; she was bora in Butler Co., 
Ohio, April 6, 1824; they had thirteen 
children, seven living, viz., Sarah, Klia.s, 
Ara, Nancy Jane, Mary, Frank and Mar- 
tha May. He lived in New York four- 
teen years, when, with his })arents, he came 
to Will Co., 111. (then Cook) ; this was 
in 1835 ; he settled in this township; his 
father, Peter Brown, was from New York ; 
he died March 7, 18-41, aj^ed 59 years 10 
mouths and 4 days; his mother was Miss 
Mary Teeple ; she died Sept. 17, 1840, 
aged 55 years d months and 2 days ; he 
lived with his parents until their death ; 
he died on the old homestead Sept. 8, 
1865. 

W. Z. BROWN, farmer, Sec. 15 ; P. 
O. Elwood ; was born on his present place 
May 11, 1843. He married Miss Susan 
Gonter March 13, 1867; .she was born 
Dear Joliet April 18, 1845 ; they had four 
children, three living, viz., Daniel N., 
George R. and Willis G. He began farm- 
ing on his own account when 17 years old 
and has always lived on his present place. 
His father, John Brown (deceased), was 
born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Nov. 14, 
1:?114, and died Dec. 15, 1848. He mar- 
ried Miss Susan Zarley ; she was born in 
Scioto Co., Ohio, Jan. 2, 1820; but three 
of their children are living, viz., Sarah M., 
Mary E. and W. Z. ; he was among the 
first settlers of this township, having set^ 
tied herein 1834. Mr. W. Z. Brown's wife's 
father, Michael Gonter, was born in France 
Aug. 2, 1812, and died Nov. 11, 1873; 
he married Miss Catheron Aruholt Aug. 
28, 1833 ; she was born in France May 
3,1808; they had four children, three 
living, viz., Catheron, Michael and Susan ; 
they came to the United States in 1839, 
and settled near Joliet ; in 1851, they 
came to this township. Mrs*. Gonter lives 
here with her daughter. 

JOSHUA BUSH,tarmer, Sec. 31 ; P. 
O. Elwood ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Chenango Co., N. Y., Sept. 12, 
1845. He married Miss Margaret R. 
Grant Jan. 1, 1867 ; she was born in this 
township Oct. 30, 1847 ; her father, John 



Grant, wks born in Scotland March 12' 
1816. He married Miss Rosanna Lam" 
ping March 10, 1839; she was born in 

' New York Feb. 18, 1821, and died April 
16, 1843; one child living— William C ; 
he married his second wife, Mrs. Kelly, 
formerly Miss Adaline Frazer, March 13, 
1844; she was born in Virginia Dec. 18, 
1815; they have three children living — 
Margarette R., John A. and James M. 
He settled on this farm about 1839, and 
died Sept. 12, 1854. Mrs. Grant came 
to this county in 1834, and settled in 
Wesley Tp. Mr. Bush had a family of 
five children, three living — Mary Ella, 
Eva May and Harry E. He came to this 
county with his parents when 2 years old ; 
in 1869, he came to his present place. In 
1862, he enlisted in the 100th 111. Inf; 
was in the service till the close of the war ; 
was in the battles of Chickamauga, Stone 
River, Chattanooga, Atlanta, etc. ; he was 
wounded at Franklin. 

G. E. COWELL, M. D., physician, 
P]lwood ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Bradford Co., Penn., April 27, 
1843. He married Miss Catheron M. Fer- 

' ryman Nov. 8, 1868 ; she was born in 
Guernsey Co., Ohio, Aug. 16, 1843 ; they 
have one child living, viz., Nellie G. He lived 
in Pennsylvania twenty-two years, when 
he came West to Illinois, and settled in 
Grundy Co., at Miuooka, where he read 
medicine; in 1871, he graduated at the 
Hahnemann Medical College, of Chicago, 
then settled at Elwood, where he has fol- 
lowed his profession since. In 1862, he en- 
istedin 141st Penn. Vol. Inf., and was in the 
service about eighteen months ; at the bat- 
tle of Cliancellorsville he received five sep- 
arate wounds, which disabled him from 
further service. He has held the office of 
Alderman and was President of the Tem- 
perance Society. 

MERRITT 0. C AG WIN, grain dealer, 
Elwood; the subject of this sketch was 

I born in Brockport, Monroe Co., N. Y., 

I May 14, 1828; in 1836, he came West 
with his parents, who settled in Cook Co. 
(now Will), two and a half miles east of 
the present city of Joliet, wln'.re his father 
built a saw-mill near the site of the 

I present grist-mill, located on Hickory 



824 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



Creek, known as the Red Mill. The first 
board sawed at this mill was the occasion of 
a grand ball. In Joliet, on Sept. 6, 1849, 
he was married to Miss Mary Jane Wheeler ; 
she was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., March 
•l-l, 1829, and died Julyl9, 1850; his 
present wife was Miss Ambrosia R. Higin- 
botham, a cousin of his first wife, and the 
second wedding was performed in the same 
house as the first, Jan. 8, 1852 ; she was 
born in Joliet, Cook Co. (now Will) Oct. 
1, 1834. He remained at home with his 
parents until 1844, when he was employed 
in a dry goods store in Joliet, owned and 
managed by Messrs. J. T. McDougal and 
F. L. Cagwin, where he remained until 
October, 1 848, when he went to Chicago, 
and was engaged as an auctioneer until his 
return to Joliet in May, 1849, when he 
again entered the employ of Messrs. McD. 
& C. ; but this time he was engaged in 
selling goods form a wagon on the road ; 
his route was an extensive one, reaching 
into the Wabash country in Indiana, and 
his average sales were $2,000 per month ; 
in April, 1850, he again severed his con- 
nection with the Messrs. Mc. D. & C, and 
purchased a stock of dry goods from Geo. 
H. Woodruff, Esq., which he was then 
closing out, and disposed of them on the 
road, mostly in exchange for stock — sheep 
and horses ; the following year he abandoned 
his wagon, and bought and drove sheep 
from Southern and Central Illinois and 
Indiana to Chicago this he continued 
until May, 185;^, when he was taken with 
the gold fever, and embarked for California, 
where he remained but one year, engaged 
in transporting goods by mule pack over 
the mountains to furnish traders' posts and 
mining camps ; on his return to Joliet, 
he entered the grain business, and, in the 
following year, built the Masonic Block, 
which was destroyed in 1864 by fire; in 
1 858, he exchanged his Joliet property for 
a tract of 1,000 acres of land in Wilton 
Township at the head of the Twelve-Mile 
Grove, situated about twelve miles southeast 
of Joliet, and there removed and engaged 
in farming and .stock-rai.sing. He was 
Supervisor from Wilton for five successive 
years, and introduced before the Board the 
resolution creating a fund for the protection 
of soldiers wives and (-hildren. He disposed 
of his land in Wilton and returned to 
Joliet in November, 1864, and there again 



entered the grain trade in copartnership 
with his father, where he remained until 
October, 1866, when he removed to Wil- 
mington, 111., and engaged in same busi- 
ness, and he was the first regular buyer 
on the railroad at that station. While there 
he was a member of City Common Council, 
and was one of the original " Building Com- 
mittee," who accepted the plans and speci- 
fications for the present magnificent pub- 
i lie school-building. He also was a char- 
! ter member with Messrs. Whitten Bros., 
'■ and to whom he sold his interest, of the 
firm who built the White Cloud Flouring- 
Mills, in August, 1869,hecame to Elwood, 
111., where he has since resided, and engaged 
in the grain, lumber and coal business ; 
'\ three months later, in November, his eleva- 
tor filled with grain, was burned to the 
; ground ; he continued his lumber and coal 
business, although somewhat enlarged, and 
in copartnership with D. B Curran, Esq. 
until January, 1872, when he built a ware- 
house at Braidwood, and commenced busi- 
I ness as the first grain buyer of the city ; 
he purchased and cribbed that winter 
45,000 bushels of ear-corn ; he continued 
I the business until December, handling 
I over 200,000 bushels of grain, when he 
! sold to Wm. H. Odell, Esq. ; in May, 
i 1874, he purchased of Ed. H. Aiken the 
! West Side Elevator in Joliet, which he 
still operates in copartnership with his 
I father. 

I PETER W. CORBIN, farmer. Sec. 
I 30; P. 0. Elwood; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Vermont Aug. 29, 
1831. He married Miss Sarah Hill Feb. 
[ 19, 1861 ; she was born in Vermont Jan. 
i 12, 1834; they had six children, five 
living, viz., Hellen I., Julia M., Carrie 
E., Warren H. and Aug. E. He lived 
lived in Vermont until he was 21 years 
of age ; he then went to California, 
his object being mining ; but not meeting 
with much luck, he engaged in farming, 
and remained there seven years ; he then 
came to Illinois and settled on his present 
place ; he started in poor circumstances, 
and now owns 185 acres in this townsliip. 
His father settled in Will Co. while he was 
in California, and now lives in Wilmington 
Township. 

CAPT. EDWARD B. CRAFTS, farmer. 
See. 13; P. 0. Joliet ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Derby, Conn., Jan. 13, 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 



825 



1814, where his ancestors have lived ever 
since the settkMnent of New Haven in 
1G4U, and one of whom ( Maj. Moses Mans- 
field) destroyed the power of the Pequods 
in a battle, on the site of which was after- 
ward located thi' village of Mansfield, 
named in honor of tlu' victory. He married 
Miss Sarah Ann Thompson Oct. 9, 1846 ; 
she was born in Durham, Greene Co., N. 
Y., Nov. 21, 181o; her parents were from 
Connecticut; they have two children, viz., 
Edward Thompson and Elizabeth Mansfield. 
His son is a physician,'and residesin Florida; 
his daughter is married, and lives in Joliet. 
He lived at his birthplace until he was 15 
years old, training himself for college with 
the intention of becoming a physician, but 
failing in health he took passage on a brig 
bound for Barbadoes ; this was in 1829; 
he then engaged as a sailor, being promot- 
ed until, in 1835, he was made Captain; 
during one of his voyages he was ship- 
wrecked on Long Island ; he then shipped 
as mate, but was soon again made Captain. 
He quit the sea in 1846, and engaged in 
general merchandise in Connecticut ; in 
1850, he bought his present place, and 
built and occupied same in 1851. He has 
been Supervisor three years, also School 
Trustee and Road Commissioner. He owns 
160 acres in this township. 

P. F. DOOLEY, former. Sec. 10; P. 
0, Joliet ; was born in Troy, N. Y., Aug. 
3, 1835. He married Miss Sarah M. 
Brown March 21, 1864; she was born in 
this township May 27, 1839; they have 
six children, viz., Susannah, Eleanor, 
Uertrude, Sarah F., James C. Z. and Fran- 
cis B. When 3 years old, his parents left 
New Y'ork and went to Chicago, 111., where 
they remained a few months, and then 
came to Will Co., and settled in Channahon 
Tp., and engaged in farming. Mr. P, F. 
remained there until he was 17, when he 
went to California ; engaged in mining 
and remained until 1861, when he came to 
this county ; in 1864, he went to Montana, 
and remained three years, when he returned 
to Will Co. and .settled on his present place. 
He is now serving on his third term as 
Justice of the Peace ; he has also been 
School Trustee and Director. He owns 
209 acres in this county. His parents 
were among the early settlers of Channahon. 
His father, James Dooley, died in 1856 ; 
his mother died in 1853. 



HARMON DEUTSCHMAN, farmer, 
Sec. 34 ; P. (). Elwood ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Germany Feb. 25, 1851 . 
He married Miss Sarah Gockley Nov. 16, 
1871 ; she was born in Lancaster Co., 
Penn., Sept. 25, 1854 ; they have three 
children, viz.: Clara, born Dec. 10, 1872; 
Frank, born March 30, 1875; Ellen, born 
June 5, 1877. He lived in Germany until 
he was 15 years old ; he then came to the 
United States and settled in Will Co. with 
his parents. His father, William, came to 
this county in 1855, and worked on the 
farm until 1873, when he bought his pres- 
ent place ; he lost his wife in Germany, 
and he died here in 1875 ; they had but 
the one child. Mr. Harmon came to his 
present place in 1874 ; he owns 160 acres, 
which are well improved. 

DANIEL EATON, farmer, Sec. 10 ; 
P. 0. Joliet ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Antrim Co., Ireland, Sept. 26,. 
1827. He married Miss Mary McClintock 
Aug. 15, 1848; she was born in same 
place Nov. 8, 1829 ; they had ten children, 
six living, viz., Joseph, Daniel, Robert, 
Nancy, Ann and Mary. He lived in Ire- 
land until 1855 ; was engaged in farming ; 
he then came to the United S.tates, and set- 
tled in Kendall Co., 111., where he engaged 
in farming, and remained until 1862, 
when he came to Will Co., and settled 
on his present place. He is no ofiice- 
seeker, his only office being connected with 
the school and road. He came here in poor 
circumstances, and now owns 300 acres, 
which he has principally earned by his own 
labor. 

GEORGE EIB, farmer. Sec. 7 ; P. 0. 
Joliet ; the subject of this sketch was born 
in Harrison Co.', W. Va., March 17, 1816. 
He married Miss Mary Ann Zumaalp ; she 
was born in Adams Co., Ind. ; they had nine 
children, seven living, viz., Peter B., Louisa, 
Elmenda, Mary Alinda, Catheron Amanda 
George W.. and Jacob L. He lived in 
West Virginia about ten years, when with 
his parents, he moved to Columbus, Ohio, 
where they remained two years ; they then 
moved to Fountain Co., Ind., ami remained 
there six years ; in 1833, they came to 
Illinois, and settled on their present farm. 
His mother was Miss Matalena Gilbert ; 
born in Pennsylvania and died in Ohio ; 
his father, Peter Eib, died here; he was 
born in Lancaster Co., Penn. There were 



826 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



but a few families ia this township when 
they came here, they being among the first 
spttlfirs 

FREEMAN GAY, farmer, Sec. 16; 
P. 0. Joliet; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Kennebec (now Franklin) Co., 
Me., Aug. 9, 1817. He married Miss 
Agusta 8. Gay ; she was born at the same 
place Aug. 3, 1820 ; they have four 
children, viz., LesHe F., Elsie R., Ernest 
L. and Clementine M. He lived in Maine 
until he was 18 ; then went to Boston and 
learned the mason's trade ; remained ten 
years ; then, came West, and settled on 
Hickory Creek, Will Co., 111. ; this was in 
1845 ; he then went near Wilmington, 
then back to Hickory Creek ; then to Five- 
3Iile Grove, and, in 1850, he went to Cali- 
fornia and remained four years, when he 
came to his present place and has lived 
here since ; he started in poor circum- 
stances, and now owns 390 acres, which 
he has earned by his own labor. 

SETH GIBLER, farmer. Sec. 10 ; P. 
0. Joliet; was born in Scioto Co., Ohio, 
April 2, 1839. He married Miss Mary 
Brown Feb. 11, 1862; she was born in 
this township Feb. 11, 1842; they have 
two children, viz., Bertram W. and Oscar. 
He lived in Ohio about fourteen years, 
when he came to Will Co., 111., and lived 
with Mr. Gabriel Noel until he was 21 ; 
he then engaged in farming, in company 
with Mr. W. Z. Brown, for two years, 
when, on being married, he came to his 
present place ; this was in the spring of 
1863. He has been Assessor some three 
jears. He owns 135 acres in this county. 
His mother died in Ohio ; his father, Mor- 
gan '«ibler, lives in Piatt Co., this State. 

G. F. GURNEY, farmer, Sec. 36 ; P. 
O. El wood ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Gloucestershire, England, July 2, 
1832. He married Miss Eliza Brighton 
Feb. 26, 1857 ; she was born in Liverpool, 
England, April 12, lri37 ; she went to 
Scotland when young, and lived there un- 
til she was 17, when she came to the 
United States ; they had eight children — 
seven living, viz., Francis R., Elsie A., 
Elmer G., James A., Eliza M., Nellie J. 
and Otto H. He lived in England until 
1844, when he came to the United States 
and settled in Joliet, 111. ; engaged in la- 
boring on the farm ; remained one year ; 
then to Channahon Tp., where he remained 



one year ; he then went to Grundy Co., 
remaining one year, and went to Wilming- 
ton, Will Co., where he remained two 
years; then to Channahon, remaining 
sevei'al years ; then to Florence ; then to 
Wilton ; and, in 1867, he settled on his 
present place ; he started without any capi- 
tal, and now owns over 500 acres in this 
county. 

W. W. GIFFORD, of the firm of E. 
Gifford & Son, general merchandise. El- 
wood ; the subject of this sketch was born 
in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., March 4,1844. 
He married Miss Lydia Bryan Sept. 24, 
1867; she was born in Stark Co., 111., 
May 12, 1845; they have two children, 
viz., Edson B. and M. Estella. He lived 
in New York three years, when, with his 
parents, he moved to Grundy Co., 111., 
where they remained until 1855, and then 
they moved to Kendall Co., where they re- 
mained until 1872, when they came to 
Will Co., 111., and settled in Elwood and 
engaged in their present business. In 
1861, he enlisted in the 36th I. V. I. ; 
was in the service two years and four 
months ; was in the battles of Pea Ridge, 
Perry ville. Stone River and Chickamauga ; 
at the latter place, he was wounded and 
disabled from further service. He has 
held the offices of Town Clerk, and Vil- 
lage Clerk, Trustee and Treasurer. 

EDSON GIFFORD, of the firm of E. 
Gifford & Son, general merchandise, 
Elwood ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Washington Co., N. Y., Feb. 10, 
1820. He married Miss Lydia Whipple; 
she was born in New York ; they have had 
five children, two living ; his wife died 
while in Grundy Co. His present wife was 
Miss Harriet Kendall, who was the first 
child born in a frame house in Big Grove 
Tp., Kendall Co., 111.; in 1846, he left New 
York, and came to Grundy Co., 111., and 
engaged in farming ; then went to Kendall 
Co., and engaged in general merchandise ; 
then to Morris, engaging in general mer- 
chandise, and, in 1872, he came to Will 
Co., and settled in Elwood, where he en- 
gaged in his present business, and has con- 
tinued here since. 

J. L. H ARLEY, farming. Sec. 33 ; P. 
O. Elwood; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Washington Co., Va., March 29, 
1830. He married Miss Ellen Turpie 
Oct. 28, 1859; she was born in Cincin- 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 



827 



nati, Ohio, Oct. 11, 1833; they had ten 
children, nine livinfj;, viz., Bruce T., Ruth 
A., Ida B., Jauies E., Ralph J., Theodore 
L., Joel A., Mary and George; W. He 
lived in Virginia three years, then moved 
with his parents to Clinton Co., Ind., and 
lived there about five years ; wliile there, 
his father died Sept. lU, 1885 ; they then 
moved to Carroll Co., bid., where he re- 
mained until lS5w ; from there he went to 
California ; object, mining, which he pur- 
sued four years, with fair success ; he then 
came to his present place. He is no office- 
seeker, his only offices being connected with 
the school and road. He started in poor 
circumstances; he owns 160 acres in this 
township, which he has earned by his own 
labor. His mother died in this county. 

CYRUS HEMPHILL, farming, Sec. 
17; P. 0. Elwood ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in this township March 
14, 1837. He married Miss Elizabeth 
Linebarger March 14, 1861 ; she was also 
■tiorn in this township Oct. 7, 1840 ; they 
have four children, viz., Daniel E., Alvin 
W., Luella E. and Herbert H. He has 
always lived in this township, except two 
3'ears in Florence, and, except one child, 
all the family were born here. He has not 
been an office-seeker, his only offices being 
connected with the school and road. His 
father, James Hemphill, was born in 
Adams Co., Ohio, Jan. 24, 1803. He 
married Miss Rachel Porter ; she was born 
in same place June 18, 1808, and died Oct. 
11, 1872; his father died Sept. 6, 1863; 
they were among the first settlers in 
this township, having settled here in 
1831. 

JOHN HIBNER, farming. Sec. 8; P. 
O. Joliet ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Guernsey Co., Ohio, about 1804. 
He married Mi-ss Nancy Kirtz in 1837 ; 
she was born in York Co., Penn.; they have 
had fourteen children, twelve living, viz., 
George W., Frank A., James C., David, 
Martin E.,JohnW., William A., Elizabeth, 
Phebe Jane, Nancy A., Sarah A. and 
Lucinda. He lived in Ohio till 1847, when 
he moved to Missouri, where he remained 
one year; from here he went to Wisconsin, 
remaining six months; in 1848, he came 
to Will Co., 111., and settled on his present 
place, and has lived here since ; he has 
not been an office-seeker; he started in 
poor circumstances, and now owns about 



500 acres in this county, which he has 
earned princijially by his own labor. 

J. P. HKMPIIILL, farming, Sec. 20: 
P. 0. Elwood ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Sept. 1!), 
1830. He married Miss Nancy Nott 
July 4, 1855 ; she was born in Washing- 
ton Co. (now Morgan Co.), Ohio, Sept. 4, 
1831 ; they have had ten children, eight 
living, viz.. Alpha E., Belle M., Alonzo 
P., E. Mary, Phina E., Sarah L., Roswell 
J. and Cyrus W. He lived in Ohio two 
years, when, with his parents, he moved to 
Fountain Co., Ind., where they remained 
until 1834, when they came to Illinois, and 
settled in Will Co., at Troutman's Grove, 
where he lived until he was married ; he 
then moved to Sec. 8, this township, and 
then to Sec. 2 ; he next went to Florence 
Tp., where he remained five years ; he then 
came to this township, and, in 1868, he 
came to his present place; he has held no 
offices, except those connected with the 
school and road. 

W. F. KEITH, dealer in drugs, med- 
icines, books, stationery, etc., Elwood ; 
was born near Rome, Lewis Co., N. Y., 
Aug. 11, 1827 ; his father was a Method- 
ist clergyman, a member of the Genesee 
Conference, and died when his son W. F. 
was quite young ; after his father's death, 
the son lived in Livingston Co. and in the 
city of Buflfalo ; he was educated in the 
public schools of Bufi'alo and at Rich 
Academy in Attica, N. Y.; in 1855, he 
came West, and, after spending two years 
at Naperville, he came to Joliet in 1857. 
On the breaking-out of the war, he enlisted 
in the 19th I. V, L, as a musician in the 
Lockport Band, and remained until March, 
1862, when he was discharged for disabil- 
ity ; returning, he engaged in merchandis- 
ing in Elwood, his being the only store in 
the village for four years ; at the end of 
this time he engaged in his present busi- 
ness ; he has been prominent in the build- 
ing-up of the village.; on the incorpora- 
tion of the village in 1868, he was chosen 
Clerk of the Board of Trustees, serving 
two years ; he was a member of the 
Board seven years, three of which he was 
its President ; he has been Police Magis- 
trate two years, and Notary Public for the 
past twelve years ; he served his township 
two years as Supervisor, and has also 
served three years as School Director ; in 



828 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES ; 



March, 1878, he entered the office of the 
County Treasurer in Joliet, as Deputy, 
where he is still engaged. He was mar- 
ried July 17, 186G, to Mrs. Hannah 
Leverich, of Naperville ; they have two 
children — William H. and Edward E.; he 
has also one son. Clarence A., by a former 
marriage. 

WILLIAM KREIMEIER, farming, 
Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Elwood ; the subject of 
this sketch was born in Prussia March 5, 
1829. He married Miss Mary Pohlman 
March 26, 1854 ; she was born in Prussia 
March 6, 1835; they had ten children, 
nine living — Ella M., Eliza A., Amanda 
A., Susan M., William F., John E., Mina 
S., Ida F. and OUver F. He lived in 
Germany about twenty years ; then came 
to the United States and settled at Little 
York, Penn. ; remained there seven years, 
when he came to Illinois and settled in 
Will Co; this was in 1856; in 1869, he 
came to his present place, and has lived 
here since. His only offices have been 
connected with the school and road. He 
came here in poor circumstances, and now 
owns 254 acres, which he has earned by 
his own labor. 

CICERO KYRK, farming. Sec. 16 ; 
P. 0. Elwood ; was born in this township, 
on his present place, Dec. 1, 1847. He 
married Miss Artha A. Houghton Dec. 
25, 1873 ; she was born in this township 
Feb. 17, 1857 ; they have two children — 
Sarah R. and Mary E. He has always 
lived in this township, except three years 
in Texas ; he now rents the farm of the 
estate ; his father, Edward Kyrk, was 
born in 1807, probably in Orange Co., N. 
Y. ; he married Miss Sarah Davis ; she 
died in 1843; they had one child, viz., 
William T. ; his second wife was Miss 
Mary Kyrk ; she was born in Ohio ; they 
had eight children, three living, viz., Cic- 
ero, Elmira and Dennis. His wife's father, 
Andrew Houghton, was born in Ireland, 
and came to this county when 18 ; he 
married Miss Sarah Young ; she was born 
in this township ; they now live in Kansas. 

GEORGE LINEBARGER, was born in 
Lincoln Co., North Carolina, June 6, 
1810 ; at the age of 10, he removed with 
hi« parents to White River, Ind., where 
they remained until the fall of 1821, when 
they emigrated to Parke Co., Ind. Was 
married Feb. 9, 1832, to Miss Susanah 



Beard. During the following spring, came 
to what was then called Cook Co., now 
Will Co., and located near the head of 
Jackson Grove ; only a few days passed 
when the Indian war broke out, when he 
returned to Indiana until September, 
1832 ; returned to his old location at 
Jackson's Grove. Had nine children, five 
living ; wife died in 1854 ; was married 
same year ; had six children, four are liv- 
ing at present writing. 

JOHN LINEBARGER (of the firm 
of John Linebarger & Co.), dealer in 
grain, Elwood ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Lincoln Co., N. C, Nov. 4, 
1812. He married Miss Nancy Stone 
Feb. 12, 1835 ; she was born in Ohio, and 
died July 2, 1847 ; they had three chil- 
dren, one living, viz., Mary E.; his present 
wife was Miss Sarah C. Linton, married 
Feb. 27, 1848; they had nine children, 
seven living, viz., William H., Josephine, 
Thomas C, Isabelle, Minnie M., Carrie 
and Emma J. He left North Carolina, 
with his parents, when 8 years old, and 
settled in Parke Co., Ind., where he lived 
until 1850, when he came to Illinois and 
settled near Wilmington, and remained 
there eighteen years, auring which time he 
served as Supervisor several terms; he then 
came to Jackson Tp. , and has remained 
here since ; in 1832, he assisted his brother 
to move to this county, and spent several 
weeks here at that time ; he engaged in 
his present business in 1868. 

A. J. LINEBARGER, farming, Sec. 
20 ; P. 0. Elwood ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in this township Jan. 7, 
1834, and is, therefore, among the first 
born in this township. He married Miss 
Elizabeth Phillips April 30, 1856 ; she 
was born in Germany, Jan. 1, 1834 ; they 
have three children, viz., Lewis H., Laura 
E., Emma J. He has always lived in the* 
township ; he lived with his parents until 
he was 22 years of age, when he was mar- 
ried and began forming on his own account 
on his present place ; he owns 320 acres 
in this township. 

J. J. LICHTENWALTER, dealer in 
grain, lumber, etc. ; P. 0. Elwood ; the sub- 
ject of this sketch was born in Stark Co., 
Ohio, Aug. 27, 1829. He married Miss 
Mary ShuU Feb. 24, 1853 ; she was born in 
Lebanon Co., Penn. He lived in Ohio until 
1860, and was engaged in farming and car- 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 



829 



pcnterinc; he then moved to AVhitley Co., 
luil., where he followed fnriuing and also op- 
erated a luniber-mill,and reuiaitied about five 
years; he then went to Springfield, Ind., and 
enuasred in the proccry business, continu- 
ing four years ; in 1808, he came to lllinoi.s 
and settled in Elwood ; he carried on the 
grocery and drug business for three years ; 
he then took agency of the Canton Iron 
Bridge Co., and furnished the trade in 
several States; he then engaged in the 
lumber business, and has continued in same 
since ; in November, 1877, he added the 
grain business. 

MORGAN BROS., farming and stock, 
Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Elwood ; William and Sid- 
ney ; were born in St. Lawrence Co., N. 
Y.. where they lived until 1849, when they 
came to Illinois with their parents, who 
settled in Kendall Co., where they remained 
about four years, and then came to Will 
Co. ; and in 1855, they came to the present 
place. Mr. William R. married Miss 
Morriah Ellenwood Dec. 27, 1876 ; she 
was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Nov. 
10, 185o ; they have one child, viz., Eliza 
A. Mr. Moses Morgan, deceased, was 
born in Vermont, Aug. 11, 1815. and died 
Aug. 20, 1877. He married Miss Eliza 
Ann Storrs Jan. 9, 1840 ; she was born 
in Upper Canada ; they had five children ; 
four living, viz., William, Sidney, Ltcy E. 
and Emily C. 

MICHAEL MOVER, farming, Sec. 
22 ; P. 0. Joliet ; was born in Lebanon 
Co., Penn., July 10, 1803. He married 
Miss Sarah Erb April, 1828 ; she was 
born in Lancaster Co., Penn. ; they had 
four children ; three living, viz , Henry, 
George L. and Michael, Jr. He lived in 
Pennsylvania until 1845 ; was engaged in 
farming ; he then moved to Dayton, Ohio, 
where he remained four months ; he then 
came to Illinois and settled in Du Page 
Co. ; engaged in farming, and remained 
there nine years ; and then he came to 
Will Co. and settled on his present place ; 
he started in poor circumstances, and now 
owns 120 acres, well improved. 

WILLIAM F. MOORE, farmer. Sec. 
34 ; P. 0. Elwood ; the subject of this 
sketch waa born in the town of Channa- 
hon, Will Co., 111., March 6, 1841; he 
married Miss Mary t^choonmaker Nov. 20, 
1862; she was born in Rochester, N. Y., 
and died July 29, 1866 ; his second wife 



was Miss Almira Spencer, maiTied May 
13, 1872 ; she wa.s born in Troy Tp., 
this county ; he has one child living, by 
his first wife, viz., Lotta, and two by his 
present wife, viz., Mary Jane and Laura 
May ; he has always lived in this county, 
except one year that he lived in McLean 
Co; he came to his present place 
March 29, 1864; he started in poor cir- 
cumstances, and now owns 160 acres in 
this township. 

JOHN MEAD, retired, Elwood ; the 
subject of this sketch was born in Saratoga 
Co., N. Y., Aug. 15, 1798; he married Mrs. 
Bets}' Cagwell, formerly Miss Luce ; she 
died April 11, 1866 ; they had two chil- 
dren — not living ; his present wife was 
Miss Nancy Cox ; they were married 
April 23, 1867 ; no children. He lived 
in New York seventeen years, and then 
went to Pennsylvania, where he remained 
until 1855, when he came West to Illinois, 
and settled in Will Co., and engaged 
in fanning; in 1875, he sold his farm, and 

I removed to the village of Elwood, and 
has lived here since. 

, GABRIEL NOEL, firmer, Sec. 9 ; P. 

I 0. Joliet ; the subject of this sketch was 

' born in Scioto Co., Ohio, July 2, 1820 ; he 
married Miss Elizabeth Zarley Oct. 15, 
1848 ; she was born in Will Co., near Joliet, 

: Nov. 22, 1831 ; they had twelve children 
— seven living — viz., Albert E., Calvin 
Z., Ervin R., Elvis C, Sue E., Rose M. 

j and Frank G. He lived in Ohio twenty- 
seven years, and was engaged in farming 

: and milling ; he then came West to 
Illinois, and settled in Joliet. remaining 

' there one summer ; he came to his pres- 
ent place, and has lived here since ; he 
has held the ofiices of Road Commissioner, 
School Trustee and Director. He owns 
200 acres in this county. 

WILLIAM NICHOLSON, hardware, 
etc., Elwood ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Cambridge, Washington Co., 
N. Y., March 26, 1838 ; he married Miss 
Caroline E. Benedict Oct. 12, 1863 ; she 
was born in Dalton, Mass., Aug. 19, 1839 ; 

1 they have four children, viz., Lewis, Ed- 
ward B., Rollin H., and Franklin E. He 
lived in New York until 1865 ; was en- 

' gaged in farming ; he also spent nearly four 
years at the Troy University ; he then 
came West to Illinois, and settled in this 
township ; engaged in farming, which he 



830 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



followed until 1868, when he removed to 
Elwood and engaj^od in his present busi- 
ness, forming a partnership with George 
A. Pearson, whom he afterward bought 
out; in May, 1874, his place was burned, 
with his entire stock; on June 1(1, he 
was doing business in an old wooden 
building, hauled to the site of his former 
store, and the first of the following 
October he occupied his present bri^k 
store. He has held the offices of Town 
Clerk and A'^illaere Trustee. 

JACOB PALMER, Jr., farmer. Sec. 
12; P. O. Joliet; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Stark Co., Ohio, Aug. 
13, 1824. He mai'ried Miss Eliza Bucher 
March 11, 1847 ; she was born in Stark 
Co., Ohio, May 3, 1830 ; they had seven- 
teen children ; twelve living, viz., William 
J)., Ephron, Eldin P., Francis W., Marion, 
John J., Daniel, George E., Elmer E., 
Dora E., Alvin and Hiram. He lived 
in Ohio until 1857, when he came to Illi- 
nois and settled on his present place, and 
has lived here since. He has been Road Com- 
missioner nearly twenty years. He started 
in poor circumstances, at first renting his 
place, and now owns 200 acres in this 
township. His father, Jacob Palmer, Sr., 
was born in Virginia Feb. 10, 1702. He 
married Miss Elizabeth Cutchall ; she 
was born in Maryland and died in Ohio ; 
his second wife was Mrs. Sarah Bucher 
(Hoffman); she also died in Ohio; his 
third wife was Mrs. Weaver ( Cring) ; she 
was born in Pennsylvania and died in 
Ohio ; he has five children by his first and 
three by his second wife. He came to 
Will Co., Til., in 1871, and lives on Sec. 
11, this township. 

WILLIAM POHLMAN, farmer. Sec. 
36 ; P. 0. Elwood ; was born in Prussia 
May 16, 1828. He married Miss Amelia 
Harming Feb. 3, 1853; she was born in 
Prussia in February, 1836 ; they had 
eleven children, nine living, viz., Mary E., 
Catheron M., Emma C, Charles F., 
Henry F., George T., J. Edward, Sarah 
R. and Francis L. He lived in Prussia 
sixteen years; he then came to the United 
States, and landed at Baltimore, and re- 
mained in that neighborhood about six 
years, engaged in farm labor ; then moved 
to York Co., Penn. ; engaged in quarry- 
ing and lime-burning ; remained five years; 
then came to Illinois and settled in this 



township, engaging in farming ; in 1868, 
he came to his present place. He is no 
office-seeker, his only offices being con- 
nected with the school and road. He came 
to this county in poor circumstances ; he 
now owns 422 acres in this township, 
which he has earned by his own labor. 

DANIEL RICHARDS, farmer. Sec. 1 ; 
P. 0. Joliet ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Aug. 4, 
1826. He married Miss Elmira Cooley 
Dec. 10, 1848; she was born in Ononda- 
ga Co., N. Y., June 22, 1828; they had 
three children, two living, viz., Euratus 
and Elsey G. He lived in New York un- 
til June, 1839, when he moved to Huron 
Co., Ohio, and engaged in farming. While 
here, he was married, and, in 1853, he 
came to Illinois and settled in Joliet ; in 
1857, he came to his present place, and 
has lived here since. He has not been an 
office-seeker. He came West in poor cir- 
cumstances, and now owns 220 acres, 
which he has principally earned by his own 
labor. 

ROBERT SPAFFORD, Postmaster, 
Elwood ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Upper Canada Sept. 30, 1822. 
He married Miss Elizabeth Beckwith 
April 20, 1847 ; she was born in Upper 
Canada March 5, 1827 ; they have eight 
children, viz., Moses, Sarah E., Irinda, 
Daniel, Robert, Jr. ; Mary, Rachel and 
Norah. He lived in Canada about twenty- 
six years ; was engaged on his father's 
farm ; he then moved to Illinois, and set- 
tled in Will Co., in 1848, and engaged in 
farming in Jackson Tp., and has lived 
here since, except three years in Mar- 
seilles ; he followed farming until 1860, 
when he took the position of railroad 
agent at this place, and continued eight 
years ; he then clerked in a general mer- 
chandise store for four years ; in 1872, he 
was appointed Postmaster, and has held 
the office since. He has been Assessor 
several years; also Constable, Town Trustee 
and School Director. 

HENRY SPANGLER, farmer. See. 
12 ; P. 0. Joliet ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Summit Co., Ohio, Feb. 26, 
1837. He married Miss Rachel Grove in 
February, .1857 ; she was born in Summit 
Co., Ohio, April 26, 1836; they had five 
children, four living, viz., Samuel M., Elvy 
G., Alvin O. and Dora A. ; Amanda M. 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 



831 



died July 13, 1878 ; ho lived in Ohio 
twenty years, then eame to Illinois and 
settled on his present ])laco, and h;us lived 
here since. He has been Supervisor of 
this township ten tcrui.s, Justiee of the 
Peace eight years, also Collector and Road 
Commissioner. He was in moderate cir- 
cumstances when he eame here ; he bounht 
an eighty, going in debt for the greater 
part of the same ; he now owns -lOO acres 
in this township which he has principally 
earned bv his own labor. 

HENRY SNOAD, of the firm of H. 
Snoad & Co.. dry goods and groceries, El- 
wood ; the subject ot this sketch was born 
in Kent Co., England, Sept. 26, 1819. 
He married Miss Julia Caswell Oct. 20, 
1847 ; she was born in Orleans Co., 
N. Y., and died March 6, 1857 ; they had 
three children, none living; his present 
wife was Mrs. Betsy A. Winslow, for- 
merly Miss Sheldon ; she was born in 
New York Aug. 9, 1822, and married 
Jan. 3, 1858. He lived in England twenty- 
two years ; then came to the United States 
and settled in Tioga Co., Penn., and en- 
gaged in farming ; remained four years ; 
then came to Illinois and settled in Will 
Co., at Plainfield, where he engaged as 
clerk in general merchandise store ; re- 
mained three years, when he moved to 
Joliet and engaged in gi'ocery, and remained 
one year ; he then went to Kankakee Co., 
engaged in forming, and next returned to 
Will Co., and, in 1853. he engaged in farm- 
ing in Jackson Tp., and followed same un- 
til 1867, when he engaged in his present 
business. He has held the offices of Post- 
master, Justice of Peace and Town Clerk. 
He formerly was Station Agent on C. & 
A. R. R. 

THOMAS TAIT, farming. Sec. 2 ; P. 
0. Joliet ; the subject of this sketch was 
born on one of the principal Isles of Shet- 
land, Sept. 23, 1830. He married Miss 
Catharine A. Shutts Oct. 12, 1858; she 
was born in Columbia Co., N. Y., Sept. 
19, 1840; they had eight children, seven 
living, viz., John S., Magnus P., Margaret, 
Thomas H., Fred, Cassius and Sarah V. ; 
Kate died in infancy. He lived at the 
place of his birth until May 14, 1838, 
when he took ship for America, arriving 
in Chicago, 111., the 19th of July follow- 
ing ; remaining but a short time, he went 



to Lake Co., III., and remained then! until 
the winter of 1841, when he came to Will 
Co., 111., and remained about one year ; he 
then went to Canada, and remained until 
184(), when he returned to Will Co. and 
settled in Homer Tp. ; reipained two years, 
and then moved to Joliet Tp., where his 
father. still lives; he bought his present 
place in June, 1851, and moved on same 
in fall of 1858. He has held the offices 
of Supervisor, Road Commissioner, Town 
Trustee and Collector. He owns 170 
acres, well improved, which he has earned 
by his own labor. 

WILLIAM W. WOOD; farming, Sec. 
20; P. 0. Elwood; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Brasher, St. Lawrence 
Co., N. Y., July 11, 1835. He married 
Miss Esther C. Edgerton Oct. 18, 1861; 
she was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., 
April IG, 1837 ; they have .seven children, 
viz., Hattie M., Emma E., Frank W., E. 
Blanche, Alice M., Jessie P. and Harvey 
E. He lived in New York until 1865, 
being engaged in farming ; he then came 
West and settled in Will Co., 111., on his 
present place, and has resided here since ; 
his parents live in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. ; 
he came here in fair circum.stances ; he 
owns 270 acres in this township. 

SHELDON YOUNG, farming, See. 9; 
P. 0. Elwood ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., Dec. 
3,1820. He married Miss Eliza Ilougham 
Dec. 1, 1842 ; she was born Aug. 18, 
1822, in Fayette Co., Ind. ; they had thir- 
teen children, eight living, viz., Ara B., 
Lena Ann, Albert L., Mary Ella, Emma, 
Julia E., Martha E. and Walter H. He 
lived in New York eighteen years, and, in 
1838, he came West and settled in this 
township; in 1844, he settled on his pres- 
ent place ; Mrs. Young lived two years in 
Fayette Co., Ind. ; moved to Butler Co., 
Ohio, where she remained three years ; 
moved to Parke Co., Ind., lived there twelve 
years, when she came to this county on 
horseback, over a hundred and fifty miles, to 
visit a sister, where she lived until .she was 
married. Mr. Young has been Supervisor, 
Road Commissioner, School Trustee and 
Director. He came here without any 
means, in fact, was in debt ; he now owns 
1 12 acres in this township. 



832 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



CHANNAHON TOWNSHIP. 



GEORGE ALEXANDER, farm and 
stock, Sec. 15; P. 0. Channahon ; the 
subject of this sketch was born in this 
county, on Hickory Creek, Oct. 27, 1837. 
He married Miss Emma Bedford Feb. 1-1, 
1860 ; she was born in New Jersey Nov. 
11, 1841 ; they had seven children, five 
living, viz. : Janet, Hattie, Mary, John and 
Jessie. He has always lived in this coun- 
ty ; he has been Road Commissioner ten 
years and Collector several terms during 
the past twenty years ; he has been deal- 
ing largely in stock ; he bought an inter- 
est in a creamery during the past year, ^nd 
since that time he has added the dairy busi- 
ness to his farming and siock business ; 
he owns 650 acres in this county. His 
father, John Alexander, deceased, was born 
in Scotland June 7, 1811. He married 
Miss Elizabeth Turner Dec. 25, 1833 ; she 
was born in England Sept. 22, 1812 ; they 
had seven children, six living, viz., Ann, 
George, Elizabeth, John, Isabella and Mo- 
riah. He lived in Scotland eleven years, 
tlien moved to England, where he lived 
eleven years ; he then came to the United 
States ; he crossed the Atlantic five times, 
and finally, in 1835, he settled on Hickory 
Creek, this county ; in 1838, he came to 
his present place, living in a log cabin, 
which yet remains on the farm. He superin- 
tended some twenty miles of the Iron Moun- 
tain Railroad, and was for some time fore- 
man of a stone-quarry, now owned by his 
son. He died Sept. 15, 1856, and had 
lost his wife March 23, 1853. 

DANIEL BAILEY, farm and stock. 
Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Elwood ; was born in 
Pennsylvania, and married Miss Rebecca 
Bordman; they had one child, viz., Al- 
exander, now living in Missouri. His 
present wife was Mrs. Brown, formerly Miss 
Susan Zarley ; they were married July 14, 
1848 ; they have two children, viz., Cal- 
neh and Ella. He left Pennsylvania when 
1 year old, and moved to Ohio with his 
parents ; they then moved to Champaign 
Co., III., where his parents died. In 1838, 
he settled on his present place ; he started 
in poor circumstances, and owns about 500 
acres in this county. His son, Calneh, 
was born on the present place July 18, 
1849. He married Miss Ella Cagwin 



March 18, 1874; she was born in Oneida 
Co., N. Y., April 4, 1852. In 1869, he 
began farming on his own account ; he has 
about forty acres in his own name, which 
he has earned himself. He has been 
School Director some five years, and Clerk 
of Board some time. 

E. H BATES, blacksmith and wagon- 
making, Channahon ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Penobscot Co., Maine, 
Sept. 16, 1830. He married Miss Nancy 
M. Hutchins (formerly Miss Knapp) Oct. 
15, 1854; she was born in Montpelier, 
Vt. He lived in Maine eighteen years ; 
he then moved to Brooklyn, N. Y., where 
he engaged in the pork and butter busi- 
ness, remaining there until 1852 ; he then 
canic to Illinois and settled in Plainfield, 
en<i;a"ino; in blacksmithing, and remained 
there until 1856, when he came to Chan- 
nahon, and engaged in the black.simithing 
and wagon business, which he continued 
until 1866 ; he then engaged at driving a 
wholesale notion, wagon from Chicago, con- 
tinuing in same until 1873, when he en- 
gaged in his present business in its present 
location. 

ALLEN P. CARPENTER, farming. 
Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Channahon ; the subject of 
this sketch was born in Orleans Co., N. Y., 
Jan. 27, 1834. He married Miss Ellen 
Spencer Jan. 10, 1855. They had two 
children ; both died. He lived in New 
York until 1853, when he came West and 
settled in Joliet, where he remained one 
year and then came to this township, and 
engaged in farming ; remained three years ; 
then he went to Troy Tp., and lived there 
two years ; he then went to Minooka, 
Grundy Co., 111., and engaged in the grain 
business ; remained two years ; then he en- 
gaged in same business at Minooka Land- 
ing ; remained three years ; then in 1865 
he came to his present place; in 1868, he 
became partner with Marshall Truby, in 
the grain business at Joliet and Bird's 
Bridge ; they carried on the business seven 
years. He came West in poor circum- 
stances, and now owns 178 acres in this 
township. 

WILLIAM H. CAVENDER, farming. 
Sec. 3 ; P. 0. Bird's Bridge ; the subject 
of this sketch was born in Greenfield, N. 



,...,tiStS3i--*^te^^^ 





c^ 



oy ''^«T^ 



CHANNAHON TR 



CIIANNAHON TOWNSHIP. 



885 



H., Feb. 22, 1828. He married Miss P. 
A. Steel April 27, 185() ; she was born in 
HerkinuT Co., N. Y., Nov. 11, 1841 ; tlioy 
have .seven children, viz., Francis E., 
Dora E., Libbie M., Mary A., Emma C, 
Sinclair 8. and Anna Belle. He lived in 
New Hampshire seven years, when his par- 
ents moved to Michigan, where he lived 
until 1849 ; he then went to California, 
where he engaged in the mining and stock 
business, meeting with good success, hav- 
ing accumulated over $12,000 during four 
years; in 1854, he returned to Michigan, 
and remained until 18G5 ; he then went to 
Texas, and bought a drove of cattle, his 
family coming to Joliet at the same time ; 
he returned from Texas the same year, and 
marketed his .stock in Chicago, and then 
came to Will Co. and settled in Troy Tp., 
and engaged in the grain business at Bird's 
Bridge ; in 1 868, he came to his present 
place. He started in poor circumstances, 
and now owns 165 acres in this town- 
ship. 

GEORGE B. DAVIS, farm and stock, 
Sec. 16 ; P. 0. Channahon ; the subject 
of this sketch was born in Schoharie Co., 
N. Y., May 7, 1821. He married Miss 
Olive Comstock Jan. 12, 1843 ; she was 
born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Jan. 8, 
1824 ; they had nine children, four liv- 
ing, viz., George H., Sarah, Oliver C. and 
WilberB. He lived in New York about six- 
teen years, when he came to Will Co., 111., 
with his parents, and settled in this town- 
ship ; in 1846, he came to his present place ; 
he has been School Director and Trustee of 
the School Fund ; he started in poor circum- 
stances, and now owns 187 acres in this 
township and 300 in Texas, which he has 
earned by his own labor and management. 
His parents were from Bhode Island ; his 
father, Joseph, was born Aug. 13, 1787, 
and died Sept. 30, 1838. He married 
Miss Martha Burlingame ; she was born 
March 5, 1787, and died July 25, 1863. 
His father settled in this township in 1836, 
and the family followed in 1837. His 
wife's father was Dr. Alexander Comstock ; 
he was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., Sept. 
9, 1788. He married Miss Esther Salt- 
marsh Feb. 10, 1823; she was born in 
Columbia Co., N. Y., Dec. 17, 1790 ; they 
came to Joliet in the fall of 1836, where he 
practiced medicine until he died, July 9, 
1854 ; Mrs. Comstock died Aug. 7, 1874. 



JOSEPH FITCH, M. D., physician, 
druggist and general merchandise, (chan- 
nahon ; thesubject of this sketch was born in 
Genesee Co., N. Y., July 29, 1825. He 
married Miss Harriet A. Duncan July 
20, 1852; she was born in Dearborn Co., 
Ind., Feb. 2, 1826 ; they had two chil- 
dren, one living, viz., Mary E. He lived 
in New York until 1847 ; was engaged in 
teaching, also read medicine; he then 
went to Dearborn Co., Ind., and engaged 
in teaching ; he al^o finished his course in 
medicine, graduating in the Indianapolis 
Medical College in 1 850 ; returnini^ to 
Dearborn County, he commenced the prac- 
tice of medicine ; in April, 1852, he came 
to Channahon, and soon returned to Indi- 
ana, where he married and came back to 
Channahon, and commenced practicing ; 
in 1862, he added his present business; 
he started in poor circumstances, leaving 
home at the age of 17 ; he educated him- 
self, and now enjoys a fair practice and 
good general business. 

CALEB FOWLER, general merchan- 
dise, Channahon ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Dec. 9, 
1818. He married Miss Harriet Handy 
June 23, 1842 ; they had eight children, five 
living, viz., Charles E., Frank D., Mary H., 
Ella F. and Hattie A. He lived in New 
York about twenty-four years when he 
was married and moved to Ashland Co., 
Ohio, where he engaged at his trade of 
carpenter, and remained there until 1854: 
he then came to this township, where he 
followed his trade until 1870, when he 
and his .son, C. E., bought out Mr. C. 
Bradford and established their present 
business ; he has lield the oflSces of Town- 
ship Treasurer twelve years. School Trust- 
ee, Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace. 

J. N. FRYER, farm and loan agent, Sec. 
17 ; P. 0. Channahon ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Schodack Landing, 
Rensselaer Co., N. Y., July 11, 1818. He 
married Miss Charlotte Beardsley Oct. 1, 
1849 ; she was born in Litchfield Co., 
Conn., Nov. 24, 1822; they had six chil- 
dren, five living, viz., Jennie J., Kittie L., 
Chauncey M., Lotta B. and Leonard S.; 
Albertiue M. died. He lived in New 
York until 1834, when he came to Illinois 
and settled on his present farm, and lived 
at home until 1849, when he built his 
present house (the first regular frame built 

12 



836 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



in this township) and has lived in same 
since; he was one of the Commissioners 
appointed to divide the county into town- 
ships ; ho has lield the office of Justice of 
the Peace for twenty-five years, and 
School Director for fifteen years ; he has 
been Town Collector and is now serving in 
his fourteenth term as Supervisor ; he 
started in limited circumstances and now 
owns between three and four hundi'ed 
acres in this township ; his father died in 
Albany, N. Y.; his mother, Mrs. Sarah 
Schermerhorn Four, married Mr. M. More- 
house in 1832, and is now living on an ad- 
joining farm. 

STEPHEN GLIDDEN, farming and 
stock ; P. 0. Channahon ; the subject of 
this sketch was born in New Hampshire, 
Sept. 15. 1820. He married Miss Mary 
L. Barnet, July 4, 1849 ; she was born 
in New York ; tliey had eleven children, 
five living, viz., Pernelia, Sarah J., 
Melissa. Ella and Harvey O. His parents 
left New Hampshire when he was six 
months old, and moved to New York, 
where he lived twenty-seven years ; he 
then came to Illinois and remained one 
year ; he then returned to New York and 
married, and then came to Will Co. 
and settled in this township ; he came 
here in poor circumstances and now owns 
1,086 acres in this township, all of which 
he has earned by his own labor and man- 
agement. 

D. C. HEMPHILL, farmer. Sec. 25 ; 
P. O. Elwood ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Sept. 19, 
1830. He married Miss Hannah Russell 
March 14, 1856 ; she was born in Mont- 
gomery Co., N. Y., Oct. 15, 1834; they 
had ten children, nine living, viz., Laura, 
Ida May, Russell J., Arthur D., Charles 
E., Frederick, Burton C, Kitty and Wil- 
bur. He lived in Ohio two years ; then 
moved to Indiana, where they remained 
two years, when they came to Will Co., 
111., and settled at Troutman's Grove; he 
remained with his parents until he was 21 
years of age, when he went to Reed's 
Grove and engaged in farming ; remained 
one year, when he was married and set- 
tled on his present place; he owns 152 
acres in this township, which he has earned 
principally by his own labor. 

DR. IRA O. KNAPP, farm^er. Sec. 
8 ; P. 0. Channahon ; the subject of this 



sketch was born in Barre, Vt., Feb. 12, 
1810 ; he married Miss Almira Joslyn 
July 8, 1833; she was born in Waits- 
field, Vt., Jan. 26, 1810, and died April 
13, 1862; they had six children, four liv- 
ing, viz., George, Orren, Melinda and 
Solon, all married; his present wife was 
Mrs. Ann S. Peebles; they were married 
Sept. 10, 1864 ; she was born in England ; 
they have no children. He lived in Ver- 
mont until he was 23, when he came to Will 
Co., 111., and lived in Plainfield Tp. three 
months and then came to his present place ; 
he followed his profession for some fifteen 
years after coming here, and since then he 
discontinued his practice ; he came to this 
county in debt, and has owned considera- 
ble land here, but has disposed of all but 
about one hundred acres. He has not 
been an office-seeker, his only office being 
that of Justice of the Peace. 

MICHAEL LONG, farmer; Sec. 10^ 
P. 0. Bird's Bridge ; was born in Thur- 
lass Co., Ireland, in 1811 ; he married 
Miss Bridget O'Brien; she was born in 
Ireland ; they had six children, five living, 
viz. , Jame.>, John, Michael, Jr. , Johanna and 
Mary. He lived in Ireland until 1834, 
when he moved to Canada, and lived there 
two years ; he then moved to Syracuse, N. 
Y.; he then went to Chicago, and next 
engaged on the canal; - he then settled on 
his present place. He came here in poor 
circumstances; his son James owns 160 
acnss in this townshi]), which he bought 
of his father, in 1878. 

JOSEPH LEWIS, general merchan- 
dise and farming, Channahon ; the sub- 
ject of this sketch was born in Tunbridge 
Wells, Kent Co., England, Dec. 15, 1812. 
He married Miss Ann Towner in 1835 ; 
she was born in Peckham, Kent Co., En- 
gland, and died in the winter of 1842 ; 
they had five children, three living, viz., 
Mary, Catheron and Jane, all married. 
His present wife was Miss Harriet Scott ; 
she was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., 
March 24, 1820, and married Nov. 30, 
1845 ; they had seven children, five liv- 
ing, viz., Alta F., Harriet S., Anna C, 
Henry D. and George A. He lived in 
England until he was 22 years of age ; he 
then came to the United States, and set- 
tled in what is now Grundy Co., 111., 
where he engaged in farming, and remained 
fifteen years; he then, in 1850, came to- 



CHANNAHON TOWNSHIP 



837 



Channahon, and engaged in general mer- 
chandise, and continued same until 1864, 
when he eauu' to his ))resent plaee and en- 
gaged in fhrniing, and lias remained here 
since ; he has held the offices of School 
Director, Justice of the Peace and Notary. 
His wife's parents were among the first 
settlers of this county, fleeing to the Wa- 
bash during the Black Hawk war. 

CHAR1.E8 McCOWAiN, farmer, Sec. 
7 ; P. 0. Channahon ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in New York, Sept. 28, 
1832; he married Miss Myra Newton, 
Jan. 1, 1854; she died in 1861; they 
had two children, one living, viz., Carrie; 
his present wife was Miss Lenna Curtis; 
they were married March 17, 1865 ; they 
had four children, one living, viz., Roy ; 
he lived in New York about three years, 
then came to this county, with his parents, 
who settled in this township ; he came to 
his present place about 1857, and has lived 
on same since ; he has been Poormaster 
and School Trustee ; he was considerably 
in debt on starting, and now owns sixty- 
live acres in this township. His father, 
Peter McCowan (deceased), was born in 
Edinburgh, Scotland; he married Miss 
Isabelle Tarrant ; she was born in En- 
gland ; they were among the first settlers of 
this township ; both have since died. 

GEORGE W. McCUNE, farming, Sec. 
26; P. 0. Elwood ; was born in Will Co., 
111., Feb. 25, 1841. He married Miss 
Clara E. Houghton Jan. 28,1869; she 
was born at Columbus, Ohio, April 6, 1849 ; 
they have four children, viz., James B., 
Etta, Emma and William G. He has al- 
ways resided in this county ; he is no office- 
seeker, his only office being connected with 
the schools ; he began farming on his own 
account on becoming of age, and owns 325 
acres in this township, which he has earned 
principally by his own labor ; his parents 
settled here prior to the Black Hawk 
war, and fled to Chicago during the 
same. 

JOHN T. RANDALL, farming, Sec. 
9 ; P. 0. Channahon ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Orleans Co., Vt., Aug. 
2, 1815. He married Miss B. S. Russell 
Sept. 4, 1836 ; she was burn in Wilbra- 
hani, Mass., April 24, 1815 ; they had six 
children, five living, viz., Albert T., Oscar 
T., Gershom A., Laura A. and Mary; 
Joseph R. died Jan 21, 1872. He lived 



in Vermt)nt ten years, when his parents 
moved to Western New York, where he 
lived until 1835 ; he then went to Cuya- 
hoga Co., Ohio, where he was marrit'd, and 
lived there until 1839, when he returned 
to his old home in New York, and lived 
there until 1849, when he came to Will 
Co., III., antl settled in Troy Tp., and lived 
there five years, when he came to his 
present place. Three of his .sons were in 
the army for the greater part of the war. 
He has been Supervisor of this and Troy 
Tps., and other offices connected with the 
school and road. He started in poor cir- 
cumstances, and now owns 271 acres in 
this township. 

CHARLES C. SMITH, farm and stock. 
Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Channahon ; the subject 
of this sketch was born in Jefferson Co., 
East Tenn., May 2, 1818. He married 
Miss Corinza Burr July 24, 1850 ; she 
was born in Tippecanoe Co.,Ind., June 19, 
1831 ; they had ten children, nine living, 
viz., Barton, Emma Jane, William T.. Ella 
May, Charles W., Lucy M., Corinza A., 
Sarah E. and Floyd H.; Edgar F. died 
Sept. 5, 1873. He lived in Tennessee ten 
years, when his parents moved to Fountain 
Co., Ind., and engaged in farming; 
remained until 1835 ; they then moved to 
Joliet, 111., where they carried on a general 
teaming business until 1840; he then fol- 
lowed peddling until 1847, when he came to 
his present plaee, and followed .stock-raising 
during the the summer, and acted as buyer 
for the American Fur Company during 
the winters until 1852, when he turned 
his entire attention to his farming and 
stock interests ; his business, though 
starting in a very small way, has grown to 
enormous proportions, and he is at present 
farming over 3,000 acres ; he is also very 
largely interested in stock-raising ; during 
the past year, he has bought an intere^cin 
a creamery at Channahon, 111., since which 
time he has added a dairy of 150 cows to 
his farming and stock business. He has 
been Road Commissioner some five years, 
and was Supervisor four years, one year 
receiving the unanimous vote. His father, 
Barton Smith, continued his residence 
in Joliet until he died in September, 1862 ; 
his mother, Mrs. Fat ha Smith, died in 
1875. Mr. Smith jiracticed as a veteri- 
nary surgeon in Joliet, and was Justice of 
the Peace and J^olice Magistrate. 



838 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



FRANKFORT TOWNSHIP. 



B. BAUMGARTNER, general mer- 
chant, Frankfort Station ; was born in 
Switzerland June 6, 1833; came to the 
United States in 1851, and settled in Illi- 
nois ; his first permanent residence in the 
State was in Frankfort Tp., commencing 
in 18G2. He was married to Miss Char- 
lotte Maue, who was born in Germany in 
1839 ; they have had five children, two of 
whom are living, viz., Emma and Albert ; 
deceased, George, Frankie and Lena. Mr. 
B. is at present holding the office of Town- 
ship Trustee ; has held office of Collector 
and several other offices previously. 

D. BRUMUND, farmer and stock-rais- 
er ; P. 0. Mokena ; was born in Germany 
Jan. 23, 1815 ; came to the United States 
in 1849, and settled in Will Co., 111. ; he 
has been a resident of Frankfort Tp. since 
1850 ; his farm consists of 300 acres, val- 
ued at $18,000. He was married to Miss 
Lena Folkers ; they have seven children, 
viz., J. H., Peter, Delia, Lena, Julia, 
Helen and Eliza. 

GEORGE BAUCH, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; was born 
in Germany Nov. 6, 1826; came to the 
United States in 1851, and to Illinois in 
the same year, when he located on his 
present farm, in Frankfort, Will Co. ; it 
contains eighty acres, valued at $5,000. 
He was married to Miss Katie Siepp, who 
was born in Germany ; thej^ have had 
seven children, all of whom are living, viz., 
Dan, John, Katie, Mary, George, William 
and Jacob. 

JOHN BREIDERT, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. New Bremen ; one of our 
early settlers ; was born in Germany June 
2-t, 1812 ; came to the United States in 
18-46, and this State and settled in Frank- 
fort in the same year ; his farm consists of 
100 acres, valued at $6,000. He was 
married to Miss Christina Press, who was 
born in Germany ; they have had seven 
children, six of whom are living, viz, 
Elizabeth, Christina, Gottlieb, John, Mar- 
garet and George ; deceased, Peter. The 
farm of Mr. B. is situated on Sees. 12 
and 11. 

JOSEPH S. CLAUS, of the firm of 
Claus Brothers, general merchants, Frank- 
fort Station; was born in Cook Co., 111., 



Dec. 29, 1844; came to Frankfort in 
1868, where he has since resided. He 
was married May 22, 1872, to Miss Mary 
E. Carpenter, who was born in Oneida Co., 
N. Y., June 18, 1845, and who died Sept. 
9, 1875. Mr. Claus is at present holding 
the office of Justice of the Peace, which 
position he has maintained nearly two 
years. 

NORMAN A. CARPENTER, retired, 
Frankfort Station ; was born in Oneida 
Co., N. Y., Oct. 4, 1818: came to this 
State in April, 1855, and settled in Frank- 
fort ; at that time, Mr. Carpenter says 
there was but one store in the village ; it 
was at that time owned by one Mr. Higley; 
he built immediately upon his arrival, and 
opened a store for general merchandise, 
which he continued until 1866; he was 
the second merchant in Frankfort ; the 
railroad running through this place had 
at this time just commenced doing business. 
Mr. C. was married to Miss Mary E. 
Stantial, who was born in England Sept. 
22, 1822; they have had three children, 
two of whom are living, viz., Emily and 
Eva ; deceased, Mary E. Mr. C. acted as 
first Postmaster, under Mr. M. Van Horn, in 
Frankfort Village ; the was the first official 
in that position in the village. 

JOHN CAPPEL, of the firm of Krapp 
& Cappel, butchers and dealers in live 
stock, Mokena ; one of our natives of Illi- 
nois ; was born in Frankfort, Will Co., 111., 
May 26. 1846, and is the son of the late 
Frederick Cappel, deceased, who was one 
of our first settlers and pioneers. Mr. J. 
Cappel was married to Miss Elizabeth 
Werner, \^ho was born in Illinois ; they 
have had five children, all of whom are 
living, viz., Julia, Emma, John, Willie 
and George. Mr. C. has held the office of 
Deputy Sheriff four years ; Collector, one 
year, and Township Clerk six years ; his 
property, which contains eight-five acre-, 
is situated on Sec. 10, and is valued at 
$4,000. 

CHARLES CLAYES, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; 
one of our early settlers ; was born in 
Monroe Co., N. Y., July 4, 1819; came 
to Illinois and settled in Will Co. in 183'5; 
and in Frankfort Tp. in 1837 ; his present 



FRANKFORT TOWNSITTP. 



839 



farm contains 295 acres, is situated on 
Sees. 21 and 1<>, and is valued at 818.000. 
He was married to Mis^s Eliza A.Williams; 
they have had seven children, six of whom 
are livinjz;, viz., Amelia L., Emma S., 
Mary J., Charles W., Mattie H. and 
Addie E.; deceased, an infant. Mr. C. 
was the first Township Clerk in the town- 
ship after its (irpinization. 

W. B. CLEVELAND, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; 
one of our early settlers ; was born in New 
York Sept. 21, 1820; came to this State 
and settled in Frankfort, Will Co., in 
1844 ; his farm consists of 125 acres, sit- 
uated on Sees. 19 and 20, and is valued at 
$7, 00b. He was married May 22, 1865, 
to Miss Stella M. Martin, who was born in 
Vermont Aug. 6, 1846 ; they have had 
six children, five of whom are living, viz.; 
Lillian E., Willie J., Clarence M., Mabel 
S. and Eva M. ; deceased, Emily L. Mr. 
C. has held the oflBce of Justice of the 
Peace eight years. Supervisor two years 
and School Trustee several years. 

HENRY ENGELMANN, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; 
was born in Germany Oct. 30, 1824; came 
to the United States in 1853, and settled in 
Monec Tp., Will Co., 111.; he removed from 
there to Frankfort in 1863 ; his farm con- 
sists of 120 acres, valued at $6,000. He 
was married to Miss Mary Voigt ; they 
have had four children, viz., Mary, Henry, 
Sophia and I ouisa. 

JOHNSON FOLKERS, butcher and 
dealer in smoked and salt meats, Frankfort 
Station ; was born in Germany June 1 1 , 
1835 ; came to the United States in 1846, 
and settled in Frankfort, Will Co., 111., 
in 1850. He was married to Sophia Eber- 
hart, who was born in Germany ; they 
have three children — Frank, Willie and 
Peter. Mr. F. was a participant in our 
late war; he enlisted in the 2()th I. V. I. ; 
served two years and was discharged with 
honor on account of disabilities, in Octo- 
ber, 1864. 

GEORGE FINK, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; was born 
in Germany Jan. 13, 1839; came to the 
United States in 1851, and settled in 
Frankfort, Will Co., 111. ; his farm con- 
sists of 109 acres, valued at ST.OOO, and 
is situated on Sec. 27. He was married to 
Miss Christina Briederdt; they have had 



seven children, six of whom are living, 
viz., Mary, Emma, George, Henry, Gus- 
tave and John ; deceased, Mattie. Mr. 
F. was elected Township Collector in April, 
1877 ; his time for the same oflBce expires 
April, 1879. 

HENRY GRONOW, farmer and stock- 
raiser; P. 0. Frankfort Station; one of 
our natives of Illinois ; was born in Frank- 
fort, Will Co., April 16, 1850; he is the 
son of John Gronow, who is one of our 
early settlers. The farm of Mr. G. con- 
sists of 130 acres, valued at S6,500. 
He was married to Miss Sophia Pauling 
Feb. 11, 1877, who was born in Du Page 
Co., 111., Sept. 23, 1851 ; they have one 
child — Aurelia. 

MRS. C. W. HARPER, farmer and 
stock-raiser; P.O. Mokena ; one of our early 
settlers ; was born in Kentucky, Aug. 3, 
1834 ; is the widow of the late Thomas 
Harper, deceased, who was born in England 
May 21, 1832 ; died July 28, 1870. He 
was one of our first settlers and pioneers. 
They were married March 5, 1857, and 
have had four children, all of whom are 
living, viz., Elizabeth F., Ann W., Susan 
E. and Thomas P. Mrs. H. continues 
the business in which her husband was 
engaged, namely, that of a farmer and 
stock-raiser ; her farm consists of 180 
acres, valued at S10,000. 

THOMAS HERSCHBACH, general 
hardware, Frankfort Station ; was born in 
Joliet, W^ill Co., Aug. 31, 1844; is the 
son of Henry Hei-schbach, who was one of 
our first settlers and jiioneers. Mr. H. 
was married to Miss Alvina Maue, who 
was born in Germany ; they have three 
children, all of whom are living, viz., 
Charles, Otto and Emma. 

N. P. HOLDEN, M. D., retired, 
Frankfort Station ; one of our early and 
most prominent settlers; was born in New 
Hampshire June 20, 1820 ; received a 
liberal education in boyhood ; at the age 
of 23, he entered Rush Medical College, 
at Chicago; graduated and received a 
diploma in 1846; his practice continued 
until the time of his retirement in Febru- 
ary, 1878; in 1854, he purchased the 
property he now owns, and which is 
j located on Sees. 26 and 25, and which 
contains 400 acres, valued at $20,000. 
Dr. H. was married to Miss Caroline 
Parrish June 30, 1847 ; they have had six 



840 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



children, three of whom are now living, 
viz., Wright, Milton and Franklin ; de- 
ceased, Charley, James and Sarah. 

PH1NP]AS HEMMENWAY HOL- 
DEN, was born in Hollis, N. H., May H, 
1792 ; was the son of David Holden and 
Bridget At well ; his father was born July 
31, 1769, and his mother was born in 
1770 : they were married July 31, 1788, 
and had fourteen children, to wit: David, 
born July 31, 1789 ; died Dec. 12, 1700; 
William Cummings, born Aug. 16, 1790; 
Phineas Hemmenway, born May 6, 1792, 
died Feb. 23, 1872; Bridget, born Jan. 
19, 1795, died Aug. 9, 1796; Josiah 
Rhodes, born Feb. 22, 1797; Bridget, 
born Dec. 10, 1798, died Sept. 12, 1800; 
Mira, born Nov. 28, 1800 ; David, born 
Dec. 27, 1802, died Dec. 11, 1833; Mil- 
ton, born July 11, 1804; Adam Mont- 
gomery, born May 18, 1806, died Oct. 5, 
1863; Sarah, born March 10, 1808; 
Lucetta, born March 4, 1810; Charles 
CocSworth Pinckney, born Jan. 10, 1812, 
died March 7, 1816; Mary Ann, born 
Sept. 17, 1814; died July 24, 1841; of 
these, Rhodes, Milton, Sarah and Lucetta, 
are still living ; Mr. Holden's grandparents 
were David Holden, born Dec. 10, 1738, 
and Sarah Hemmenway, born Oct. 25, 
1739 ; they were married July 13, 1761, 
and had nine children. David Holden, 
died Aug. 8, 1803, and Sarah Hemmen- 
way Holden, died April 7, 1830 ; his great- 
grandparents were John Holden, born 
about 1695, and Sarah Davis, born in 1700; 
they were married Nov. 22, 1715, and had 
ten children ; she died Dec. 21, 1753, and 
he died Dec. 27, 1753 ; John's grand- 
parents were Richard Holden, born in 
1609, and Martha Fosdick ; they were 
married between 1634 and 1639; they 
had nine children ; he died March 1, 1696, 
aged 87 years; she died in 1681. John, 
the last named, and his brother Justian, 
were born in Suffolk Co., Eng.; they were 
arrested in the streets of London for their 
adherence to Puritanism, but through the 
influence of a member of Parliament, 
named Holden, they were released and 
fled to Amctrica ; they embarked at Tip- 
wich, in April, 1634, in the ship Francis, 
and settled in Watertown and Cambridge, 
in Mas.sachusetts. The father of Phineas 
Hemmenway was a cooper by trade, and, 
with his young wife, early removed to 



Groton, N. H., where they settled on a 
small farm, where the subject of this 
sketch received as good an education as 
the country at that time afforded. His 
father was for many years one of the 
Selectmen of the town, quite a prominent 
position at that time, and died Oct. 13, 
1823; his mother died Dec. 30, 1839; 
Mr. Holden was married April 17, 1817, 
to Betsey Parker, daughter of Levi Parker, 
who was born June 25, 1752, and Abigail 
Pool, of Hollis ; her father had by his 
first wife, who was Rebecca Fletcher, of 
Westford, Ma'^s.: Levi, born Jan. 9, 1778; 
William, born in 1780; George, born Oct. 
11, 1783; by his second wife, whom he 
married in 1785: James, born Jan. 6, 

1787; Luther, born ; Calvin, born 

; Betsey, Jan. 14, 1792, and Samuel, 

June 23, 1800. Her grandparents were 
William Parker, of Groton, and Susanna 
Kemp, who were married March 30, 1736, 
and had: Susanna, born Feb. 10, 1737; 
William, Sept. 28, 1741; Tytil, born May 
1, 1744; Samuel, March 7, 1746 ; Isaac, 
born Jan. 22, 1749 ; Levi, June 25. 1752; 
Susanna, Oct. 10, 1755, and Ruth, no date 
given. Mrs. Holden's mother died July 

16, 1823, aged 64 years ; her father diid 
Sept. 10, 1825, aged 72 years; of the 
children, Samuel only is living ; he resides 
at Davenport, [owd ; is now 78 years old, 
but in good health. Mrs. Holden's father 
was an officer of the Revolution, and was 
attached to the command ot' Gen. Wash- 
ington, and stationed near West Point at 
the time of the treason of Gen. Arnold, 
and at which time Major Andre of the 
British army, was detected as a spy and 
arrested at Tarrytown, N. Y.,and executed 
at Tappan, on the Hudson River ; Lieut. 
Levi Parker saw him hung, and, so long as 
he lived, related the sad spectacle, and re- 
gretted that Arnold could not have been 
hung in his stead ; Lieut. Parker was a 
meritorious and gallant officer, serving 
during the war. Mr. and Mrs. Holden 
were married at Dunstable, Mass., Ai)ril 

17, 1817, and immediately commenced 
life together on a small farm in Groton, 
N. H. ; here they lived until 1830, when 
they removed with their family of six 
children to West Hartford, Vt.; at this 
place, Mr. Holden purchased 80 acres of 
land, mostly timber, and commenced his 
new farm with that energy only known to 



FRANKFORT TOWNSHIP. 



841 



those who have seen the ups and downs of 
New J]nL;;huul life ; they roniainod Wre 
until the spring of ISiUi, when they sold 
their little homestead, and, on June 1, 
emigrated with their family of nine chil- 
dren, for Illinois, arriving at Chicagi) June 
J>0, 1830; Mr. llolden's younger brother, 
Josiah, had settled in Will County, near 
Joliet, in 18!>-1, whither Mr. Holden and 
his family immediately jtroceeded; they 
found him and his family finely located on 
the Du Page River, about .seven miles below 
PKiintield, and were received with true 
Western hospitality ; shortly after this, Mr. 
Holden located a claim of 160 acres at 
Skunk Grove, on the headwaters of 
Hickory Creek ( now Frankfort j, where 
they commenced life in earnest on the 
prairie; they erected a snug log house, 
and here they struggled togethor for many 
years to raise their large family, working 
early and late, and economizing in every 
possible manner ; when they began their 
prairie home, the county was entirely new, 
the nearest neighbor on the south was 
thirty miles, at Bourbonnais Grove ; the 
nearest post ofiice, fourteen miles, at Joliet. 
Their claim was on the Sac trail, a path 
worn deep in the ground by the Indians ; 
this trail had been traveled for centuries, 
by all appearances — it was the Indians' 
direct route from Detroit to the Far West 
— it ran nearly on a bee-line ; the Indians 
had displayed such good judgment in lay- 
ing out this trail, that the settlers, as the 
country became settled, adopted it ; in 
many places this trail was worn for more 
than two feet in the earth, and no man of 
this day can tell or form any idea as to how 
long it had been traveled by the red man. 
Their family now consisted of pjlizabeth 
W., born in Tyngsboro, Mass., April 27, 
1818; Newton P.^ born at Groton, N. H., 
June 20, 1820; Mary Emeline, born in 
Groton, N. H , 8ept. 13, 1822; David L., 
born in Groton, N. H., Nov. 13, 1824 ; 
Charles C. P., burn in Groton, N. H., Aug. 
9, 1827 ; Sarah Ann C, born in Groton, 
N. H., Sept. 3, 1829: George M., born in 
West Hartford, Vt., July 11, 1831 ; Mira 
Jane, born in West Hartford, Vt., June 
30, 183!), and Levi Parker, was born in 
West Hartford, Vt., July 14, 1835; Mary 
Emeline was married to J. W. Freer, then 
a farmer on the Kankakee River, above 
Wilmington, in this State, Feb. 22, 1844; 



I she died of consumption, Nov. 28, 1845, 
leaving one .son, Henry C. Freer ; Sarah 
Ann C., died of consun)ption, Feb. 13, 

'■ 1847 ; she was a lovely girl, admired by 
all who knew her; she was the idol of her 

j father's I'amily ; the loss of these two 
loving daughters weighed heavily upon Mr. 

; Holden, as also upon the whole family ; 
Elizabeth W. was married to Cromwell 
Wilson, of Fort Madison, Iowa, Jan. 9, 

! 1848 ; Mr. Wilson is a retired capitalist ; 
they have never had any children ; they 
reside at Fort Madison. Newton P. was 
married to Caroline Parish, June 30, 1847, 

i at Bristol, 111. ; they have had : Sarah, 
Wright P., Milton and Frank ; Sarah 

; died Feb. 11, 1873, with consumption ; 

I Wright is studying law ; Frank is at 

i school, and Milt(jn is on his father's firm, 

I at Frankfort ; David L. was married to 
Miss Esther Parish in 1871, and has four 
fine boys — Homer Phineas, Charles C. P., 
Howard and Morton; George M. was 
married in 1851!, to Minerva Butler, and 

I had several children, two of whom only 
are living — Charles and William ; Mira 
Jane was married to J. M. Brown, and 
has had several children, two of whom only 
are living — Malcolm and Willis ; Levi 
Parker was married to Charlotte E. Rey- 
nolds in March, 1865; they have two 
lovely little girls — Birdie and Cora ; 
Charles C. P. was married, Sept. 17, 1855, 
to Sarah J. Reynolds who died July 26, 
1873, of purpura hemorrhagica, aged 37 
years 3 months and 15 days; Mr. and 
Mrs. Holden lived to see the country, 
which was a wilderness when they came to 
it, settled up and dotted all over with first- 
class farms, with villages in every direction, 
railroads running through all parts of the 
State, with one through their own farm ; 
they had lived to see all these things ac- 
complished, and their children well settled 
in life. April 17, 1867, they had their 
golden wedding, all their children being 
present, except Elizabeth ; many came 
from Chicago to congratulate the aged 
couple on their fiftieth anniversary of their 
wedding; it was a happy time fn* all — chil- 
dren and grandchildren. Mrs. Holden 
was afHieted with a cancer in the face, 
which first made its appearance in about 
1864; i(, continued to grow and spread, 
until Sept. 24, 1869, when she yielded up 

I other life this dreaded disease ; during the 



842 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



last years of her life, she had suiFered the 
most excruciating pain, but bore it all with 
a meekness and forbearance seldom to be 
met with in this world ; from her youth, 
she had been a consistent Baptist, not 
merely in word but in deed ; the privations 
she had to endure during many years after 
lier removal to Illinois, were met without 
a murmur, saying " it is all for the best"; 
she lived lor her family, and those she left 
behind her are sad witnesses of this fact ; 
she always had a kind word for everybody 
and none knew her but to lovelier; Mr. 
Holden took her death very hard, but 
would fill up the time as best he could in 
visiting his children in Chicago, Joliet and 
elsewhere ; he had been in his neighbor- 
hood quite a prominent man, always taking 
an active part in politics, but never seeking 
office ; he had been an original Henry Clay 
Whig, but since that party had become ' 
extinct, he had joined the Republicans ; 
when Lincoln was nominated for the Presi- 
dency the first time, in 1860, he was an 
anxious looker-on in the lobby of the 
Convention ; Lincoln having been an old 
Whig, he claimed that he would make a 
safe and good President ; of this he was j 
sure; the truthfulness of this assertion has 
been verified to the letter. Mr. Holden 
was present at the laying of the corner- 
stone for the Bunker Hill Monument, 
which corner-stone was laid bv Gen. La- 
fayette, June 17, 1825 ; he was a careful 
observer, and read much from the news- 
papers of the day, keeping well posted as 
regards current events ; early in February, 
1872, he took a severe cold, caused by a 
trip which he had .taken to visit his chil- 
dren in Chicago ; his condition was not 
thought to be dangerous, when, suddenly 
he was taken away, dying on February 2a, 
1872, at the good old age of 79 years 9 
months and 18 days ; he died on his farm, 
that which he located in August, 1836; 
he was buried by the side of Mrs. Holden 
and his two daughters, Emeline and Sarah, 
in a beautiful lot in Oakwood Cemetery, 
near Joliet. 

HON. CHARLES C. P. HOLDEN, 
Chicago ; is a native of Groton, New 
Hampshire ; he was born on the 9th of 
August, 18J7, and is the son of Phinea.s 
H. and Betsey P. Holden. His mother 
wajs the only daughter of Lieut. Levi 
jarker, of the Continental army. His 



parents had a small farm among the rugged 
hills of New Hampshire. In 1830, they 
removed to West Hartford, Vermont, set- 
tling on an eighty-acre farm, where they re- 
mained until June 1, 1836, at which time 
they removed, with their family of nine 
children, to Illinois. Arriving in Chicago 
on the morning of June 30, 1836, the 
family at once obtained conveyances and 
started for the country, first seeking the 
home of Josiah R. Holden, brother of the 
senior Holden, who lived a few miles below 
Plainfield, on the Du Page River, in Will 
County. After a brief visit, Mr. Holden 
located a claim at Skunk Grove on the 
headwaters of Hickory Creek, now Frank- 
fort. Mr. Holden received but a very 
limited education, having to go with his 
brothers and sisters a distance of three 
miles to a school kept in a rude log hut. 
Subsequently, the family had a school 
taught in their own house, and the teacher 
of the school was Mr. A. B. Safibrd, now 
a leading banker of Cairo. III. In 
1842, his father placed him in Charles 
Sweet's grocery store on North Water 
street, where the freisrht house of the 
Chicago & Northwestern Railway now 
stands. In 1845, he went into W. W. 
Barlow's bookstore, where he remained 
on a salary of $12 per month until the 
spring of 1847, at which time, the 
Mexican war still raging, he enlisted in 
Company F, 5th Regiment Illinois Volun- 
teers. Mr. Holden carried his musket for 
nineteen months, servins; until the close of 
the war. After a short visit to his home 
he entered the employment of A. H. & 
C. Burley, booksellers, at that time at 122 
Lake street in this city. He remained in 
their service until March 19, 1850, at 
which time he lefl, in company with seven 
others, by the overland route, for California, 
where he arrived early in July of that 
year. Mr. Holden immediately commenced 
mining, and following it closely for fifteen 
months in the dry diggings of Logtown, 
and on the Middle Fork of the American 
River, when in October, 1851, he joined 
his old employer, W. W. Barlow, and went 
to Napa Valley, where he entered into farm- 
ing and stock-raising, remaining here until 
the fall of 1853, when he closed up his 
operations, and took passage on the steam- 
ship Winfield Scott from San Francisco, 
December 1, for home. The second night 



FRANKFOHT TOWNSHIP. 



84S 



out, when off Santa Barbara, in a dense 
fog, th(> stoaini^hip was wrecked by running 
i»n the rocks of Anna Capa Island. Tlie 
passengers, liowever, were safely landed, 
arriving in New York January 1, 1854. 
From New York he went to New England, 
returning to Chicago, March 18, 1854. 
February 20, 1855, he entered the service 
of the Illinois Central Railroad Company 
in its land dcjiartment, with wliich cor- 
poration he continued until February 4, 
1873. September 17, 1855, Mr. Holden 
was married to Miss Sarah J. Reynolds, 
daughter of Isaac N. and Rue Ann Rey- 
nolds, of New Lenox, Will Co., 111. 
His wife was born on the farm where he 
married her ; her mother, Mrs. Reynolds, was 
a daughter of the late Abraham Holder- 
man, who was one of the first settlers in 
northern Illinois, having located a large 
tract of land at Holderman's Grove, La 
Salle and Kendall Counties, in 1830. Mr. 
Holderman was a native of Pennsylvania. 
In 1858, Mr. Holden was a delegate to 
the State Convention at Springfield, 111., 
at which Convention Abraham Lincoln was 
first brought prominently before the 
American people. In April, 1861, Mr. 
Holden was elected to the Common Coun- 
cil of Chicago. When Mr. Holden first 
entered the Council, the war had just been 
declared. The Council voted money and 
supplies liberally to its citizen volunteers, 
and through his own eft'ort, in 18G2, he 
raised a company (E) for the 88th Illinois 
Volunteers. This company was com- 
manded by his brother, Levi P. Holden, 
who had enlisted in the service at the be- 
ginning of the war in the 20th Illinois 
Volunteers. Subseijuently Capt. Holden 
was promoted to Major of the same regi- 
ment. He had one other brother in the 
service, David L. Holden, who was com- 
missary Sergeant of the 53d Regiment. 
Mrs. Holden also had two brothers in the 
service, one of whom, John H. Reynolds, 
a Sergeant in Company E, 88th Illinois 
Volunteers, died Januju-y 23, 1863, in 
hospital at Nashville, Tenn., just after the 
battle of Stone River. Joseph S. Reynolds 
another brother, was a Captain in the Yates 
Sharpshooters; and, after going with Sher- 
man to the sea, he returned home a Brig- 
adier-General. Mr. Holden had a repre- 
sentative in the army in the person of 
Alonzo C. Ide; Mrs. Holden had hers in 



the person of Harris Durkcc ; and her 
sister. Rowena P. Reynolds, had one in the 
person of Frederick A. Ilausmann. Late 
in 1864, when President Lincoln called for 
300,000 more, Chicago's quota was very 
large, and the various wards were called 
upon for their respective quota. Mr. Hol- 
den organized a draft association, of which 
he was President, for his ward (at that 
time the Tenth), to raise money to fill their 
quota, and succeeded in raising" nearly 
$52,000 for this purpose. There was no 
draft in this ward. 

In December, 1870, Mr. Holden was 
elected President of the Common Council, 
and at the time of the great fire, when all 
was confusion, the main part of the city 
in ruins, after looking over the field on 
the morning of Oct. 9, he quickly con- 
cluded that something had to be done to 
relieve the 100,000 people then in dire 
distress, and that, too, quickly. Calling 
to his aid Mr. 0. E. Moore and Capt. 
Miller, he took possession of the church 
on the corner of Ann and Washington 
streets, and here was formed a nucleus 
which subsequently became world-renowned 
for the great good done. At 3 o'clock in the 
afternoon of that ever memorable day, Mr. 
Holden had succeeded in getting together 
the Mayor and Police Commissioner Brown, 
when, at his request, the Hon. S. S. Hayes 
drew up the following proclamation : 

WiiERKAS, In the providence of God, to 
whose will we humbly submit, a terrible ca- 
lamity has befallen our city, which demands 
of us our best efforts for the preservation of 
order and the relief of the suffering; 

Be it known. That the faith and credit of the 
city of Chicago is hereby pledged for the nec- 
essary expenses for the re ief of the suffering. 
Public order will be preserved. The police 
and special police, now being appointed, will 
be responsible for the maintenance of the 
peace and the protection of property. All 
officers and men of the fire department and 
health department will act as special police- 
men without further notice. The Mayor and 
Comptroller will give vouchers for all supplies 
furnished by the different relief committees. 
The headquarters of the city government will 
be at tlie Congregational Church, corner of 
West Washington and Ann streets. All per- 
sons are warned against any acts tending to 
endanger property. .Vll persons caught in any 
depredations, will be immediately arrested. 

With the help of God, order and peace and 
private properly shall be preserved. The city 
government and committees of citizens pledge 
themselves to the community to protect them 



844 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



and prepare the way for a restoration of pub- 
lic and private welfare. I( is believed the fire 
has spent its force and all will soon be well. 
11. B. Maso.v, Mayor. 
Geougk Taylor, 
Comptroller. (By R. B. Mason.) 
Chahlks C. p. Holden, 
President Common Council. 
T. B. Brown. 
President Board of Police. 
Chicago, October 9, 1871. 

After the ^reat fire both political parties 
nominated him for the mayoralty. Hon. 
Joseph Medill was nominated upon what 
was termed the fire-proof ticket for the 
same position. The city press indorsed 
the fire-proof ticket. Mr. Holden, with 
his associates on the ticket, made a gallant 
fight, but were beaten at the polls, and the 
entire fire-proof ticket was elected. Mr. Hol- 
den continued to serve in theCouncil until the 
until the expiration of his term, Dec. 1, 1872. 
In February, 1873, Mayor Medill nominated 
Mr. Holden for the position of Police Com- 
missioner. Mr. Holden, being largely engag- 
ed in building at the time, declined the prof- 
fered position, as will be seen by the following: 
Hon. Joseph Medill, Mayok, 

Dear Sir: From the proceedings of the i 
Council last evening, I learn that my name 
was submitted by your honor as Police Com- 
missioner, to fill the vacxncy caused by the 
removal of Mr. Reno. While I am not only j 
willing but anxious to serve your honor and ' 
the best interest of the city in its present diffi- 
culties, my other positive engagements will not 
allow me to fill the proffered position. Thanking 
you most kindly for your preference, I have to 
ask that you will submit some other name and 
withdraw mine from the Common Council. 
I am, yours most respectfully, 

Charles C. P. Holuen. 

Mr. Holden was appointed West Chi- 
cago Park Commissioner by Gov. Palmer, 
in March, 1869, and re-appointed in 1871, 
for seven years. In 1872, he was one of 
the Greeley electors on the State ticket ; 
he was elected County Commissioner in 
November, 187-1, for the term of three 
years ; Mr. Holden was chosen President 
of the County Board on the first Monday 
in December, 187G ; the Court House had 
but just been commenced, but during his 
term of office he gave it his un(jualified 
attention, laying the corner-stone of the 
same July 4, 1877 ; the County Hospital 
was also begun and carried to completion 
during his tcirni of Commissioner ; in 
1867, Mr. Holden procured the charter 
for the Chicago & Illinois River Railroad, i 



and during its first years was its President ; 
it is now in operation between Joliet and 
Streator ; Mr. Holden is now engaged in 
building the Joliet & Mendota Short Line 
Railway. Mr. Holden's wife died after a 
long and painful illness, July 26, 1873 ; 
she was a most lovely woman, adored by 
all who knew her ; for nearly eighteen 
years she had been the joy of Mr. Hold- 
en's household, making all happy around 
her, and Mr. Holden attributes the great 
success which he had during those years 
to his departed and lovely wife ; soon aft- 
er their marriage, and in 1858, her sister, 
Rowcna P. Reynolds, came to live with 
the family, and has ever since been a mem- 
ber of it ; Mr. Holden's sister, Sarah Ann 
C, died of consumption in 1847 ; his sis- 
ter Mary Emeline, wife of Dr. J. W. 
Freer, died of consumption in 1846 ; his 
mother, Betsey Parker Holden, died of 
cancer in the face Sept. 24, 1869, aged 
78 years; his father, Phineas H. Holden, 
died of old age, hurried on by a severe 
cold, Feb. 23, 1872, aged 79 years and 10 
months; his wife and these members of 
his family now rest in the beautiful Oak- 
wood Cemetery, near Joliet, in this State. 
Mr. Holden was married to Miss Louise R. 
Jones, daughter of John Jones, of Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, on the 28th of April, 1875. 
Of his father's family living, there are 
Newton P. Holden, County Physician of 
Cook Co.; David L. Holden, station agent 
for the Illinois Central Railroad at Mat- 
teson. 111.; George M. Holden, long of 
this city, now in the employ of the city as 
one of its trusted officers; Maj. Levi P. 
Holden, at Hampton, Iowa; Mrs. Eliza- 
beth W. Wilson, of Ft. Madison, Iowa, 
and Mrs. Mira J. Brown, of Chicago. 

SARAH J. HOLDEN, daughter of 
Isaac N. and Rue Ann Reynolds, was born 
April 11, 1836; she was the second child 
of a family of ten children, the eldest be- 
ing a boy ; her parents, at the time of her 
birth, lived on a farm seven miles east of 
Joliet, in this State (now New Lenox); 
they were among the very first settlers in 
Will Co., having located there in 1834; 
Mrs. Holden's mother was the daughter of 
the late Abraham Holderman, one of the 
pioneers of Northern Illinois, having 
located at Holderman's Grove, in La Salle 
Co., in 1830. Mrs. Holden being the 
eldest daughter of thefamily, much devolved 



FRANKFORT TOWNSHIP. 



845 



on her, as is usually the case, especially in 
a now country ; and whtMi a men' child she 
exhibited those traits of industry that were 
so noticeable in her throui^h life. At the 
age of 7 years, pieced, with her own hands, 
a bedquilt, which is now in the possos- 
>ion of the bereaved husband as a relic of 
her industrious habits in her younger 
years. At the age of 1(1, while gathering 
gum from the wild rosin weed, on the 
prairie, in company with her younger 
brother, Joseph S. (now State Senator 
from Chicago), she was bitten by a rattle- 
snake, and, being some distance from her 
home, ere she reached it the virus had de- 
veloped itself throughout her system. 
Everything was done that could be to allay 
the poison ; physicians were, called, and, 
after weeks of great suffering, she slowly 
recovered from the effects of the bite of 
this most poisonous reptile. She received 
a good education at the district school and 
in the academies of Joliet and Plainfield. 
Mr. Holden can well remember seeing her 
by the roadside, going to and from school 
when a mere child, the Holden family liv- 
ing but a few miles from the Reynolds 
homestead. On Sept. 17, 1855, she mar- 
ried Mr. Charles C. P. Holden, and from 
that period till the day of her fatal sickness, 
it was her greatest pleasure to make her 
home pleasant, and friends around her hap- 
py. She always wanted some member of 
her parents' family included in her house 
hold, and, in the spring of 1858, she pre- 
vailed upon them to let her younger sister 
(Birdie) come and live permanently in her 
family. She loved her home, and very 
seldom took the usual pleasure-trips that 
most people enjoy so much. In 1857, she 
accompanied her husband on a trip to New 
England and the White Mountains. She 
liked well enough the trip of a couple of 
days, to Springfield, Cairo, Dubuque, or 
some other neighborhing city, but did not 
enjoy long ones. On one occasion, Mr. 
Holden was going to Cincinnati on busi- 
ness ; it was in 1870, and when asked if 
she would not like to go along, she replied, 
''No; I will stay at home. Birdie had 
better go." Again, Mr. Holden proposed 
to go to Niagara, but Mrs. Holden sug- 
gested that she preferred to remain at 
home, and said, "Take llattic and Birdie." 
And so it was at all times. When but a 
child it had been her greatest delight to aid 



her mother in her hou.sehold duties. Long 
before she was large enough to stand by 
the side of the table, she would get a chair 
and stand in that, and by so do- 
ing be enal)led to wash and wipe 
her mother's di.shes, which othcjrwise 
.she could not accompli.sii. She lost 
a dearly-beloved brother, who died ~ in 
hospital at Nashville, Tenn., a few days 
after the hard-fought battle of Stone River, 
in January,1863 — John H. Reynolds, who 
but a few months before had enlisted in 
Capt. L. P. Holden's company, in the 88th 
111. V. I ; and, the following spring, her 
younger brother, C. C. P. Reynolds, died 
of scarlet fever. I'he death of these two 
brothers seemed a hard blow to her. She 
had one other brother in the army, Gen. 
Joseph S., whom she followed with a si-ster's 
love until he went with Sherman to the 
Sea, and then returned in safety to his 
home. Her eldest brother, Abram H. 
Reynolds, lived with his f;imily at Wenona, 
111., and it was in the spring of 1867 that 
word came that his family were severely 
sick, when by the next train Mrs. Holden 
was en route for Wenona; and in a few 
days, when she returned, she brought with 
her his youngest daughter, then 3 years 
old, a lovely little girl. She had been named 
after Mrs. Holden, Sarah J. She had 
taken such a liking for little Sadie that she 
prevailed upon the parents to allow her to 
keep the child, and .she has ever since re- 
mained in the family, Mrs. Holden always 
taking the greatest pains to properly bring- 
up and educate her. Before her death, 
she would often speak of Sadie, hoping 
that she might continue to be a good girl 
and a blessing to the family. Mrs. Holden 
was very benevolent, and from the time she 
commenced housekeeping until the day of 
her sickness, she had one or more families 
whom she was aiding in various ways to 
make a livelihood, and someof those whom 
she had so befriended, with tears in their 
eyes, followed her remains to the tomb. 
Early in March, 1872, she went to visit 
her ])arents at New Lenox, as was usual 
with her several times a year, and, whilst 
at their home, on March 14th, was sudden- 
ly prostrated in sickness. She was taken 
violently sick with purpura hemorrhagica. 
Dr. Holden, her brother-in-law, who resides 
at Frankfort, was called immediately to her 
bedside, and did all that could be done to 



846 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



save her life. Dr. Casey, of Joliet, and 
Freer, of Chicago, were also called in con- 
sultation. For four months she lay at the 
point of death. Her mother and sisters 
Hattie, Birdie and Lottie (who came from 
Iowa on pui-pose to minister to her), were 
constantly in attendance, as was also her 
sister-in-law. Caroline P. Holden, for a 
large portion of the time; and her hus 
band attributes the saving of her life at 
that time to the extraordinary care and 
attention that she received from those 
above mentioned and others ; he believes 
if it had not been for Dr. Holden she could 
not have survived that first attack. In 
J uly, a change took place, and she slowly 
began to recover ; and, on Oct. 12, had 
so far recovered as to be enabled to once 
more look upon her own home; and never 
was mortal more happy at the result than 
was Mr. Holden. But, sad to say, she 
was not fully restored to health ; it was only 
partial, and that but temporary. She had 
several severe attacks during the winter of 
1873, the disease having assumed another 
character, aud now appeared in disease of 
the bladder. In the month of April, she 
expressed much anxiety for the health of 
her sister Birdie, whose constitution she 
feared was giving away, caused by over- 
watchfulness and care upon her during her 
long sickness ; and an opportunity having 
presented itself by which Rowena (Birdie) 
could take a trip with her brother Joseph 
S. Reynolds, to Europe, Mrs. Holden 
urged that she should do so; "for," she 
said, "it will, in all probability, save Birdie's 
life, and her absence will have no eflFect as 
to the final result with myself" Birdie 
lefl Chicago for this trip May 7, 1873, in 
company with her brother, her sister Hat- 
tie immediately taking her place until her 
return. It was a sad parting, the two 
sisters, who had been so closely allied to- 
gether for more than fifteen years, now to 
separate, and probably forever. In July, 
she commenced rapidly to fail; her mother 
and sister Hattie were constantly with her 
to alleviate her suffering as best they could. 
She gradually grew weaker, and, on Friday, 
July 25, at about 3 o'clock P. M., she 
called her husband to her bedside, when 
she said to him, " Charles, I cannot live 
but a little while. God has forgiven my 
sins, and I am ready to die." She then 
made various bequests — to her sister 



Birdie she gave her diamond ring and 
many other articles of great value and use- 
fulness ; to her sister Hattie she gave her 
watch and chain ; also a heavy plain ring, 
together with other articles ; to her sister 
Lottie she gave her pearl and jet jewelry ; 
to her mother, her sister-in-law Caroline 
(Dr. Holden's wife), her niece Sadie, and 
others, she gave beautiful presents. While 
making these bequests, she suddenly 
stopped and said, " Charles, what shall I 
give you ?" Thinking for a moment, she 
said, "Oh, I will give you my books." 
As she had quite a collection of valuable 
works, and knowing her husband's fondness 
for their library, no doubt flashed across 
her mind when she made this valuable 
gift. Mr. Holden asked her what dispo- 
sition she wished to make of her silver- 
ware — for she had a lai-ge quantity — her 
reply was, " Oh. you will need it." She 
had, at different times, brought money into 
the family, but, above all, had brought to 
her husband's aid, for more than seventeen 
years, her advice, which was to him of 
inestimable value. Soon after this conver- 
sation, she relapsed into a weak stupor, but 
was perfectly conscious when aroused, and 
during the night repeatedly assured those 
caring for her of her trust in the Savior. 
Toward morning she was suffering very 
much, and, as her mother was bending over 
her, in deep grief, the husband said, 
"Sarah, do you know your mother?" when, 
quickly looking up, she replied, " Why, 
bless your heart, yes. The Messenger 
came at 10:25 A. M., July 26, and 
then passed away one of the noblest and 
best women that ever adorned a house- 
hold. 

" Forever shall she be in praise, 

Named softly as the household name 

Of one whom God has taken." 

Her father and mother are still living. 
Her brother, Abram H., married Martha 
Link, and they have five children living : 
Sarah, his second daughter, has been 
adopted by Mr. Holden. Her brothers, 
Isaac, William and Gen. Joseph S., are 
still living, as also her sisters, Harriet A., 
Charlotte E. and Rowena P. ; the latter is 
a member of Mr. Holden's family. 

[Fiom the Chicago Evening Journal, July 28, 1873.] 

This forenoon, at 11 o'clock, the rela- 
tives and friends of C. C. P. Holden, Esq., 
assembled at his residence, No. 323 West 



FRANKFOIIT TOWNSHIP. 



847 



Monroe street, for the purpose of uniting 
with him in paying the last earthly tribute 
of respect to liis wife, deceased on Satur- 
day last. It will be remembered by the 
readers of the Journal, that early in the 
spring of 1872, Mrs. Holdcn, while on a 
visit to her parents at New Lenox, Will 
Co., in this State, was taken violently sick 
with purpura hemorrhagica, and for many 
months was not expected to live, bu^ finally 
a change took place, and in the following 
October she so far recovered as to be able 
to be brought home. She gained steadily 
until the middle of December, when she 
was again prostrated by severe sickness. 
From this attack she partially recovered in 
the months of March and April, but in the 
month of 31ay she was again attacked with 
more severity than ever, resulting in her 
death, as stated. The deceased was a few 
months over 37 years of age, and was mar- 
ried to Mr. Holdeu on Sept. 17, 1855 ; 
she was the daughter of Isaac N. and Rue 
Ann Reynolds, upon whose farm, in Will 
Co., she was born ; she was a granddaugh- 
ter of the late Abraham Holderman, who 
was one of the original pioneers of North- 
ern Illinois, having settled at Holderman's 
Grove, La Salle Co., in 1831. Mrs. 
Holden was a woman of most amiable dis- 
position and great kindness of heart. Her 
manners were very engaging, and all who 
knew her were won by the kindness which 
always illuminated her face with its attract- 
iveness. She was eminently domestic in 
all her tastes, finding the happiness of her 
life in her family, and studying to make 
home attractive, and those she loved happy. 
During her entire and most distressing ill- 
ness, she constantly exhibited a childlike 
trust in God and submission to His will 
that most beautifully illustrated the con- 
solations afibrded by a religious faith. Only 
the day before her death, she called her 
friends about her, assured them of her trust 
in the Savior, her belief that she could not 
live, her readiness to die, and then passed 
away in the hope of a blessed immortality. 
Mr. Holden, in this deep affliction, has the 
heartfelt sympathy of an extended circle of 
friends, as was attested by the large num- 
ber present at the funeral services this 
morning. Among the prominent citizens 
present were Hon. L. L. Bond, Samuel 
Hoard, E. F. Runyan, Alderman Wilce, 
ex-Aldermen Daggy and Salisbury, E. S. 



Albro, Alderman Batehum, and C. N. 
Holden. The house was filled to overflow- 
ing with friends of the family, all desirous 
of viewing the face of the " dear departed,'' 
ere her remains should be laid away for- 
ever in the silent tomb. In the center of 
the front parlor stood the elegant metallic 
casket in which reposed the remains of 
the deceased lady. The casket was beau- 
tifully adorned with flowers and sprigs of 
evergreens, and at the foot stood a small 
harp encircled by flowers of sweetest fra- 
grance. On the top of the burial case, 
surrounded by a wreath of white roses, 
there was a silver plate bearing the follow- 
ing inscription : " Sarah J. Holden. Died 
July 2(), 1873, aged 37 years 3 months 
and 15 days." Around the casket con- 
taining the sacred clay were gathered the 
husband, child, father, mother, brother, 
and several other relatives of the deceased. 
The solemn and impressive ceremonies 
were opened with music, a portion of the 
choir of the Second Baptist Church singing 
a plaintive dirge, with organ accompani- 
ment. After the singing. Rev. T. W. 
Goodspeed, of the same Church, read a 
portion of Scripture from the eighth chap- 
ter of Romans. He then proceeded to 
make some very appropriate and touching 
remarks, setting forth the more prominent 
characteristics of the deceased, mentioning 
several interesting incidents of her illness, 
and her religious experience, etc. He 
spoke from a personal acquaintance with 
the departed one, of her amiability and 
many virtues. At the close of his address, 
the choir sang the well-known hymn com- 
mencing: "Sister, thou wast mild and 
lovely." At the conclusion of this exer- 
cise, Rev. E. S. Osgood, D. D., an old and 
intimate friend of the Holden family, made 
a few remarks appropriate to the occasion, 
and then the friends took a final look at 
the face of the deceased, and amid sobs 
and tears which told of the heavy sorrow 
resting upon many hearts, the casket was 
closed and borne to the waiting hearse, 
Messrs. Aldermen W^ilce and Bateham, 
E. S. Albro, Prof Palmer, J. T. Lit- 
tle and David Cole acting as the pall- 
bearers. A long line of carriages was 
then formed, and the funeral cortege 
slowly wended its way to Rosehill Ceme- 
tery, where the remains were deposited in 
a vault. 



848 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



LINES ON THE DEATH OF MRS. C. C. P. 
HOLDKN. 

0, weary, surt'ering one, 
How sweet must he the blessed hoar of rest ! 
Life's hibors ended, duties nobly done, 
The tired hands folded on the peaceful breast, 
No more life's road by weary feet is trod ; 
Slie rests in peace — the perfect peace of God, 
That passeth understanding — all the strife. 
The conflict, ended, and the crown of life 

And victory is won. 

We will not call her dead — 
Only passed on a little while before us; 
Though very bitter are the tears we shed. 
And dark the clouds of sorrow brooding o'er us, 
A light comes through the open gates of heaven. 
Glimpses of Glory to our souls are given ; 
T'he still, small voice, calming the troubled deep. 
Whispers, " He giveth His beloved sleep;" 

And we are comforted. 

Passed from our longing sight, 
Like stars at dawn of day — not dead, but risen, 
Ascended to the morning-land of light ; 
Like a glad bird escaping from its prison, 
The soul has found its wings, and soars on high, 
Throwing the worn-out mortal garments by — 
Borne by the Angels to the realms of day. 
Where God Himself shnll wipe all tears away, 

And there is no more night. 

The tears of sorrow shed 
Are not for her, our beautiful departed ; 
But for ourselves we mourn uncomforted. 
Left desolated, alone, and broken-hearted. 
And longing with unutterable pain 
To hear the sweet and loving voice again, 
The dear companionship of love to share 
That once made life so beautiful and fair ; 
What bitter grief to know the holy light 
Of loving eyes no more will bless our sight ! 

Alone life's path to tread. 

Alone and desolate, 
But not forsaken. Love can never perish ; 
The faithful dove cannot forget her mate, 
Nor cease Love's holy memories to cherish. 
The faithful friend, the gentle, loving wife. 
The brightest jewel in the crown of life — 
Love ! most precious gift to mortals given. 
Gone, but not lost, — to be restored in Heaven — 

For this we pray and wait ! 

LouESA Sanger. 
Fkaj«ikkort, Will Co., July, 1874. 

SIMON HOIIENSTEIN, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Mokena ; was born in 
Germany Sept. 17, 1837; came to the 
United States in 1853, and to this State, 
and settled in this county in the same year. 
His farm consists of eighty- five acres, 
valued at $6,000. He was married to 
Charlotte Knai)p, who was born in Ger- 
many ; they have had seven children, six 
of whom are living, viz., Simon, Charley. 



Daniel, Conrad, Charlotte and Peter ; de- 
ceased, Charlotte J. Mr. H. is at present 
holding the office of Assessor ; he has held 
office of Collector in Greeiigarden one 
year, and one year in Frankfort Tp 

WESLEY D. JONES, fmnerand stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. 3Iokena; one of our first 
settlers ; was born in Vermont Sept. 29, 
18-4 ; came to this State with his father's 
family in 1844. His farm, which is located 
on Sees. 5 and 16 in Frankfort Tp., and 
on Sec. 32 in Orland, Cook Co., consists 
of 220 acres, and is valued at $11,000. 
He was married to Miss Helen Granger 
Dec. 11, 1854; they have had seven chil- 
dren, six of whom are living, viz., Wright, 
Albert L., Mary, Nellie, Allanson G. and 
Lottie ; deceased, Lloid. 

PHILIPP KLEPPER, manufacturer 
of carriages and wagons, Frankfort Station ; 
was born in Germany Sept. 3, 1842 ; came 
to the United States with his father's family 
in 1847, and settled in Frankfort Tp. Mr. 
K. was married to Miss Mary Droesler*; 
they have had six children, three of whom 
are living — Henry, Mary and Nannie ; 
deceased, Etta, John and Philip. 

KARL KNAPP, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Mokena ; was born in Ger- 
many Jan. 6, 1818; came to the United 
States in 1850, and settled in Ohio, where 
he remained one year ; he then removed to 
Illinois and settled in Will Co. ; he has 
been a resident of Frankfort for the past 
eighteen years. His farm consists of 
eighty acres, valued at $5,000. He was 
married to Miss Katherina Knapp; they 
have had eleven children, eight of whom 
are living, viz., Charlotte, Karl, Daniel, 
Christian, Carolina, Johannas, Katherina 
and August ; deceased, Daniel, Carolina 
and Nicholas. 

MARTIN KRAPP,of thefirra of Krapp 
& Cappel, butchers and dealers in live-stock ; 
P.O. Mokena; wasborn in Germany Oct. 2, 
1831 ; United States in 1854, and to this 
State in the same year, when he settled in 
Blue Island ; he removed from there to 
Mokena. in 1857. He was married to 
Miss Katrina Steffan April 25, 1857 ; 
have had four children, three of whom are 
living, viz., Sophia, Louisa and Emil. Mr. 
Krapp has held office of Township Trustee 
in Frankfort Tp. nine years. 

CHARLES KARCH, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; was bora 



FRANKFORT TOWNSHIP. 



849 



in Herkimer Co., N. Y.. July it, 1844; 
fame to this State with his father's family 
in 1848, and settled in Frankfurt, Will 
Co., 111., ; he i."^ the son of H. J. Karch, 
who is one of our first settlers and pioneers ; 
his farm consists of IDO acres, valued at 
Sl(l,UOll. lie was married iMay 17, 1876, 
to Miss Mary Kam|ie, who was born in 
Cook Co., 111., Feb. 27, 1855. Mr. 
Karch has, in connection with his farming 
pursuits, the agency for the sale of all kinds 
of farming implements and the Wilson 
Sewing Machine ; also has been general 
insurance atjent for five years. 

FRED KEMPE, farmer and stock- 
raiser; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; was born 
in Germany, April 14, 1826; came to 
the United States in 1854, and to Illinois 
in the same year; he has been a resident 
of Frankfort fur the past fifteen years; 
his farm consists of 325 acres valued at 
SI 5,000. He was married to Miss Lottie 
Haemyn who was born in Germany; they 
have hud nine children, four of whom are 
living — Mary, Johnnie, Fred and Katie ; 
deceased. Christian, Doretta, Willie, Lottie 
and Henry. 

PP:TER KALMER, farmer and .stock- 
raiser; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; one of our 
early settlers ; was born in Germany Nov. 
15, 1828 ; came to the United States with 
his father's family in 1852, and to this 
State and settled in Will Co. in the same 
year ; his farm consists of 125 acres, val- 
ued at $4,500. He was married to Miss 
Catherine Kalmer, was born in Germany ; 
they have had ten children, seven of whom 
are living, viz., Carolina, Phillipena, Mary, 
Charley, Ranta, Lizzie and Albert ; de- 
ceased, Daniel, Katie and Jacob. 

J. R. LETTS, grain dealer and com- 
mission merchant, Frankfort Station; 
was born in Woodstock, Ont., Oct. 10, 
1830 ; came to this State in 1845, and 
settled in Frankfort in 1855 ; he is a 
son of the late Jeremiah Letts, deceased. 
Was married July 26, 1854, to Miss 
Hulda Doty, who was born in Ohio, June 
8, 1830; they have had nine children, 
all of whom are livintr, viz.: J. W., G. D., 
F. C, J. B., F. L.,' D., B., F. and L. 
Mrs. Letts died June 29, 1875. Mr. L. 
married again to Mis.s E. Williamson, who 
was born in Ohio April 16, 1831. He 
has held the office of Constable one term, 
and during the war held the office of War 



Fund Commissioner nearly one year. 

W 1 LL I A M H . L()( J A N . ca r riage and 
huu.se i)ainter, grainer, and proprietor of 
Sorghum Works, Frankfort Station ; wa» 
born in Frankfort, Will Co., Jan. 20, 
1849; is the son of James Logan, who is 
one of our early settlers. Mr. L. was 
married to Miss Adele S. Quackenbush, 
who was born in New y<irk May 25, 
1850 ; they have two children, viz.: Clara, 
Belle and Frank W. 

JOHN McDonald, dealer in grain, 
salt, coal, flour and hay, Frankfort 
Station ; one of our early and prominent 
settlers ; was born in Queens Co., Ireland, 
Dec. 11, 1823; came to the United 
States in 1841, and to this State in 1849; 
his first permanent re.sidence in this State 
was in Frankfort, where he has since re- 
sided. He was married to Mi.ss Elizabeth 
Doty, who was born in New Lenox, Will Co.^ 
111.; they have three children, all of whom 
are living, viz., Herbert J., Edward E. 
and Charles H. He has been a success- 
ful dealer in grain for the past nineteen 
years ; he is also serving his third term of 
office as Supervisor of Frankfort Tp. 

JACOB MUELLER, general mer- 
chant, Frankfurt Station; was born in 
Germany June 19, 1821; came to the 
United States in 1855, and to this State 
in 1856, and settled in Will Co.; he has 
been a resident of Frankfort for the past 
nine years ; since his residence in thi& 
township he has held the office of School 
Director three years. He was married 
to Miss Catharina Sheer ; they have had 
seven children, four of whom are nuw 
living, viz.: Minnie, John, Ella and George; 
deeea.sed. Louisa, Daniel and Julia. 

MARTIN MUFF, proprietor of sample 
rooms and meat market, Frankfort Station ; 
was born in Germany May 8, 1834 ; came 
to the United States in 1852, and settled 
in the township of Frankfort ; followed 
farming here until 1863. In 1873, was 
elected President of the Frankfort Ger- 
mania Saengerbund, which received its 
certificate, duly signed and acknowledged, 
having been filed in the office of the Secre- 
tary of State June 22, 1875, for the legal 
organization of said society ; the property 
vested in this society, and of which Mr. 
Muff in President, consists of a hall located 
in the village of Frankfort, and three acres 
of land, situated in the same township. 



850 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Mr. MuflFwas married to Miss Maria Haen ; 
they liave had eleven children, eight of 
whom are living, viz., Jacob, Caroline, 
Theresa, Henry, Emma, Fred, August and 
Albert ; deceased — George and Charlotte, 
twin.s, and Henrietta. He has held office 
of Constable six years ; his term for the 
same expires in April. 1880. 

OZIAS McGOYNEY, general mer- 
chant ; P. 0. Mokena ; one of our first set- 
tlers and pioneers ; was born in Adams Cb., 
Ohio, Dec. 4, 1824 ; came to this State 
with his father's family, and settled in the 
township of Frankfort, Will Co., in 1831. 
He received a liberal education in boyhood, 
and at the age of 25, was admitted as at- 
torney and solicitor in the courts of this 
State. Since his residence in the township, 
he has acted as Justice of the Peace twenty- 
one years, and post office official three 
years. He was married Jan. 20, 1846, 
to Miss Matilda J. Ellsworth, who was 
born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Feb. 23, 
1829 ; they have had eight children, six 
of whom are living, viz., Nancy, 0. E., 
Emily M., Hattie, Arthur W. and Jessie ; 
deceased, Mary E. William W. 

NICHOLAS MARTI, farmer and 
stock -raiser ; P. 0. Mokena ; was born in 
Switzerland Sept. 26, 1824 ; came to the 
United States in 1851, and to this State, 
and settled in this county in the same year. 
His form consists of 155 acres, valued at 
$10,000. He was married to Miss Mary 
Baumgartner, who was born in Switzerland ; 
they have nine children, viz., Nicholas, 
Caroline, Charlotte, Albert, Fredericl^, 
Frank, Mary, John and Emma. The farm 
of Mr. Marti is situated on Sees. 9 and 16. 
• He is at present Commissioner of Highways. 

ALEXANDER xMcGLASHAN, farm- 
er and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Frankfort Sta- 
tion ; one of our first settlers and pioneers ; 
was born in Scotland May 10, 1822 ; came 
to the United States in 1836, and to this 
State in the same year, when he settled in 
Chicago ; he removed from there to Frank- 
fort in 1843. His farm consists of 320 
acres, valued at ^16,000. He was married 
to Miss Leah Stone, who was born in 
England ; they have seven children, viz., 
Annie, William, Charlotte, Sue, Laura, Jes- 
sie and Edith. 

HUGH McKEOWN, blacksmith, 
Frankfort Station ; one of our early settlers ; 
was born in the city of Belfast, Ireland. 



Feb. 2,1834. He is the son of the late Hugh 
McKeown (deceased), who did an ex- 
tensive business in the city of Belfast as 
millwright. Mr. M. came to the United 
States in 1856, and to this State, and set- 
tled in Will Co. in the same year. He was 
one of our early settlers ; was born in the 
city of Belfast, Ireland, Feb. 2, 1834 ; 
came to the United States in 1856, and to 
Illinois, and settled in Will Co. in the same 
year. He was married to Miss Margaret 
Magee, who was born in Whitehouse, Ire- 
land, March 21, 1836 ; they have had six 
children, four of whom are living, viz., 
William C, Albert W., Laura A. and 
Edith E. ; deceased. Edward C. and Hugh 
Thomas. Mr. McKeown is the oldest 
blacksmith in tbe village of Frankfort. His 
residence and shop are situated on Block 
10, and are valued at S3. 500. 

HENRY NETTELS, grain buyer, 
Frankfort Station ; born in Germany Feb. 
2, 1826; came to the United States in 
1853, and settled in Frankfort, Will Co., 
111. He is one of the first German settlers 
in Frankfort. He was married to Miss 
Sophia Ilgen ; they have had one child — 
Clara. Mr. N. was married again, to Miss 
Caroline Ilgen ; they have had seven chil- 
dren, four of whom are living, viz., Hugo, 
Frank, Isabella and Charley ; deceased, 
Caroline, Anna and an infant. Mr. N. has 
held office of Constable in Frankfort Tp., 
nine years. Collector one year and Assessor 
seven years. 

U'. B. OWEN, farmer and stock -raiser ; 
P. O. Frankfort Station ; one of our first 
settlers and pioneers ; was born in Clark 
Co., Ky., Jan. 24, 1826; came to this 
State, and settled in Frankfort, Will Co., 
in 1834, at which time, there was not to 
exceed twelve families located in this town- 
ship. He is the son of the late Francis 
Owen, deceased, who preached the first 
sermon, and was the first local minister in 
the township. Mr. 0. was married Jan. 
22, 1861, to Miss C. A. Cleveland, who 
was born in Delaware Co., N. Y., Nov. 15, 
1841 ; they have had seven children, viz., 
Mary Antoinette, Cora L., Francis Belle, 
Gracie E., James W., William C. and 
Edward F. The farm of Mr. 0. is located 
on Sees. 30 and 18 ; it contains 110 acres 
and is valued at S6,500. 

JAMES L. OWEN, farmer and breed- 
er of Norman or Percheron horses from 




.vl'£^t^*fi'' 





?7Zt/i^ 



CHANNAHOf^ TR 



FRANKFORT TOWNSHIP. 



853 



imported stock ; P. O. Mokena ; one of 
our first settlers and pioneers ; was born in 
Clarke Co., Ky., Sept 19, 1824; came to 
this State with his father's family and set- 
tled in Frankfort Tp., Will Co., in 1834, 
although the township at that time was 
not or<::anized and did not have a name ; 
he is the son of the late Francis Owen, 
who purchased the first land pre-empted 
from the Government that is now in the 
township of Frankfort ; hi.s pursuits have 
been those of a farmer and stock raiser 
from boyhood ; he has been a breeder of 
the Norman or Percheron horse since 
18()5. and a breeder of and dealer in the 
the English draft horse since 1853 ; he is 
now one of our largest live-stock dealers in 
the county ; his farm consists of 400 acres, 
valued at S25,000. He was married Dec. 
23, 1853, to Miss Catherine Madden, who 
was born in the city of Dublin. Ireland, 
Dec 25, 1822; Mrs. Owen, during her 
recent travels through Europe (A. D. 
1874) visited Glassneven Churchyard, Ire- 
land, wherefrom she plucked tufts of grass 
from the graves of Daniel O'Cornell and 
William P. Allen and also from the graves of 
Michael Larkin and Michael O'Brien, who 
■were hanged by order of the British Govern- 
ment A. D. 18G7, and whose last words were, 
" God .save Ireland ;" the monuments had 
been newly decorated ; she had also the 
honor to visit St. Michael's Churchyard 
wherein is the grave of Robert Emmett, 
who was the leader of the Irish insurrection 
of 1 803 ; the place of burial, over which she 
waved the American flag, is marked ac- 
cording to his refjuest, with but a single 
slab which bears no epitaph. 

Most tombs are engraved with the names of the 

dead, 
But yon dark slab declares not whose spirit has 

fled 

D. W. PADDOCK, retired ; P. 0. Mo- 
kena ; one of our first settlers and pio- 
neers ; was born in Washington Co., N. 
Y., June 7, 1810; came to Illinois in 
1834, and settled in Cook Co. ; he re- 
moved to Will Co. in 1849, and settled in 
New Lenox ; he has been a resident of 
Mokena for the past twenty-five years. 
He has held the office of Postmaster eleven 
years and three months. He was married 
to Miss Julia N. Campbell May 1, 1853; 
the}^ have had six children, one of whom 
is living, viz., Harriet; deceased, four 



infants unnamed and Ira, aged 4 years and 
6 months. 

CHARLES RAHM, farmer and stock- 
raiser; P. O. Frankfort Station; one 
of our early settlers; was born in Ger- 
many Jan. 21, 1835; came to the 
United States in 1847, and to Frankfort, 
Will Co., III., in the same year; his farm 
consists of 240 acres, is situated on Sec. 
36, and is valued at SI 2,000. 

ALEXANDER REID, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. O. Frankfort Station ; one 
of our first settlers and pioneers ; born in 
Scotland March 22, 1816 ; came to the 
United States in 1838, and to this State, 
and settled on the Yankee Settlement in 
the same year ; he removed from there to 
Frankfort in 1846. His farm con.sists of 
475 acres, valued at $28,000 ; it is situated 
on Sees. 12 and 13. 

JAMES SUTHERLAND, manufact- 
urer of carriages, wagons and farming im- 
plements, Frankfort Station ; was born in 
Scotland Sept. 16, 1842 ; came to the 
United States in 1864, and settled in 
Frankfort in 1869. His business, since 
his residence in the township, has been that 
of a manufacturer and dealer in carriages 
and farm implements. He was married 
to Miss Mary Dunnett. who was born in 
Scotland; they have seven children, viz., 
Mary, Maggie, Matilda, Kenneth, Edith, 
Evan and Harold. 

D. S. STEPHEN, of the firm of Stephen 
Bros., manufacturers of agricultural imple- 
ments, wagons, buggies, etc., Frankfort 
Station ; one of our early settlers ; was born 
in Scotland March 14, 1836 ; came to the 
United States in 1843, and to Illinois in 
1844, when he settled in Homer, Will Co., 
excepting three years absence in Michigan, 
his residence has been in Will Co. He 
was married to Miss Addie C. Bathrick ; 
they have had two children, viz., Marian 
F. and Edwin L. 

JOSEPH S. STEPHEN, Notary Pub- 
lic, collector and conveyancer, Frankfort 
Station ; one of our early and active set^ 
tiers ; was born in Scotland June 10, 
1841 ; came to the United States in 1843. 
He has been a resident of Will Co. for the 
past thirty-four years. Since his residence 
in Frankfort, which commenced in 1847, 
his business has been, at first, that of a 
farmer boy, receiving a liberal education. 
He, at theageof 31, entered into the grain 

13 



854 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



business, also, at about the same time, he 
was elected Justice of the Peace; he re- 
tained the position four years. As a par- 
ticipant in the h^c war, he served in the 
20th and 134th 111. V. I. three years and 
six months. He was married to Miss 
Helen Mitchell July 3, 1866. 

JOHN SCHUBERTH, general hard- 
ware merchant, Mokena ; one of our early 
settlers ; was born in Germany May 9, 
1838 ; came to the United States with his 
father's family in 1847 ; he is the son of 
Andrew Schuberth. Mr. John Schuberth 
was married to Miss Catherine Cappel Jan. 
27, 1863; she was born in Germany 
June 17, 1844; they have had ten 
children, five of whom are living, viz., 
John, Heny, Andrew, Georgie and Fran- 
cie ; deceased, "Johnnie. Elizabeth, Caro- 
line, an infant and Mary. Mr. S. has 
held the offices of Collector and Super- 
visor in Frankfort Township three years 
and six months. 

PETER SCHEER, farmer and stock' 
raiser ; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; one of 
our early settlers ; was bore in Germany 
Sept. 18, 1836 ; came to the United 
States in 1847, and to this State and 
settled in Frankfort, Will Co., in the 
same year ; his farm consists of 180 acres, 
valued at $12,000. He was married to 
Miss Louisa Dralla, who was born in 
Germany; they have had two children, 
viz., Valentin and Emma. His farm is 
situated on Sees. 15 and 22. 

MATH IAS STELLWAGEN, farmer 
and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; 
one of our early settlers ; was born in Ger- 
many May 12, 1832 ; came to the United 
States in 1842, and to this State in 1844, 
when he settled in Frankfort, Will Co. ; 
his farm consists of 240 acres, valued at 
$14,000 ; it is situated on Sees. 14 and 15 
in Frankfort Tp., and Sec. 32 in Orland 
Tp., Cook Co. Mr. S. was married to 
Miss Margaret Stellwagen ; they have had 
six childru, viz., William, John, Marga- 
ret C, Henry, Jacob and George A. 

JOSEPH SUTTON, farmer and stock 
raiser ; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; one of 
our early settlers ; was born in England 
June 12, 1833 ; came to the United States 
in 1844, and to Illinois in the same year ; 
he has been a resident of Frankfort for the 
past thirty-four years ; his farm conhists 
of 117 acres, valued at 86,000 ; it is sit- 



uated on Sec. 29. He was married Marcb 
18, 1869, to Miss Sophia Unruh ; they 
have one child, viz., Ella. 

FRED SCHEER, farmer and stock- 
raiser; P. Frankfort Station ; one of 
our early settlers ; was born in Germany, 
Sept. 7, 1839; came to the United States, 
with his father's family, in 1848, and set- 
tled in this State ; his farm consists of 180 
acres, valued at $10,000. He was mar- 
ried to Miss Elizabeth Rheingley, who waa 
born in Germany ; they have had two 
children, viz., Louisa and Herman. Mr. 
S. is now holding office of Street Commis- 
sioner. 

MATHEW VAN HORNE, former 
and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Frankfort Station : 
was born in New Lenox, Will Co., Aug. 
18, 1839 ; he is the son of the late Mathew 
Van Home, deceased, who was one of our 
first settlers and pioneers ; the farm of Mr. 
V. consists of 120 acres, valued at $8,000. 
He was married Dec. 25, 1860, to Misa 
Viola J. White, who was born in La Porte 
Co., Ind. ; they have had two children, 
viz., Carrie A. and Hattie C. 

G. A WEINMANN, manufacturer of 
and dealer in furniture, coffins, caskets, 
etc., Frankfort Station; was born in Du 
Page Co., 111., Dec. 3, 1846; came to 
Frankfort, Will Co., in 1876 ; is the son 
of J. M. W^einmann, of Richton, Cook 
Co., 111. He was married to Miss Sophia 
Rathje; they have one child — Frederick. 

MORRIS WEISS, druggist; P. O. Mo- 
kena ; wus born in Germany Jan. 10, 1830 ; 
came to the United States in 1854, and 
settled in Mokena, Will Co., 111. ; he is 
the first proprietor, and builder of the first 
drug store in the village. He was married 
to Miss Julia Schick, who was born in 
Germany Oct. 18, 1834. Mr. W., since 
his residence in the township, has held the 
office of Township Clerk nine years in suc- 
cession, Justice of the Peace six years and 
is at present Township Treasurer. 

C. B. WILLIAMS, proprietor of 
Frankfort Hotel, livery and sale stable, 
Frankfort Station ; was born in Maryland 
March 27, 1827; came to Illinois, and 
settled in Grundy Co., Norman Tp. ; his 
present farm, which is there situated, con- 
sists of eighty acres, and is located on Sec. 
36 ; valued at $4,000. He was married 
Nov. 17, 1853, to Miss Sophronia D. Mis- 
ner ; they have had two children, one of 



TLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



855 



whom is living, viz., Cynthia F. ; deceased, 
Lucinda. Mr. W. has held the uffit-es in 
Norman Tp. of Road Conimis.sioiuT and 
School Director five years. 

G0TTL1P:B WERNER, farmer and 
stock-raider, P. 0. New Bremen ; one of 
our early settlers ; was born in Germany, 
March 1,1821 ; came to the TJnited States 
in 1846, and to this State, and settled in 
Frankfort, Will Co., in the same year ; his 
farm consists of 240 acres, valued at 



$12,000 ; it is situated on Sec. 12, in 
Frankfort Tp., and on Sec. 7 in Rich Tp., 
(^)ok Co. Mr. W. was married to Miss 
Mary Cunz, who was born in Gerniany ; 
they have eight children, viz., .^ugust, 
John, George, Elizabeth, Martin, Philipp, 
Henry and Reitz. Mr. W., since his resi- 
dence in the township, has held the oflBces 
of School Director and Road Commissioner 
several "years. 



PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



GEORGE BENNETT, mason and 
building-mover, Plainfield ; was born in 
Detroit, Mich., Sept. 1, 1818. He mar- 
ried Miss Ann Smith ; she was born in 
New York, and died Feb. 14, 1860; his 
second wife was Miss Naney H. Langley; 
she was born in Kentucky, and died April 
10, 1865; his present wife was Mrs. Per- 
nelia E. Taylor Woodruff; she was born 
in Clear Point, N. Y., Sept. 25, 1827, and 
married Nov. 22, 1866 ; she had three 
children by former marriage, viz., Alonzo 
E , Melissa L. and Clara A. He lived in 
Michigan three years, when he went to 
Ohio with his parents ; remained there six 
years; they then went to Monroe Co., N. 
Y. ; then to Michigan; in 1855, he came 
to Will Co., Dl., and settled in Plainfield, 
and has lived here since, engaged at his 
trade. He has been Constable four years, 
and is at jjresent Police Constable. 

LORIN BURDICK, deceased, farmer ; 
was born in Westfbrd, Chittenden Co., Vt., 
April 80, 1797; was the second white 
child born in that town ; he resised there 
until his 33d year, and then went to New 
York State, where he remained three 
years. Married Esther, a daughter of the 
Rev. Samuel Bixby, now deceased ; she 
was born in Essex, Vt., Aug. 12, 1796. 
Mr. B. came to this county in 1836; re- 
mained about nine months, and returned 
for his family ; he immediately engaged in 
farming ; he raised his first crop on the 
farm of the late Reuben Flagg, Esq. ; he 
then farmed on some land belonging to 
'Squire Matthews, after which he pre- 
empted 160 acres of land (^what is now 
known as the McNeff Farm); he resided 



on that until about the year 1 858 ; he 
then settled at the place of his late resi- 
dence, and continued to reside there until ' 
the day of his death, which occurred Au<'. 
3, 1878 ; his death was caused by taking 
Paris green, by mistake, for sulphur. Mr. 
Burdick was a volunteer in the war of 
1812, and was in the battle of Plattsburg. 
He had one son in the Mexican war ; he 
died in Mexico ; he also had three sons in 
the late war. The names of his children 
are — Maria (deceased), Betsy, Samuel 
(served in an Iowa regiment during the late 
war). Charity (deceased), Mary, Joalma, 
Amarilla, Timothy, Lorin (deceased), Har- 
rison, Seraph, Lewis and Josiah (served 
in the 100th 1. V. I. during the late war), 
and Susan. Mr. Burdick hauled the first 
timber for the Court House in Joliet; he 
hauled it from Chicago, his team consisting 
of six yokes of oxen ; he hewed the first 
timber for the first bridge, first mill, first 
hotel, first church (Methodist ), in Plain- 
field; he burned the first coal-j.it in Plain- 
field ; he, with Mr. Bump and Brunson, 
laid out the first grave-yard ( now the Plain- 
field Cemetery); Mr. Brunson was the 
first person buried there. Mr. Burdick's 
descendants number over one hundred ; his 
widow is still living, and resides on the 
homestead. Mr. Burdick united with the 
Church in 1834; he died with Christian 
hope. 

HARRISON BURDICK, farmer. Sec. 
20 ; P. O. Plainfield. Methodist ; Repub- 
lican. Owns seventy-nine acres of land, 
valued at $65 per acre ; is a son of Lorin 
Burdick (deceased); Mr. Burdick was 
born in Westford, Vt., March 31, 1833; 



856 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES ; 



he came to this State with his parents in 
1836, and resided with his parents until he 
was 21 years of age, during which time he 
assisted his father on the farm. Married 
Harriet Paul ; she was born in England 
in 1834, and died Sept. 21, 1870, leaving 
eight children — three boys and five girls — 
Henry, Alson, Seraph, lantha, Mary, Char- 
lotte, Alma and James Riley. Mr. Bur- 
dick settled where he now resides in 1865. 
Has not married since the death of his 
wife. 

DANIEL W. CR0P8EY, retired 
farmer ; P. 0. Plainfield. Universalist ; 
Republican. Owns^homestead in the vil- 
lage ; was born in Peterboro, Madison Co., 
N. Y., Feb. 15, 1797; resided with his 
parents in that county until 20 years old; 
he then went to Ontario Co., and remained 
five years ; then to Niagara Co., where he 
remained twenty-five years ; his business 
during that time was farming; in 1846, 
he came to this county, and continued the 
business of farming ; he bought at that 
time 480 acres of Chester Ingersoll, and 
settled on the northwest quarter of Sec. 36. 
The eighty acres in the northwest corner 
was the farm that took the first premium 
as the best cultivated farm in the county 
in 1859. The following is a correct copy 
of the diploma received, viz.: 

The Will County Agricultural Society award 
this diploma to D. W. Cropsey for having on 
exhibition at the annual fair of said Society, 
A. D. 1859, the best cultivated farm of eighty 
acres or more. Ira Austin, Pres. 

[Sigued.] W. B. Hawley, Sec. 

With the above diploma, he also received 
a set of silver forks, valued at $16. Mr. 
C. received other premiums at different 
times, once as high as $30 in silver ; at 
one time, he took five animals to the fair, 
and took premiums on every one on grades. 
Mr. C. was twice married ; first to Eliza- 
beth Straight Feb. 14, 1819; she was 
born in Argyle, N. Y., in April, 1797, and 
died in August, 1871 ; had nine children, 
six now living — George, Jacob, Andrew 
J. (formerly Lieutenant Colonel of the 
129th 111. V. I., now in Lawrence, Texas), 
John, Mary Ann, Mahala (wife of D. 
Wyland, Es(j. j; the names of the deceased 
are Nancy, Laura and Harriet. Mr. C. 
was the first Supervisor from the town of 
Wheatland, and occupied the position of 
Chairman of the Board ; was Poormaster 



(the first) one year; no tax was needed 
that year, there being no paupers. Mr. 
C. is now 81 years of age; he never was 
sick but three days in his life, to be con- 
fined to the house; he remembers well see- 
ing the first steamboat as it came up the 
Hudson in 1808. 

A. E. CONANT, farming. Sec. 25; 
P.O. Plainfield; the subject of this sketch 
was born in York Co., Me., Dec. 9, 1818. 
He married Miss Elizabeth Philbrook 
June 8, 1853 ; she was born in Kennebec 
Co., Me., July 22, 1827 ; they have had 
five children, four living, viz., Addie E., 
Joe E., Lewis P. and Otis K. He lived 
in Maine until 1854; was engaged in 
farming and manufacturing woolen cloths 
in Dexter ; in 1 854, he came West and 
settled on his present place ; he owns 285 
acres in this township, which he has earned 
principally by his own labor and manage- 
ment. 

SERENO CULVER, farming, Sec. 14; 
P. 0. Plainfield ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Montpelier, Washington Co., 
Vt., June 22, 1818. He married Miss 
Polly Miller Oct. 30, 1842 ; she was born 
in same place June 16, 1826; they have 
had six children, five living, viz., Harvey, 
Emiline B., Erwin, Ella and Frank ; Lucy 
B. died Jan. 18, 1864. He lived in Ver- 
mont until 1834, when he moved to Chi- 
cago, 111., with his parents, where they re- 
mained a few months ; then came to 
Plainfield in Cook (now Will) Co., where 
they engaged in farming, where he re- 
mained until 1840, when he came to his 
present place. He has been a member of 
of the M. E. Church for the past twenty- 
eight years. His parents, Daniel and 
Mrs. Betsey Lyman Culver, were natives 
of Connecticut ; they died Aug. 15, 1834, 
and May 9, 1854, respectively; his wife's 
parents were Horace and Mrs. Lucy 
Bryant Miller ; they were natives of Mas- 
sachusetts and Canada; they settled in 
Plainfield in 1834, and died Sept. 14, 
1872, and Oct. 15, 1876, respectively. 

G. N. CHITTENDEN, general mer- 
chandise, Plainfield. The subject of this 
sketch was born in Middlebury, Portage 
(now Summit) Co., Ohio, April 15, 1818. 
He married Miss Elizabeth Cauffman July 
23, 1845 ; she was born in the same place 
Sept. 14, 1824; they had six children, 
four living, viz., William H., Henry K., 



PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



857 



Mary and (jninvillc 1. lie lived in Ohio 
until the spring of 1847; his early days 
were spent in clerking- in the general mer- 
chandise business ; in 1S88. he began read- 
ing medicine with Dr. Wm. Bowen, and be- 
gan the practiee in 1843 ; in 1847, he went 
to Michigan and engaged in farming, remain- 
ing two years ; he then went to South 
Bend, Ind., and engaged as superintend- 
ent of a woolen-mill; in 1851, he moved 
to Lockport, Will Co., and engaged in gen- 
eral merchandibing ; remaining one year; 
he then came to Plainfield and engaged in 
his present business, which, excepting one 
year, he has followed since. Though be- 
ing at the head of the firm, he has placed 
the principal management of the business 
in the hands of his son, William H., and 
Alfred T. Corbin, who are the junior mem- 
bers of the firm. He takes but a passing 
interest in politics, and has held the offices 
of Justice of the Peace, Township Treas- 
urer and Collector ; he has been a Dele- 
gate to County Conventions, to two State 
Conventions and to the National Conven- 
tion of 1876, at Cincinnati; he has been 
identified with the M. E. Church for the 
])ast twenty years, and actively assisted in 
the building of the present elegant edifice 
of that denomination in this village. He 
has been more or loss interested in real 
estate, both here and in Joliet, having laid 
out extensive additions to both places. 

ELIHU CORBIN, Justice of the Peace, 
Plainfield. The subject of this sketch was 
born in Rutland Co., Vt., May 2S, 1813. 
He married Miss Eliza A. Fish AprillG, 
1837 ; she was born in Connecticut; they 
have six children, viz., Alfred T., Edward 
W., Lewis D., Hannah J., family M. and 
Mary E. He lived in Vermont twenty- 
two years, when he moved to Chicago, and, 
the following winter, he went to Cleveland, 
Ohio, and engaged in tanning and shoe- 
making, remainin<i; until 1852, when he 
came to his present place. He has lield 
the ofiice of Commissioner for the schools 
and roads, and has been Justice foi" the 
past twenty years ; he has been largely 
interested in real estate in this village, 
having divided about one hundred acres 
into village lots. His jiarents are not liv- 
ing ; his wife's parents were among the first 
settlers of Cleveland, Ohio. 

JOHN DRAUDEN, farming; P. 0. 
Plainfield. The above gentleman was born 



in Prussia in March, 1831 ; he married 
Miss Elizabeth Roush Oct. 3, 1868; she 
was born in Prussia Sept. 28, 1834; they 
had seven children, six living, viz., Maggie, 
Mary, John, Michael, Edward and Matilda. 
He lived in Germany twenty-three years, 
when he came to the United Stati' and set- 
tled in New York ; engaged in farming, 
and remained four years ; he then came to 
Will Co., III., and settled in Plainfield 
Tp.; in 1867, he came to his present place. 
He has held no office except connected 
with school and road ; he came to this 
county without any capital, and now owns 
240 acres which he has earned by his own 
labor. 

M. H. EVANS, farmer, Sec. 17 ; P. 
0- Plainfield ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Clark Co., III., Oct. 8, 1831. 
He married Miss Hannah C. Tenny Nov. 
14. 1850; she was born in Grafton Co., 
N. H., Aug. 20, 1826; they had eight 
children, six living, viz., Sarah A., Eunice 
A., Walter A., Milton H., Ira E. and 
Carrie H. ; Mary E. and William H. died; 
he lived four years in Clark Co., and then 
came to Will Co., with his parents, who 
settled in this township and engaged in 
farming; he lived here until 1852, when 
he moved to Kendall Co., III., and en- 
gaged in farming ; remained until 1865 ; 
he then came to his present place ; he 
owns 189 acres in this township, which he 
has earned by his own labor. He has 
been connected with the M. E. Church 
for the past twenty-eight years ; he is now 
the Steward, and has been Trustee, Class 
Leader and Sabbath School Superintend- 
ent. 

WILLIAM H. FLAGG, farmer. Sec. 
10 ; P. 0. Plainfield ; the subject of this 
sketch is the youngest son of Reuben and 
Mrs. Betsey (Kendall; Flagg ; he was 
born in this township May 8, 1841, on the 
old homestead, settled by his father about 
1834. He married Miss Margarett Van 
Horn Dec. 10, 1867 ; she was born in 
Paterson, N. J., Aug. 1, 1841 ; they had 
five children — four living, viz.. Kate 0., 
Bessie L., Warren Lee and Henry C. He 
has always lived in this township, and has 
followed his occupation of farmer ; he 
started in very limited circumstances, and 
now owns eighty-four acres adjoining the 
village of Plainfield, which he has earned 
by his own labor and management. 



858 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



H. R. FRASER, hardware and grocer- 
ies, Plainfield ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Sullivan Co., N. Y., Nov. 30, 
1834. He married Miss Roxanna Wright 
Feb. 6, 1866; she was born in Plainfield, 
111., Dec. 19, 1845 ; they have one child, 
viz., Manford S. He lived in New York 
twelve years, when he moved to Plain- 
field ; his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth (Brown) 
Eraser, died in Chicago while on their 
way here ; his father and family came to 
this township and engaged in farming near 
this village, continuing in same until his 
death, July, 1857 ; Mr. H. R. moved to a 
farm about four miles southeast of this 
village. He remained there until 1861, 
when he enlisted in the 13th I. V. C, 
serving three years and two months, tak 
ing part in the battles of Arkansas Post, 
capture of Little Rock, Red River expe- 
dition, etc.. etc' In the spring of 1865, 
he engaged in his present business, style of 
firm being Smiley & Eraser, and continued 
seven years ; the firm then became H. R. 
Eraser & Co., and has so continued. 

LYMAN FOSTER, retired farmer; P. 
0. Plainfield. Non-sectarian ; Democratic. 
Owns house and lot in village ; was born 
March 30, 1793, in the town of Meriden, 
New Haven Co., Conn. ; at the age of 11, 
his parents removed to Lewis Co., N. Y. ; 
remained with them until 13 yeai's of age, 
and was then apprenticed to paper-making; 
served until he was 21 ; then went to 
Chenango Co., N. Y., and took charge of 
a paper-mill for two and one-half years ; 
he then went to Cooperstown, and, in 
company with others, built a paper-mill at 
that place, which he conducted three years 
and then sold out ; he then went to Little 
Falls, N. Y., and for two years took charge 
of the largest paper-mill in the State, after 
which he went to Esperance, N. Y. ; 
stopped one year ; then went to New Ber- 
lin ; stopped one year ; he then went to 
Lewis Co., N. Y., and farmed about five 
years; then to this township in 1844, 
where he engaged in farming until his 
retirement, about nine years ago ; during 
the time he engaged in farming, he sold 
Mr. Norton 30,000 bushels of corn. Mr. 
F. has been twice married ; his first union 
was with Esther Blood, when he was 27 
years of age ; she was born in Vermont, 
and died about fifteen years ago ; had 
eight children by that marriage, six of 



whom are now living, viz., G-iles D., Fayette, 
Mercy A., Mary A., Helen and Cornelia; the 
names of those that died are Louisa J. and 
Isaac J. ; Mr. F.'s second marriage was 
with Mrs. Emily Pearsons, April 18, 1869. 
Mr. F. remembers when the death of 
Washington occurred, and a funeral ser- 
mon that was preached on that occasion, 
in 1799 ; he also remembers seeing the 
British fleet as it passed up New York 
Harbor, in 1813 or 1814, to attack New 
York City, At the age of 24, he was 
appointed Justice of the Peace for Otsego 
Co., N. Y., by Daniel D. Tompkins, then 
Governor of that State, which ofiice he 
held continuously for fourteen years. Mr. 
F., during two years of his stay in Otsego 
Co., N. Y , supplied the Albany Argm 
with paper, that then being the leading 
newspaper in the State. . 

JASON FLANDERS, deceased ; was X 
born in Hebron, Vt., Aug. 18, 1810 ; re- / 
sided there about twenty yaars, then re- -' 
moved to Boston, Mass., where he re- 
mained seven years ; from there he went 
to Lowell, where he remained five years, 
during which time he was engaged as 
clerk in a store. He was married to Lucy 
Ann Clark March 29, 1833 ; she was born 
in Amherst, N. H., Nov. 4, 1810 ; she is 
still living;, and resides in Plainfield ; Mr. 
F. started for this State in company with 
his wife May 19, 1833, and arrived in this 
county June 20, of the same year ; he 
came by canal and lake to Detroit, and 
from there here with a wagon ; he first 
bought Government land near Troy, in this 
county, and farmed eight years ; he then 
purchased the place (thirty acres in the 
village of Plainfield) where Mrs. F, now 
resides, and continued there until his death, 
which occurred Feb. 26, 1874; Mr. F. 
was the first Constable elected in Plainfield 
and held that office a great many years ; at 
the time of his death, he owned between 
three and four hundred acres of land. 
Mrs. F. says that during their early life in 
this county, she has known three months 
to elapse without seeing any other human 
being but her husband ; Mr. F. was highly 
respected by all who knew him. Mr. F. had 
six children, three of whom are now living 
— James (now Prosecuting Attorney in 
Joliet), Martha (now Mrs. McElhose), 
Sarah (deceased), Emma (now Mrs. Bra- 
gow) and George (deceased), formerly a 



PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



859 



Tuember of the 100th I. V. I.; he died at 
Bowling Greon, Ky., Nov. 25, 18G2; his 
remains wore brought home and interred 
in the Plainlicid Cemetery. 

N. S. HAMLIN, retired farmer; P. 0. 
Phunfield ; born in Madison Co., N. Y., 
May 27, 1824; resided with his parents 
until the age of 27 ; then emigrated to 
this town. Married Parnel Keeler April 
25, 1849. Engaged in farming soon after 
his arrival here, which he continued with 
success until about eight years ago ; is at 
present living a retired life in Plainfield 
village ; luis held the office of Road Com- 
mi.ssioner five years ; also office of School 
Director five years, which office he now 
holds. The Hamlins of America are all 
descendants of one David Hamlin, one of 
the party who came over in the Mayflower 
in 1620. 

J. D. HAHN, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. 
Plainfield. The subject of this sketch was 
born in Columbiana, now Mahoning, Co., 
Ohio, July 3, 1826. He married Miss 
Rebecca Shreffler June 7, 1849 ; she was 
born in Pennsylvania April 4, 1829 : they 
have six children — William T., Helen R., 
Kate J., Alice M., John D. S. and Nettie 
M. He lived in Ohio twenty-one years, 
"when he came to Will Co., 111., and settled 
in Plainfield Tp.; he engaged in farming, 
and, in 1857, he came to his present place 
and has lived here ever since ; he is no 
office-seeker, his only offices being connected 
with the school and road. He owns 207 
acres of land in this county, which has 
been principally earned by his own labor 
and manaa-ement. 

ALONZO HEMSTREET, retired 
butcher, Plainfield. Non-sectarian ; Demo- 
crat. Owns house and twelve acres in the 
village; was born in Herkimer Co., N. 
Y., Oct. 6, 1815; his parents removed to 
Lewis Co., N. Y., when he was 2 years 
of age; he remained there with his 
parents until he was 22 years of age ; he 
then went to BuffiUo, N. Y., where he re- 
mained nine months, during which time 
he was employed variously in a lumber 
yard and grocery; he then came to this 
place, arriving July 3, 1837 ; he soon 
after hired out to Daniel Ashley, and 
worked nine months on a farm, after 
wliich, he worked five months for Daniel 
W. Lambj he then went to Fox River, 
and worked another year on a farm, after 



which, in company with Daniel Ashley, 
he built a shanty, and broke 100 acres 
of prairie, and sowed it to wheat ; the 
rust destroyed it, and this enterprise was 
a failure; this was the first time wheat 
ever blasted in this county (1840); in 
1841, he drove an ox-team to Prairie du 
Chien for Ralph Smith and Alonzo Waldo, 
where he remained two years ; he then 
came to Plainfield and rented a saw-mill 
of Jonathan Hagar, and run it two years ; 
in 1846, he commenced butchering, and fol- 
lowed it for twenty years. Mr. Hemstreet 
married Augusta M. Foster, daughter of 
Lyman Foster, Esq., Oct. 26, 1848; she 
was born in Esperance, Olsego Co., N. Y., 
Dec. 20, 1826 ; have had seven children, 
only two of whom are living — Albert E. 
and Andrew J.; the names of the deceased 
are Harriet E., F]sther A., Charles D., 
Alonzo Monroe and Frank F. Has held 
the office of Constable twelve years ; Pres- 
ident of Village Board of School Directors, 
which office he holds at present. Mr. H. 
has always been a strong Democrat. 

JONATHAN HAGAR, retired mer- 
chant, Plainfield. Congregational ; Re- 
publican. Owns 400 acres in Will Co., 
valued at S60 per acre ; also 280 acres in 
Kendall, valued at $60 per acre ; was born 
in Quebec, Canada, Feb. 19, 1807 ; when 
2 years old, his parents removed to 
Montreal, where they remained eight 
years; then to Middlebury, Vt., where 
they remained eight years ; then to Way- 
bridge, Vt., where he remained two years, 
working on a farm which his mother 
owned ; his father was a sea-captain, and 
owner of a vessel ; he died of yellow fever, 
in South America, Jan. 29, 1821, during 
a voyage to that country ; his mother's 
family, at that time, consisted cf four 
brothers, besides himself and one sister. 
In 1830, Mr. Hagar started West ; he 
stopped in Cleveland two years, during 
which time he was employed in a crockery 
store ; he then went to Michigan, re- 
mained there two years, and taught 
: school ; then to this place, in company 
with Samuel Sargeant, with a stock of 
goods for a country store ; they opened 
the first store in Plainfield ; it was kept 
in a wagon-shop, owned by a man named 
Bill ; about a year after their arrival, they 
built a store of their own and removed 
their stock into it ; Mr. H. continued to 



860 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES ; 



do business in this town until the com- 
oiencement of the late war, with the ex- 
ception of four years that he was engaged 
in milling, in company with Messrs. 
(xoodhue & Burrell ; the storehouse that 
he put up still stands, and is now occu- 
pied as a parsonage for the Congregational 
Church. Mr. H. was married twice, 
first to Catherine Goodhue, Sept. 14, 
1843; she was born in New Hampshire, 
and died March 19, 1858, leaving two 
children — Edwin C. (now of Joliet), and 
Ellen E. (now Mrs. Charles E. Eraser). 
Mr. H. held the oflSce of Justice of the 
Peace for eighteen years. 

WM. M. JOHNSON, farming; P.O. 
Plainfield ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Caselton, Rutland Co.^ Vt., Aug. 
5, 1827. He married Mi.ss Louisa M. 
Eaton Dec. 6, 1854; she was born in the 
same place Jan. 13, 1834 ; they have two 
children — Hattie C. and Ida F. He lived 
in Vermont seventeen years, when, with 
his parents, he came to Will Co. and set- 
tled in Wheatland, where he lived ten 
years ; he then moved to Du Page Tp. and 
engaged in farming, remaining until 1871, 
when he came to Plainfield, and has lived 
here since; his parents, Hiram and Mrs. 
Sarah Ann Gault Johnson, are natives of 
Vermont; his father died April 13, 1875 ; 
his mother is living here with her son. 

ALLEN JORDAN, retired; P. 0. 
Plainfield ; the above gentleman was born 
in Columbia Co., N.'"Y., Fob. 3, 1798. 
He married Miss Jane P. Cook Dec. 6, 
1837 ; she was born in New York March 
0, 1813 ; they had eight children, seven 
living — William A., Harriet, Richard C, 
Edward, Allen, Jr., John and Ambrose L. 
He remained a resident of New York 
until 1847, during which time he read law, 
and practiced as an attorney for twenty-five 
years in the city of Hudson, N. Y., of 
which city he was Mayor for the year 
1839 ; in 1847, he came to Plainfield, 
111., and remained for two years, when he 
went to Kendall Co. and engaged in farm- 
ing, and, in 186(5, he again came to this 
place, and has lived here since. 

D. W. JUMP, physician and surgeon, 
Plainfield ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Huron Co.. Ohio, Aug. 24, 1847. 
He married Miss Alice E. Watkins Nov. 
13, 1873; she was born in Plainfield, 111.; 
they have one child — Clyde W. He lived in 



Ohio until September, 1871 ; his early 
days were passed on the farm ; at the age 
of 18, he began reading medicine during 
the summers and teaching school winters, 
continuing until 18(59, when he attended 
the University of Michigan, graduating 
March 27, 1872; he then came to Plain- 
field and engaged in his profession. His 
parents, William H. and Mrs. Margaret 
Richards Jump, were natives of Maryland 
and New York, respectively; his mother 
lives in Ohio, where his father died Aug. 
31, 1869. 

WM. S. KEEN, blacksmith, Plainfield; 
owns residence and blacksmith-shop in the 
village, valued at S3, 000 ; was born in 
Cayuga Co., N. Y., Dec. 31, 1821 ; resided 
there with his parents until he was 14 
years of age ; he then went to Ithaca, N. 
Y., and learned the blacksmith trade, 
remaining seven years ; he soon after 
started westward, and arrived in this vil- 
lage July 8, 1841, an entire stranger; he 
very soon set up business where he is now 
located, and has continued there ever since, 
with the exception of three years that he 
was in Calitornia, from 1849 to 1852. 
Mr. K. was married in the fall of 1846 to 
Roxana E. Norton ; she was born June 
11, 1825, in Ithaca, N. Y., and came here 
with her parents in 1840 ; have three 
children, all living in this village — Anson 
C, Sarah L. and Florence. Anson was a 
soldier during the late war ; he enlisted in 
the winter of 1863 and 1864 in the 8th 
I. V. C, and served until the end of the 
war, and took a part in all the engage- 
ments the regiment was in during his 
term of service. Mr. K. held the office of 
Trustee of the village one term. 

S. W. METCALF, farming and stock, 
Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Plainfield ; this gentleman 
was born in the village of Plainfield Sept. 
16, 1835. He married Miss Sarah Bill- 
ing July 4, 1 869 ; she was born in England 
April 1, 1845. He lived but a short time 
in the village, when, with his parents, he 
moved out on the farm, and, in 1865, he 
came to his present place and has lived 
here since. His parents, JIardy and Mrs. 
Judith B. Russell Metcalf, were natives of 
New Hampshire and New York ; they 
were married in New York Nov. 24, 1826 ; 
they came to Will Co. in 1835, and settled 
in Plainfield, engaging in farming ; he died 
June 29, 1860; Mrs. Metcalf is living 



PLATNFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



861 



liore on the old homestead with her 
daughter. 

FRANK H. METCALF, farming and 
teaching ; P. 0. Phiiiifield ; the above 
Lioiitlonian is a native of Ohio ; he was 
horn in Lake Co. Nov. Ii3, 1840. He 
married Miss Augusta Metcalf Nov. 20, 
1864; she was born in Troy Tp., Will Co., 
111., June 21, 18:>7 ; they have two adopted 
children, viz., Frank W. and Flora Nill- 
son. He lived in Ohio twenty-three years, 
and then came to his present place, engag- 
ing in farming and teaching ; his early 
days were spent in the district school ; at 
18, he attended the Western Reserve Acad- 
emy and Willoughby Collegiate Institute, 
and later lie attended the Oberlin College. 
While at the latter place, he enlisted in the 
100-day service, but was not in active 
service. He has eighty acres here which 
he has principally earned by his own labor. 
He has been principal of the Channahon 
and Oswego schools ; for the past five years 
he has taught the district school near by. 

L. W. McCREERY, farming and stock, 
Sees. 83 and 34 ; P. 0. Plainfield ; the 
subject of this sketch was born on the 
present place May 10, 1857. He married 
Miss Annie Bristol Feb. 18, 1877; she 
was born in Ohio Nov. 7, 1855 ; they 
have one child, namely, Lena. He has 
always lived on the present place. In 
1875, he began farming on his own ac- 
count on the present farm, belonging to 
his father. 

JOSEPH McCREERY, retired ; P. 0. 
Plainfield ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Benton, Ontario Co., N. Y., July 
1, 1810. He married Miss Abigail Ann 
Van Riper in November, 1830 ; she was 
born in New Jersey ; they had twelve chil- 
dren, eight living, viz., John, Joseph, 
Charles, Alfred, Lewis, Mary, Lucy and 
Isabell. He lived in New York until 1833, 
when he went to Canada and engaged in 
the lumber business continuing four years; 
he then returned to New York and engaged 
in the lumber business at Rochester, where 
he remained until 1845; he then came to 
Will Co., and settled in Plainfield, where he 
engaged in farming ; continued until 1875, 
when he came to his present place. He is 
no ofiice-seeker, his only offices being con- 
nected with the school and road. He started 
in very poor circumstances, and now owns 
250 acres in this township. He has been 



connected with the Universalist Church 
for the past twenty-five years. 

JOHN MOTTINGER, retired; P. O. 
Plainfield ; the above gentleman was born iu 
Penn.sylvaiiia, May 8, 1799. He married 
Miss Barbara Long ; she was born in 
Pennsylvania ; they have ten children, 
viz., Suanna, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Joseph, 
Leah, Anna C, Sarah, Lena, Rebec a, 
Samuel and Daniel. He lived in Penn- 
sylvania until he was 13, when he went to 
Ohio with his jiarents, where his father 
died ; he then went to Illinois and settled 
in Will Co., engaging in farming ; all his 
children are married ; his parents, George 
and Mrs. Elizabeth Lashbaugh Mottinger, 
both died in Ohio ; they were natives of 
Pennsylvania. 

H. S. NORTON, farming. Sec. 3 ; P. 
0. Plainfield ; the above gentleman was 
born on his present place Dec. 1, 1845. 
He married Miss Matilda F. Bend(r 
March 23, 1870; she was born in Lan- 
caster Co., Penn., Nov. 16, 1852; they 
had five children, three living, viz., Alice, 
Frank and Hattie. He has always made 
this his residence ; soon after becoming of 
age. he began to farm on his own account ; 
he owns fifty acres, which he has principally 
earned by his own labor ; he is operating 
a pit of building sand on his place, which, 
is of very superior quality ; it was first 
discovered by his father in 1 845 ; his par- 
ents, Benjamin K. and Mrs. Harriett 
Yaple Norton, were natives of Tomp- 
kins Co., N. Y. ; Mr. Norton came to 
this county in 1839, and Mrs. Norton came 
in 1842 ; they settled on the present place 
in 1843 ; Mr. Norton died Oct. 17, 1874 ; 
Mrs. Norton lives on an adjoining farm. 

S. S. PRATT, furniture! etc.. Plain- 
field ; is a native of Vermont ; he was born 
at Bennington, Feb. 28, 1814. He mar- 
ried Miss Esther A. Beckwith Nov. 27, 
1839; she was born in Norfolk, N. Y., 
Aug. 12, 1822 ; they had four children, 
three living, viz., Laura, Clara and Nor- 
man. He lived in Vermont about nine- 
teen years, when he moved to New York ; 
remaining until spring of 1834, when he 
came to Chicago and engaged in the furni- 
ture business, remaining eighteen months; 
in the fall of 1835, he came to Plainfield 
and engaged in same business, and has 
been identified with the business since, 
except ten years he engaged in farming ; 



862 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



he was also interested in the furniture 
business in Joliet during the building of 
the canal ; he has been a member of the 
Congregational Church for the past thirty 
years, and has taken an active part in its 
affairs. All his children are married and 
living in this village. 

A. J. PERKINS, physician and 
surgeon, Plainfield ; is a native of New 
York ; he was born in Mt. Upton March 
•JO, 1834. He married Miss Eliza Bangs 
May 10, 1860 ; she was born in Benning- 
ton, Vt.; they had two children, one liv- 
ing, viz., Harry A. He resided in New 
York until 1855 ; his eai-ly days were 
passed on the farm in summers and in the 
district schools during winters ; he then 
applied himself regularly to school and 
later engaged in teaching, also in reading- 
medicine ; in 1864, he graduated in the 
Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, 
Ohio ; he then came to Plainfield and 
engaged in his profession. Though not a i 
member he has been actively identified 
with the churches of the village, and is 
persistent in his labors for the benefit of 
the schools of the place. 

ALEXANDER ROBERTS, farmer, 
Sec. 2 ; P. 0. Plainfield ; was born in Can- 
ada June 9, 1809. He married Miss 
Sallie Sawyer Feb. 7, 1831 ; she was born 
in Canada, and died Aug. 11, 1844; they 
had six childien, three living — James, 
Alexander and Sarah ; his present wife 
was Miss Harriet C. Hoag ; they were 
married Feb. 18, 1844; she was born in 
Weare, N. H., April 14, 1825 ; they had 
four children, three living — Isabell S., 
Frank Gr. and Alice E. He lived in Can- 
ada until he was 24 ; he then moved to 
Vermont and engaged in farming ; re- 
mained four years ; then returned to Can- 
ada and engaged in general merchandise ; 
remaiaed seven years, when he went to 
Michigan and engaged in a farming and 
stock-raising four years ; he then went to 
Chicago and engaged in packing pork and I 
beef; he next engaged in the lumber busi- 
ness at Palos, Cook Co., 111.; he furnished 
the first ties on the C. & G. R. R.; he 
manufactured the first lard-oil in Chicago. 
He was Supervisor of Palos Tp., and one of 
the Commissioners that built the first Court 
House in Chicago. He assisted in furnish- 
ing material to build the lock at Bridge- 
port, and then came to Plainfield and set- 



tled on his present place. In 1837, he 
was living in Canada, and took part in the 
rebellion of that date, he forming a com- 
pany to fight for the liberty of Canada ; 
the uprising having been put down, he had 
to flee for safety, there being £1,000 reward 
off"ered for his capture ; he took to the 
woods for one week ; then changing his 
attire, he had to cross a bridge guarded by 
twelve soldiers ; he boldly walked up and 
inquired of the guard if they had caught 
the man Roberts, stating that he must 
have lately passed there ; the guard, un- 
suspecting, answered in the contrary, and 
asked if he was looking for him ; he was 
told " Yes." and that he was prepared to 
take him dead or alive ; after some talk 
they took a drink of the strong, and Rob- 
erts went on, escaping to the United 
States. 

MILES ROYCE, farmer ; P. 0. Plain- 
field. Episcopal ; Republican. Owns 
about ninety acres, valued at $50 per acre ; 
was born in Bristol, Hartford Co., Conn., 
Aug. 20, 1806 ; his father died when he 
was 3 years old ; Mr. R. resided with his 
mother until 15 years of age ; then, in 
company with a brother, he went to Onon- 
daga Co., N. Y., where he remained until 
1834, during which time he was variously 
engaged in fiirming and manufacturing 
fanning-mills ; he then came to this place 
and engaged in the manufacture of fan- 
ning-mills, which he continued for ten 
years ; the first year he made fifty, the 
second seventy-five, the third one hun- 
dred and fiifty ; these were the first 
manulactured in the northern part of 
the State ; he then engaged in farming, 
and has continued up to the present time. 
He married Sarah G. Gilman Jan. 10, 
1837 ; she was born in Salem, Mass., May 
12, 1809; have three children living — 
Philander C, Orland W. and Sarah Eliz- 
abeth ; lost one son — Stephen (deceased) ; 
Orland served three months in the late 
war ; was discharged on account of disa- 
bility. 

JOHN SENNITT, Postmaster, Plain- 
field; born in Stretham, England, Jan. 15, 
1830; remained with parents on a farm 
until he was 24 years of age ; in the fall 
of 1854, he emigrated to this country; he 
stopped near Cleveland, Ohio ; stopping 
there nearly two years, during which time 
he worked on a farm ; then, in the spring 



PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



863 



of 1857, came to this village ; at the time 
was an entire stranger ; worked on a iarm 
for Mr. J. W. Pennington two years, and S. 
S. Pratt one year ; in the .spring of 1860, 
he was engaged in the post office by K. J. 
Ilaiumoiuls ; in 18G1, \V. Wright was ap- 
pointed, and Mr. S. continued ; he was suc- 
ceeded by W. R. Fraser ; he continued 
until Grant's fir.st election ; then Mr. S. 
was yjipointed ; he still holds the office. 
Married in April, 1871, to Emma H. 
Drew ; she was born in the New England 
States in the year 1839; she came with 
her parents to this State Avhen she was 5 
years old ; have two children — L. May and 
Carrie. 

HORACE SPENCER, M. D., physi- 
cian, Plainfield; was born in Shaftsbury, 
Vt., Feb. 11, 1846; resided with his par- 
ents until of age ; came to this State in 
1858 ; studied medicine with Dr. Perkins 
three years ; spent eight months in the St. 
Louis Medical College, after which he at- 
tended one course of lectures in the Ben- 
nett Medical College of Chicago ; gradua- 
ted there in 1871. Married Hattie Cor- 
bin Sept. 29, 1869 ; .she was born May 
20, 1848; have two children — May and 
Flora. Mrs. S. is a daughter of Dr. 0. J. 
Corbin (_deceased) a former resident and 
practitioner here; he was born in New Hamp- 
shire May 2, 1807 ; graduated at Dart- 
mouth College, N. H. ; came to Plainfield in 
1836, and commenced the practice of medi- 
cine until his death, which occurred April 
3, 1869 ; his wife was Mary L. Gross ; she 
was born in Montpelier, Vt. ; came to this 
town with her parents in 1833; she died 
in 1 864, aged about 48 years. Dr. C was 
well known as a good physician and had a 
very extensive practice. 

GEORGE Y. SMITH, farmer. Sec. 1 ; 
P. 0. Plainfield ; the above gentleman is a 
native of Pennsylvania ; he was born in 
Centre Co., Aug. 8, 1813. He married 
Miss Magdalena Ream Oct. 6, 1836 ; she 
was born in Stark ( now Summit) Co., Ohio 
Jan. 2, 1818; they had eleven children, 
nine liviug, viz., Sarah, John R., William 
B., Mary M., Andrew A-, Conrad E., 
George B., Adam K. and Amos M. He 
lived in Pennsylvania about eleven years, 
when he moved to Stark (now Summit) Co., 
Ohio, with his parents ; engaged in farm- 
in<r, and remained until 1851 , during which 
time he learned the wagon-making trade ; 



he then came to his present place. He has 
been a member of the Evangelical Church 
since 1835, and has acted as Superintend- 
ent of Sabbath schools. Trustee, Class Lea- 
der and Exhorter. He owns 176 acres in 
this county, which \u'. has earned principally 
by his own labor. His parents, John and 
Mary Ycarick Smith, are not living; they 
died in 1849 and 1850 respectively. 

NOAH SUNDERLAND, farmer; P. ^ 
O. Plainfield; this gentleman was born in yC 
Bridport, Vt., Dec. 18,1814. He mar-y \ 
ried Miss Caroline Randall April 29, 1 841 ; ^ 

she was born in Jloosick Falls, N. Y., May 
7, 1812 ; he lived in Vermont twenty-four 
years, he then moved to Westfield, N. Y., 
and engaged in the milling business, re- 
maining ten years ; he then came to Illir 
nois and settled in Joliet, remaining two 
years ; he then came to his present place, 
and engaged in firming; in 18G6, he 
bought and conducted the flouring-mill of 
this place, and continued the same until 
1876, when he rented it to its present oc- 
cupant. He has been a member of the 
Baptist Church for last twenty years. His 
parents were natives of Vermont ; his 
wife's parents were natives of Connecticut. 

HARRY A. TOUNSHENDEAU, 
barber, Plainfield ; was born on the 
French frigate Pathfinder, on the Atlantic 
ocean, January 14, 1845, of French par- 
ents ; was left an orphan in New York 
City before he was one year old ; his 
mother died the 13th of February follow- 
ing, in New York City, and his father the 
26th of August following ; he was then 
taken in charge by a man named Clouney, 
who resided in Newburg, N. Y., with 
whom he remained six years ; he then went 
to live with Mr. Shannon (the famous hat- 
ter of New York City, and remained with 
him five years. I. T. Ashmead was then 
appointed his guardian soon after he came 
to Kalamazoo, 31ich., where he remained 
two years ; then to Minooka, and then to 
Plainfield in 1868, where he has remained 
ever since. Married a dausrhter of John 
Newsome, of Wheatland, Sept. 6, 1869. 
He opened a barber-shop soon after his ar- 
rival here, which business he has continued 
to follow ever since ; in connection with 
this, he has edited and published a news- 
paper one year (^The Plainfield Echo). 
Mr. T. has always been an earnest advocate 
of temperance, and during the publication 



864 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



of his paper wrote a series of articles on 
that subject which attracted a great deal of 
attention, and which made him both friends 
and enemies. 

S. B. TYLER, retired farmer, P. 0. 
Plainfield. Baptist ; Republican. Owns 
184 acres of land, valued at $75 per acre ; 
was born at Bethel, Sullivan County, N. Y., 
Februar}^ 23, 1811 ; his parents died be- 
fore he was 10 years old. Mr. T. lived on 
a farm until he was 17 years old ; he then 
learned the carpenter's trade, and followed 
that occupation until his 50th year. Came 
to this State in 1835. Married twice ; first 
to Ruth W. Flanders, sister of the late 
Jason Flanders; she was born in Hebron, 
N. H., January 10, 1815, and died April 
5, 1873 ; had nine children, all living but 
two — Harriet M., Sarah M. (deceased), 
Alfred H. (deceased), Albert H., Simeon 
S., A. Lansing H., Ralph W., Esther R. 
and Florian B. ; Alfred and Albert served 
in the 100th I. V. I. ; Alfred died two 
months after he enlisted ( in 1862) ; Albert 
served full term, and participated in many 
battles. Mr. T. married second time to 
Mrs. Adela A. Goddard (daughter of the 
late Dr. Wight, and widow of the late 
Capt. Goddard), October 5, 1875 ; she had, 
at the time of her marriage with Mr. T., 
four children, three boys and one girl ; her 
late husband Capt. G,, formerly commanded 
Company G, in the 100th I. V. I. 

JOHN VAN HORN, farmingand stock, 
Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Plainfield ; the subject of 
this sketch was born in Berrien Co., N. J., 
May 17, 1834. He married Miss Franc 
H. Elwell June 4, 1872 ; she was born 
in South Shaftsbury, Vt., Oct. 16, 1839; 
they have one child, viz., Merton Gates. 
He lived in New Jersey nine years, when, 
with his parents he came to Plainfield, 
111., and settled adjoining the present 
place, engaging in farming and remaining 
twelve years ; they then moved to the 
present place, and he has lived here since ; 
he owns 250 acres, which he has jtrincipally 
earned by his own labor ; his parents, Cornel- 
ius G. and Mrs. Ann (Van Houten) Van 
Horn, were natives of New Jersey ; he died 
April 15, 1877 ; she died May 8, 1872. 

IRA VANOLINDA, l^olice Magistrate, 
Plainfield ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., Sept. 1, 
1823. He married Miss Louisa Craw; 
she was born in New York, and died Dec. 



10, 1870 ; they had five children, viz , 
Mary E., Elinor D., Susan D., Clara E. 
and Charles W. His present wife was 
Mrs. Wilder, formerly Miss Catheron 
Burdick ; they were married April 23, 
1874; she was born in Orleans Co., N. 
Y., Feb. 12, 1835; they have one child, 
viz., Lotta Ruth ; Mrs. Vanolinda had five 
children by a former marriage, lour living, 
viz., Lilly, Lizzie, Joseph and Carrie. He 
lived in New York twenty-five years ; he 
then moved to Kendall Co., 111., and en- 
gaged in farming, remaining until 1853 ; 
he also served as Deputy Sheriff and 
Constable twelve years; he then went 
to California and engaged in stock and 
hotel business ; remained three years ; he 
then came to Will Co., 111., and engaged 
in general merchandise at Frankfort, re- 
maining one year, when he came to Plain- 
field and engaged in farming , continued 
three years ; he then engaged in general 
merchandise in this village j continued un- 
til 1873 ; he has held the office of Justice 
of the Peace since 1864. 

R. D. WEBB, wagon-maker, Plainfield. 
Methodist. Owns the wagon-shop where 
the old foundry once stood ; was born in 
Yorkshire, England, Aug. 2, 1829 ; served 
seven yearsin that place, learning wagon- 
making ; came to this country and first 
stopped in Milwaukee in November, lj850 ; 
remained there during the following win- 
ter and worked at joiner work ; in the 
spring of 1851, came to this place, and 
worked as a carpenter and joiner until 
1862; he then, in company with Jacob 
Hoffer, bought the old foundry known as 
the Dillman property, and engaged in the 
manufacture of wagons and doing repair 
work generally ; Mr. W. and Mr. H. con- 
tinued together about six months ; at the 
end of that time Mr. Hoffer sold out to 
Mr. Webb's father ; the new firm contin- 
ued together until 1867 ; Mr. W. then 
bought his father out, and since that time 
has carried on the business alone ; dur- 
ing the late war twelve workmen were 
constantly emjjloyed ; the demand at that 
time was enormous ; o'^e year alone, dur- 
ing the war, Mr. W. manufactured 150 
wagons; in 1854, Mr. VV. returned to 
England on a visit, and while there, the 
following year in January, he married 
Mary Ward ; she was born in Yorkshire, 
England ; they have no children. The 



GREENGARDEN TOWNSFIIP. 



865 



building that Mr. W. formerly conducted 
business in was destroyed by fire Jan. 28, 
1877 ; the loss was about $8, 1)00 ; no in- 
surance ; Mr. W.'s townsmen and neigh- 
bors immediately raised him S30U to pur- 
chase timber to rebuild, and in a very 
short space of time the lumber was bought 
and hauled to the ground free of charge, 
and the present shop was raised ; no in- 
terruption of his business occurred ; Mr. 
W. still continues at the old stand ; man- 
ufactures wagons and does repairing on all 
kinds of farm machinery. 

E. J. WOOD, farming ; P. 0. Plain- 
field; the subject of this sketch was born 
in Cheshire, Mass., Dec. 21, 1809. He 
married Miss Hester Ann Hills July 7, 
1831 ; she was born in Lewis Co., N. Y., 
Aug. 1, 1814; they had seven children, 
five of whom are living, viz., James D., 
Amelia E., Milton R., Ervin E. and 
Elwyn A. He lived in Massachusetts until 
he was 7 years old ; he then went to 
Lewis Co., N. Y., with an uncle, where he 
lived until 1845, except two years in Seneca 
Co.; he was engaged at his trade of car- 
penter and builder ; he served nine years 
as Justice of the Peace, and also engaged 
in general merchandise; in 1845, became 
to this township, and engaged in farming ; 
in 1849, he engaged in general merchan- 
dise in Plainfield ; he was Postmaster from 
1849 to 1853 ; he has also served as Road 
Commissioner and Assessor ; he has been 
a member of the M. E. Church for just fifty 
years, and has been Superintendent of 
Sunday school for twenty-five years; all of 
his children are married and living out of 
this county ; all are pleasantly situated, and 
take an active part in the business of their 
respective communities. 



R. B. WIGHT, M. D., renovator, 
Plainfield; was born in Kinderhook, N.Y., 
March 27, 1825 ; removed with his parents 
to Chicago, 111., in 1831 ; in 1832, his 
parents removed to what is now Naper- 
ville in Du Page Co.; his father, Dr. E. 
G. Wight, being one of the pioneers and 
founders of that place ; Mr. W. resided 
with his parents until he was 30 years of 
age; during that time he studied medicine, 
and was one of nine who composed the 
first class in Rush Medical College ; soon 
after graduating, he commenced the prac- 
tice of medicine, during which time he 
also opened a drug store (in 1838, the first 
in Plainfield ). Was married to Miss Eliz- 
abeth T. Bradley Jan. 23, 1853 ; she was 
born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Feb. 22, 
1834; have had seven children, six of whom 
are now living — Lillie Agnes, Adelaide 
Harriet, Lucia, Nettie, Burtie, Willie and 
Mary (deceased). Dr. W. was the or- 
ganizer of the Plainfield Light Artillery in 
1855, which organization continued to 
exist until after the war, during which 
time they achieved memorable distinction 
in many hard-fought battles. Dr. W. was 
born in Richmond, Mass., Oct. 2, 1793; 
died in Plainfield Oct. 13, 1865; he 
graduated in New York ; came to Chicago 
in 1831 ; to Naperville in 1832. and to 
Plainfield in 1837; he practiced medicine 
until the time of his death ; twenty years 
prior to his death, ho lost his sight ; was 
obliged to have his horse led when going 
to visit his patients ; this ride extended 
over a space of 120 miles, from Chicago to 
Mineral Point ; he was the first physician 
that ever practiced in Northern Illinois 
west of Chicago. 



GREENGARDEN TOWNSHIP. 



WILLIAM ANDREW, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Greengarden ; one of \ 
our early settlers ; was born in England ; 
came to the United States with his father's 
family in 1854, and to this State and set- 
tled in Will Co. in the same year ; his 
farm consists of 200 acres, valued at 
$10,000. He was married March 26, 
1854, to Miss Eliza Foster, who was born 



in England ; they have two children — 
Charles and Emma A. Mr. Andrew, 
since his residence in the township, has 
held the oflBce of School Director several 
years. 

JOHN ALBRECHT, farmer and .stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Monee ; one of our early 
settlers ; was born in Germany ; came to 
the United States in 1858, and to this 



866 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



State in the same year ; his farm contains 
140 acres, valued at $7,000. He was 
married to Miss Frederica Beutin, who 
was born in Germany ; they have had 
eight children, six of whom are living — 
Mena, Augusta, William, Henry, Amelia 
and Bertha ; deceased — Carl and an in- 
fant. Mr. Albrecht is now holding the 
oflSce of School Director. 

JOHN F. BOBZIEN, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Monee ; was born in 
Germany, A. D., 1844; came to the 
United State.s in 1855, and to this State in 
the same year ; he has been a resident of 
Will Co. for the past four years ; his farm 
consists of eighty-five acres, valued at 
$3,000. He was married to Miss Sophia 
Wishhoer, who was born in Germany, A. 
D. 1849 ; they have two children — John 
and Frederick. 

MRS. SOPHIA BHOCKMAN, farm- 
er ; P. 0. Monee ; one of our early set- 
tlers ; was born in Germany, A. D. 1828 ; 
came to the United States in 1851, and to 
this State, and settled in Greengarden, 
Will Co., in the same year. She is the 
widow of the late Henry Brockman, de- 
ceased ; they have had six children — Karl, 
Lena, Henry, Mena, Lizzie and Etta. The 
farm of Mrs. Brockman contains 200 acres, 
valued at $10,000. 

B. B. BOEKEN, farmer and stock- 
raiser; P. 0. Monee; one of our early 
settlers; was born in Germany April 16, 
1811 ; came to the United States in 1852, 
and to this State, and settled in Will Co. 
in the same year; his pursuit from his set- 
tlement in the county until 1854 was that 
of a boot and shoemaker ; his farm con- 
sists of 122 acres, valued at $6,000. He 
was married to Miss Caroline Lehman, 
who was born in Germany Feb. 24, 1824 ; 
they have three children, viz., Charles, 
Theodore and Carolina. Since Mr. Boek- 
en's residence in the township he has held 
the ofiBce of School Director twenty years. 

FREDERICK BUCHHOLZ, farmer 
and stock raiser; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; 
one of our early settlers ; was born in Ger- 
many Jan. 24, 1820 ; came to the United 
States in 1850, and to this State in the 
same year, and settled in Du Page Co., 
where he remained three years, when he 
removed to Will ; his farm consists of 240 
acres, valued at $10,000. He was married 
to Miss Henrietta Hakk, who was born in 



Germany, and was previously married to 
Miss Caroline Sonnimaker, now deceased. 
They have had seven children, viz., Henry, 
Sophia, Mary, Tina, Charley, Minne and 
Lena. Sine--; Mr. B.'s residence in the 
town.ship he has held the offices of Road 
Commissioner and School Director fifteen 
years. 

MRS. B. CARPENTER, farmer and 
stock-raiser; P. O. Monee; one of our 
early settlers ; was born in Maryland Jan. 
6, 1815; came to Illinois and settled in 
Will Co. in 1854 ; she is the widow of the 
late Daniel F. Carpenter, deceased ; they 
were married Sept. 13, 1835 ; they have 
had fifteen children, seven of whom are 
living, viz., Catharine J., John, Kezia C, 
Henry, Daniel B., Sarah N. and Jemima 
I. ; deceased, Samuel, Daniel, William, 
Benjamin, Lydia B., Barbara V.. Samuel 
and Kerenhapuch. The farm of Mrs. Car- 
penter consists of eighty acres, valued at 
$4,000. 

HEN RY EISENBRANDT, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; 
one of our early settlers ; was born in Ger- 
many May 26, 1829 ; came to the United 
States in 1846, and to this State in the 
same year ; he has been a resident of Will 
Co. for the past twenty-nine years ; his 
farm consists of 320 acres, valued at $46,- 
000. He was married to Miss Dorothea 
Koepke,who was born in Germany Nov. 18, 
1839 ; they have one child, viz.. Christian. 
Since Mr. Eisenbrandt's residence in the 
township he has held the office of Super- 
visor two terms and Collector one year ; he 
is now President of the society known as 
the Greengarden Insurance Company, 
which is fully described in the general his- 
tory of the township. 

JOHN FELTEN, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; one of 
our first German settlers; was born in 
Germany July 14, 1827; came to the 
United States in 1848, and to this State 
and settled in Will Co. in the same year ; 
his farm consists of 240 acres, valued at 
$12,000. He was married March 5, 
1852, to Miss Mary Fell, who was born 
in Germany Nov. 14, 1830; they have 
had thirteen children, ten of whom are 
living, viz., John, Caroline, Minnie, 
Amellia, Christian, Margaret, Mary, Char- 
lotte, Lizzie and Charles ; deceased. Dory 
and two infants. Since Mr. Felten's resi- 



GRKENGARDEN TOWNSHIP. 



867 



dence in the township, he has held the 
office of School Director several years, 
Street Commissioner, two years, and was 
the first (lornian official in the town- 
ship. 

JOHN V. FELTON, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. O. Frankfort Station ; one of 
our early settlers ; was born in Germany, 
Jan. 11, 1819 ; came to the United States 
in 1854, and to this State and settled in 
Will Co. in the same year; his farm con- 
sists of 320 acres, valued at $16,000. He 
was married to Miss Barbara Chrisman, 
who was born in Germany Dec. 25, 1820 ; 
they have seven children, viz., Minnie, 
Peter, Jacob, Mary. Adam, Carrie and 
Lena. Since his residence in the town- 
ship, he has held office of School Director 
six years, and Road Commissioner six 
years. 

ULRACH FOLKERS, farmer ; P. O. 
Frankfort Station ; one of our early set- 
tlers ; was born in Germany Aug. 1, 
1814; came to the United States in 1857, 
and to this State, and settled in Will Co. 
in the same year; his farm contains 120 
acres, valued at $0,000. He was married to 
Miss Catherine Cruse, who was born in 
Germany October 16, 1821 ; they have 
had six children, viz., Anna Catherina. 
flenry, Eliza, Amelia, Deitrick and Fred- 
erica. 

JACOB FROEHNER, farmer and stock- 
raiser; P. O. Monee ; one of our early set- 
tlers ; was born in Germany ; came to the 
United States in 1852, and to this State and 
settled in Will Co. in the same year ; his farm 
consists of eighty acres, valued at S4,000. 
He was married to Miss Eliza Briedert, 
who was born in Germany ; they have 
seven children, viz., Christina, Katie, John, 
Philipp, Margaret, George and Anna. Mr. 
F., for the past six years, has held the 
office of Treasurer of the Board of Road 
Commissioners. 

JOHN FRIEDRIECHS, farmer; P. 
0. Monee ; one of our early settlers in 
Greengarden ; was born in Germany ; 
came to the United Stiites in 1849, and 
to Illinois in the same year ; his farm con- 
sists of 160 acres, valued at §7,000. He 
was married to Miss Christina Jacobs, 
who was born in Germany ; they have 
three children living, viz., John, George 
and Henry, and two deceased, viz., Louisa 
and Minnie. 



AMOS HARRISON, farmer and stock - 
raiser ; P. 0. Greengarden ; one of our 
early settlers ; was born in England April 
25, 1833; came to the United States in 
1858, and to this State and settled in Will 
Co. in 1860 ; his farm consists of 140 
acres, valued at $8,000. He was married 
June 30, 1868, to Miss Catherine Mar- 
shall, who was born in England Dec. 21, 
1833 ; they have two children, viz., Henry 
Marshall and Annie Lina. Mr. H., 
since his residence in the township, has 
held the office of School Director three 
years. 

PETER HANSON, farmer and stock- 
rai.ser ; P. O. Greengarden ; one of our 
early settlers; was born in Germany Sept. 
24, 1 830 ; came to the United States in 
1857, and to this State, and settled in Will 
Co. in the same year ; his farm eonsLsts of 
360 acres, valued at $18,000. He wa.s- 
married to Miss Anna Wilkins, who was 
born in Germany Feb. 24, 1821 ; they 
have had four children, all uf whom are 
now living — John, George, Louisa and 
Minnie. Since Mr. Hanson's residence in 
the township, he has held the office of 
School Director seven years. 

FRED L. HASENJAEGER, farmer, 
stock-raiser and breeder of Norman and 
Clydesdale horses ; P. 0. Frankfort Sta- 
tion ; one of our natives of Illinois ; was 
born in Greengarden, Will Co., March 19, 
1854 ; he is the son of Frederick Hasen- 
jaeger, who is one of our early settlers ; 
the farm of Mr. H. consists of 240 acres, 
valued at $12,000. He was married to 
Miss Catherina Brandan, who was born in 
Germany Sept 14, 1857 ; they have two 
children, viz., Rosa and Henry. 

ULRICH H. HINR1C3S, farmerand 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; 
one of our earliest settlers; was born in 
Germany ; came to the United States in 
1855, and to Illinois, and settled in Will 
Co. in the same year ; his farm consists of 
160 acres, valued at $8,000. He was 
married to Miss Caroline Karch, who was 
born in New York ; they have six children 
—Henrietta C, Charles F., Margaret C, 
Elizabeth F., Louis M. and Henry J. 
Mr. Hinrichs was a volunteer in the late 
rebellion ; he enlisted in the 100th I. V. I.; 
served nearly three years, and was dis- 
charged with honor at the close of the war, 
1865. 



868 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



CORNELIUS B. JACOBS, farmer 
and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Monee ; one of 
the early settlers ; was born in Germany 
Feb. 12, 1814 ; came to the United States 
in 185-i, and to this State in the same year 
and settled iu Greengarden, Will Co. He 
was married to Miss Metto Dierks, who 
was born in Germany Sept. 27, 1821 ; 
they have eight children — Anna, George, 
Hannah, Catherina, Carolina, John, Mena 
and Matilda. The farm of Mr. Jacobs 
consists of 121 acres, valued at $5,000. 

HENRY JANSSEN, farmer; P. 0. 
Monee ; was born in Germany A. D. 1824 ; 
came to the United States in 1862, and to 
this State, and settled in Will Co. in the 
same year ; his farm consists of forty acres, 
valued at S2,000. He was married to 
Miss G. M. Jacobs, who was bprn in Ger- 
many April 25, 1833 ; they have had three 
children — Anna, Henry and Gerry. 

JOHN JANSSEN, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Monee ; one of our early 
settlers; was born in Germany May 21, 
1821 ; came to the United States in 1853, 
and to this State and settled in Will Co. 
in 1858; his farm consists of eighty-three 
acres, valued at $3,500. H^e was married 
to Miss Anna Jacobs, who was born in 
Germany June 23, 1842; they have had 
six children, four of whom are living — 
Mary, Henry, John and Gerhard ; de- 
ceased — Anna and John. 

PAUL LORENZEN, far.; P.O.Frank- 
fort Station ; one of our early settlers ; 
was born in Germany, Jan. 13, 1816 ; 
came to the United States in 1836, and to 
this State in 1852; from his boyhood until 
his settlement on his farm in Frankfort, 
Will Co., his pursuits have been those of a 
sailor, during which time he spent ten years 
on the salt water, and the balance on our 
lakes; his farm consists of 176 acres, val- 
ued at S50 per acre. He was married to 
Miss Gustena Herre, who was born in 
Germany. Since his residence in the 
township he has held the office of Consta- 
ble one year. 

LEWIS LENNBHE, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Monee ; one of our early 
settlers ; was born in Germany Nov. 27, 
1827; came to the United States in 1850, 
and to this State in the same year ; he has 
been a resident of Will Co. for the past 
twenty years; his farm consists of 170 
acres valued at $9,000. Ho was married 



to Miss Augustina Holz, who was born in 
Germany ; they have had five children — 
Charles L., Theodore, Frederick, William 
and Caroline. Since his residence In the 
township, he has held the office of road 
boss two years. 

ANDREW MURDIE, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. O. Frankfort Station ; 
one our early settlers ; was born in Scot- 
land, A. D. 1837 ; came to the United 
States in 1857, and to this State, and set- 
tled in Greengarden, Will Co., in 1861 ; 
his farm consists of eighty acres, valued at 
$4,000 ; it is situated on Sec. 29, Green- 
garden Tp. He was married July 11, 
1865, to Miss Elizabeth Scott, who was 
born in England, A. D. 1 839 ; they have 
had seven children, five of whom are living 
— William, Robert, Nettie, Emma and 
Alfred C; deceased, Harriet E. and Al- 
bert Henry. Mr. Murdie, since his resi- 
dence in the township, has held the office 
of School Director nine years ; he is now 
Township Clerk. 

JOHN MOILLER, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; one of 
early settlers ; was born in Germany Sept. 
7, 1825; came to the United States in 
1845, and to this State, and settled in 
Will Co. in 1865 ; his farm consists of 
eighty acres valued at $4,000. He was 
married to Miss Anna Zentgrbe, who was 
born in Germany Sept. 7, 1829 ; they have 
had seven children, five of whom are living 
— William, John, George, Mary and Sophia; 
deceased, Jacob and Charles. Since his 
residence in the township, he has held the 
office of Road Commissioner three years. 

JOHN NIELAND, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Monee ; one of our early 
settlers ; was born in Germany March 6, 
1824 ; came to the United States in 1854, 
and to this State and settled in Will Co. 
in the same year ; his farm consists of 165 
acres, valued at $50 per acre. He was 
married to Dora Bobsien, who was born in 
Germany Jan. 29, 1829; they have had 
ten children, five of whom are living, viz., 
John, Minnie, Dora, Charley and Freder- 
ick ; deceased, Sophia, Mary, Louisa, 
Heinrich and Ricka. Since Mr. Nieland's 
residence in the township, he has held th(! 
office of School Director and Road Com- 
missioner several years. 

SAMUEL C. RUSSELL, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Greengarden ; one of 





A..£U4^^-^J-Tr-i> iK^ 



BRMOWOOD 



GREKNOARDEN TOWNSHIP. 



871 



our early settlers ; was born in St. John, 
N. B., Aug. 4, 1823 ; came to the United 
States in 181-1, and to this State, and set- 
tled in Greongardon, Will Co., in 1855 ; 
liis farm consists of eighty acres, valued at 
$4,000. Ho was married Nov. 25, 1846, 
to Miss vSusan W. Avery, who wa.s born 
in Plaiiifield I'lain, N. H., Feb. 15, 1825; 
they have had five children, four of wliora 
are living, viz., Samuel A., Mary J., John 
W. and Emma L. ; deceased, Emily M. 

JACOB ROSS, farmer and stock- 
raiser : P. 0. Frankfort Station ; was 
born in Germany July 4, 1838; came to 
the United States in 18t>0, and to this 
State the same year and settled in Cook 
Co. ; he has been a resident of Green 
Garden for the past ten years ; his farm 
consists of eighty acres, valued ^.t $4,000. 
He was married to Miss Mary Sangmeis- 
ter, who was bern in Germany ; they have 
one child, viz., Pjliza. Since Mr. R.'s 
residence in the township, he has filled the 
offices of Road Commissioner and School 
Director three years. He was also a par- 
ticipant in the late war, having en- 
listed in the 57th I. V. I.; served three 
years and eight months, and was dis- 
charged with honor at the close of the 
war, A. D. 1865. 

HENRY RUST, farmer and stock-rais- 
er ; P. 0. Monee ; was born in Germany Jan. 
14, 1814; came to the United Statesin 1848, 
and to Illinois in 1852 ; he has been a 
resident of Greengarden for the past 
fourteen years; his farm consists of 160 
acres, valued at $7,000. He was married 
to Miss Mary Matust, who was born in 
Germany ; they have had seven children, 
five of whom are living, viz., Hannah, 
Henry, ^lary, Carl and William ; de- 
ceased, two infants. Since Mr. Rust's 
residence in the township, he has held the 
office of School Director one year. He was 
also a participant in the war in Germany 
in 1834. 

M. F. SANDERS, farmer and stock- 
raiser; P. 0. Frankfort Station ; our first 
., settler in the township, was born in Rut- 
land Co., Vt., Aug. 17, 1819; came to 
this State and settled in Greengarden, 
Will Co., in 1847 ; although the town.ship 
did not, at that time, have a name. Since 
his residence in the township, he has held 
offices of Supervisor several years, Town- 
'^hip Clerk, and was the first Justice of 



the Peace in the township afVer its organ- 
ization, and performed the first marriage 
ceremony ; his farm consists of 550 acres, 
valued at $27,000. He was married to 
Mrs. Sarah Sanders Nov. 13, 1844, who 
was born in Windsor Co., Vt., March 31, 
1823. They have had seven children, four 
of whom are living, viz., Daphna E., Will- 
iam H., Charles R. and Josephine V.; 
deceased, George W., George A. and 
Frank. 

CARL SC HON, farmer and stock-raisor; 
P. 0. Greengarden ; was born in Ger- 
many Jan. 14, 1833 ; came to the United 
States in 1864, and to this State and set- 
tled in Will Co. in the same year. He 
was married to Miss Mary Kregar, who 
was born in Germany Sept. 22, 1830; 
they have had two children, viz., Charley 
and Frank. The farm of Mr. Schon con- 
sists of eightv acres, valued at $4,000. 

HERMAN HENRY STASSEN,farm 
er and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Monee ; one of 
our early settlers in the county ; was born 
in Germany ; came to the United States 
in 1854, and to this State and settled in 
Will Co. in the same year ; his farm con- 
sists of 160 acres, valued at $7,000 ; he 
has held the office of Supervisor six years ; 
he has also been a member of the Legisla- 
ture one term. He was married to Miss 
G. Maria Dudden ; they have two children, 
viz., Charles and Menno. He is also 
Chairman of the Board of Supervisors ; 
was elected this present year ; he is Treas- 
urer of the Greengarden Insurance Com- 
pany, which is fully described in the gen- 
eral history of the township. 
. CARL SMIT, farmer ; P. 0. Monee ; 
one of our early settlers ; was born in Ger- 
many ; came to the United States in 1862, 
and to this State and settled in Will Co. in 
the same year; his farm consists of 100 
acres, valued at $5,000. He wag married 
to Mrs. Srait March 28, 1876; they have 
one child, viz., Joanna. Mrs. Smit was 
previously married to Mr. John Smit, now 
deceased ; they have had seven children, 
six of whom are living, viz., Augusta, 
August, Amale, Anchan, Willie and Ernest ; 
deceased, Frederick. 

JOHN STASSEN, nurseryman, and 
agent for Greengarden Ins. Co., Monee; one 
of our first settlers ; was born in Germany ; 
came to the United States in 1856, and to 
this State, and settled in Will Co. in the 

14 



872 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



same year ; his farm and nursery grounds 
consists of eighty acres, valued at $5,U00. 
He was married to Miss Anna Tolkers, 
who was born in Germany ; they have 
seven children — Maggie C., Dora K.; 
Annie J., Gerry F., Henrietta, Dietrieck 
and Eiecka. 

AUGUST VOTGT, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Monee ; one of our early 
settlers ; was born in Germany ; came to 
the United States in 1858, and to this 
State, and settled in Will Co. in the same 
year ; his farm consists of 1 20 acres, val- 
ued at $0,000. He was married to Miss 
Mena Sievert, who was born in Germany ; 
they have four children — Anna, Lena, 
Adolph and Freda. Mr. Voigt is now 
holding the office of Secretary of the 
Grcengarden Insurance Co., which is fully 
described in the general history of the 
township. 

JOHN WERNER, farmer and stock- 
raiser ; P. 0. Monee ; was born in Ger- 



many Nov. 25, 1825 ; came to the United 
States in 1854, and to this State, and set- 
tled in Greengarden, Will Co., in 1865; 
his farm consists of 160 acres, valued at 
$8,000. He was married to Miss Mary 
Schde, who was born in Germany March 
15, 1823 ; they have had six children, five 
of whom are living — Dietrick, Elizabeth, 
William, Antoine and Mary; deceased, 
John. 

WILLIAM WATSON, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Greengarden ; one of 
our early settlers ; was born in Scotland 
Aug. 2, 1828 ; came to the United States 
in 1850, and to this State, and settled in 
Will Co. in the same year ; his ftirm con- 
sists of 83^ acres, valued at S4,000. He 
was married to Miss Ann Phillipps, who 
was born in England ; they have had ten 
children, eight of whom are living — Ann 
J., Sarah C, Mary E., William J., Robert 
A,, John H., Emma C. and George ; de- 
ceased, Louisa and Agnes E. 



CUSTER TOWNSHIP. 



EDGAR L. BROWN, farmer; P. 0. 
Braidwood ; was born in Genesee Co., N. 
Y., Aug. 20, 1837, and is the son of Miner 
M. and Mary M. Brown ; his father was a 
farmer; was born in New York about 
1811; he remained in New York until 
1855; this year, with his family, they em- 
igrated to Illinois and settled in Reed Tp., 
what is now known as Custer Tp. ; here 
he purchased 320 acres of land at $4: per 
acre ; was among the first settlers of Reed 
Tp. ; made the improvements on his land 
and engaged in farming ; then to Wil- 
mington, where he was engaged in keeping 
a hotel ; he died in 1864, with the con- 
sumption, leaving a wife and four children ; 
his wife, Mary M. Brown, died in 1866. 
Mr. Edgar L. Brown emigrated West to 
Illinois with his parents; here he has been 
engaged in farming ever since. He mar- 
ried in 1864 to Miss Abbie C Marshall, 
of Pennsylvania, by whom he has had 
six children, three living. 

JAMES BOYD, farmer; P. 0. Wil- 
mington ; was born in the Isle of Man 
Feb. 3, 1813, and is the son of James and 
Ann (Neen) Boyd ; his father was a tailor 



by trade, but was engaged in farmin g^ 
Mr. Boyd was engaged in working on a 
farm owned by a Bishop of the Episcopal 
Church, and in May, 1851, with his wife, 
Ann Kennaugh, born in the Isle of Man 
in May, 1813, emigrated to America and 
landed in New York City ; thence to Fair- 
port, Painesville and Cleveland, Ohio ; in 
May, 1855, came to Illinois and settled in 
Lake Co. ; here engaged in farming until 
1859 ; then to Will Co., and settled on a 
farm owned by William Trainor ; lived 
there one year ; he then purchased forty 
acres of the present farm he now owns at 
S25 per acre ; Mr. Boyd has made all the 
improvements on his farm, it being very 
wild when he first settled here ; when he 
first came to America he was worth about 
87 ; with hard labor, he is to-day one of 
the successful farmers of Custer Tp. Five 
children. 

JAMES CURRAN, farmer; P. O. 
Wilmington ; this gentleman ranks as one 
of the successful farmers of Will Co. ; was 
born in Ireland in 1814, and is the son of 
Owen and Catherine (Carnf^yJ Curran, of 
Ireland; his father was a farmer; here 



CUSTER TOWNSHIP. 



873 



Mr. Qurran commenced life, engap;ed in 
farming from the time he was ahle to hold 
the plow ; hi 1841), with his parents, he 
eniigrated to America ; thence West to 
Illinois, and settled in Will Co. ; in 1852, 
Mr. Curran settled on the place he now 
lives on, the country being very wild at 
that time. Married Miss Nellie Coregon, 
(d Ireland, by whom he has seven chil- 
dren. Mr. Curran owns 241) acres of fine 
land in Will Co. 

STEPHEN CALHOON, farmer; P. 
0. Custer; was born in Wood Co., Ohio, 
Jan. 23, 182-1, and is the son of Abner 
and Mary ( Hoyt) Calhoon ; father, from 
New York ; engaged in farming ; came to 
Ohio about 1812; served as teamster in 
the war of 1812. When Mr. Calhoon was 
about 3 years old, with his parents, moved 
to Kalamazoo Co., Mich. ; here he remained 
until he was about 24 years old ; in 1848, 
came to Illinois and settled in Will Co., on 
the farm he now lives on ; he first pur- 
chased 120 acres of Government land; 
when he first came here the country was 
very wild ; plenty of game ; he states that 
he has stood in his door and counted as 
high as seventy-five deer in sight of his 
house ; Mr. Calhoon, with his fondly, 
moved to Benton Co., Ind., in 1875, and 
remained there three years engaged in 
farming and schooling his children ; re- 
turned on the old homestead in 1877. 
Married in 1848 to Miss Weltha Weller, 
of New York ; four children. Mr. C. has 
held several ofiices of public trust. Is a 
Kepublican in politics, and United Brethren 
in religion. His parents both are dead ; 
father died in 1855 ; mother in 1878. 

JAMES DWYER, farmer; P. 0. 
Braidwood ; the subject of this sketch is 
one among the oldest settlers of Custer 
Tp. ; was born in Ireland about 1825, and 
is the son of James and (/atherine (Cary) 
Dwyer, of Ireland ; his father was a car- 
penter and wagon-maker by trade; lived 
on a farm ; here Mr. Dwyer commenced 
farming, and, in 1840, he immigrated to 
America and landed in New York City ; 
thence to Su.squehanna Co., Penn., and 
commenced farming ; he wa.'^ a foreman 
on the New York & Erie Kailroad for 
six years ; in 1849, he came West to Illi- 
nois, and settled in Will Co. ; in 1850, he 
came and settled on the place he now lives 
on, which was a very wild country at that 



time ; plenty of wild game — deer, wolves 
and prairie chickens ; he has made all the 
improvements on his farm. Mr. Dwyer 
has held several offices of public trust. Is 
a Democrat in politics, and a member of 
ofthe Catholic Church. Married in 1852 
to Miss Winnifrcd Noonan, of Ireland ; 
eight children. Mr. Dwyer came to Amer- 
ica a poor boy; by his railroading P^ast 
he saved a little money, came West and 
invested it in 200 acres, at $2.50 and 
$5.00 per acre ; he worked hard aud by 
good management is one of the successful 
farmers of Will Co. ; owns .3 1 acres of 
land. 

JOHN B. FEELY. farmer, P. 0. 
Braidwood ; was born in the county of 
Boscommon, Ireland, Jan. 3, 1829, and is 
the son of Andrew and Mary (Bannon) 
Feely, of Ireland ; his fother was a farmer ; 
Mr. Feely was raised on his father's farm, 
and, in November, 1849, immigrated to 
America and landed in Boston, Mass. ; 
thence to Dorchester, Mass., one year on a 
farm ; then West to Illinois and settled in 
Joliet, Will Co., April 5, 1851 ; here he 
remained until 1854 ; he then went to Cal- 
ifornia and engaged in mining in the gold- 
fields of California for four years and nine 
months ; success very good ; he then re- 
turned to Illinois, and. May 29, 1859, he 
settled on the farm he now lives on. Mar- 
ried in 1859 to Miss Wineford Lannon, 
of Ireland, by whom he has had twelve 
children, seven living. Mr. Feely is a 
Democrat in politics, and a member of the 
Catholic Church. Owns 280 acres of land. 
When he first came here the country was 
very wild. Made all improvements on his 
farm. 

HENRY HUDSON, farmer, P. 0. 
Wilmington ; was born in Huntingdon Co., 
Penn., and is the son of Mathew ;ind 
Sarah (Cook) Hudson; Mr. Hud.^on, 
when he was but 3 years old, with his par- 
ents, moved to Trumbull Co., Ohio ; his 
fiithor was a farmer ; here he set out in 
farming, and, when 17 years of age, he com- 
menced to learn the carpenter and joiner 
trade ; this he followed while in Ohio ; in 
1S40, he came to Illinois, and settled in 
Wilmington, Will Co. ; here, in this vicin- 
ity, he has remained ever .since ; Mr. Hud- 
son, before there was a railroad in the 
vicinity, was engaged in carrying the U. 
S. mail from Wilmington, Will Co., to 



874 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



Pontiac, Livingston Co., for nine years. 
Married twice ; first wife, Lydia A. Fen- 
ner, of New York ; second wife, Mariah 
Bell, of Ohio; six children. Mr. Hudson 
had three sons in the late war, who partic- 
ipated in some of the hard-fought battles, 
and were honorably discharged. 

ROBERT HAWLEY, farmer; P. 0. 
Wilmin<4ton ; was born in Buckingham- 
shire, England, in 1822, and is the sou of 
John and Fannie Hawley ; who died when 
he was very young ; was raised among 
strangers ; at 14 years of age, he worked 
his passage on a lumber vessel to Quebec, 
Canada, and remained in Canada about 
two years ; thence to America ; here he 
spent his time in traveling in different 
parts of the United States ; came to Illi- 
nois in 1844, and engaged in working on a 
farm in Kendall Co. about eighteen 
mouths; in 1847, he settled on the farm 
he now lives on, in Custer Tp., Will Co. ; 
states that there was no house between 
him and Wilmington ; country very wild. 
In October, 1861, he enlisted as private in 
Co. F, 9th 111. Cav. ; this regiment was 
principally on scouting duty, and did good 
service ; was mustered out at the close of 
the war, at Selma, Ala., in 1865 ; returned 
to his farm and remained here ever since. 
Married Miss Sarah Ann Burd, of New 
Jersey. Mr. H. is about the oldest settler 
of Custer Tp. 

JAMES KEAY, farmer; P. 0. Custer; 
was born in county of Forfarshire, Scot- 
land, Feb. 24, 1812, and is the son of 
John and Isabella (Barry) Keay, of Scot- 
land ; his father was a Sergeant Major in 
the British army ; the latter part of his 
Hfe he was a toll-keeper ; when Mr. Keay 
was 20 years old, he entered the manufact- 
uring business, and followed this for three 
years ; he then was engaged in the mer- 
cantile business in Forfar, the county seat 
of Forfarshire, and remained in business 
about twenty years ; in 1855, he emigrated 
to America with wife and four children ; 
landed in Quebec, Canada, then, by lake, 
to Chicago, 111.; here he attended a Gov- 
ernment land sale and purchased 120 acres, 
the present homestead ; in 1855, he came 
to Will Co. and settled where he now lives. 
Mr. Keay married in 1834 to Miss Jane 
Johnston, of Forfarshire, Scotland, by 
■whom he has had seven children. Mr. 
Keay states that when he first came here the 



country was very wild and only five houses 
between his place and Wilmington, Will 
Co. 

ITHAMER T. PALMER, farmer; P. 
0. Wilmington ; this gentleman was born 
in New York, March 20, 1846; his 
father, Jacob J. Palmer, was born in Ver- 
mont ; emigrated West with his family, 
and first settled in Kalamazoo Co., Mich., 
here they remained but a short time, and, 
in 1849, came to Illinois .and settled in 
Will Co.; he was engaged in farming one 
year on what is now known as the Ira 
Smith farm ; then, with his family, to the 
present homestead, where Mr. Palmer now 
lives; here he purchased 116 acres, then 
wild land ; he made all improvements ; 
here he spent the remaining part of his 
life engaged in farming ; died universally 
respected, leaving a wife and four children. 
Mr. Ithamer T. Palmer was married in 
1877 to Miss Laura Williamson, born in 
London, England, in 1850, and is the 
daughter of Thomas and S. (Bruce) Will- 
iamson. Mr. Palmer is a Republican in 
politics. Has held the office of Assessor of 
Township; owns 122 acres of fine, im- 
proved land. 

GEO. W. PETRO, former; P. 0. 
Wilmington ; was born in La Porte Co., 
Ind., and is the son of George and Cather- 
ine (Concannon) Petro ; his father was 
engaged in farming and a soldier of the 
war of 1812, and was a native of Ohio; 
having settled in La Porte Co., Ind., at an 
early day, being among the first settlers of 
that county ; Mr. Petro was raised on his 
father's farm, and remained there until ho 
was 21 years of age; he then entered the 
mercantile business in Kankakee, 111.; in 
1872, he came to Will Co. and settled on 
the present farm; when Custer Tp. was 
first organized as a township, Mr. Petro 
was elected as Supervisor ; this office he 
now holds, having been elected to same 
office three times. He is a Republican in 
politics. Owns 116 acres of improved land. 
Married Miss Mary Kelley, of Buchanan, 
Mich.; have five children. 

MICHAEL SHENK, farmer; P. 0. 
Braid wood ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Aug. 20, 
1818, and is the son of Christian and 
Magdalene ( Wolf) Shenk, of Pennsyl- 
vania ; his father was a miller by trade, 
and died when Mr. Shenk was very young; 



CUSTER TOWNSHIP 



875 



from Lancaster Co., with his iiiothtT and 
cliildrt'ii, moved to P]rie Co., Ponn., and 
remained there until 1858; he then 
omi'rrated West to Illinois and settled on 
the place he now lives on ; he first pur- 
chased IGO acres at $20 per acre ; when 
he arrived here the country was wild ; he 
made all the improvements on his farm ; 
Mr. Shenk, with hard labor, industry and 
good management, to-day owns 240 acres 
of fine, improved land, and ranks as one of 
the successful farmers of Will Co. Mar- 
ried in 18-11 to Miss Sarah Ann Carter; 
have eight children. His mother, Mag- 
dalene Shenk, died in Erie Co., Petin. 

JOHN J. SMILLIE, farmer and mer 
chant; P. 0. Wilmington. This gentle- 
man is one of the oldest settlers of Will 
Co.; was born in Madison Co., N. Y., Oct. 
24, 1828, and is the son of John and 
Catharine (Kern) Smillie ; his father was 
a native of Scotland and engaged in farm- 
ing, having died when Mr. Smillie was 
very young; his mother (of New York), 
married to Jeremiah Gray. Mr. Smillie 
was raised on a farm, and with his parents 
emigrated West to Illinois in 1835, and 
settled in Will Co., east of Joliet, then on 
the forks of the Du Page River; thence 
to McHenry Co ; here he remained until 
1850 ; he then went to the gold fields of 
California, engaged in mining, remained in 
California about four years, was very suc- 
cessful ; he then returned to Illinois and 
settled on the farm he now lives on ; he 
first purchased 1(30 acres of land at $3.75 
per acre, which land was purchased with 
money he -chad made in California. Mr. 
Smillie has been very successful in life ; he 
commenced a poor boy, and to-day ranks 
as one of the successful farmers of Will 
Co.; owns 074 acres of fine, improved 
land. He moved to Wilmington in order 
to school his children ; returned to the 
farm, and has lived here ever since. When 
he first came to Will Co., the country was 
very wild ; plenty of Indians, and very 
troublesome at times ; game in abundance, 
deer and wolves ; Mr. Smillie has killed 
many deer, being considerable of a hunter 
in his younger days ; has held various oflB- 
ces of public trust in his township. Dem- 
ocrat in politics. Married in 1855 to 
Miss Olive Reed, of Will Co., whose par- 
ents Settled in Will Co. at an early day ; 
eleven children, nine living. 



IKA W. SIMITH, farmer; P. O. Wil- 
mington ; was born in Huron Co., Ohio, 
Nov. 27. 1834, and is the sun of Ira W. 
and Louis ( Beckwith) Smith, of Vermont; 
his father was engaged in farming and 
stock-raising, and died universally respect- 
ed, Feb. 18, 1870, at 04 years of age; his 
mother died June 7, 1847, 37 years of age. 
Mr. Smith came West to Illinois in Novem- 
ber, 1844, and settled in Rockville, Kan- 
kakee Co., and, in 1857, he came to the 
place he now lives on ; here he remained 
until the breaking-out of the late war. At 
the first call forvolunteers(Aug. 27, 1861 j, 
he enlisted as private in Co. D, 4th I. V. 

C, under Col. T. Lyle Dickey, who was a 
soldier in the Mexican war; the 4th I. V. C. 
was changed to the 12th I. V. C, and par- 
ticipated in some of the hard-fought bat- 
tles during the war — Ft. Henry, Ft. Don- 
elson (where the first substantial success 
of the war was achieved), at Pittsburg 
Landing (where a victory was snatched 
from the jaws of death), in the campaigns, 
the battles and the siege of Vicksburg and 
other prominent battles under Gen. Grant, 
Gen. McPherson and Gen. Dodge; Co.D was 
with these generals as an escort ; in a skir- 
mish in Mississippi, Mr. Smith was wounded, 
which caused him to be off duty six weeks, 
and four months' sickness ; excepting this 
he served full time and was honorably dis- 
charged ; tnustered out as Captain of Co. 

D, in December, 1865. At the close of the 
war he returned home here ; he has 
remained here ever since. Married June, 
1866, to Miss Ella Hanson, of Illinois, by 
whom he has two children ; has 755 
acres of fine, improved land. 

ELI N. SMALL, Postmaster, Custer; 
the subject of this sketch was born in Her- 
kimer County, N. Y., June 20, 1828, 
and is the son of William and Evelina 
(Canfield) Small ; his mother, a native of 
Connecticut, his father of New York, and 
was engaged in the wholesale grocery busi- 
ness in the city of New York. Mr. Small 
came West to Will County in 1853, and 
settled in Wilmington ; then to Custer ; 
here he has remained ever since ; 
through his influence, the township of 
Custer was named, and in honor of Gen. 
Custer ; is the Postmaster ( the first) of 
Custer Tp. Married in 1857 to Miss Alice 
L. Easton, of New York, daughter of 
William Easton ; they have three children. 



876 



BIOGRAPHICA.L SKETCHES: 



WILLIAM B. SMALL, lumber mer- 
chant, Wilmington ; was born in Hancock 
County, Ohio, February 24, 1851, and is 
the son of Daniel and Sophronia (Hall) 
Small ; came West in 1851 ; commenced 
the lumber business with his brother E. 
D. Small, known as E. D. Small & Co., in 
Wilmington, June 17, 1872 ; here they 
xuet with good success ; they then started 
a lumber-yard in Jersey City, Custer Tp., 
1876 ; then a iumber-yard at Smith's 
Landing ; these gentlemen are the largest 
lumber merchants on the Kankakee River ; 
buy their lumber by the cargo at Chicago ; 
own one of the best steamers on the Kan- 
kakee River used in transferrins: lumber 
from Chicago to their lumber-yards at 
AVilmington, Jersey City, and Smith's 
Landing ; their prices in lumber are the 
cheapest in any part of the State. Mr. 
Small married Sept. 17, 1873, to Miss 
Addle Warner, of Illinois ; they have two 
children. 

MARTIN F. TILDEN, former ; P. 0. 
Wilmington ; this gentleman is one of the 
oldest settlers of what is now known as 
Custer Tp. ; was born in Orange County, 
Vt., February 6, 1811, and is the son of 
Diah and Irenah ( Flint) Tilden ; his father 
was a farmer ; here Mr. Tilden was brought 
up on his father's farm ; from Orange Co., 
he went to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. ; here 
he remained about nine years engaged in 
farming ; then West to Illinois and settled 
on the farm he now lives on. May, 1849; 
here with his brother Turner, and brother- 
in-law Jacob J. Palmer, settled on a half- 
section of land ; when Mr. Tilden first 
came here with his family, they moved into 
a log cabin and remained until he made 
improvements on his farm; the country 
was very wild at that timi', plenty of wild 
game ; with hard labor and good manage- 
ment Mr. Tilden owns to-day one of the 
finest improved farms of Custer Tp. , known 
as the " Evergreen Home," of 170 acres 
of land. Married Miss Sarah A. Kimball, 
of Vermont, by whom he has had seven 
children, two living ; Mr. Tilden's parents 
both are dead, his father Diah, died when 
he was near 84 years of age ; his mother, 
at 83 years of age ; both buried in the 
family grave-yard in Custer Tp. 

ROBERT TRAINER, farmer; P. 0. 
Wilmington ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in the Isle of Man, February, 1844, 



and is the son of William Trainer, who 
was born in the Isle of Man, 1798 ; was en- 
gaged in farming, and, in 1853, emi- 
grated to America, starting with his wife 
and five children, but on the way, at sea, 
his wife died, leaving him with his five 
children ; they landed in New York city ; 
then went direct to Illinois, and settled on 
the farm they now live on ; when Mr. , 
William Trainer first came here, he was 
worth about $1,000, invested in land; 
and, with the help of his four sons, they 
labored hard, and at his death he was one 
of the respected farmers of Will Co, leav- 
ing 301 acres of land. The sons are, 
James, William, Thomas and Robert, all 
born in the Isle of Man. 

A. G. TAYLOR, farmer ; P. 0. Wil- 
mington ; was born in St. Lawrence Co., 
N. Y., and is the son of Hiram and 
Eliza (Weller) Taylor ; his father was 
born in Rutland, Vt., June 30, 1806, and, 
at an early da}', moved to St. Lawrence Co., 
N. Y. ; here he remained until 1849, 
engaged in farming ; he then, with his 
wife and family, emigrated to Illinois, via 
railroad and lake to Chicago ; then canal 
to Joliet ; from Joliet they came by wagon 
to Reed Tp., Will Co., 111., and rented a 
farm on the east side of Horse Creek, and, 
in 1853, Mr. Taylor purchased the farm 
now owned by Mr. A. G. Taylor ; here he 
remained until his death, which occurred 
Feb. 21, 1877; he died respected and 
honored by his fellow-men, leaving a wifo 
whom he was married to Dec. 28, 1826, 
living together for over fifty years. Mr. 
A. G. Taylor holds office as Treasurer of 
Road Commissioners ; owns 160 acres of 
land. Married in 1868 to Miss Eliza 
Hicks, of New York ; four children. 

WILLIAM TRAINER, deceased ; 
the subject of this sketch was one of the 
first settlers of Reed Tp. (now Custer 
Tp.); was born in Scotland May 21, 
1798; his father was a farmer; Mr. 
Trainer was a farmer, and followed this 
business principally throughout life ; when 
he was young, with his parents, emigrated 
to the Isle of Man ; here he remained en- 
gaged in farming ; he returned to Scot- 
land, remained there but a few years, then 
back to the Lsle of Man. He married in 
1833, Margaret Moore, of the Isle of Man, 
born July 31 , 1807 ; in 1853, with his wife 
and five children, he started for America; 



PEOTONK TOWNSHIP. 



877 



•during the voyage, Mrs. TraincT was taken 
sick, and died at sea Oct. 15, 1853, on 
board the Wm. Tapscott ; Mr. Trainer and 
his five children landed in New York Nov. 
12, 1853 ; left his family in Cleveland, 
and came West to find a location ; re- 
turned to Cleveland, brought his family 
and settled in Reed Tp. (now Custer 
Tp.); he purchased 120 acres of land, 
paying about $1,000 ; here he re- 
mained, except two years in Dwight, 



Livingston Co.; he died at the old 
] homestead, June 25, 1878, re.spected 
and honored by his fellow-men, leaving 
four sons, all born at the Isle of Man. 
William, Dee. 30, 1834, married Miss 
Margaret Monty, of Canada — four chil- 
dren; James T., born Nov. 23, 1836, 
married Miss Catherine McDonald ; 
Thomas T., born July 18, 1841, married 
Elizabeth McDonald; Robert T., born 
! Feb. 27, 1844. 



PEOTONE TOWNSHIP. 



WILLIAM ANGUS, merchant, Peo- 
tone ; general merchant, firm of Angus & 
Fell ; born in Durham Co., England, March 
18, 1830, where he lived and engaged in 
farming until 23 years of age, when he 
emigrated to America, landing in New 
York April 21, 1853, coming directly 
West and to Chicago ; he was employed 
upon the Galena Division of the C. & N. 
VI. R. R. for a period of five years, first 
a.-< fireman, then as engineer ; after leaving 
the C. & N. W. R. R., he located in Lombard, 
Du Page Co., and engaged in farming for a 
period of eleven years, when he came to 
Peotone, and, Aug. 4, 1870, engaged in 
general merchandise, which business he has 
since followed. He married Jan. 1,1857, 
Saloma Wolf; she was born in France. 

DAVID J. BOARD, druggist and 
farmer, Peotone ; born in Passaic Co., N. 
J., April 28, 1820, living there until 
11 years of age, when he attended the 
Crane Boarding School, at Caldwell, N. 
J., for four years; then to New York 
City ; employed in jobbing dry goods until 
the panic of 1837, when he retired to his 
studies at Bellville ; then to Morristown, 
where he finished his studies, prejiaratory 
to the study of law, which he commenced 
in 1840, with J. J. Scofield, at the above 
place, where he remained four years, being 
admitted to the bar in 1844, when he re- 
moved to Paterson, N. J., and commenced 
practice, which he followed until 1852, 
when, on account of ill health, he aban- 
doned his profession and made an overland 
trip to California, where he engaged as 
Treasurer of a mining company ; also run 
hotel, ferry, dairy and ranch ; selling out 



his interest, he returned to New Jersey in 
1 854 ; remaining there a short time, he 
came to Jackson Co., 111., and contracted 
to supply the I. C. R. R. with supplies 
for building the road, which business he 
followed until the completion of the road 
in that section ; coming to Will Co. in 
1857, he located in Will Tp., farming, and 
in 1858, he again contracted with the I. 
C. R. R. to supply ties and fuel at differ- 
ent points on the line of the road, which 
: he continued until 1861, in connection 
I with running stores at different points 
upon the line of the road; he then en- 
gaged for about two years in the manuflict- 
ure of staves, at Ashley, 111., which he fol- 
lowed until the tax being placed upon 
whisky, he sold his interest to the Ashley 
Woolen- Mill; removing his family to 
Monee, Will Co., he went to Huntsville, 
Ala., where he engaged in running the 
Huntsville House and speculating in Gov- 
ernment vouchers, cotton, etc., remaining 
until the following season, when, selling 
out his interest, he came North and at- 
tended his stock of upward of 700 head 
of cattle, which he had carried over the 
previous winter ; in 1865, he located upon 
his farm and gave his attention to farming 
and raising blooded stock, until 1877, a 
period of twelve years, when he purchased 
an interest in the drug business, which 
business he now follows, under the firm 
name of Board & Shuniway. He was 
married in November, 1844, to Miss Susan 
P. Lewis ; she was born in New Jersey ; 
they have five children by this union, viz , 
James L., Mary E., Ellswt.rth M., Will- 
iam and Nathaniel. 



878 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; 



JAMES BAKNHART, Postmaster, 
dealer iu stationery and notions and mu- 
sical instniments, Peotone ; proprietor of 
Peotone Eagle ) born in Perry Co.,Penn., 
June 15, 1839 ; his parents dying when 
he was an infant, he went to live with an 
uncle, in Franklin Co., where he lived 
until 1855, when he came West and set- 
tled in Pike Co., 111., living here and work- 
ing on a farm four yvars ; then to Wood- 
hull, Henry Co., where he lived until 
1861, when he enlisted in the 45th Illi- 
nois Regiment and served three years ; he 
was engaged in the battles of Fort Donel- 
son, Shiloh, siege of Corinth and other se- 
vere engagements ; was with Grant during 
the entire siege and capture of Vicksburg, 
the regiment being actively engaged from 
the lyth of May until the surrender of 
Vicksburg, July 4, meeting with heavy 
los.-, Mr. Barnhart being severely wounded 
by the blowing-up of Fort Hill, June 
26, in the rear of Vicksburg. After 
being mustered out of service, he removed 
to Peotone, in 1866, where he engaged in 
farming for three years ; then, after sell- 
ing goods one year, was appointed Post- 
master of Peotone, which oflBce he has 
since held. 

J. H. BRAYTON, merchant, Peotone; 
dealer in clothing, boots and shoes, hats 
and caps and gents' furnishing goods ; born 
in New York State, where he lived 
until 7 years of age, when he removed 
with his parents to Manteno, Kankakee 
Co., 111., living there until 21 years of age, 
when he removed to Joliet, Will Co., 
where he lived one year, when he came to 
Peotone and engaged in the above business, 
with Robert Wells, for six months, when he 
purchased the interest of his partner, en- 
larged the stock, and now keeps the only 
exclusive stock of the kind in Peotone. He 
married, Dec. 10, 187o, Ella Christian ; she 
was born Feb. 27, 1854, in Du Page Co., 
111. 

N. S. BEEDY, hardware merchant, 
of the firm of Harsh & Beedy, Peotone ; 
born in Essex Co., N. Y., Feb. 9, 1835 ; 
lived there until 10 years of age, then he 
went to Canada, where he remaioed five 
years, when, in 1850, he emigrated to Illi 
nois and located at Lockport, Will Co., 
living there one year ; he removed to Rock- 
ville, Kankakee Co., and, with his father, 
was amongst the pioneers and organizers 



of the town of Manteno in 1854; he lived 
here until 1865, engaged in farming, when 
he removed to Peotone Tp., and followed 
farming until 1874, when he sold his farm 
and went to Indiana, where he remained 
two and a half years, engaged in running 
the railroad eating-house in Michigan City; 
selling out the above business, he returned 
to Peotone and purchased the interest of 
C. M. Lewis in the above business, which 
he has since followed. He married Sept. 
22, 1858, Phebe Goodspeed, oldest daugh- 
ter of Samuel Goodspeed ; she was born 
in Will Co., 111.; they are the parents of 
five children by this union — Orrel M., 
Hettie A., Abbie E., Daniel N. and Carl. 
FELIX W. CALKINS, farmer and 
stock-raiser. Sec. 6 ; P. 0. Peotone ; born 
in Burlington, Louisa Co., Iowa, May 4, 
1844, and removed with his parents when 
quite young, to Chicago, living there until 
1854 ; then to Naperville, Du Page Co., 
until 1860 ; then to Lockport, Will Co., 
until July 29, 1862, when he enlisted, 
at the age of 17, in the 100th 111. 
Vol. In. for three years, and in less 
than one month was with his rey;iment 
doing active service at the front ; he was 
in many hard-fought battles, and at Stone 
River was captured, but escaped during the 
night, and reaching the Union lines agaia 
joined his regiment and was made prisoner 
at the battle of Chickamauga Sept. 20, 
1863, and taken to Atlanta, Ga.; from there 
to Libby Prison, where he, with others 
was formed in line, then robbed of all 
money and valuables ; from there he was 
taken to Pemberton and Belle Island for 
several months ; then to Danville, Ga., 
where they were placed iu large tobacco 
warehouses and remained during the win- 
ter of 1863 and 1864; the winter was 
one of unusuiJ severity and the prisoners 
w6re without clothing and were allowed no 
fire during the entire winter ; during the 
winter the small-pox raged with fearful fa- 
tality, nearly every prisoner being down 
and receiving no care except such as le- 
ceived from their fellow-prisoners ; the 
fatal cases exceeded upward of 50 per 
cent of the entire sick-list ; in May, 1864, 
he was removed to Andersonville, where 
he remained until November following ; 
the cruelty inflicted here was in keeping 
with its well-known acts of barbarism ; 
from Andersonville he, with 15,000 others,. 



PROTON K TOWNSIIII' 



879 



was taken to Charleston, S. C.,and placed 
under the most expesed part of the fire of 
the Union gunboats during the buuibard- 
ment of the city ; from there they were 
taken to Florence Prison, S. C; remaining 
here until the 21st of February, 18G5, 
when they were placed in box cars with 
upward of eighty in each car, and such as 
survived the journey were paroled in Rich- 
mond Feb. 2S, 1SG5 ; Mr. Calkins was in 
rebel prisons nearly two years, and has his 
health much impaired and for a period of 
two years it was feared he would entiri'ly 
lose his eyesight ; he received his discharge 
for disability in St. Louis June 16, 1865, 
when he placed himself under medical 
treatment for one year for physical disabil- 
ity caused by cruel treatment while in 
rebel prisons. He located upon his pres- 
ent place in 1866 ; he owns 200 acres of 
well-improved land, valued at $10,000, 
which he has accumulated by strict integ- 
rity, hard labor and industry. He married 
Aug. 23, 1865, Rosaline Calkins ; she 
was born in Orleans Co., Vt., April 12, 
1842 ; they have three children by this 
union — George W., JEoMa. M. and Ettie 
L. 

PETER CONRAD, manufacturer and 
shipper of butter and cheese, Peotone; born 
in Odenbach Rheinphalz, Bavaria, Grermany, 
May 29, 1825, where he lived until 32 years 
of age, when he learned and worked at 
the trade of shoemaking until he emigrated 
to America, where he arrived May 29, 
1857, landing in New York ; coming di- 
rectly West, he located in Elmhurst, Du 
Page Co., living there two years and worked 
at his trade : from there he went to Pro- 
viso, Cook Co., where he lived seven years 
and followed shoemaking ; he then came 
to Greengarden Tp., Will Co., and settled 
upon a farm for one year, when he removed | 
to his present place in 18()6, and again fol- 
lowed shoemaking for a peiiod of five 
years, since which time he has been engaged ; 
in mercantile pursuits. He was married 
in Germany June 11, 1849, to Katharina 
Gross, who was born in the Earldom of ! 
Hesse-Homburg; they are the parents of ! 
seven children now living — Peter H., Kat- , 
arina, Dora, Maggie, Elizabeth, Bertha and 
Clara. Mr. Conrad has held the oflBce of 
Police Constable, and is now serving his ' 
third term as School Treasurer of Peotone 
Township. 



MICHAEL COLLINS, merchant and 
grain dealer, Peotone; born in County 
Clare, Ireland, Oct. 15, 1845 ; he emi- 
grated to America when 3 years of age, 
living two years in Vermont ; then six 
years in Canada, when he removed with 
his ])arents to Fajette Co., 111., where he 
lived until 18 years of age, when, learning 
telegraphy, he worked as operator at Gil- 
man awhile, then at Makanda as agent and 
operator for the I. C. R. R. one year, when, 
on account of ill health, he was transferred 
to Peotone, where he filled the different po- 
sitions of agent and opcTator of the I. C. 
R. R., and agent for the American Express 
Co. for a period of ten years when he 
resigned and engaged in the grain and hay 
trade; and now, in connection with F. 
Schroeder, is largely engaged in buying and 
shipping grain to Chicago and Eastern 
markets ; he is also engaged in general 
merchandise of the firm of Schroeder, Smith 
& Collins. He married Dee. 2, 1869, 
Carrie Folke, daughter of Dr. Henry Folke; 
she was born in Will Co., 111., May 22, 
1852; they have, by this union, three 
children — Kittie, Grace and Paul. Mr. 
Collins has held the offices of School Di- 
rector and Justice of the Peace ; is now 
servinc his tliird term as Supervisor. 

JOHN CONRAD, hardware dealer and 
Police Magistrate, Peotone ; born in Oden- 
bach Rheinfels, Bavaria, Germany, April 
15, 1830, where he worked at shoemaking 
until he emigrated to America ; he landed 
in Philadelphia July 19, 1850, going to 
New York, where he lived until 1854, 
when he came to Illinois and located at 
Elmhurst, Du Page Co., where he worked 
at his trade until April 15, 1865, when he 
run a saloon for nine months ; then opened 
a general country store, following this busi- 
ness until 1869, when he removed to Peo- 
tone and opened the New York House, 
which he run for eighteen months, then 
selling out, he opened a general store, which 
business he followed for two years, when, 
being elected Police Magistrate, he sold his 
store and devoted his whole time to the du- 
ties of his office and collections for a period 
of six years ; Mr. Conrad engaged in 1875 
in partnership with his son-in-law, August 
Schugman, in the general hardware and 
stove business, which business has run 
quite successfully under the firm name of 
Conrad & Schugman, Mr. Conrad still re- 



880 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; 



taining the oflBce of Police Magistrate and 
collection agent. He married July 19, 
1855, to Caroline Schaubel ; she was born 
in Baden, Germany, Jan. 23, 1837 ; they 
have by this union nine children living — 
Charlotte M., Caroline K. ( now Mrs. A. 
Schugmau), John P., Frank H., Harry F., 
Freddie P., Hattie, Jennie and Charlie. 

JACOB DEWITZ, wagonmaker and 
dealer in pumps, Peotone ; born in Rendel, 
Dukedom of Hessen, Germany, Oct. 17, 
1831, where he lived and followed the trade 
of wagonmaker until 1855, when he emi- 
grated to America, landing in New York 
June 27 of the same year, coming directly 
to Danby, Du Page Co., where he remained 
six months ; then to Grundy Co., where 
he engaged in farming until 1857. when 
he returned to Bloomiogdale, DuPage Co., 
for one year ; he then went to Kansas for 
a short time, returning to Bloomingdale, 
•where he lived four years, farming ; in 
October, 1863, he removed to Monee and 
engaged at his trade until March 15, 1865, 
when he removed to Peotone and engaged 
in the manufacture of wagons, which he 
has since followed. He married May 21, 
1866, Mary M. OfFner ; she was born in 
Craiuthal, Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Dec. 
10, 1841 ; they have by this union five 
children — Theodore H., Mary, August C., 
Otto and Ludwig C. Mr. Dewitz has held 
the office of Town Trustee, and is now 
serving the fifth year as School Director. 

JOHN ELLIOT, farmer, Sec. 13 ; P. 
0. Peotone ; born in Dumfriesshire, Scot- 
land, in August, 1822; lived there until 
20 years of age ; he emigrated to America 
in 1842, landing in Kingston, C. W., 
where he engaged at his trade of stone- 
mason for six years, until 1848, when he 
located in county of Huron, C. W., and 
engaged in farming and also working at his 
trade until 1875, when he soUl out all his 
interest in lands and emigrated to Peotone, 
Will Co., 111., and located upon his present 
place, where he has since lived ; he owns 
120 acres of well-improved lands, valued 
at $40 per acre, vvhicli ho has earned by 
his own hard labor. He married in Octo- 
ber, 1851, to Lsabella Habkirk, a native of 
Canada ; they have two children by this 
marriage — Janette and William. Mrs. 
Elliot died in 1858. He married for hia 
second wife Margaret Cowan ; she was born 
in Scotland ; they have four children by 



this union — Agnes, Isabella, John and 
Elizabetli. 

HENRY FEDDE, furniture, Peotone ; 
born in Holstein, Germany, Sept. 9, 1827, 
where he lived and worked at the trade of 
brickmason until he emigrated to Ameri 
ca, landing in New York May 27, 1854, 
coming directly to Joliet, W^ill Co., 111.; 
he worked at his trade for one year, then 
worked at the furniture business four years ; 
he moved to Momence, Kankakee, Co., 
where he started in the furniture business, 
which he followed for a period of eight 
years, when, in 1867, he settled in the fur- 
niture business at Peotone, Will Co., 111., 
which he has since followed ; he carries 
the only stock of furniture in Peotone. 
He married June 30, 1857, Miss Anna 
Hecht ; she was born in Holstein, Ger- 
many ; they are the parents of three chil- 
dren — John F., born Aug. 13, 1858; 
Henry, born May 5, 1860, died Aug. 15, 
1861; Edward H., born Feb. 13, 1867. 

SAMUEL GOODSPEED, farmer. Sec. 
30 ; P. 0. Peotone ; born in Troy, N. Y., 
Feb. 21, 1812 ; he removed with his par- 
ents to Tioga Co., Penn., when 4 years of 
age ; here he lived until 22 years of age, 
working upon a farm in summer and attend- 
ing school in winter ; he emigrated West 
in 1835, and located upon Fox River near 
Oswego for one year ; then to Plainfield 
Will Co., where he lived eighteen years 
he located upon his present place in 1855 
he owns 320 acres of well-improved land 
with good buildings, valued at S16,000 
which he has accumulated by his own hard 
labor and industry. He married May 24, 
1835, to Caroline B. Clark ; she was born 
in New York April 5, 1817. They had 
by this union six childi'en, viz., John, 
Phoebe, Eunice. Emily, George and Henry. 
Mrs. G. died Feb. 23, 1847; Mr. G.'s 
second wife was Sarah M. Messenger, mar- 
ried January, 1848 ; she was born in Ohio 
Aug. 8, 1825. They had six children by 
this union, viz., Francis, Caroline, Edward, 
William, Harriet and Samuel. Mrs. G. 
died July 25, 1869. He married for his 
third wife Mrs. Harriet Bryan Nov. 20, 
1869 ; she was born in New York Aug. 13, 
1820. Mr. Goodspeed has held the office 
of School Trustee for upward of fourteen 
years and Supervisor for four years. 

HENRY GATES, general merchandise, 
Peotone ; born in Essex Co., N. Y., July 



PEOTONE TOWNSHIP. 



881 



12, 1833 ; living there eight years, lie re- 
moved to Orleans Co., Vt., where ho lived 
and engaged in farming for a period of 
thirteen years; he emigrated to Illinois in 
1 854, and settled in Huykes' Grove, and 
engaged in farming in the suninu-r and 
toaehing school and carpentering in the 
winter for six years, when, in 18(50, he 
went to Joliet and engaged in traveling, 
selling goods and collecting for six years ; 
he then removed to Peotone, and engaged 
in buying and shipping stock to Chicago, 
and butchering for the home market for 
one year ; then engaged in the painting 
business for two years, when he again re- 
sumed traveling, selling goods for two 
years ; in 1871, he engaged in the general 
merchandise trade, which business he still 
continues. He married Oct. 31, 1860, 
Miss Eunice Goodspeed, daughter of Sam- 
uel Goodspeed ; she was born in Will Co., 
111., May 5, 18-40. They are the parents 
of three children, now living, viz., Flor- 
ence L., BVed A. and Richard. Mr. Gates 
has been Justice of the Peace for four 
years and Town Clerk for six years. 

C. H. GILKERSON, dealer in grain, 
lumber, lime, coal, cement, stone and drain 
tile, of the firm of Warden & Gilkerson, 
Peotone ; born in Caledonia Co., Vt., Sept. 
20, 18-1:8 ; emigrating West with his par- 
ents in 1854, they settled in Cass Co., 111., 
then to Huykes' Grove, Will Co., where 
.they lived and followed farming for a peri- 
od of eleven years; in 1865, he removed 
to Peotone, and then, after attending the 
Monmouth Academy two years, he attend- 
ed Bryant & Stratton's Commercial Col- 
lege in Chicago ; then returning to Peo- 
tone, in 1871, he purchased his father's 
interest in the above business, which he 
has since followed. The firm of Warden 
& Gilkerson, of which he is a member, do 
a large business, buying and shipping grain 
to Chicago and Eastern markets ; they also 
supply all the lumber for l^eotone and the 
surrounding country. He married June 
18, 1872, Julia Sultzbaugh, oldest daugh- 
ter of Phillip .Sultzbaugh ; she was born in 
Pennsylvania Dec. 3, 1854. They are the 
parents of three children, viz.. Pjda A., 
Susan M. and Phillip H. 

DAVID MORRISON, farmer. Sec. 
18; P. 0. Peotone; born in County Mon- 
aghan, Ireland, April 15, 1831, where he 
Jived until 20 years of age, attending 



school until 18 years of age, then engaged 
in farming two years, when he came to 
AuKM-ica, landing in New York May 12, 
1851, where he lived four years, engaged 
in mercantile pursuits ; then to New Jer- 
sey, as attendant in the New Jersey State 
Lunatic Asylum for two years ; he emi- 
grated to Illinois in April, 1857, and lo- 
cated in Carroll Co., where he farmed in 
summer and taught school in winter for a 
peril id of six years ; he removed to Peo- 
tone Tp., Will Co., May, 1863 ; he owns 
283 acres of well-improved land, valued at 
$40 per acre, which he has secured by his 
own hard labor and industry. He married 
March 30, 1857, Matilda Duncan ; she 
was born in Antrim Co.. Ireland, Feb. 6, 
1835, and emigrated to this country in 
1847. They have four children by this 
union, viz., William A., George A., David 
H. and Mary E. Mr. Morrison held the 
office of Assessor for three years in Carroll 
Co.; has held the following offices in Will 
Co., viz.: Justice of the Peace, which he 
now holds and has held for nine years ; 
School Director for nine years, and other 
offices at different times. He has taught 
school three terms while living in this 
township. 

ANDREW MELVILLE, physician 
and surgeon, Peotone ; born in Glasgow, 
Scotland, Jan. 2, 1840; when 5 years of 
age, he emigrated with his parents to 
Canada, where he lived until 17 years of 
age, engaged in his studies, when, in 1854, 
he commenced the study of medicine, 
which he pursued lor three years in 
Canada; in 1857, he went to New York 
and finished his studies; in March, 1862, 
he engaged with the Allan line of steamers 
as Emigrant Surgeon, running between 
Glasgow, Scotland, and New York, after 
which he went as Assistant Surgeon in the 
79th Regt. of Highlanders from New 
York, remaining with the regiment 
eighteen months ; on account of ill health 
he then resigned, returning to Canada ; he 
graduated in June, 18()4; then pui'chased 
in Prescott, Can., the drug jobbing busi- 
ness of his old preceptor, which he run for 
three years ; then practiced medicine for 
three years in Traverse City, Mich., when 
he came to Peotone in 1870, where he has 
since followed his profession. He married 
June 13, 1866, Catherine Melville; they 
are the parents of three children — Fred- 



882 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; 



erick W. W., Andrew H. and Anna 
Bella. 

DANIEL ROSS, farmer, Sec. 5; P. 0. 
Peotone ; born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, 
June 27, 1823, living there until 20 years 
of age, when he emigrated to England in 
1843, and followed railroading and quarry- 
ing for nearly eight years in London, Liv- 
erpool and the Channel Islands. He 
emigrated to America in 1852, landing in 
New York Sept. 20, going to Quincy, 
Mass., where he remained a short time, 
then to Illinois, where he engaged in quar- 
rying and railroading at Joliet and other 
points until 185-4, when he located upon 
his present place, where he has since lived. 
He owns 120 acres of well-improved land, 
valued at $40 per acre. He married 
April 6, 1858, to Annie Anderson; she 
was born in West Point, Orange Co., N. 
Y., May 24, 1840; her father was one of 
the pioneers of Will Co., securing his 
farm of 240 acres directly from the United 
States Government ; they are the parents 
of six children, now living — Emma J., 
Charles A., David D., William G., Alex- 
ander and Luella J. Mr. Ross is now 
School Director in the district which he 
lives. 

JOHN I. RICE, hay dealer, Peotone; 
born in Rutland Co., Vt., Feb. 16, 1837, 
where he lived until 1844, when he re- 
moved with his parents to Wheatland, 
Will Co., 111., and worked upon a farm 
until 1862, when he was engaged with the 
army as Government Agent in the Quar- 
termaster's Department stationed at Pilot 
Knob, Mo., for one year, when he came 
North and contracted for the supply of 
hay to the Government, which business he 
followed for one year, shipping from Lock- 
port and three other points in Illinois to 
St. Louis ; in 1864, he again went South, 
and was Government Agent in the Quar- 
termaster's Department until the close of 
the war, when he came North, and again 
located at Lockport in the lumber business 
for two years, when he went to Chicago and 
in the provision business, which he fol- 
lowed for two years, when, being burned 
out, he came to Joliet, and was for several 
months Steward of the Illinois State Peni- 
tentiary ; in 1871, he came to Will Tp. 
and engaged in the raising, pressing, baling 
and shipping of hay to the Chicago and 
Eastern markets, which business he now 



follows at Peotone and Monee. He mar- 
ried in Lockpurt Dec. 17, 1868, to Fanny 
Goodwin ; she died October following. 
Married again June 11, 1873, Bella 
Milne, of Lockport ; they have by this 
union one child — Robert M., born Oct. 14, 
1875. Mr. Rice was Supervisor of Will 
Tp. for 1877. 

ROBERT RAINS, hay dealer, Peo- 
tone; born in Duckinfield, Eng., June 21, 
1831, living there until 1848, when he 
emigrated to America, landing in New 
York Jan. 14, 1848, going at once to 
New Jersey, where he engaged in boiler 
making until 1861, when he came West 
and settled in Peotone, Will Co., 111., and 
engaged in farming until 1869, when he 
engaged in the hay business, being in the 
employ of 0. LippJncott two years, thea 
with J. C. Willey two years ; he then 
entered into partnership with Michael 
Collins and purchased the above business, 
doing business under the firm name of 
Rains & Collins four years, when Mr. 
Sultzbaugh purchased the interest of Mr. 
Collins, and the firm changed to Rains & 
Sultzbaugh, under which style they still 
continue ; they do an extensive business, 
buying, pressing, baling and shipping hay 
to Chicago and the Eastern markets. He 
married in New Jersey Sarah A. Foulston; 
she was born in England in 1829 ; they 
have three children by this union — Martha 
F., Ellen and Elizabeth. Mr. R. has held 
the ofl&ce of Town Trustee for two years. 

LUIS SCHMID, proprietor Peotone 
Hotel, Peotone; born in Sigmaringen, 
Hohenzollern, Prussia, Aug. 12, 1842,. 
where he lived until 22 years of age en 
gaged at milling ; he emigrated to America 
in 1864, landing in >iew York May 3, 
being forty-seven days on the voyage ; here 
he remained one year, being employed in a 
hotel and restaurant ; coming to Chicago, 
he worked in a tannery one year, then 
locating in Peotone in 1866, where he 
woiked at the carpenter trade for seven 
years, then, for two years, was engaged in 
mercantile pursuits ; at the expiration of 
which time, he exchanged his residence for 
the Peotone Hotel, located just east of the 
depot, which he has since successfully run 
as a hotel for a period of three years. He 
married Nov. 20, 1869, to Miss Katharina 
Conrad, oldest daughter of Peter Conrad ; 
she was born in Odenbach Rheinpf'els 



PEOTONE TOWNSHIP. 



883 



Bavaria, Germany, Nov. 13, 1851; they 
are the parents of three children, viz., 
Julia C. D., Luida M. C. and Katharina 
A. D. 

HUGH SMITH, merchant, Peotone ; ' 
general merchant, of the firm of Schroeder, 
Smirh & Collins ; born in Johnstone, Scot- 
land, Aug. 28, 183i>, living there until 15 
years of age; he emigrated with his parents | 
to America in 1855 ; removing to Vermont, 
he lived seven years and followed farming; 
then to Saxonville, Mass., a short time, | 
where he enlisted in August, 1862, in the 
3od Mass. V. I., remaining with his regi- 
ment until the close of the war ; he was in 
many severe battles, among them Chancel- 
lorsville and Gettysburg in the East ; liook- 
out Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Resaca 
and Dallas with the Western army, under 
Hooker ; at the battle of Dallas, being 
severely wounded, he was granted a fur- 
lough, and, when sufficiently recovered, he 
again joined his regiment, and was with 
Sherman's army on its march to the sea, 
and until the close of the war, when, being 
mustered out of service, he came West and 
located upon a farm in Will Co., 111., for six 
years; then to Massachusetts one year ; 
then returning to Peotone. he engaged in 
the mercantile business, which he has since 
followed. He married June, 1866, Amelia 
Gilkerson ; she was born in Vermont; 
they are the parents of three children now 
living, viz., Elmer T., Jessie A. and 
Amelia B. 

EDGAR B. SHUM WA Y, physician and 
surgeon, Peotone; born in Windham Co., 
Vt., June 27, 1851, removing with his 
parents to Londonderry, Vt., when quite 
young; where he lived until 15 years of 
age, when he attended the Black River 
Academy at Ludlow, Vt., for five years; 
from there to the Chamberlin Institute and 
Female College, at Randolph, N. Y.; from 
there he came to Will Co., 111., and taught 
school one term ; then going to Chicago, 
he attended at Rush Medical College for 
three yeai's, when he was interne one year 
at Cook Co. Hospital. He graduated at Rush 
Medical College in January, 1874 ; soon 
after he located in Peotone, Will Co., fol- 
lowing his profession since that date with 
perfect success. He married May 25, 1875, 
Maggie A. Kearney ; she was born in 
Racine, Wis. ; they are the parents of one 



child 



livmg, VIZ. 



Edith May. 



F. SCHROEDER, dealer in general 
merchandise, Peotone ; born in Holstein, 
Germany, Nov. 24, 1S34, where he lived 
and followed blacksmithing until the age 
of 21, when he emigrated to America, 
landing in New York ' May D, 1856; then 
coming directly West, he located in Elm- 
hurst, Du Page Co., III., where he worked 
at his trade one year, when he removed to 
Monee, Will Co., and run a blacksmith- 
shop of his own for a period of eight years ; 
then selling out, he lived upon his 
farm five months, whcm he removed to 
Peotone. and purchased a blacksmith-shop, 
but sold out soon after on account of ill 
health ; he then engaged in general mer- 
chandise with F. Ratlije, which business 
he still continues under the firm name of 
Schroeder, Smith & Collins ; he is also, with 
Mr. Collins, largely engaged in buying and 
shipping grain, owning what is known as 
the Collins & Schroeder Elevator. He mar- 
ried Aug. 30, 1857, Elizabeth Conrad ; 
she was born in Odenbach, Bavaria, Ger- 
many ; they are the parents of seven chil- 
dren living, viz., Fredrick, Henry, Will- 
iam, August, Carrie, Ida and Elizabeth. 
Mr. Schroeder now holds the office of Town 
Trustee, and is serving his second term as 
School Director. 

PHILIP SULTZBAUGH, hay dealer, 
firm of Rains & Sultzbaugh, Peotone; 
born in York Co., Penn., June 9, 1831, 
I where he lived until 1*8 years of age, at- 
tending school in winter and farming in 
summer, when he went to Perry Co., 
, Penn., and was engaged in driving a six- 
horse team for four years ; then burning 
lime for two years ; in 1857, he emigrated 
to Will Co., 111., and engaged in farming 
for a period of fifteen years, during which 
time he also was engaged in the hardware 
trade for three years; in 1872, he en- 
gaged in general merchandise, under the 
style of Schroeder, Conrad & Sultzbaugh, 
which business he followed four years; 
j then selling out, he engaged in buying, 
baling and shipping hay and straw to 
Chicago, and all the Eastern markets. He 
: married Nov. 15, 1853, to Susan Burrill ; 
she was born in Perry Co., Penn., March 
5, 1831 ; they are the parents of three 
children now living, viz., Julia K., born 
' in Pennsylvania Dec. 3. 1854; Sadie E., 
born March 26, 1860, in Will Co., 111.; 
' Alice J., born May 1, 1864, and three de- 



884 



BIOGRArHICAL SKETCHES: 



ceased. Mr. S. has held office of School 
Director for six years, Road Commissioner 
and School Trustee, three years each, and 
is now serving his fifth year as Trustee of 
the town corporation. 

WILLIAM YUNG, photographer, 
Peotone ; born in Wasungen, Saxe- 
Meiningen, Germany, Oct. 26, 1854, 
where he lived until 1871, when he emi- 
grated to America, landing in New York 
June 1, 1871, coming directly West; he 
located in Milwaukee, Wis., where he 
lived one year, working at his trade as 



mason ; then to Chicago two years, where 
he worked at his trade until 1874, when 
he came to Peotone, Will Co., and en- 
gaged at his trade, which he has since fol- 
lowed ; in 1876, he purchased his present 
residence, and, 1877, he purchased a pho- 
tograph gallery, which he has since run, 
and also continued the business of mason- 
ry. He married Dec. 1, 1876, Miss Mag- 
gie Conrad, daughter of Peter Conrad ; 
she was born in Cook Co., 111., Sept. 10, 
1857 ; they have one child by this union 
— August Louis, born Dec. 10, 1877. 



TROY TOWNSHIP. 



JOHN BALTZ, farmer, Sec. 19 ; P. 
0. Minooka ; was born in Attandorff, Al- 
sace, France (now Germany), Dec. 28, 
1820. He married Miss Thresa Doosz- 
mann Dec. 31, 1855; she was born in 
Morschwaeller, Alsace, France, Dec. 8, 
1830; they had nine children, seven living 
— John, Joseph, Lena May, Louisa, Caro- 
line, Thresa and Lawrence. He lived in 
France thirty-five years ; was engaged in 
farm labor, and was seven years in the 
French army, serving in Africa ; he then 
came to the United States and settled in 
Buffalo, where he lived about eighteen 
months ; he then came to Joliet; this was 
in 1855, and, in 1864, he came to his pres- 
ent place, and has lived here since ; he 
came here in poor circumstances ; he now 
owns 140 acres in this township, which he 
has earned by his own labor. 

PETER A. BRONK, farming. Sec. 3 ; 
P. 0. Joliet ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Albany Co., N. Y., July 18, 
1836. He married Miss Harriet Storrs 
Oct. 8, 1858 ; she was born in Clinton 
Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1839; they had 
eight children, six living — Eugene J., 
Ephron, Edward C, Rossie, Prentice S. 
and Emmit. He lived in New York about 
eighteen months ; he then moved to Illi- 
nois with his parents, who settled in Ken- 
dall Co., where he lived until 1865 ; he 
then moved to Manhattan Tp., Will Co., 
and engaged in farming, remaining there 
twelve years ; in the spring of 1878, he 
came to his present place ; he started in 
poor circumstances, and now owns 240 



acres in this township, which he has earned 
by his own labor and management. His 
parents, Ephron Bronk and Mrs. Charlotte 
Van Dolfston- Bronk, were natives of New 
York ; they settled in Kendall Co. in 
1838, and died Sept. 22, 1865 and Sept. 
22, 1869, respectively. 

THOMAS CRAUGHWILL, farming; 
P. 0. Joliet ; born in Galway Co., Ireland, 
in 1828; he was raised on a farm until he 
was 20 years old; in 1848, he came to 
America and landed in Boston ; he then 
went to Watertown and worked on a farm ; 
in 1850, he went to Lockport, and re- 
mained there a short time; the same fall, 
he went to Plainfield ; in 1853, he moved 
to Joliet and bought a farm, where he has 
resided up to the present time ; he was the 
son of John and Mary Craughwill, both 
natives of Ireland. Was married Oct. 3, 
1850, to Mary Lane, by whom he has 
seven children. Democrat, and Catholic. 
He served as School Director a number of 
years, and, in 1874, was elected School 
Trustee. He came to America with only 
a few pennies, and went bravely to work, 
and by good management he has succeeded 
in accumulating a fjrtune, and to-day he 
owns a beautiful and well-improved farm of 
600 acres. 

WILLIAM CAMPBELL, farming, 
Sec. 13; P. 0. Joliet; the above gentle- 
man was born in County Down, Ireland, 
June 5, 1825. He married Miss Cath- 
eron A. McMurray Jan. 28, 1862; she 
was born in the same place July 3, 1841 ; 
they have six children — James, William 



TROY TOWNSHir. 



885 



R., Maggie R. F., Alfred, Martha and 
Louisa. He lived in Ireland until aliout 
185U, when lie went lu Australia and en- 
gaged in mining gold, meeting with fair 
success ; he remained four years, and then 
returned to Ireland and followed iarmiug 
until ISTii, when he eauie to the United 
States, and, in April, 1877, he came to his 
jiresent place. 

WILLIAM A. DIX, farmer. Sec. 18; 
P. 0. Minooka ; the subject of this sketch 
was born in Windham Co., Yt., Jan. 17, 
1828. He married Miss S. R. Richard- 
son Jan. 27, 1859 ; she was born in Con- 
cord, Vt., April 6, 1831 ; they have four 
children, viz.; Lucy E., born June 12, 
1859; Hattie E., born Jan. 31, 1861; 
Emma M., born Nov. 25, 18G2,and Will- 
iam C, born April 13, 1868. He lived 
nearly eleven years in Vermont, when, 
with his parents, he moved to Rureau Co., 
111.; this was in 1838; they came the 
entire distance in a wagon ; they engaged 
in farming, and remained there until 1861, 
when he came to his present place ; he 
came here in fair circumstances ; he 
owns over 200 acres, mostly in this town- 
ship, which he has earned principally by 
his own labor ; his parents, Moses Dix 
and Mrs. Lucy (Stearns) Dix, uro living 
in Mendota, 111. ; his wife's parents, Ste- 
phen Richardson and Mrs. P]repta( Wilder j 
Richardson, are living in Bureau Co., 111., 
where they settled in 1839. 

WILLIAM FOR AN, farmer. Sec. 19; 
V. O. Minooka ; this gentleman was 
born in Kildare Co., Ireland, May 1, 
1842. He married Miss Elizabeth C. 
Hayes Jan. 27, 1869 ; she was born in 
Will Co., 111., May 26, 1844; they have 
six children, viz., Mary J., James, Mar- 
garet, Annie L., Allice E. and Fannie C. 
He lived in Ireland six years, when he 
came to the United States with his parents, 
who lived one year in New^ York City, and 
then moved to Kendall Co., 111., and en- 
gaged in farming, where he lived until the 
spring of 1874, when he came to his 
present place ; he started in poor circum- 
stances ; he now owns eighty acres here, 
well improved, and seventy acres in Ken- 
dall Co., which he has earned by his own | 
labor and management. | 

JOAB GASKILL, farmer. Sec. 29; 
P. 0. Minooka ; is a native of New Jer- 
sey ; he was born July 6, 1805, and mar- 



ried Miss Emily Green in August, 1829 ; 
she was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, in 
the year 1810, and died in February, 
1855; they had six children, viz., W. G., 
F. J., L. H., J. J., Anna M. and Miletus 
B. ; the latter enlisted in the I04th Ohio 
Y. I. ; was in service about nine months, 
and died from sickness at Covington, Ky. 
Mr. Gaskill came to this county in 1869. 
and settled on his present place. In 1871, 
Mr. L. H. Gaskill moved here and took 
charge of the farm ; he was born in Colum- 
biana Co., Ohio, March 4, 1834. He 
married Miss Cornelia Whittlesey Jan. 5, 
1871 ; she was born in Clyde, Wayne Co., 
N. Y., Feb. 18, 1851 ; they have three 
children, viz., Emily A., Clara W. and 
Anna A. He lived in Ohio until he was 
21, when he came to Illinois, and settled 
in Kendall Co. and engaged in farming. 
In 1862, he enlisted in the 127th I. V. I. 
as Orderly Sergeant; was in service until 
the close of the war, and took part in the 
battles of Yicksburg, Mission Ridge, the 
Atlanta campaign, etc. 

JAMES MURPHY, farmer. Sec. 8 ; 
P. 0. Joliet ; the above gentleman is a 
native of Roscommon Co., Ireland ; he 
was born July 25, 1834, and married 
Miss Mary Ann Rourke Aug. 13, 1859 ; 
she is a native of the same place, and was 
born Aug. 15, 1841 ; they had ten chil- 
dren, seven livimr, viz., Mary E., William 
J., Patrick A.,'Thomas F., Thresa A., 
John A. and Mary H. He lived in Ire- 
land until 1850, when he came to the 
United States with his parents, Patrick 
Murphy and Mrs. Catheron (Haley) 
Murphy, who settled in this township, 
where they engaged in farming ; his father 
died in Joliet Nov. 15, 1877, and his 
mother died in this township in August, 
1867 ; he started in poor circumstances, 
and now owns 160 acres in this township. 
He has lu'ld the oflBces of Collector two 
years and Assessor some seven or eight 
years ; also. School Treasurer. 

FRANCIS B. MURPHY, llirming, 
Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Joliet ; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Roscommon Co., Ire- 
land, April 10, 1833. He married Miss 
xMary E. Brock Nov 14, 1864; she was 
born in Chicago, 111., Feb. 13, 1845 ; they 
have six children, viz., l*atrick, Catheron 
A., Mary, Francis B., Thomas W. and 
Margaret E. He lived in Ireland until 



me 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



1850, when, with liis parents, he came to 
the United States and settled in this town- 
ship, where he lived until 1855, when he 
went to California, remaining there three 
years, engaged in mining ; he then went 
to British Columbia, and returned the 
same year to California and remained there 
until December, 1867, when he returned 
to Will Co., 111., spending a few months 
in Troy Tp.; he then went to Reed Tp. 
and engaged in farming ; remained three 
years, when he returned to Troy Tp., and 
has lived here since •, he settled on his 
present place in 1875; he has held the offices 
of School Director, Collector and Town 
Clerk ; he started in poor circumstances 
and now owns eighty acres which he has 
earned by his own labor. 

D. J. RAVER, mason and farmer ; P. 
0. Minooka ; the subject c)f this sketch 
was born in Berks Co., Penn., Sept. 16, 
1818. He married Miss Wilmina Wiles 
Nov. 15, 1842 ; she was born in Frederick 
Co., Md., in 1819 ; they have three chil- 
dren, viz., Lucetta L., Martha S. and 
James D. He lived in Pennsylvania about 
twenty years, when he moved to Ohio and 
remained there until 1861 ; he then came 
to his present place, and has lived here 
since ; he started in very poor circum- 
stances and now owns fifty-four acres of 
land in this township, well improved, 
which he has earned by his own labor. 

MICHAEL STEPHEN, farming. Sec. 
19; P. 0. Joliet; was born in Alsace, 
France (now Germany), May 22, 1835, 
He married Miss Mary M. Blattner Jan. 
15, 1857; she was born same place in 
1836 ; they had seven children, six living, 
viz., Mary J., John A., Mary A., Frank 
M., George S. and Annie M. He lived 
in Alsace about ten years when his parents 
came to the United States, and, in 1846, 
they came to Will Co. and settled in Joliet, 
and engaged in farming ; in 1857, he came 
to his present place ; he has been School 
Director and Road Commissioner; he 
started in poor circumstances and now 
owns 14:0 acres here and 240 in Kendall 
Co., which he has earned by his own 
labor. His parents, John Stephen and 
Mrs, Otillia (^Hout) Stephen, are living in 
Joliet. 

D. C. SEARLES, farmer and stock. 
Sec. 16; P. 0. Joliet; the subject of this 
sketch was born in Summit, Ohio, Jan. 30, 



1830. He married Miss Hattie Walker 
Oct. 21, 1866 ; she was born in Plainfiold 
Tp., Will Co., 111., July 8, 1836 ; they 
had four children, three living, viz., Maud 
L., born Oct. 8, 1867; Lynn W^, born 
June 8, 1369, and Edna, Jan. 14, 1874. 
He lived in Ohio twenty-one years, when 
he came to Illinois and settled in Plainfield 
Tp., where he engaged in farming ; re- 
maining until spring of 1856, when ho 
came to his present place ; he has been 
Justice of the Peace eight years, and is 
now serving in his fourth term of Super- 
visor ; he started in poor circumstances 
and now owns 700 acres in this township, 
which he has earned by his own labor. 
His parents, Amos Searles and Mrs. 
Hannah (Hulbert) Searles, came to Will 
Co. in the fall of 1851 and settled near 
Plainfield ; they died April 5, 1871, and 
Feb. 9, 1866, respectively. His wife's 
parents, James Walker and Mrs. Jane G. 
(Walker) Walker, were natives of North 
Carolina and Tennessee ; Mrs. Walker 
came to Illinois in 1806, and passed 
through present Will Co. in 1820 and 
built a house where Plainfield now stands in 
1829 ; Mr. Walker died in Plainfield Aug. 
27, 1850 ; Mrs. Walker died in Novem- 
ber, 1859, in Iowa, while on a visit. Her 
grandfather was a missionary among the 
Indians, and preached the first Protestant 
sermon in Chicago, also in St. Louis ; he 
was of the Methodist denomination. 

WILLIAM P. THOMSON,farmer, Sec. 
11 ; P. 0. Joliet. The subject of this sketch 
was born in West Turin, Lewis Co., N. Y., 
April 22, 1843. He married Miss Helen 
A. Hadcock Dec. 25, 1867 ; she is a native 
of Watertown, N. Y., and was born Dec. 
25, 1846 ; they have three children — 
Mary L., Earl W. and Sarah G. He lived 
in New York until 1872, except two years 
spent in California and Oregon, where he 
was engaged as civil ensjineer for the city 
of Portland; in 1872, became to Illinois, 
and, in 1873, he settled on his present 
place ; the only offices he has held have 
been connected with the school and road ; 
he owns 240 acres in this township ; in 
November, 1878, he was elected on the 
National ticket. Representative from the 
Fifteenth District. 

MARSHALL TRUBY, grain, lumber 
and stock ; P. 0. Bird's Bridge ; is a native of 
Armstrong Co., Penn.; he was born Nov. 



#. 





'^.^^^^ 



CRETE TOWNSHIP. 



889 



18, 1S19, and married Miss Mariah Mc- 
Crackin Jan. 12, 1845 ; she is a native of 
Somerset Co., Penn.; tliey had ten children, 
four living — Mary A., Henry T., Libbie 
A. and Lillie M. He lived in Pennsylva- 
nia until IS;")!, being engaged in boating; 
he tlien came West to Illinoift and settled 
in La Salle Co., where he remained one 



year ; he then moved to Jolict Tp. and en- 
gaged in farming, continuing ten years, 
when he moved into the city and engaged 
in the lumber business, remaining until 
1870, when he came to his present place ; 
in 1871, he was appointed Postmaster at 
this office. 



CRETE TOWNSHIP. 



GEORGE W. AHRENS, cabinet-mak- 
er ; P. 0. Crete ; was born in Hessen, Ger- 
many, Feb. 22, 1836, and is the son of 
William Ahrens, of Germany, who was a 
shoemaker by trade. Mr. Ahrens com- 
menced to learn the cabinet-making trade 
when a young man, in Germany, and 
served an apprenticeship of four' years; 
after learning his trade, he was engaged in 
working in different parts of Germany, 
and, in 1858, with his brother John, emi- 
grated to America ; landed in New York 
City ; came direct to Chicago ; here he 
started, in a small way, in making chairs ; 
this he followed about one year, then he 
commenced to have all the custom work he 
could do, and made a specialty of 
fine inlaid work, in whicli he ranks 
among the first in Amevica, having had 
some of his work at the Centennial 
Exposition of 1876, and received a medal 
and a certificate of award for original- 
ity in design of an extension table hav- 
ing a compartment within it for storing 
the leaves (which was patented, March 9, 

1875, by George W. Ahrens) ; also, for 
very superior quality of inlaid work. Mr. 
Ahrnes has now one of his fine tables at 
his store in Crete, which took the first pre- 
mium at the Centennial Exposition in 

1876, and, without doubt, is pronounced 
as one of the finest pieces of work in 
America. Mr. Ahrens, in 1865, started 
in the wholesale business, as Ahrnes & 
Madden, 151 Randolph St., Chicago, do- 
ing a very extensive business, but on 
account of health he sold out, and, in 
1867, moved to Crete, Will Co.; here he 
has been engaged in the furniture business 
ever since ; Mr. Ahrens is also engaged in 
the undertaking line ; has on of the finest 
hearses in Will Co., manufactured by him- 
self. 



P. H. ADAMS, farmer ; P. 0. Crete ; 
is one of the old settlers of Will Co.; was 
born in Rutland, Mass., Dec. 17. 1804, 
and is the son of Rubin Adams, of Mas- 
sachusetts, a blacksmith by trade ; when 
he was very young, with his parents, 
moved to Massachusetts, thence to New 
Hampshire, from there to Vermont. Mr. 
Adams, when he was about 23 years of 
age, learned the carriage-making trade. 
While he was in Vermont, he married 
]\Iary Clark, of Massachusetts; in 1845, 
with family, came to Illinois and settled on 
the present homestead ; here he has lived 
ever since ; he first settled on forty acres 
of Government land ; his wife died soon 
after he settled here ; he was married to 
Mary Canfield, of Massachusetts ; sixteen 
children, ten by first wife and six by sec- 
ond ; son Harrison was in the late war ; 
enlisted in the 8th 111. Cav ; participated in 
some of the prominent battles ; was honor- 
ably discharged at the close of the war. 

C. H. ERASE, Principal of the Ger- 
man School, Crete. The subject of this 
sketch is a self-made man ; was born in 
Hanover, Germany, Sept. 14, 1834, and 
is the son of Henrj' Erase, a tailor by 
trade. Mr. Erase attended the schools of 
Germany, and received a high-school edu- 
cation ; he taught school in Germany in 
the winters of 1849 and 1850, this being 
his first experience in the teachinsj of 
school. In 1851, he emigrated to Amer- 
ica, and his first school was taught in Mor- 
gan Co., Mo.; here he remained until 
1865, then to La Fayette Co., Mo., en- 
gaged in teaching until 1873; lie then 
came to Crete ; here he lias been engaged 
in teaching ever since ; the Crete school is 
very popular and well patronized, and re- 
flects great credit upon Mr. Erase in l^is 
excellent manner of teaching. 

16 



890 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



GUSTAVUS BRAUNS, merchant, 
Crete; is one of the best-known and high- 
ly respected business men of Crete ; was 
born in Hanover, Germany, Sept. 24, 1832, 
and is the son of John A. F. and Henri- 
etta (Bartels) Brauns, of Germany ; father 
was a minister of the Lutheran Church. 
Mr. Brauns commenced his first experience 
in business Ufe as a clerk in a dry goods 
store ; here he served i^s an apprentice for 
five years ; then in a wholesale notion house, 
specialty of silk ribbons ; here he remained 
until 1855 ; he then started for America, 
landed in New York City Aug. 1, 1855 ; 
here he first found employment as agent 
ibr artists' outfits ; then in a very large 
house-fitting establishment, and remained 
thereuntil 1856 ; he then started West for 
Illinois ; arrived in Chicago ; here he re- 
mained about four months out of employ- 
ment ; he formed the acquaintance of a 
minister located in Crete, who advised him 
to go to Crete ; he arrived in Crete in 
1856, and accepted a clerkship with Charles 
A. Miller in a general store at $10 per 
month and board ; here was his first start, 
and from then up to the present date he 
has been very successful in business ; he 
first entered business in Crete with his 
brother Leopold, known as L. & G. 
Brauns ; these gentlemen also owned a 
branch house in Chicago, and did a very 
large business, but the panic of 1857 drove 
them to an assignment in 1858, but they, 
with hard work and good management, paid 
every dollar of their indebtedness ; to-day 
Mr. Brauns owns one of the largest stores 
of dry goods, drugs and groceries to be 
found in Crete ; also is owner of a large 
hay-press ; has handled in two years 4,500 
tons of hay ; Postmaster ; was appointed in 
1860. A Republican in politics. Married 
Miss Sophia Deersen, of Germany ; five 
children — four boys and one girl. 

MOSES H. COOK, retired farmer ; P. 
0. Crete ; the subject of this sketch, whose 
portrait appears in this work, is one of the 
old settlers; was born in Lenox, Oneida 
Co., N. Y., Aug. 25, 1801, and is the son 
of Moses Harper and Polly (Pyson) Cook. 
Mr. Cook was the oldest child of nine 
children ; was raised on his father's farm ; 
in 1834, he started West and stopped in 
Ohio. Here he married Hannah C. Pixley, 
who was born in Stockbridge, Mass., March 
30, 1817, and is the daughter of Phineas 



and Hannah (Curtis) Pixley,. of Massachu- 
setts ; her father was a blacksmith by trade, 
and was a soldier of the war ol 1812 ; he 
is now living in Lake Co., Ohio, at 89 
years of age, being one of the oldest set- 
tlers of that county. Her mother died 
when Mrs. Cook was but a few days old. 
In 1838, with wife and one child, Mr. 
Cook moved to Illinois, and settled 'in Will 
Co.; here he first purchased forty acres of 
land at $1.25, and farmed until 1865 ; he 
then moved to Crete ; here he has retired 
from farming. Two sons in the late war, 
Myron H. and Joseph W., enlisted in the 
8th 111. Cav. ; Myron H. was taken sick at 
Hope Landing, Va., and died March 20, 
1863; Joseph W. participated in some of 
the prominent battles, and was honorably 
discharged at the close of the war. 

SAMUEL CUSHING, Crete; was 
born in Salisbury, N. H., Jan. 23, 1799, 
and is the son of Theodore and Abigail 
( Jackman) Gushing ; his mother was a 
native of New Hampshire ; father of Mas- 
sachusetts ; was a mechanic and farmer ; 
when Mr. Cushing was about 7 years old, 
he, with his parents, moved to Vermont ; 
here he was brought up on his father's 
farm ; at the age of 22, he commenced to 
learn his trade with his father as chairmak- 
er; he went to Monroe Co., N. Y.; here 
he was engaged at his trade, chair making 
Married twice ; his first wife was Miss Re- 
becca Lee, who died ; he then married 
Miss Elizabeth Stone ; she was born in 
Massachusetts March 28, 1804, and is the 
daughter of Elias Stone, who was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary war ; in 1838, with 
wife and two children, started West for 
Illinois in a two-horse wagon ; came 
via Buffalo, N. Y.; here they took steamer 
to Detroit, Mich.; thence by wagon and 
team to Illinois, taking them some five 
weeks to make the trip ; never traveled on 
Sundays, and always managed to stop over 
Sundays at points where there was a place 
of worship, that they might attend church 
and Sunday school ; they first settled in 
Du Page Co.; here but a short time, then 
to WillCo., and settled in Crete Tp.; here 
he has remained ever since, engaged in 
farming and chairmaking until about 
eleven years ago he retired. Mr. and Mrs. 
Cushing are members of the first Congre- 
gational Church of Crete ; this Church 
they took a very prominent part in help- 



CRETE TOWNSmr. 



891 



in}^ to organize ; the two cliildren wlio caiue 
West with them were Henry T., who died 
July 14, 1878, and Charles S.,now living 
at Hyde Park, 111. Married twice ; first 
wife, Sarah Foster, deceased ; second wife, 
Mrs. Marcia Bruce. 

CHAKLES E. CARTER, editor and 
proprietor of the Crete Enterprise, Crete ; 
was born in Waukesha Co., Wis., April 9, 
1856, and is the son of Hyraiu and 
Amanda (Annis) Carter; father, from New 
York; Mr. Carter commenced to learn 
type-setting in Omro, Wis., in the Omro 
Jourual office ; here he remained about 
three years, then to Oshkosh, Wis., in the 
Independent office; then to W^ausau, Wis., 
in the Wisconsin Central and Wisconsi7i 
River Pilot offices ; was also engaged on 
the State Journal, of Madison, Wis.; this 
will show that Mr. Carter has had a large 
experience in the newspaper world, and any 
one who has perused the columns of the 
Crete Enterprise can see that Mr. Carter 
is thoroughly master of the pen ; the first 
issue of the Crete Enterprise was Dec. 25, 
1875, with a subscription-list of about one 
hundred and fifty ; to-day it has 800 sub- 
scribers, and ranks among the leading pa- 
pers of Will Co.; Independent in politics; 
to all who may want anything in the job- 
printing line, call in at the Crete Enter- 
prise office. 

R. G. COSSAART, farmer; P. 0. 
Crete ; was boim in New York, Sept. 29, 
1824, and is the son of David and Ellenor 
(Griggs) Cossaart ; father a native of New 
York; soldierof thewarof 1812; mother 
from New Jersey ; in 1850, moved to 
Oneida Co., N. Y.; here he was engaged 
in the manufacture of scythes, pitchforks 
and farming implements ; in 1854, he 
came West to Illinois, and was engaged in 
working in different parts of Will Co. at 
the carpenter and joiner trade ; in 1864, 
he moved on the present homestead ; here 
he has remained ever since, engaged in 
farming. Married twice ; first wife, C. 
Talmage, of New Jersey ; second wife, 
Sarah McClain ; have two children. Mr. 
Cossaart owns a fine, improved farm of 228 

JOHN DODGE, farmer ; P. 0. Crete; 
was born in Crete Tp., Will Co., 111., Aug. 
11, 1840, and is the son of Enoch and 
Susan (Adams) Dodge, who were among 
the early settlers of Crete Tp., Will Co., 



111. ; Enoch Dodge, a farmer, was born in 
Beverly, N. H., Dec. 8, 1795; with his 
parents, moved to Vermont ; here he mar- 
ried in Eden, Vt., Nov. 26, 1818, Miss 
Susan Adams, born in Rutland, Mass., 
in 1803; in 1838, they emigrated West 
in a two-horse wagon ; started Oct. 4, and 
arrived in Will Co., 111., Nov. 26, 1838 ; 
they first lived in a log cabin on the Hewes 
farm; Mr. Dodge purchased 160 acres ot 
Government laud (the old homestead;; here 
he made improvements, and moved his 
family on the farm, and engaged m farming 
throughout life ; he died on the old home- 
stead March 4, 1873, respected and hon- 
ored by his fellow-men, leaving a wife and 
nine children to mourn his loss. Mr. John 
Dodge is engaged in farming on the old 
homestead. He married Martha Wilder, 
daughter of Almon Wilder, one of the old 
settlers of Will Co. Mr. Dodge enlisted 
in the late war, in the 9th Minn., Co. F, 
as Sergeant ; mustered out at close of the 
war. Enoch enlisted in the 100th I. V. 
I. ; participated in some of the prominent 
battles ; mustered out at close of the war ; 
now farming in Kansas. 

ABRAM DARLING, retired; P. 0. 
Goodenow ; this gentleman is one of the suc- 
cessful men of Crete Tp., who was born in 
Oneida Co., N. Y., Jan. 19, 1817, and is 
the son of Reuben and Sophia f Goodenow) 
Darling ; his father was a native of New 
York, engaged in farming ; Mr. Darling 
was brought up on his father's farm. He 
married Miss Elizabeth Irwin, of New 
York, and, in 1853, with wife and four 
children, emigrated West to Illinois, and 
settled in Crete Tp., Will Co., east ot 
Goodenow; here he first purchased 120 
acres of land and set out in farming, and 

, farmed until about 1872 ; he then moved 
to Goodenow ; here he has remained '^ver 
since. Mr. Darling has held the < ffice 
of Road Commissioner for the last fifteen 

j years. One son, in the late war, Abram 

' R., enlisted in the lOOth I. V. I. ; was 
wounded at the battle ot Resaca, then 
transferred for duty at Indianapolis, Ind. ; 
hero he served until the close of the war ; 
now living at Enterprise, Kan., engaged in 

I the livery business. 

I GEORGE W. GOODENOW, grocer; 
P. 0. Goodenow; the subject of this sketch 

, is one of the best known men of Crete 
Tp. ; was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., 



892 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



K 



April 1, 1824, and is the son of Franklin 
and Betsy (Smith) Goodenow, of New 
York; his father was a farmer; in 1835, 
with his parents, emigrated ^yest to Indi- 
ana, and settled in La Grange Co. ; here 
they remained until 1838; they then 
moved to Illinois and settled in Thorn 
Grove on IGO acres of Government land, 
$1.25 per acre ; here they commenced 
farming in a small way, being very poor ; 
Mr. Goodenow has been very successful 
since he came to Illinois ; had accumulated 
at one time 1,840 acres of land ; laid out 
the present village of Goodenow ; in 1870, 
here, with his son Frank, started a store ; 
also in the hay-press business, which busi- 
ness they have been engaged in ever since ; 
Mr. Goodenow's father died in 1870 at 70 
years of age. Married twice ; first wife, 
Annie Batchelor, of Bennington Co., Vt., 
died in 1859 ; married second wife, Mary 
Wiggins, of Cortland Co., N. Y. ; eight 
children, six living. 

FRA^IK J. GOODENOW, station 
agent and Postmaster, Goodenow; the sub- 
ject of this sketch was born in Crete Tp., 
Will Co., 111., June 15, 1848, and is the son 
of George W. Goodenow, of New York, who 
is one of the old settlers of Illinois, having 
made his home here in 1838. Mr. Frank 
J. was appointed Postmaster and Station 
Agent in 1870 ; these offices he still fills ; 
is in partnership with his father in the 
grocery business ; they also are engaged 
very largely in the hay-press business ; 
have handled as high as 1,000 tons of 
hay in one year. Married in 1875 Miss 
Alice Hunt, of Sheronville, Hamilton Co., 
Ohio, by whom he has one child. 

DANIEL E. HE WES, merchant, 
Crete ; the subject of this sketch was 
born in Chittenden Co., Vt., March 22, 
1830, and is the son of Luman and Lucy 
(El well) Hewes ; his father was a farmer, 
and, in 1835, with wife and family, 
emigrated West via Detroit, Mich. ; from 
thence they came by wagon to Illinois and 
settled in Cook Co., west of what is now 
known as Blue Island ; here they re- 
mained until 1837, then came to Will Co., 
111., and settled in Crete Tp. Mr. Luman 
Hewes first purchased eighty acres of land 
and set out in farming, and remained on 
the farm until his death. Daniel E. 
Hewes was brought up on his father's 
farm, and engaged in farming from the 



time he was able to handle the plow, and, in 
the winter months, attended the district 
schools of the period ; here he received a 
common school education ; he taught 
school one winter in Troy Tp.; in 1853, 
with his brother, B. P. Hewes, entered the 
mercantile business in the village of Crete; 
this business they have followed ever since; 
to-day they are the oldest as well as the 
most successful merchants of Crete. Mr. 
Hewes has held several offices of public 
tru?t in Crete Tp. — Justice of the Peace 
and Town Clerk. In 1874 and 1878, he 
received the nomination for Senator from 
the Democratic party, but Mr. Hewes 
being a Democrat and Will Co. strong 
Republican, he was defeated. Married 
Miss Fedelia L. Wood, daughter of Wil- 
lard Wood, one of the old settlers of Will 
Co.; have three children. Mr. Hewes' 
grandfather, William Hewes, participated 
in the Revolutionary war. 

B. F. HEWES, merchant, Crete; the 
above-named gentleman is one of the oldest 
settlers of Crete Tp. ; was born in Chitten- 
den Co., Vt., in 1828, and is the son 
of Luman and Lucy ( Elwell) Hewes, who 
emigrated West to Illinois and settled 
in Cook Co. in 1835, and, in 1837, moved 
to Will Co. and settled in Crete Tp. Mr. 
B. F. Hewes was brought up on his 
father's farm, and farmed it until 1850 ; he 
then went to California; here he was 
engaged in mining for gold, and was very 
successful; returned home and purchased 
land ; in 1853, he with his brother Daniel 
E. entered the mercantile business in 
Crete, and has been engaged principally 
in this ever since; also engaged in the 
brick manufacturing business, and proprie- 
tors of the Hewes House, which is the 
only good hotel in Crete. The Hewes 
Bros, are the oldest merchants in Crete, 
and own one of the leading dry goods, 
notions and general stores of Crete. 

WALTER LOOCK, general manager 
of the Crete Manufacturing Co., Crete; 
was born in Berlin, Germany, Oct. 15, 
1853; emigrated to America in 1871; he 
went to Fort Wayne, Ind. ; here he was 
engaged in a large wholesale book and 
stationery house as book-keeper, thence to 
Chicago ; from there he came to Crete, 
and, in 1878, was appointed General Man- 
ager of the Crete Manufacturing Co. 
This company is quite extensively engaged 



CRETE TOWNSHIP. 



893 



in the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds, 
etc. It now gives employment to about 
fourteen hands. An immense business is 
done for so young a company ; find sales 
for their goods in Joliet and surrounding 
country. 

G. W. MINARD, M. D., physician, 
Crete ; his gentleman \yas born inPrattsville, 
Greene Co., N. Y., Aug. 1(5, 1825, and is 
the son of E. B. Minard, a farmer, who 
participated in the war of 1812. In 1841, 
Dr. Minard, with his parents, emigrated 
West to Illinois, and settled in Cook Co. ; 
he first commenced the study of medicine 
in Crete under Dr. H. Hitchcock, now of 
Chicago, 111. ; he then entered the Indiana 
Medical College at La Porte, Ind. ; here 
he received sufficient knowledge to com- 
mence the practice of medicine ; he first 
located in Lake Co., Ind. ; then, in 1849, 
he commenced the practice of medicine in 
Crete ; here he has remained ever since ; 
to-day is the oldest physician of Crete. 
He married Miss Melicent G. Brownell, of 
New York. 

W. H. NEVENS, Principal of the Crete 
school, Crete ; was born in Lewiston, Me., 
March 9, 1845, and is the son of Charles 
H. and Mariah (Pettengill) Nevens. 
Father was a farmer ; here Mr. Nevens 
was brought up on his father's farm, and 
engaged in farming ; in the winter months 
attending school ; in 1862 and 1863, he 
taught his first school in Maine. In 1864, 
he enlisted in the 32d Maine V. I., and 
participated in the late war ; was wounded 
at the battle of Cold Harbor June 3, 1864 ; 
was honorably discharged at the close of 
the war ; returned to his home in Maine. 
Here he was engaged in going to school in 
1866-67 ; then entered Bates College of 
Lewiston, Maine; here he received a full 
classical education ; in August, 1869, came 
West to Illinois ; taught school in Will 
Tp., Will Co., fifteen months; May, 1871, 
he came to Crete, and commenced teaching 
here ; he has been ever since, excepting 
one year. The Crete school is conducted 
in a superior manner, showing conclusively 
the great advantages to be attained in em- 
ploying a principal of the scholarly at- 
tainments and j)ractical experience possessed 
by Mr. Nevens. 

JOHN O'MEIER, farmer; P. 0. 
Crete; wa.s born in Germany Jan. 17, 
1824, and is the son of John Conrad and 



Sophia (Schweer) O'Meier, of Germany, 
who both died in Germany ; his father was 
engaged in the manufacture of oil ; here 
Mr. O'Meier was engaged in working 
in his father's factory; in 1844, he 
innnigrated alone to America, and, 
August 24, landed in New York City, and 
came West ; landed in Chicago Sejjt. 3, 
1844, a stranger ; he set out to find work, 
and commenced work on a farm at S6 per 
month and board ; here he remained until 
the spring of 1845 ; he then came to Will 
Co., and commenced ^to work for John 
Miller, in Du Page Tp. ; he remained 
there and saved sufficient money to pur- 
chase eighty acres, in Crete Tp., of the 
present homestead; in 1848, moved to 
Crete Tp., and was engaged in renting a 
farm two years; then he had made suffi- 
cient improvements on his farm ; he then 
moved on here ; he has remained ever 
since ; to-day owns one of the best im- 
proved fiirms of Will Co. ; owns 380 acres 
in Will Co. and a half-section in Iroquois 
Co. Mr. O'Meier has held several offices 
of public trust ; that of Supervisor since 
1869, excepting three years; in these 
offices he has given entire satisfaction. A 
strong Republican in politics and a hard 
worker in the ranks. Married twice ; first 
wife Annie Rinne ; second wife, Ellen 
Scheiwe ; thirteen children, ten living. 

J. 0. PIEPENBRINK, former; P. 
0. Crete ; was born in Rodenburg, Ger- 
many, April 24, 1826; son of Henry H. 
and Lotto (Myer) Piepenbrink, of Ger- 
many ; his father was a farmer ; Mr. Piep- 
enbrink was raised on his father's farm. 
He married Sophia Wille and, in 1849, 
with his wife and one child, immigrated to 
America, and landed in New York City ; 
in May, 1840, came to Illinois ; first pur- 
chased 135 acres of land in Crete Tp., 
Will Co., near the present homestead ; 
here he set out in farming; to-day ranks as 
one of the most successful farmers of Will 
Co. ; came here with only $300 ; to-day 
owns over 700 acres of land, with fine im- 
provements ; Mr. Piepenbrink is engaged 
largely in the dairy and cheese manufact- 
ture. which factory is located on his farm. 
Eight children — Otto, Henry, Conrad, 
William, John, Philip, Ellen and Sophia. 

JOHN 0. PIEPENBRINK, Jr., 
farm.er ; P. 0. Crete ; was born in Germany 
Jan. 5,1847, and is the sun of John O. and 



894 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



Sophia (Wille) Piepenbriuk, of Grermany ; 
Mr. Piepeabrink, with his parents, immigra- 
ted to America in 1849, and settled in Crete 
Tp., Will Co. ; was brought up on his 
father's farm ; was engaged at work in 
Joliet a few years ; returned to the farm 
and has been firming ever since. Married 
Miss Dora Arkenburg, of Germany, daugh- 
ter of William Arkenburg, Sr. ; has one 
child — William Otto. 

ERNEST RINNE, farmer; P. 0. 
Crete ; was born in Hanover, Germany, 
Feb. 4, 1836, and is the son of William 
and Sophia (Hai'sty) Rinne, of Germany; 
in 1844, with his parents, he came to 
America ; came direct to Illinois, and set- 
tled in Chicago ; here they remained 
about six years ; then to Will Co.; here, 
Mr. William Rinne died on the farm, in 
1874; Mr. Rinne farmed it until 1869 ; he 
then moved to Crete ; has been engaged 
in the manufacture of brick, and in the 
hay-press business ; the hay-press em- 
ploys from three to four men, and turns 
out about seven tons a day, when in full 
running order ; when Mr. Rinne first 
came to Crete, he was in the hotel busi- 
ness. Married Miss Mary Engelkenng, 
of Germany ; ten children ; seven living. 

CHRISTOPHER SCHEI WE, farmer; 
P. 0. Crete ; was born in Rodenburg, 
Germany, Feb. 21, 1827, and is the son 
of Phillip and Sophia ( Swining ) Scheiwe, 
of Germany ; his father was in the huckster 
business. In 1847, Mr. Scheiwe, with his 
brother John, emigrated to America ; 
came direct to Chicago ; was engaged in 
working on a farm on the Des Plaines 
River, and received $8 per month, and 
board ; in the winter months, he only re- 
ceived SB per month ; he then came to 
Will Co., and settled near Lockport ; 
then to Michigan ; returned to Will 
Co.; his first purchase of land was 
in Crete Tp., 80 acres ; here he set out in 
farming ; to-day, with hard work and 
good management, he ranks among the 
successful farmers of Crete Tp.; owns 
435 ^ acres of improved land ; held sev- 
eral offices of public trust in Crete Tp. — 
Constable, Township Collector, and Jus- 
tice of the Peace ; 5lr. Scheiwe is Presi- 
dent of the Crete Farmer's Mutual 
Insurance Company, of Crete, 111. Mar- 
ried Sophia Lucke, of Germany ; eight 
children. 



JOHN SCHEIWE, farmer; P. 0. 
Crete ; was born in Rodenburg, Germany, 
Feb. 7, 1822, and is the son of Philip and 
Sophia (Swining) Scheiwe, of Germany ; 
his father was engaged in the huckster 
trade. In 1847, with his brother Chris- 
topher, he emigrated to America ; first 
landed in Quebec, Can.; then direct to 
Chicago, 111.; went to work on a farm; 
then on the canal, at $1 per day ; in 1851, 
he came to Will Co., and settled in Crete 
Tp., on the present farm ; he first pur- 
chased 80 acres for S70; Mr. Scheiwe, 
with good management, to-day owns a 
fine, improved farm, which ranks among 
the best improved farms of Will Co. 
Married in Cook Co., 111., to Miss Mary 
Wamhafer, of Germany ; she came to 
America at the same time Mr. Scheiwe 
did ; four children. Member of the Lu- 
theran Church. 

HENRY TATGE, farmer; P. 0. 
Crete ; was born in Germany June 8, 
1821, and is the son of Henry and Chris- 
tina Tatge ; his father was a farmer, and, 
in 1851, with his wife and family, emi- 
grated to America, and landed in New 
York City ; came direct to Illinois, and 
settled in Cook Co.; here his father and 
mother both died. Mr. Tatge's father 
gave him $2,000 ; he then came to Will 
Co., and purchased 320 acres of land, for 
which he paid SI, 120 ; here he set out 
in farming ; he first built a small frame 
house on the present farm ; here, with 
good management, he owns 560 acres of 
land, with fine improvements. Married 
Catherine Olendorf, daughter of Conrad 
Olendorf, of Germany, who settled in 
Indiana; have had eleven children; six 
living. Member of the Lutheran Church. 

ALMON WILDER, farmer; P. O. 
Crete ; the subject of this sketch is one 
of the old settlers in this vicinity ; was 
born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., May 21, 
1806. and is the son of Rubin Wilder, a 
farmer, who was an officer in the war of 
1812 ; when Mr. Wilder was about 4 years 
of age, he went to live with his grand- 
father ; when he was 6 years old, with his 
grandfather, moved to Ohio ; here he re- 
mained until 1837 ; while there, he learned 
the shoemaker's trade, and followed this 
business six or seven years. Ho was mar- 
ried in Ohio to Miss Annie Corey. In 
1837, he came to Illinois and settled in 



DU PAGE TOWNSHIP. 



895 



Cook Co. ; ht!ro his wife rlied, about one 
year after they arrived ; lie was married 
the second time to Mrs. Louisa llayuioiid, 
of Eni,dand. In 1841, he came to Will 
Co. and settled on his present homestead ; 
here he has remained ever since. While 
here, he has held several public offices of 
trust; was Supervisor of Crete Tp. in 
1851, 1852, 1853 and part of the term in 
1855; held office as Assessor for seven- 
teen years, and (^olleetor ; these offices he 
held in a very creditable and efficient 
manner. Republican in politics. Two 
sons in the late war — Edwin A., enlisted 
in the 100th I. V. I., served full time and 
participated in some of the prominent bat- 
tles during the war ; George H., enlisted 
in the 8th I. V. C. ; these gentlemen did 
good service, and were honorably dis- 
charged at the close of the war. 

ExMIL WALTER, agricultural imple- 
ments and saloon, Crete; this gentleman 
was born in Germany Feb. 12, 1842, and 
is the son of Charles and Augusta 
(Schmidt) Walter, of Germany ; father 
was a minister of the Lutheran Church. 
in 1866, Mr. Walter came to America and 
landed in New York City ; he came direct 
West to Illinois and settled in Chicago ; 
here he was engaged as a traveling agent 
for the wholesale liquor house of Schmidt 
& Cramer for two and one-half years. 
He then entered the U. S. Regular Army, 
and served as Sergeant Major for five 
years in the Western and Southern States. 
He returned to Chicago, and entered the 
wine and liquor busine.ss for himself about 
one year; he then (in 1876) came to 
Crete; here he has been engaged in the 
saloon business ; is also agent for reapers, 
cultivatoi-s, rakes, plows, seeders and corn- 
planters. Mr. Walter was elected, in 
1878, to the office of Town Clerk. He 
married Miss Eliza Werner. 

WILLIAM I. W^OOD, livery stable, 
Crete ; the subject of this sketch was born 



in Crete, Will Co., 111., .M.nvh 4, 1846, 
and is the son of Willard and Diantha 
(Boardman) Wood, who were among the 
first settlers of Crete Tp. ; Mr. Wood is 
engaged in the livery stable business. 
Married in 1871, to Miss Alvira Hewes, 
of Crete Tp., Will Co., 111., by whom 
he has two children. 

WILLARD WOOD ; l^ 0. Crete; the , 
subject of this sketch is one of the oldest 
settlers of Crete ; was born in Randolph, / 
Vt., Aug. 28, 1808, and is the son of 
Thomas and Ruby (Newland) Wood ; 
father was a native of Massachusetts; was en- 
gaged in the iron foundry business, and was a 
soldier in the war of 1812 ; died at Col- 
chester, Vt. ; Mr. Wood was rai.sed on a 
fiirm ; studyinir law at Hyde Park, Vt., 
was admitted to the bar to practice law. 
In May, 1836, with wife and one child, 
started West for Illinois, via Detroit, 
Mich. ; here he purchased a wagon and 
team, and arrived in Chicago in June, 
1836 ; thence to Will Co. ; here he first 
settled in (>rete Tp., on 160 acres of land, 
and commenced farming in Will Co., and 
followed this business until, some thirteen 
years ago, he retired from farming. Mr. 
Wood was the first Postmaster, kept the 
first hotel and taught the first school in the 
village of Crete ; has also held several 
offices of public trust — that of Justice of 
the Peace about twenty years. Supervisor 
for two terms, in 1854 and 1856, and 
County Commissioner ; in these offices, he 
has acquitted himself in a very creditable 
and efficient manner. Mr. Wood is a 
Democrat in politics. Married Miss Di- 
antha S. Boardman, of Vermont, daughter 
of Alfred Boardman, by whom they have 
had eleven children, seven living ; one son 
in the late war — Willard S.; enlisted in the 
8th I. V. C, and participated in some of 
the prominent battles ; was honorably dis- 
charged. 



DU PACE TOWNSHIP. 



HORACE BOARDMAN, farmer ; P. 
O. Naperville ; was born in Orleans Co., 
N. Y., July 25, 1819 ; in August, 1831, 
he came West with the family, his father 



settling on the farm where his son now 
lives ; of his father, wln) wiis one of the 
early pioneers of this section, much ap- 
pears in the body of this work ; he died 



896 



BIOGRA.PHICAL SKETCHES : 



May 30, 1877, at the advanced age of 83 
years, and liis ashes rest peacefully in the 
beautiful little cemetery on the homestead ; 
Horace remained at home till 28 years of 
age, when he moved to Grand Traverse 
Bay, Mich., for the purpose of engaging 
in lumbering ; here he remained six years, 
and, in 1853, returned to Illinois ; in the 
spring of 186-4, he moved to Wisconsin, 
and remained three years ; in March, 1867, 
he returned to Illinois, and has since re- 
sided at the old homestead. He was mar- 
ried May 25, 18-43, to Laura A. Farr, a 
native of New York ; she died April 16, 
1846 ; his second marriage, to Emily 
Cowles, a native of New York, occurred 
Sept. 3, 1849 ; she died May 2, 1862 ; 
his third marriage, to Mrs. Isabella Lewis 
(Emerson), widow of Chauncey Lewis, 
'was celebrated April 28, 1863; from first 
marriage, two children were born — Ellen 
A., Maria A. ; from second, three — James 
C, Abby M., Walker B. ; from third, six 
— George E., Fannie E., Frank H., Harry 
G., Edith L., Charles Roy. Owns 248 
acres in Du Page Tp. ; in addition to his 
farming, he also keeps a large number of 
cows for dairying purposes ; on his farm, in 
1846, was operated the first McCormick 
reaper ever used in the limits of Will Co. 
FRANKLIN E. BARBER, farming 
and dairy ; P. 0. Lemont ; was born in 
Du ^Page Tp., Will Co., 111., Aug. 25, 
1835 ; his father came West to Illinois in 
the spring of 18.:i2, and laid a claim 
where his son now resides; here he 
lived till the date of his decease, which 
occurred Dec. 19, 1876. Franklin E. was 
married Sept. 2, 1867, to Mrs. Adelaide 
Volentine, a native of New York State ; 
he has five children — Emma E., Etta F., 
Edward F., Jessie A., and an infant 
daughter ; Mrs. Barber has one child by 
her former husband — Mary J. His father 
was one of the early pioneers of Du Page 
Tp., and came to Chicago, or rather old 
Fort Dearborn, on the boat that brought 
Gen. Scott's army to do duty in the Sac 
war ; of him mention is made in the body 
of this work ; Mr. Barber owns the old 
homestead, 211 acres, valued at §14,000. 
Has held the ofiiccs of Constable, Town 
Clerk and School Director. He is a suc- 
cessful farmer, and supplies a large quan- 
tity of milk to the cheese-ftictory now in 
successful operation near his residence. 



GEORGE DIXON, farmer; P. 0. 
Lockport ; was born in Lincolnshire, En- 
gland, Dec. 25, 1832 ; he emigrated to 
America in 1851, and engaged in farm la- 
bor for G. R. Dyer ; he remained with 
him six years, and then labored for a Mr. 
Ray for the same length of time; in 1856, 
he purchased 320 acres of land in Michi- 
gan ; this he purchased chiefly for the tim- 
ber upon it, and, in the great fire which 
occurred throughout that region a few 
years ago, he suffered a loss of $3,000 to 
$4,000 ; subsequently, he sold out and 
went to England, and, after a sojourn of 
nine months, returned to America, and, in 
1869, purchased where he now resides. 
He was married Sept. 14, 1869, to M. 
Jennie Burgess, a native of Lincolnshire, 
England. Owns 160 acres, worth $5,000. 
Mr. Dixon has led a somewhat romantic 
life since coming to America ; while a 
young man, he was accustomed to spend 
the winter season hunting and trapping in 
Michigan, and always realized handsomely 
from his winter's sport ; much of the time 
was passed with the Indians, and often- 
times he was far from the habitations of 
white men, surrounded by the beasts of 
the forest, with only the savage for a com- 
panion. 

NORTON EATON, farmer; P. O. 
Du Page ; was born in Rutland Co., Vt., 
Aug. 25, 1831 ; at the age of 14 years, 
he came West to Illinois, with the family, 
and settled in Kendall Co., near Au Sable 
Grove, and engaged in farming ; in 1854, 
he moved to Du Page Tp., Will Co.; in 
1861, he moved to his present residence. 
He was married March 25, 1858, to 
Esther A. Rathbun, a native of Ohio ; 
she is the dauurhter of S. R. and Maria 
(Lander) Rathbun ; four children have 
been born to them — Mary A., Carrie E., 
Gracie G., living; one died, Edith E. 
Owns 91 acres in Du Page Tp., valued 
at $5,000. Mr. Eaton has held the 
ofiices of Assessor, Town Clerk, Constable, 
Commissioner of Highways, etc. 

AUSTIN GODFREY, farmer ; P. O. 
Lemont; was born in Erie Co., N. Y., 
Aug. 31, 1822; he is the son of Henry 
and Kansas (Warren) Godfrey; his father 
came West to Illinois in the fall of 1833, 
and stopped a short time in Chicago ; aft- 
er a sojourn of two months on the Des 
Planes, west of Chicago, he came into 



DU PAGE TOWNSHIP. 



897 



what is now Du Page Co., and settled in 
the timber on the Des Planes, pre-eraptin}:; 
one-half section of land, part of which 
lies in Du Page, and the remainder in 
Will Co.; here he lived until his decease, 
in 1850. Austin remained at home, at- 
tending, with his brother, to the business 
of the farm, after attaining to manhood. 
lie was married Dec. 25, 1847, to Lorenia 
Warren, a native of New York State ; she 
died Nov. 27, 1853. His second mar- 
riage, to Lucy Denton, occurred Dec. 24, 
1857 ; she is a native of Lower Canada. 
From first wedlock, two children — Emma 
A. (now wife of G. W. Potter), and Will- 
iam H., deceased ; from second marriage, 
seven — Herbert A., Howard D., Abbie 
C, Carrie M., Arthur M., Guy R. and 
Roy S. Owns 675 acres of finely im- 
proved land, valued at $40,000 ; has held 
the offices of Supervisor and Road Com- 
missioner for the past fifteen years ; he 
has kept from 60 to 70 milch cows, and 
for the most part ships his dairying to 
Chicago. Mr. Godfrey stands well to the 
front rank among the farmers of his 
section. 

ROBERT GOUDY, farmer; P. 0. 
Du Page; was born in Essex Co., N. Y., 
Jan. 2, 1822; in the fall of 1843, he 
came West to Illinois, and settled in Du 
Page Tp., Will Co., and engaged in farm 
labor; in 1850, he moved to the I. & M. 
Canal, and attended lock, two and one- 
half miles north of Lockport, two years ; 
he next engaged in running a boat, 
two years, for Norton & Co., and 
again returned to the lock, remain- 
ing five years ; in 1859, he purchsised 
one-quarter section of land in Du Page Tp.; 
this he improved and occupied in 1861 ; 
be purchased where he now lives, in the 
winter of 1867. He was married Oct. 15, 
1848, to Ophelia Welch, a native of Ohio ; 
two sons, William H. and Charles R., and 
two daughters, Mary and Julia, have been 
born to them ; of these, only one, Julia, 
is living. Owns 100 acres of land, well 
improved, and worth 87,000. At an early 
age, he learned the blacksmith's trade, but 
not having a fancy for the business he 
abandoned it for farming ; has held the 
(tffices of School Director, School Trustee, 
and is at present Commissioner of High- 
ways, his tenure of office extending over a 
period six and one-half years. 



WILLIAM KING, retired farmer; P. 
0. Naperville ; was born in Hanover, 
Germany, Dec. 23, 1829; in 1848, he 
emigrated to America, and located in 
Bloomingdale, Du Page Co., 111.; here he 
engaged in farming, one year; he next 
came to Du J^uge Tp., Will Co., and en- 
tered the employ of Jonathan Royce, Sr., 
for whom he labonsd two and one-half 
years; in March, 1852, he went to Cali- 
fornia, and engaged in mining and butch- 
ering ; in 1857, he returned to Illinois, 
and purchased one-half of the farm 
originally entered by Robert Strong, and 
sold by him to Samuel Goodrich ; direct 
from the hands of <ioodrich it passed to 
Mr. King, and is now owned by him. He 
was married Jan. 27, 1857, to Hypsia 
Royce, daughter of Jonathan Royce ; she 
is a native of New Hampshire; in 1870, 
he left his farm and moved to Naperville ; 
in 1871, he started a tile and brick yard, 
which, to-day, is one of the best paying 
institutions of the town ; in the spring of 
1878, he sold out his interest in the fac- 
tory, owing to ill health, and has since de- 
voted himself to superintending his form. 
Owns 360 acres in Will Co., valued at 
$25,000 ; he also owns- a fine property in 
Naperville ; has held the office of Super- 
visor of Lisle Tp., Du Page Co., four 
years ; is at present a member of the City 
Council. 

ABNER ROYCE, farmer ; P. 0. Na- 
perville ; was born in Essex Co., N. Y., 
June 13, 1826 ; he is a son of Jonathan 
and Polly (Emery) Royce ; his father was 
one of the early settlers of Du Page Tp., 
having settled in the summer of 1835 
where his son now lives ; here he lived till 
the date of his decease, which occurred 
Dec. 14, 1863, at the age of 83 years ; his 
faithful companion followed him April 25, 
1875, at the advanced age of 91 years ; 
his father was a very successful business 
man, and owned atone time between three 
and four thousand acres of land ; he di- 
vided his vast accumulations of wealth 
among his children, and they are following 
in his footsteps to a successful life ; Abner 
has always lived upon the old homestead, 
except a temporary absence of four years ; 
in 1850, he went to California, and en- 
gaged in mining; in 1854, he returned 
home. He was married October 18, 1855, 
to Charlotte Phelps, a native of Essex Co., 



898 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



N. Y.; has six children — Pilisha, Truman, 
Helen J., Irving, Lottie E. and Abner, Jr. 
Owns 985 acres in Will Co., valued at 
$65,000 ; Mr. Royce has met with good 
success in all his undertakings. 

JONATHAN ROYCE, flirmer ; P.O. 
Naperville ; was born in Essex Co., N. Y., 
May 9, 1822 ; when 13 years of age, he 
came with the family to Illinois, his father 
settling on the East Branch of the Du 
Page in the summer of 1835 ; he remained 
at home until he had reached the age of 
25 years; in 18-J:7,he came upon his farm, 
and engaged in cultivating it some six years 
before his marriage. His union with Sarah 
A. Mather, a native of Essex Co., N. Y., was 
celebrated Oct. 18, 1853. His life has 
been largely and successfully devoted to 
agricultural pursuits; in the fall of 1873, 
he moved to Naperville, and entered the 
banking business in partnership with Wil- 
lard Scott ; in the fall of 1876, he returned 
to his farm, and entered again upon a 
farmer's life. Has five children — Jonathan 
F., George E., Asa M., Maria P. and Em- 
ma M. Owns about five hundred acres, 
valued at $iO,000 ; has held the ofiice of 
Supervisor a number of terms ; he deals 
lartxely in stock, buying and fattening a 
large number of cattle annually ; his farm 
is the best improved and his buildings the 
most substantial of any of his entire neigh- 
borhood. 

S. R. RATHE UN, farmer; P. 0. 
Plainfield ; was born in Marcellus, Onon- 
daga Co., N. Y., Sept. 17, 1805 ; in the 
spring of 1832, he came to Ohio, and set- 
tled in Orange Tp., Cuyahoga Co., where 
he opened up and improved 140 acres ; in 
September, 18-l:5,he came West to Illinois, 
and first settled in Du Page Tp., Will Co., 
near his present residence ; in July, 1846, 
he moved into Wheatland Tp., and re- 
mained about twenty years ; he then sold 
•out and moved to Lake Co., where he re- 
sided two years; in February, 1868, he 
came to his present farm. He was mar- 
ried Sept. 27, 1827, to Maria Lander, a 
native of Florida, Montgomery Co., N.Y.; 
has nine children living — Volentine, Will- 
iam M., Permelia, Bela F., Sabrina L., 
Mary J., Esther A., Alvin 0. and Charles 
W.; has five dead — Hiram L., died Jan, 
9, 1863, at Nashville, Tenn.; he was a 
member of Co. D, 100th I. V. I.; he was 
in the march from Louisville to Nashville, 



when Gen. BucU was in pursuit of Gen. 
Bragg ; the others died in infancy. He 
owns 480 acres, valued at $33,000 ; has 
held the ofi&ce of Assessor in Wheatland 
Tp. two or three terms ; also those of Com- 
missioner of Highways, School Trustee, 
School Director ; while a citizen of Ohio, 
he was a Justice of the Peace in 1840, 
and held the ofiice of Deputy Sheriff" and 
that of (Nonstable. 

THOMAS J. SPRAGUE, farmer ; P. 
0. Lockport ; was born in Hamburg, Erie 
Co., N. Y., Nov. 23, 1810 ; he remained 
at home until his majority, experiencing 
the life of a farmer's son ; farming sum- 
mers and attending school a short time 
during the winter ; in 1837, he came West 
to prospect the country, and in March, 
1838, he settled in Du Page Tp.; the first 
year, he tilled a farm owned by Joseph 
Bessey, and the following year labored on 
the T. & M. Canal on the section just be- 
low the Joliet Mound ; in 1840, he pur- 
chased 160 acres on Sec. 22, Du PageTp.; 
this he still owns, and here he resided about 
eighteen years ; in the fall of 1858, here- 
moved to his present residence, on Sees. 
34 and 27. He was married Jan. 8, 1844, 
to Mrs. Lydia Godfrey, daughter of Shubel 
Swift ; her father was one of the pioneers 
of Du Page Tp.; have had nine children — 
Charles, Elizabeth, Harriet, Thomas, Frank 
and Celia living ; Lydia, Douglas and Thad- 
deus, deceased. Owns 590 acres, valued at 
$30,000 ; has held the office of Township 
Collector and thatof Assessor three or four 
terms. Mr. Sprague was without means 
when he came West, and • by industry and 
good management has accumulated what 
he has ; he is also extensively engaged in 
dairying in connection with his farming. 

ROBERT STRONG, former; P. 0. 
Naperville ; Mr. Strong is the only surviv- 
ing pioneer of the few that settled in Du 
Page Tp., in the early period of 1831 ; was 
born in Greensboro, Vt., April 28, 
1806 ; when he was 8 years of age, his 
father moved to Susquehanna Co., Penn., 
and engaged in clearing land and farming; 
in 1819, the family moved to Chemung 
Co., Penn., and opened a farm where the 
town of Waverly now stands ; in 1825, his 
father moved to Ogden, in Monroe Co., N. 
Y.; in 1831, Robert came to seek a home 
in the Far West and settled where he now 
resides, having purchased a claim of a half- 



DU PAGE TOWNSHIP 



899 



section of Solby & Walkor ; here, in com- 
pany witli his younir and lovely briilc, he 
commenced, amid the dirtieulties and priva- 
tions incident to pioneer life, to carve out 
his fortune. He was married April 21, 
1831, to Caroline W. Willey, a native of 
Oneida Co., N. Y.; she was born May 10, 
1811; eleven children have blessed their 
union, four — Alfred W., Robert H., Mary 
A. (now widow of James N. George) and 
Albert M — are living ; seven are dead. 
Owns 230 acres of land, valued at SI 7,000. 
Has held the offices of Supervisor, Justice 
of the Peace eight years, School Treasurer 
sixteen years, with the enormous salary of 
$10 for the first ten years. And here upon 
a portion of his original purchase made 
almost one-half of a century ago, he still 
lives, the only remaining landmark of those 
who settled in Du Page in 1831 or 1832 ; 
all the others have either rested from their 
labors or changed their locations ; to him 
wo are indebted for much of the early 
historv of Du Page Tp. 

THOMAS WILLIAMS, farmer; P. 
O. Lockport ; was born in County Corn- 
wall, Eng., Jan. 18, 1807 ; he immigrated 
to America in March, 1825, and first set- 
tled in Schuylkill Co., Penn., when he 
engaged in mining and shipping coal to 
Philadelphia about two years ; he next 
contracted and built a portion of the Port- 
age Railroad across the Alleghany Moun- 
tains from Hollidaysburg to Johnstown ; 
in 1 834, he came to Illinois and settled in 
Chicago; in June, 1836, in conjunction 
with Chas. E. Boyer, he contracted four 
sections on the I. & M. Canal and com- 
menced work thereon; in 1848, he built 
twelve miles of the Chicago & Galena 
Railroad between Chicago and P]lgin ; in 
1850, they went to California and construct- 
ed the levee in front of Sacramento City ; 
afterward they constructed a tunnel 1,900 
feet long, bringing the waters of Bear 
River down to the flats of Ophir; in 1854, 
they contracted on deepening the I. & M. 
Canal, and finished the work in 1857 ; he 
located on present place of residence in 1846. 
He was married in 1832, to Susan Horner, 
a native of Pennsylvania ; eight children 
have been born to them ; of these, four are 
living — Julia, Stephen J., Susan and Carrie. 
Owns 500 acres of land, valued at S40,000; 
he is at present Supervisor ; has held the 
office of School Trustee and School Direct- 



or. In all his public enterprises he has 
met with good success. 

JONAS WALKER, farmer; P. 0. 
Du Page ; was born in Worcester Co., 
Mass., April 5, 1817; he is the son of 
James and Sally ( Brewer) Walker ; he left 
home at the age of 13 years and engaged 
at farm labor at $8 per month ; previous 
to his majority he worked two years in 
the city of Worcester in a wire-factory ; 
in 1838, he came West and located in 
Greene (now Jersey) Co.. 111., where he 
engaged in farming for six years ; in the 
fall of 1844, he came to Lockport, Will 
Co., and entered the employ of Hiram 
Norton, hauling flour to Chicago and bring- 
ing back goods ; this he followed two years ; 
he then opened up and improved the farm 
now owned by S. Wilson, and remained 
three years ; he also opened up a farm on 
Sec. 16, Lockport Tp.; he lived in Lock- 
port Tp., at various points, till 1855, when 
he moved to Du Page Tp., and bought a 
quarter-section about one mile south of his 
present residence; in 3Iarch, 1859, he 
located on his present firm. May 6, 
1840, he was married to Pualina H. Judd, 
a native of Indiana ; nine sons and three 
daughters have been born to them — Henry, 
James, Charles, Pemelia, George, Clara, 
Hiram and Harley (twins), William, Walter, 
May and Albert ; of these Henry, James 
and Albert are dead. Owns 250 acres in 
Will Co., and eighty acres in Iroquois Co. 
Has held the office of Road Commissioner 
five years, and also the office of Town 
Trustee. 

SYLVESTER WARD, farmer; P. O. 
Lemont ; was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., 
May 29, 1831 ; he is the son of Hannibal 
and Jane (Hicks) Ward; in September, 
1833, his father came West, and settled on 
the farm where his son now lives. Han- 
nibal Ward died Dec. 23, 1874, and was 
buried on the homestead ; Sylvester re- 
mained at home until his majority, his 
early life being that common to a farmer's 
son ; in 1854, he went to St. Charles, 
Kane Co., and engaged in the manufacture 
of wagon-hubs. Mr. Ward improved the 
machine invented by his uncle. Justice 
Ward, for their manufacture, and brought 
it to such perfection that three hands 
could take the timber from the stump and 
make one hundred hubs per day ; in the 
spring of 1857, in company with two 



900 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



others, he purchased eighty acres of timber 
in Porter Co., Ind., and placed upon it a 
machine constructed during the winter of 
1856, and again commenced the manufact- 
ure of hubs. Having sold out his interest, 
in the fall of 1859, in company with A. D. 
Shepard, he purchased a grist-mill at 
Leland, La Salle Co., and operated it two 
and a half years ; in 1862, he returned to 
the old homestead, where he has since 
resided. He was married Feb. 22, 1860, 
to Lorina Johnson, a native of Michigan ; 
have had two children — Ida S., born Feb. 
11, 1861 ; she died Feb. 25, 1863 ; Eddie 
E., born Oct. 30, 1863. Owns 355 acres, 
valued at $21,000. Has held the office of 
School Treasurer for the past ten years, 
Mr. Ward owns and operates a large cheese- 
factory erected at a cost of $3,000, located 
about four miles north of Lockport. 

J. S. WHITE, farmer and stock dealer; 
P. 0. Naperville ; was born in Watertown, 
Jefferson Co., N. Y., Sept. 1, 1835; dur- 
ing the same fall, his father moved to 
Joliet, Will Co. ; here he died as early as 
1845. His mother subsequently married 



Capt. Harry Boardman, one of the pio- 
neers of Du Page Tp. Young White 
came from the village to the farm and re- 
mained with his stepfather some seven 
years; at the age of 18, he left home for 
Chicago, where he engaged in clerking for 
Thompson & Wetmore in the dry. goods 
business ; here he remained two years ; in 
1854, he went to California, and engaged 
in mining and operating a train of pack- 
mules for carrying supplies; he remained 
in California four and a half years ; on his 
return, he again engaged in farming; in 
1874, he purchased where he now resides. 
His first marriage to Mary A. Farmer, a 
native of New York, was celebrated Dec. 
10, 1860; she died in March, 1873. His 
second wife, Sabrina L. Smith, is a native 
of Ohio ; their marriage occurred Sept. 4, 
1874 ; three children were born from the 
first wedlock — Cornelia M., Willie and 
Carrie. Of these, only Carrie is living. 
Owns 313 acres, worth $20,000. In addi- 
tion to his farming, Mr. White deals 
largely in stock, buying and shipping to 
the Eastern market and to Chicago. 



MONEE TOWNSHIP. 



MRS. J. P. BOHLANDER, propri- 
etress of American Hotel, Monee ; one of 
our early settlers ; was born in New Jersey 
Dee. 20, 1829, and is the widow of the late 
J. P. Bohlander, deceased, who was born in 
Germany Sept. 9, 1829, and who died 
Sept. 16, 1877 ; he was one of our early 
settlers in Will Co. They were married 
April 23, 1853 ; they have had seven chil- 
dren, viz., Alice V., Alda A., J. Frank, 
Rhoda, George W., Kate L. and Carrie 
M. The farm of Mrs. B. consists of 
thirty-three acres ; farm and village prop- 
erty valued at $6,000. 

C. K. DANIELS, traveling agent of 
the American Bible Society, Monee ; one 
of the early and most prominent settlers of 
the village of Monee ; was born in Monroe 
Co., N. Y., Sept. 1, 1822; came to this 
State in 1862, and settled in Will Co. in 
the same year; his pursuits since 1867 
have been, as aforementioned, in the inter- 
ests of the American Bible Society. He 
was married Sept. 19, 1858, to Miss Cor- 



nelia B. Sleeper, who was born in Hills- 
boro Co., N. H., June 21, 1830; they 
have had three children, two of whom are 
living, viz., Florence E. and Carrie B. ; 
deceased, George Clinton. 

LABAN EASTERBROOKS, convev- 
ancer, real estate and collecting agent and 
Police Magistrate, Monee; one of the 
early settlers ; was born in Bristol Co., 
Rhode Island, March 14, 1814; came to 
this State and settled in Monee, Will Co. 
in 1858. pe was married to Miss Sabrina 
M. Wright, who was born in Washington 
Co., R. I., Jan. 2, 1830; they have 
had ten children, six of whom are 
living, viz., Mary L., Sabrina, L. Fill- 
more, William G., Isabella and Robert 
L. ; deceased, Ellen M., Sarah G., Ros- 
amond and Rebecca. Since Mr. East- 
erbrook's residence in the township, 
he has held offices of Township Clerk 
and School Director, and at the outbreak 
of the war was Assistant Enrolling 
Master. 



MONEE TOWNS! IIP 



901 



HENRY HOHMANN, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Monee ; one of the 
early settlers ; was born in Germany Oct. 
15, 1810 ; came to the TJnited States in 
1848, and to this State and settled in Will 
Co. in 1853; his farm consists of 350 
acres, valued at $l-i,000. He was married 
to Miss Mary Herveg, who was born in 
Germany May 28, 1826 ; they have had 
six children, four of whom are living, viz., 
Martin, Henry, Kate and Christina ; de- 
ceased, Mena and August. 

GU8TAVU8 JORDANS, dealer in 
wines and liquors, Monee ; one of our 
early settlers; was born in Prussia Aug. 1, 
1830 ; came to the United States in 1849, 
and to this State and settled in Monee, 
Will Co., in 1859. He was a participant 
in the late rebellion, having enlisted from 
and for Will Co. in the 82d I. V. I. as 
musician ; he served three years, and was 
discharijed with honor at the clo.se of the 



war, 1865. 



CHRISTIAN KOEPKE, proprietor of 
German House and sample rooms, Monee ; 
one of the early settlers ; was born in Ger- 
many Dec. 2, 1840 ; came to the United 
States in 1853, and to this State in the 
same year and settled in Greengarden, 
Will Co. ; he removed to Monee in 1869; 
since that time, his pursuits have been 
that of hotel and livery keeper, and pro- 
prietor of the German House sample and 
billiard rooms. He was married to Miss 
Mina Buethe, who was born in Germany 
April 19, 1842 ; they have had five chil- 
dren, three of whom are living, viz., 
Doretta, Lena and Willie ; deceased, 
Henry and Mary. Since Mr. K.'s resi- 
dence in Will Co., he has held the office 
of Constable in Greengarden Tp. four 
years. 

SIMON MILLER, general merchant and 
grain dealer, Monee ; one of the early set- 
tlers ; was born in Germany Oct. 9, 1834 ; 
came to the United States in 1849, and to 
this State in the same year; he has been a 
resident of Monee, Will Co., for the past 
thirteen years ; his pursuits since his resi- 
dence in the township have been that of a 
grain dealer and general merchant. He 
was married Jan. 19, 1856, to Miss Eliza- 
beth Bepperling, who was born in New 
York Feb. 19, 1840; they have had five 
children, three of whom are living, viz., 
Mary, George S. and August C. ; de- 



ceased, John and Charley. Mr. Miller 
is now holding the office of President of 
the Board of Trustees of the incorporated 
village of Monee. 

FREDERICK PAULING, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. O. Monee ; one of the 
early settlers ; was born in Germany ; 
came to the United States in 1850, and to 
this State and settled in Will Co. in 1852 ; 
he is the father of Henry D. Pauling, of 
Monee Tp., whose farm consists of 133 
acres, valued at $5,000. He was married 
to Miss Mary Kolstedt, who wa.s born in 
Cook Co., 111. ; they have two children, 
viz., William and Amelia. 

CHARLES PRAGST, general hard- 
ware merchant, Monee ; one of our early 
settlers ; was born in Germany Jan. 19, 
1834; came to the United States in 1853, 
and to this State and settled in Will Co. in 
the same year ; his present business has 
been his pursuit for the past nine years. 
He is now Clerk of the incorporated village 
of Monee. 

A. ROHMEIER & BODEN, confec- 
tioners and tobacconists, Monee ; both 
born in Germany, and early settlers in the 
county ; their property in said establish- 
ment consists of one store, or place of bus- 
iness, and one Lot, No. ^ of 5, 6 and 7, 
in Block 1, and is valued at $3,000. 

CHRISTIAN SCHOENSTEDT, man- 
ufacturer of wagons, buggies, etc., and 
dealer in general farm machinery, Monee ; 
one of the early settlers ; was born in 
Germany Jan. 30, 1837 ; came to the 
United States in 1854, and to this State 
in the same year ; he has been a resident 
of Monee, Will Co., since 1859, and within 
that time his pursuits have been as above 
mentioned. He was married March 5, 
1859, to Miss Louisa Guntz, who was born 
in Germany May 17, 1839. They have 
had seven children, six of whom are living 
— Fred, Anna, Leopold, August, Louisa 
and Otto ; deceased, Rudolph. 

PROF. FRANCIS STOFFLET, Prin- 
cipal in Monee Public School, Monee ; was 
born in Northampton Co., Penn., Feb. 22, 
1841 ; came to this State and settled in 
Will Co., in 1874 ; and since that date, 
with the exception of one year, he has been 
a resident of the village of Monee. He 
was married to Miss Mary A. Sprague, 
Aug. 13, 1873; they have two children — 
Elmer and Harvey. Mr. S. was a volun- 



902 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 



teer in the late rebellion ^ he enlisted in 
the 158d Penn. V. I., served ten months 
and was discharged as time for enlistment 
expired. His principalship in the public 
schools has, with the exception of four 



years. 



continued since A. D. 1856. 



H. H. STASSEN, Sr., retired farmer ; 
P. 0. Monee ; one of the early settlers ; 
was born in Germany Sept. 15, 1805, 
under King Peter of Oldenburg ; came to 
the United States in 1854, and to this 
State and settled in Will Co. in the same 
year ; he is the father of H. H. Stassen, Jr., 
of Greengardeu Tp. The farm of Mr. S. 
consists of seventy-seven acres, valued at 
$4,000. He was married to Miss Meta 
Ulreachs, now deceased, who was born in 
Germany March 11, 1808, and who died 
Sept. 3, 1865; they have had eight children, 
four of whom are living, viz., Mary, Henry, 
Matilda and Mena ; deceased, Anna, two 
infants and Diedrich. 

AUGUST SCHIFFER, general mer- 
chant and grain-buyer, Monee ; one of our 
early settlers ; was born in Germany; came 
to the United States in 1855, and to this 
State in 1857, and, in 1858, he settled in 
the township of Monee ; his pursuits, since 
his residence in the township, have been 
that of a general merchant and dealer in 
grain ; he is the builder and owner of the 
first elevator in this township. He has 
held the office of Postmaster from 1861 to 
1866. He was married to Miss Anna 
Schurz ; they have six children, viz., 
August, Antoinette, Charles, Otto, Annie 
and Minnie. 



WILLIAM SIEFKER, farmer and 
stock-raiser ; P. 0. Monee ; one of our 
early settlers ; was born in Germany March 
15, 1825; came to the United States in 
1848, and to this State in the same year; 
his farm consists of 160 acres, valued at 
$8,000. He was married to Miss Mary 
Holder, who was born in Russia; they 
have three children, viz., Lewis, Mary and 
William. Since Mr. Siefker's residence 
in this township, he has held the office of 
School Director four years, and Roadmaster 
one year. 

PHILIPP TRIEM, merchant tailor 
Monee ; one of our first settlers in M onee ] 
was born in Germany Jan. 6, 1832; came' 
to the United States in 1854, and to Illi- 
nois and settled in Chicago, where he re- 
mained two years, when he removed to 
Monee, where he has since resided ; his 
profession since his residence in this town- 
ship has been that of a merchant tailor. 
He was married to Miss Eliza Demmal, 
now deceased ; they have had six children, 
only one of whom is living, viz.; Rosa. 

ADAM VATTER, Jr., insurance 
and lightning-rod agent, and partner in the 
firm of V^atter & Merz, pop manufacturers, 
Monee ; one of the early settlers ; was 
born in Germany March 11, 1852 ; came 
to the United States in 1855, and to this 
State, and settled in Monee with his 
father's family in the same year. He was 
married to Miss Bertha Kettering, who 
was born in Chicago April 9, 1853 ; 
they have had two children, one of whom is 
living, viz., Julia ; deceased, an infant. 



WILTON TOWNSHIP. 



CHANCE Y CLINTON, farmer. Sec. 
2 ; P. 0. Wallingford ; owns 230 acres. 
Born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Sept. 2, 1825 ; 
at an early age, his parents removed to 
Pennsylvania; resided there until 1865 ; 
he then emigrated to this place, and has 
lived here ever since. Has been married 
twice ; first, to Mary W. Ostrom ; she died 
in January, 1854; left one child — Emily; 
she is married, and at present resides in 
Indiana. His second marriage was with 
Harriet A. Hullar Jan. 21, 1858, in Penn- 
sylvania ; have two children by this union 



—Ella May and Milo E. Has held the 
officet of Road Commissioner and Post- 
master, the former six and a half years, and 
the latter four years. 

REV. ORVILLE C. DICKINSON, 
minister. Sec. 15 ; P. O.Wilton Center. Bap- 
tist; Republican. Owns sixty acres ; born in 
St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Sept. 10, 1836; 
went with parents to Michigan when 8 
years old ; resided there twelve years ; at- 
tended the High School at Battle Creek 
three years ; came here about the year 
1856; was ordained in August, 1860 ; re- 



WILTON TOWNSHIP. 



903 




sided and preached in Wilton Tp. ever since, 
with the exception of three years that he 
was Pastor of a church at Blooniinirdale, 
Mich.; he has preached continuously at this 
place since 1872. Married Susan Bcodle, 
daughter of Rev. Emory Beedle, of Kala- 
mazoo, Mich. ; she was born Sept. 1 , 1837 ; 
have no children of their own ; have an 
adopted child of the name of Lizzie. Mr. 
D. carries on farming in connection with 
his other duties ; had two brothers in the 
late war — Anson and Albert ; they served 
in the I'ith I. V. I.; Anson received a 
mortal wound on the )i2d of .July, l"-04, 
near Atlanta, Ga., and died Aug. 3, follow- 
ing. 

JABEZ HARVEY, merchant, Sec. 9 ; 
P. 0. Wilton Center. Republican. Owns 
thirteen acres in village of Wilton Center. 
Was born Jan. 20, 1831, in Canada East; 
came with his parents to Tazewell Co., 111., 
in 1837, and to New Lenox in 1838, and 
then to where Wilton Center now is in 
1841 ; was raised a farmer. Married 
Sarah Jane Weliver Dec. 6, 1853; she 
was born in Butler (Jo., Ohio, in 1832 ; Mr. 
H. went to California by land in 1850; 
remained there three yeai's ; in March, 
1858, engaged in the mercantile business 
in this place, and has continued it ever 
since; in 1864, Mr. H. made atrip to the 
headwaters of the Missouri River, where 
he spent the summer, returninsr home by 
the way of Salt Lake and the plains, the 
same year. Was elected a member of the 
State Legislature in 1872, and served two 
sessions. Mr. H. has four children — 
Everett, Ettie, Judd and Jay C; Judd 
accompanied his father to Springfield, and 
acted in the capacity of page during the 
second session. Mr. H. was elected Justice 
of the Peace in Wilton Tp. in 1858, and has 
held that office continuously nearly ever 
since; held the office of Township Treasurer 
fourteen years, which office he still holds ; 
was appointed Postmaster in 1875, at the 
time the office was established, and has 
held that office ever since. 

JERRY KENISTON, farmer, Sec. 16; 
P. 0. Wilton Center. Republican; Baptist. 
Owns 150 acres. Was born in Vermont 
March 2, 1829; came with his parents to 
this township in 1854, and has resided 
here ever since, with the exception of 
one year in New York. Was married 
twice — first to Martha Ann Tiffimy ; she 



died Jan. 24, 1862, about three years after 
marriage; left no children. Mr. K. en- 
listed in Co. H, 100th L V. L,in Augu.'^t, 
1 862 ; served as a private uutil after the 
battle of Stone River ; he was then pro- 
moted to the office of Second Lieutenant 
for meritorious conduct; he participated 
in the battle of Cliickamauga ; was taken 
prisoner there and sent to Libby Prison ; 
was there seven months ; then to Camp 
Oglethorpe two months ; then to Charles- 
ton two months (under fire) ; then to 
Columbia ; from there to Wilmington, N. 
C. ; was liberated March 2, 1865; after 
his return home, he settled down to farm- 
ing where he now resides. Married Mar- 
tha Lynde in Vermont Feb. 21, 1866; 
have five children — Henry, John Lynd, 
Laura A., Charles Herbert and Carroll. 
Served as Supervisor three years in suc- 
cession ; on the 5th of November, of the 
present year, was elected to the State Leg- 
islature on the Republican ticket. 

WILLI AM MASON, farmer (deceased). 
Sec. 25 ; P. O. Peotone ; born in 
Northamptonshire, England, Dec. 14, 
1815; was raised a farmer ; at the age of 
20, he entered the British army ; he joined 
the 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's own 
regiment) ; he served nearly five years. 
Was married twice — first, to Fanny Farrer 
in 1843 ; she was born ii\, England Nov. 
17, 1818, and died Sept. 4, 1862 ; by this 
union they had nine children — Denny, Sa- 
rah, Joseph, Mary ( the two latter deceased), 
William, Joseph and Mary (twins, named 
after the two deceased), Esther and Fanny. 
Came to this State in 1849; stopped near 
Oswego one year; in 1850 came here and 
settled where he resided at the time of his 
death, which sad event occurred Nov. 29, 
1875 ; his second marriage was with Jane 
Temple April 25, 1864; she was born 
July 3, 1826, in Bennington. Vt. Denny 
was in the U. S. Navy, and served three 
years under Commodore Porter ; during 
the greater portion of his time he was on 
the gunboat Black hawk ; was with her 
when she burned ; he was then sent to the 
Eastern Department and remained there 
until his muster-out at the end of the war. 
Mrs. Ma.son had three brothers in the Union 
army during the late war ; one died in 
Andersonville ; his name was Ira. 

SAMUEL a. NELSON, farmer. Sec. 3 ; 
P. 0. Wallingford ; owns 105 acres ; born in 



904 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES ; 



Winchester, Randolph Co., Ind., May 8, 
1827 ; resided in that State with his 
parents until ISiB ; then to this town the 
25th of December, 18J-6. Married twice; 
first to Abigail Meacliam, who died Aug. 
29, 185-4, aged 2-1; left one child— Eliza- 
beth H., born in September, 1853 ; she 
now lives with her ftither; is a school 
teacher; his second marriage was with 
Sarah A. Thomas May 1, 1856 ; have had 
six children — Celia Jane, born July 1, 
1857 ; William T., born May 21, 1859, 
died Aug. 24:, 1873, from injuries re- 
ceived from the kick of a horse ; Sarah 
Ellen, Oct. 28, 1861 ; Mary M., born 
Oct. 8, 1866; James M., Jan. 1, 1872; 
Laura B., Nov. 29, 1875. Enliste-l in 
August, 1862, in the 100th I. V. I., as 
private ; elected First Lieutenant at the 
organization of the regiment, August, 
1862; promoted to Captain Nov. 21, 
1863, and to Major March 24, 1865 ; 
served full term ; in all the principal bat- 
tles in which his regiment was engaged, 
including Stone River, Missionary Ridge, 
Atlanta campaign and Franklin; was 
badly wounded at Missionary Ridge, in 
the left hip ; carried the ball three days ; 
it was extracted, and he now has it in his 
possession. Held the office of Supervisor 
live years, which office he now holds ; has 
held the office of Justice of the Peace 
about seven years. 

JOHN POOLEY, veterinary surgeon 
and farmer, Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Peotone. 
Methodist; Republican, Owns 120 acres. 
Born in the county of Norfolk, England, 
June 6, 1808 ; served apprenticeship as a 
blacksmith, and studied veterinary sur- 
gery ; he practiced the latter in England, 
and also in this country, with success. 
Married Mary Miller Nov. 12, 1830, in 
Methwold, England ; she was born Feb. 
4, 1810. Mr. P. came to this country in 
1855 ; lived in Oswego, this State, six 
years ; then to the place where he now re- 
sides. They have had twenty children, 
fourteen of whom lived to grow up; four 
of those fourteen are now dead, viz., Will- 
iam, Martha, John and Julia; the names 
of those living at present are Clara, Mary, 
Ellen, Sarah, Mariah, Susan, Bessie, Rob- 
ert, Sophia and Emma ; John was a sol- 
dier in the late war ; he was a member of 
Co. A, 127th r. V. I. ; he died in the hos- 
pital at xMemphis, Tenn., March 18, 1863; 



William was also a member of the same 
company, and served in all the principal 
engagements which the regiment was en- 
gaged in up to the time of his death, 
which occurred July 28, 1864, on the right 
of Atlanta ; he was killed by a chain-shot 
striking him in the side ; William was a 
true soldier, and his loss was deeply felt by 
all of his comrades ; he was personally 
known by the writer of this sketch, who 
was also a member of the same regiment, 
and was near him when befell ; William's 
remains, also the remains of a young man 
from Oswego, of the name of Murdoch 
(who was in the same company and fell in 
the same battle), were buried side by side 
in one grave, and covered by the bloody 
ground where they fell. 

FREDERICK ROBBINS, farmer. Sec. 
8 ; P. 0. Wilton Center. Liberal Repub- 
lican. Owns 164 acres in Wilton Tp.; 
also 200 acres in Wayne Co., Iowa. Born 
in Pennsylvania May 15, 1812; when 
4 years old, went with parents to Ohio ; 
resided there until he was 22 ; then to 
Indiana ; stopped there fourteen years ; 
then to Michigan four years ; then to this 
town in 1851 ; stopped at Twelve-Mile 
Grove the first winter, then to the place 
where he now resides. Married Nancy M. 
Woodward March 9, 1843; she was born 
in Pennsylvania Sept. 18, 1818 ; have had 
seven children, four now living — Kate, 
Isaac, William and Fanny ; the names of 
those that died were John, David and Ed- 
ward. Oliver Sanford, a boy raised in the 
fiimily. was a soldier in the 2d Wis. V. I., 
and was killed at the battle of Antietam. 
Mr. R. has held the offices of Road Com- 
missioner and School Director. 

WILLIAM E. TEMPLE, farmer. Sec. 
34 ; P. 0. Wilton Center. Owns 120 acres. 
Born in Madison Co., N. Y., May 6, 1833 ; 
came to this State in 1853 ; settled in this 
town in 1856 ; served as a soldier in the 
late war in Co. H, 100th I. V. I. Mar- 
ried Jane Robinson March 5, 1867; she 
Wits born March 19, 1839 ; have five chil- 
dren — Ervin I., Otis M., Farmer E., Cora 
A. and Frances A. Mr. T. was badly 
wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, 
from the efiijcts of which he will probably 
never recover ; his health has been very 
poor ever since. Mr. T. had a brother in 
the same company and regiment ; he was 
taken prisoner the same day that the sub- 



WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 



906 



ject of this sketch was wounded, and sent 
to Andcrsonville ; after sulferinti nine 
months in that ]irison-pen he died, thus 
adding another name to the lonj;; list of 
martyrs of human liberty. James T. ' 
Doufjlas, a nepliew of the above, was also 
in the same company and regiment ; he 
was wounded June 3, 1864, during the 
Atlanta campaign ; was sent to the hospital, j 
and remained there until his muster-out ; I 
he was drowned in 18G7 while bathing in 
Samuel Goodspeed's pasture. 

JOHN WHITE, farmer, Sec. 11; P. ! 
0. Wallingfurd ; owns forty-nine acres ; j 
was born in Sligo, Ireland ; came to this ' 
country, with his parents, at the age of 7 ; 
in September, 1861, he enlisted in the 



42d I. V. I., and served continuously with 
the regiment until the battle of Kesaca ; at 
that battle he lost his right arm ; at that 
time li<! was First Sergeant. Mr. White's 
name is always mentioned with pride by 
hife brother soldier ; up to th( time of 
receiving his wound he was always prompt 
to the call of duty. Mr. W. was engaged 
in the men)orable siege of Island No. 10, 
Corinth, Stone River and Chickamauga. 
Mr. W., since the war, married Mary, a 
daughter of John Malone, Esq. ; they 
have seven children — Margaret, Lizzie. 
John, Annie, James, Mary and Jjuke. 
Mr. W. is engaged in farming, which bus- 
iness he has been engaged in since the war. 



WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 



JOHN HACK, merchant, Eagle Lake ; 
was born at Hohen Vicheln, State of 
Mecklenburg, Germany, Sept. 1, 1825; 
came to America in 1864, and located in 
Washington Tp., four miles south of 
Beecher, on a farm of 160 acres, which he 
still owns. Was appointed Postmaster of 
Eagle Lake Postoffice in May, 1878. 
Married Miss Sophia Liit in March, 1852 ; 
the names of their children are as follows: 
Herman, Henry, Carl or Charles, Frank 
and Emma. 

SAMUEL LOEBSTEIN, merchant and 
stock dealer, Beecher ; was born in Jeben- 
haused. State of Wurtemberg, Germany, 
Feb. 13, 1830 ; came to America in 1860 ; 
sto])ped in Dyc^r, Lake Co., Ind.,ten years, 
where he dealt in live-stock ; then he came 
to Washington Tp., where h(; has remained 
ever since, following his present business. 
In 1870, he married Miss Anna Hess, the 
oldest daughter of Mr. L. Hess, the former 
proprietor of the Hess House, Chicago ; 
Emma and Fannie are the names of their 
infant children. Mr. Loebstein owns a 
well-improved farm of eighty acres, two 
and one-half miles southeast of Beecher. 

TIMOTHY L. MILLER, cattle- 
breeder ; P. 0. Beecher ; Mr. Timothy L. 
Miller, Hereford cattle-breeder, was born 
in Middletpwn, Conn., April 7, 1817 ; 
moved to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in 1842, 
and engaged in the manufacture of paper ; 



moved to Chicago in 1856, and engaged in 
the insurance business till 1870, when he 
moved to Washington Tp., where he now 
resides upon his stock-farm of about eight 
hundred acres and pursues the breeding of 
fine stock. The town of Beecher was laid 
out by him in spring of 1870. He mar- 
ried Miss Abigail Starr Elliott March 2, 
1842, in Middletown, Conn. ; she was born 
at Gilead, Conn., Sept. 29, 1819, and died 
in Chicago, Feb. 14, 1858 ; they had five 
children, four living — Catharine E., born 
Oct. 6. 1843 (now Mrs. G. B. Woodward, of 
St. Paul, Minn. ) ; Abby E. (now Mrs. 
Frank Gould, of Chicago), born April 12, 
1846 ; Mary P., born Jan. 3, 1848 (now 
Mrs. A. C. Reed, of Evanston) ; Timothy 
E. born Sept. 23, 1850 ; one deceased — 
Henry Charles, born Feb. 7, 185S, died 
Jan. 3, 1861. Married second wife. Miss 
Anna E. Hodges, at Rookford, 111., June 
6, 1861 ; she was born at Clarendon, Vt., 
July 22, 1828 ; one child by her— Abby 
Hodges, born here July 16, 1865. died 
Aug. 2, 1865. 

LOUIS METTERHAUSEN, teacher, 
Beecher; proprietor of the Metterhausen 
Hotel; was born in Gilten, State of Han- 
over, Germany, Jan. 21, 1840; taught 
school in the above State and in the city of 
Bremen ; came to the United States in 
1865, landing at New York ; followed his 
profession in the States till at last he loca- 



<:*06 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



ted in Washiu}2;ton Tp. in 1869, at what 
is now known as Beecher ; was its first 
Postmaster, conducting a general store at 
the same time, till 1875 ; since then he has 
followed his present vocation. Married 
Miss Mina Klusmeyer May 6, 1871 ; Carl, 
their oldest, was born A})ril 6, 1872; 
Charlotte was born Feb. 9, 1876. 

CHARLES F. RUDEN, physician 
and surgeon, Beecher ; was born in Prussia, 
near Berlin, Jan. 26, 1832; received edu- 
cation at the University of Berlin, which 



institution 
upon him 



conferred the title of M. D. 

in 1854; came to America in 
1855, stopping at New York City one year ; 
located in Will Co. in 1857, where he has 
been practicing homeopathy ever since; 
he also keeps the largest stock of drugs in 
Beecher. Was married to Louisa Shilling 
in 1866 ; she only lived till 1869. Mar- 
ried again in 1870 to Miss Ida Wagener at 
Frankfort Station in Will Co., Ill; their 
children are Libby, Eddy, Greorge and 
Louisa. 



WILL TOWNSHIP. 



GEORGE DENBY, farmer; P. 0. 
Monee ; born May 20, 1816, in Yorkshire, 
Eng., where he lived until 1852, when he 
came to the United States, and, after living 
a short time in Kankakee Co., he settled in 
Cook Co., 111., where he lived until the 
spring of 1869, when he moved to his 
present home on his farm ; he was en- 
gaged on the Illinois Central Railroad a 
large portion of the first twenty-two years | 
after he came to this country. He was | 
married Dec. 23, 1844, to Miss Anne 
Athern, of Yorkshire, England ; their 
children now living are Emma, Charles, 
Amy and Robert ; his wife, Anne, died in 
1863, and, on May 28, 1864, he was mar- 
ried to Mrs. Jane Jackson, daughter of ' 
John Daft, of Staffordshire, England ; they 
have four children — Almira, Maggie, Ada j 
A., and George. Mrs. Jackson had, when ' 
married to Mr. Denby, two children — 
Lucy R. and Annie Jackson. He has a ; 
good farm of 160 acres, valued at S8,000. 

JAMES DOOCY, fixrmer ; P. 0. Peo- 
tone ; born in Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 30. 
1853 ; when but 2 years old, his parents i 
removed with him to Grundy Co., this 
State, and afterward brought him to this | 



county, where he has lived since his child- 
hood. Was married July 27, 1874, to 
Johanna Hurley, who was born in Cork, 
Ireland, in 1857 ; they have two children 
— Willie and Julia. 

CHARLES J. O'NEIL, farmer and 
fine-stock breeder; P. 0. Peotone ; born 
in the township of Alban, Canada West, 
March 6, 1839; in early childhood he re- 
moved with his parents to Chicago, 111., 
where they remained about two years and 
then moved to Kane Co., 111. ; here spent 
some seventeen years of his life when he 
returned to Chicago, where he lived until 
the fall of 1873 ; he then removed to his 
present home, " Wide Range Farm," which 
he had purchased the spring before ; this 
is a splendid high rolling prairie farm of 
640 acres (being Sec. 20), with fine build- 
ings, and beautifully, centrally located on 
a high knoll, overlooking the whole farm 
and giving a fine view of a wide surround- 
ing country. Wfis married April 26, 1872, 
to Miss Mary J. McDonough, of Ottawa, 
111., who was born in St. Louis, Mo., March 
17, 1848 ; they have three children — 
Mary C, Daniel C. and John. 



Q.' 



DIRECTORY OF REAL ESTATE OWNERS. 



.A.BBRE'VI^TION'S, 



Adv Adventist 

agt agent 

^pt Baptist 

bkpr bookkeeper 

bwr brewer 

brklayr bricklayer 

carp carjienter 

Cath Catholic 

elk clerk 

Ch Church 

Co Company or County 

com. mer commission merchant 

Cong Congregational 

Dem Democrat 

dir dealer 

dgst drujiKist 

Episcopal Episcopal 

Evang Evangelist 

Ind Independent 

I. V. I Illinois Volunteer Infantry 

I. "V. C ....Illinois Volunteer Cavalry 

I. V. A Illinois Volunteer Artillery 

far farmer 



fdry foundry 

gro grocer 

lab laborer 

Meth .'. Methodist 

mfr manufacturer 

mach machinist 

mkr maker 

mech mechanic 

mer merchant 

rain minister 

phot photographer 

phys physician 

Presb Presbyteriau 

pr printer 

ptr painter 

prop proprietor 

Rep Republican 

Rev Reverend 

sec section or secretary 

slsmn salesman 

Spir Spiritualist 

supt superintendent 

treas treasurer 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 

(P. 0. JOLTET.) 



Abraras, Ilpiiry, engineer. 

Abrams, Ileiii y, laborer. 

Achenbacli, Henrv, cif?ar manufacturer. 

Adler, P. P., butcher. 

Adler, Jasper, butclier. 

Adler, Jacol), butcher. 

Adams, Anna E. 

Adams, Mecai^ah L., gjain. 

Adam, AVm., wire-fence manufacturer. 

Adams, Wm., lumber dealer. 

Adams, W. L., grain dealer. 

Adelinan, Peter, merchant. 

Adderly, William. 

Allison, A., printer. 

Alpaugh, J., laborer. 

Alpine, Fanny. 

Alfrick, F., lilacksmith. 

Alexander, M., General Roadmaster. 

Albright. Christ F. 

Allen, B.F. 

Ammerson, Christian. 

Amos, Washington. 

Anderson, Thomas. 

Andrews, A., laborer. 

Andeison, ('. A., laborer. 

Anderson, Peter, laborer. 

Anderson, S., tanner. 

Andrews, A. 

Apgar, M. Lewis. 

Arnstein, Frederick, mason. 

Arsenraacher, Henrv. 



Arnold, G., grocer. 

Assenmacher, Henry, mason. 

Ashley, J. R. 

Atkins, A. W. 

Atkinson, Wm., hotel proprietor. 

Austin, Horace. 

Ayres, H. H. 

Bakewell, William. 

Barker, Peter, laborer. 

Bassam, Tliomas. 

Bartlow, Wm., carpenter. 

Bacon, R. J. 

Bangman, John. 

Barney, Amanda. 

Barney, Edward, ^iun office. 

Barton. J. T., barber. 

Barton, Janette E. 

Baer, D. C, grocer. 

Bassett, William, farmer. 

Baehm, Conrad, stone-cutter. 

JJarber, O. 

Barber, Francis C. 

Barber. H. E., attorney. 

Bauer, AVm., laborer. 

Bauer, X. X., laborer. 

Bartlett, Roxanna. 

Baker, .John, laborer. 

Baker, F. L., laborer. 

Baker, L. 8., insurance agent. 

liiildwin, Jesse, farmer. 

Baldwin, H. B. 

1(5 



910 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



Bnrsan, Thomas. 

Bartholme, Joseph, farmer. 

Bartholme. Martin, laborer. 

Barthelome, Joseph, laborer. 

liannon, M. W.. stone dealer. 

Ijannon, P. R., merchant. 

Bannon, P. W., grocer. 

Barnes, Henry, laborer. • 

Barnes, Nathaniel, farmer. 

Barnes, Henry, laborer. 

Barnes, James, laborer. 

Bailey, Leon II., tailor. 

Jiailey, F. K. 

Bailey, Fredrick, laborer. 

Barrett, Thomas. 

Barrett, AVm. F., hardware. 

Barrett, Ann. 

15arrett, Jesse, laborer. 

Barrett, Miles 8., blacksmith. 

Becker, John. 

Bernard, Burns. 

Belz, John. 

Bevitch, George W. 

Beuttenmuller, Carlina. 

Berow, Lewis, farmer. 

Bergel, Michael, farmer. 

Berger, Thomas L., farmfer. 

Bez, Margaret, Mrs. 

]5elles, Charles. 

Besmins, Nicholas. 

Bedford, J., engineer. 

Bierscheidt, Bernard, saloon-keeper. 

Beamer, Gasher, laborer. 

Bergan, Martha. 

Benzen, Catharine. 

Bean, John. 

Bettylyon, A. J., plasterer. 

Bennett, Henry B., liveryman. 

Bennett, Matthew, laborer. 

Bennett, George, weaver. 

Belden, Samuel O., laborer. 

Bear, Dawson C. 

Bears, Charles, carpenter. 

Berry, Wm., laborer. 

Berry, Catharine. 

Beach, G. R., laborer. 

Beach A. E. 

Bickford, J. W., carpenter. 

Billings, Herman, laborer. 

Bierscheidt, Bart, laborer. 

Birgel, Michael, farmer. 

Birgel, Francis, laborer. 

Bigin, Ann. 

Bissell, M. C, capitalist. 

Bissell, A. A., machinist. 

Bickerton, John R. 

Bisho]», Wm. W., lumber dealer. 

Bisliop, J. M., lumber dealer. 

Blatchford, E. W. 

Blackburn, John, carpenter. 

lileimeich, H. 

lilack, James, keeper in I. S. P. 

]ilaesser, Louis, carpenter. 

Blumel, Jos., saloon-keeper. 

Blaas, Xavier, saddler. 

Boyd, Mary E., farmer. 

Bond, Samuel, farmer. 

Boerser, Adam, laborer. 



Bowers, Jacob L. 

Bowers, Uriah. 

Bowers, Wm., carpenter. 

Boos, Jeremiah, mason. 

Botcli, Jacob, laborer. 

Botcli, JacoL^ 

Bowlan, James, baker. 

Bowl an, James, laborer. 

Bowlan, Patrick, laborer. 

Boyle, Tliomas, laborer. 

Bover, Norman, laborer. 

Boylan, R. G., laborer. 

Boran, Philip. 

Boyne, Delia. 

Bowman, John A., blacksmith. 

Boehme, Hugo, engineer. 

Boas, E. A., prison guard. 

Brinkerhoff, M. 

Bradbury, W. H., laborer. 

Brockman, Christ, laborer. 

Brevitz, A. J., laborer. 

Brahm, Adam, stone-cutter. 

Braden, Jane. 

Brooks, W. S., hardware merchant. 

Brooks, W. A. 8., hardware. 

Brayton, H. M. 

Brandzer, John, laborer. 

Brownson, David. 

Braun, Joseph, saloon-keeper. 

Braun, C. C, marble-cutter. 

Brophy, Mary. 

Brison, Hiram, laborer. 

Bressingham, John, laborer. 

Breidert, Jacob, mason. 

Bridert, Catharine. 

Breidert, Philip, mason. 

Brannon, Dominick. 

Brannon, Thomas, laborer. 

Bruce, James, farmer. 

Bruce, Mary. 

Brackan, Daniel. 

Bray, Mary. 

Bray, Ellen. 

Bray. Edward M., druggist. 

Brazil, Philip, farmer. 

Brockway, Henry S., carpenter. 

Bradford, Chauncey. 

Briggs, Samuel. 

Brightman, James P., laborer. 

Brown, Oliver, laborer. 

Brown, Harriet. 

Brown, J. D., druggist. 

Brown, Lewis, cigar-maker. 

Brown, Nancy Ann. 

Brown, R. S., carpenter. 

Brown, Warren. 

Brown, S. J., carpenter. 

Brown, Joseph, saloon-keeper. 

Brown, John, tanner. 

Brown, Max, saloon-keeper. 

Brown, Cornelia. 

Brown, Margaret. 

Brown, S., farmer. 

Brown, Erastus, teamster. 

Brown, F. C, druggist. 

Bust, Jannette. 

Burson, T. C. 

Burchard, John. 



TOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



911 



Jiutternian, John. 

liusk, C. ir., butcher. 

lUisk, John E. 

Burden, AU^x, tailor. 

Button, Henry J., railroad conductor. 

Burton, Byron B., carpenter. 

Buiiill, Alartin, laborer. 

liurns, Bobert, blacksmith. 

Burns, Thomas, blacksmith. 

Buckley, Michael, laborer. 

Bunzy.Leroy. 

Butler, John, shoemaker. 

Jiutler. Catherine. 

Bush, Frank, butcher. 

Bush, Charles II., butcher. 

Jiush. Harriet. 

Bush, Harriet, Mrs. 

Bush, C. II. 

Buck, Henry, saddler. 

Buck, ^riehael, saddler. 

Buck, John E. 

Burke, Thomas. 

Burke, James, laborer. 

Burke, Bernard, liveryman. 

Burke, Bridget. 

Byron, Patrick, laborer. 

Campbell, Georsjje, stone dealer. 

Canipbelle, J. H., carpenter. 

Campbell, B., farmer. 

Campbelle, George M., clerk. 

Campbell, Hugh, laborer. 

Cavanaugh, Pat, laborer. 

Cammerman, Ann. 

Caton, Wm. P. 

Carlin, Mary. 

Carlin, Wm. H. 

Calbert, Joseph, laborer. 

Carty, Timothy. 

Cassan. George L., laborer. 

Carrens, Michael. 

( 'aren, James, laborer. 

Carey, H. 

Carter, John. 

Carpenter, Henrietta. 

Carpenter, E. D., Mrs. 

Carpenter, Philo, capitalist. 

Carson, James, grocer. 

Calmer, Elizabeth. 

Callais, James, laborer. 

Cameron, AVm., farmer. 

Canella. Wm., laborer. 

Calvin. P., laborer. 

Calhoun. A. M. 

Carrington, Heniy, laborer. 

Carrington, Henry. 

Carson. Eliza. 

Callahan, Micliael, laborer. 

Callahan. Math. 

Ciisey, Ada. 

Casey, Ada J. 

Casey, August, laborer. 

Casey, John It., Dr. 

Cassedav, II. C 

Casseday, G. \V. 

Casseday, Francis, stone dealer. 

Cixgwin, II. A. 

CJigwin, F. L., banker. 

Cagwin, F. L., grain dealer. 



Cagwin, Abijah, grain dealer. 

Cantrill, L. M., clerk. 

Carroll, Jane A. 

Carroll, Bichard. 

Cimmerman, Wui., farmer. 

Chandler, D. F. 

Chapman, Henry W. 

Chajiman, Pernlelia. 

ChicKsey. John. 

Chidsey, Isaac, laborer. 

Chittenden, G. N., merchant. 

Check, Margareth. 

Charlston, Mary. 

Chesbro, L., laborer. 

Chase, E. T. 

Cliilds, K. M., agent. 

Chaniberlin, George, undertaker. 

Clark, H., conductor. 

Clark, Warren F. 

Clark, William, laborer. 

Clark, John W. 

Clark, Warren. 

Clark, B. B., merchant. 

Clark, K. D., wagon-maker. 

Clvde, John, farmer. 

Clifford, Cath. 

Clifford, John, farmer. 

Cleveland, M. C. 

'Cleverdon. Thomas, farmer. 

Clemens, M. M. 

Clear, John, laborer. 

Clarkson, John, carpenter. 

Clayes, Levi M., capitalist. 

Cleghorn, Ed, tanner. 

Collin, Scott. 

Collins, Frank, laborer. 

Collins, Isaac, laborer. 

Collins, Peter, blacksmith. 

Collins, Edward, clerk. 

Collins, Jos., laborer. 

Collins, Thomas, laborer. 

Collins. Anna. 

Cowley, Nicholas, laborer. 

Cochrane, Michael, laborer. 

Coonan, Ed, laljorer. 

Conlan, Ann. 

Condroy, William, laborer. 

Cornwall, A. B., farmer. 

Colburn, S. A. 

Colburn, T. P., hardware merchant. 

Coon, EzraS. 

Coughlin, Michael, laborer. 

Conway, Jane. 

Cobb, W. II., watchmaker. 

Conroy, John, laborer. 

Conro'y, Tliomas. 

Cornstalk, Adam, surveyor. 

Comstalk. Esther. 

Corcoran. Wm., laborer. 

Corcoran. James, laborer. 

Corcoran, Patrick, laborer. 

Coppel, John. 

Coplanz, J. P., laborer. 

Connors, Thomas, teamster. 

Connors, James, laborer. 

Conklin, R., Mrs. 

Cornell, James L., rag-buyer. 

Cornea, Jeremiah. 



912 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY; 



Cotton, J. E. 

Coke, Henry W., collar-maker. 
Cooper, A. .7. 
Cooper, John. 

(jook, Nathan, stone-mason. 
Cook, M. L., liveryman. 
Cox, Michael, laborer. 
Cox, Daniel, brewer. 
Crandall, Jane. 
Creed, Patrick, laborer. 
Creder, Joseph, laborer. 
Cronin, John, laborer. 
Cross, Ellen C 
Crogwell, John, laborer. 
Crogwell, Jolin, 8r., farmer. 
Crogwell, John, Jr., farmer. 
Crow, James, laborer. 
Crow, Henry. 
Crow, James, laborer. 
Crowley, Emma R. 
Cuff, Sarah. 
Cullen, James, laborer. 
Cummings, Eliza. 
Cummings, S. Vf ., farmer. 
Culver, J. J., butcher. 
Curry, John, farmer. 
Culbertson, Thomas, laborer. 
Culbertson, Thomas, farmer. 
Cunningham, George, laborer. 
Cunningham, Michael, laborer. 
Cunningham, Ed., laborer. 
Cunningham, Henry, laborer. 
Custer, J. H. 

Cushing, James, drayman. 
Curran, P. 

Curran, Robert, laborer. 
Cutter, Xehemiah H. 
Curtiss, Rozanna. 
Cutting, Jos. E., painter. 
Cutting, Abigail, painter. 
Dames, John, furniture. 
D'Arcev, John, farmer. 
D'Arcy, Jolin R., farmer. 
Daley, Patrick. 
Daley, John, clerk. 
Daggan, Mary. 
Dal ton, John, laborer. 
Dalton, Dennis, laborer. 
Daniels, A., laborer. 
Dalphias, Motins, laborer. 
Darwin, John, farmer. 
Dawson, Patrick, laborer. 
Dawson, Michael, laborer. 
Dawson, Ann. 
Daggett, A., doctor. 
Dailev. Eugene, undertaker. 
Davidson, Wni., stone dealer. 
Darey, Patrick, laborer. 
Davis, Margaret E. 
Davis, Morgan, laborer. 
Davis, Elizabeth. 
Davis, Samuel. 
Davis, Wm., laborer. 
Davis, John, laborer. 
Davidson, Ceorge, laborer. 
Davidson, Wm., stone dealer. 
Davidson, Ann. 
Davidson, Joseph, stone dealer. 



De Long, Francis, teamster. 

Dewes, Joseph, farmer. 

Demoney, Eliza. 

Deitz, Valentine, saloon-keeper. 

Deitch, J^orenzo. 

Demmond, Sophia. 

Delaney, John, laborer. 

Delaney, Patrick, laborer. 

Delaney, A., laborer. 

Deline, J . M., laborer. 

Dever, Anna. 

Derby, Jolni. 

Deutch, r., tobacconist. 

Devine, Margaret. 

Devine, Patrick. 

Devine, Barney, laborer. 

Degman, Bernard, engineer. 

Dean, Wm. H. 

Dennis, James C, mason. 

Dishmun, Rebecca. 

Dingley, Wm., shoemaker. 

Dillman, L. E., manufacturer. 

Dillman, W. S., clerk. 

Dickenson, Ellen. 

Dickson, James, laborer. 

Dibell, Dorrance, attorney. 

Divine, Frank, laborer. 

Dillon, John, farmer. 

Dillon, Barney, laborer. 

Dillon, Patrick, laborer. 

Downey, J. B., blacksmith. 

Downey, Thomas, blacksmith. 

Downey, Peter, blacksmith. 

Downy, Martha. 

Dobson, Michael, carpenter. 

Doyle, J., laborer. 

Doyle, Michael, laborer. 

Doyle, Ann. 

Doyle, John, blacksmith. 

Donally, Simon, farmer. 

Donnelly, James, labor. 

Donnelly, Timothy, farmer. 

Donnelly, Bridget. 

Doney, Sophia. 

Doolittle, R., Justice of the Peace. 

Doag, Thomas, farmer. 

Doll, Jonathan, laborer. 

Dougherty, Charles. 

Dougherty, Bernard, laborer. 

Dolan, Martin. 

Donahue, Timothy, laborer. 

Doney, Napoleon, peddler. 

Doran, Mrs. 

Dorman, Henry, laborer. 

Donaldson, Mrs. 

Doud, James, lal)orer. 

Doud, Patri(;k, laborer. 

Drant, Albert, shoemaker. 

Drant, Ellen. 

Dressier, Valentine. 

Dressier, Hellen. 

Drew, Caroline. 

Drew, Edward M. 

Drinkhoii, John. 

Draidsden, George, laborer. 

Dromgham, August, laborer. 

Dunbar, A. P. 

Ducker, James, merchant. 



jolii<:t township. 



913 



Duffy, ]\ricliael, laborer. 

Dullard, Patrick, laborer. 

Duininermotli, J. II., Street Com. 

J)uuimenn(»tli, Ilanuah. 

Duncan, ,Iolin. 

Duncan, E., Mrs. 

Duncan. David, laborer. 

Dunning, A. S., merchant. 

Dunning. ^largaret. 

Dunham. ,Iohn. 

Dunn, Michael. 

Dn Puv, Caroline. 

Du Puy, M. 

Durath, E. 

Durham. John, laliorer. 

Durham, John. 

Dwyre, Michael, laborer. 

Dygert, Abiam, gardener. 

Dyer, George K. 

Eagen, Ann. 

Eames, E. H. 

Eastman, F. L. 

Ebner, Joseph, farmer. 

Edwards, James L., laborer. 

Edmunds, J. W., blacksmith. 

Edgvvorth, Ab. B., agent. 

Eder, Henry, brewer. 

Eich, Peter," farmer. 

Eicholzer, Emil, carpenter. 

Eick, Peter, farmer. 

Eichoff, Aug., saloon-keeper. 

Ehvood, J. 0., Mayor. 

Ellis, A. X., doctor. 

Elderkin, Joseph. 

Elderkin, Jeptha. 

Engler, Paul. 

Engler, Philip, farmer. 

Engiman, John, farmer. 

Enright, M. 

English, John. 

Erhard, John, farmer. 

Erhard, James, laborer. 

Erhardt, Ceorge C, agricul. implements. 

Erb, Wm., groceries. 

Erb, Pantalone, saloon-keeper. 

Erickson, E., carpenter. 

Etheridge, Edmond, laborer. 

Evans, Wni., laborer. 

Evans, Josiah. 

Eyle, John. 

Farrell, P., laborer. 

Fahrman, M., butcher. 

Fanning, Henry, saloon-keeper. 

Farrington, Mrs. 

Farget,P. 

Frasee, Bernard, stone-mason. 

Fay, Barney, laborer. 

Fay, Matthew, laborer. 

Fay, John, laborer. 

Fahrner, J., doctor. 

Fant, Patrick, grocer. 

Fagoberg, P. A., laborer. 

Fahay, Patrick, saloon-keeper. 

Faroow, John, laborer. 

Farley, Elizabeth. 

Farley, Piiilip, laborer. 

Faust, Fred., butcher. 

Fellows, Lucy A. 



Fellrath, Josei»ii, laltorer. 

Fender, Joscjih, Jr., laborer. 

Fender, Josej)!), laborer. 

Ferris, James, i>rinter. 

Fettelhohn, T. 

Fetz, Micliacl, mason. 

Ferguson, John, laborer. 
I Fell, Jesse W., laborer. 
I Fidtller, James, laborer. 
I Finney, Jaines. 
I Fish, ilenrv, banker. 

Fiske, (). W. 

Fitzgerald, Thomas, laborer. 

Fishburn, Dan., capitalist. 

Fishburn, Joim. 

Finerty, Mary. 

Finnerty, James W., laborer. 

Fisher, Eberhardt. 

Fisher, Prosper, laborer. 

Fitzpatrick, Alice. 

Fitzpatrick, Patrick, farmer. 

Fitzpatrick, James. 

Flack, Mortimer A. 

Flask, J. J. 

Flackscham, J;Ouis, boatman. 

Flager, Catharine. 

Flaught, Geo. W., carpenter. 

Flannagan, Terrance, laborer. 

Flanders, J. R., .State's Attorney. 

Flood, Ilonora. 

Fodack, Joseph, laborer. 

Fogle, Jacob, laborer. 

Foley, T. H., laborer. 

Foley, John H., laborer. 

Folke, J. W., physician. 

Folker, R., Mrs. 

Follansbee. Daniel, laborer. 

Fonda, Abram, laborer. 

Foot, Sam., book-keeper. 

Ford, Hugh, laborer. 

Ford, T. P. agent. 

Ford, D., laborer. 

Foster, Geo. B. 

Fox, ()., merchant. 

Frauenhoff, Julius, molder. 

Frederick, Joseph, farmer. 

Frederick, Ililanus, laborer. 

Frederick, Joseph, laborer. 

Frederick, Peter, farmer. 

Freeman, Dennis, laborer. 

Freeman, Ixlmund, laborer. 

Frey, Margaret. 

Froinhalz, F., stone-cutter. 

Fuller, liuel A., attorney. 

F'uller, (;. W.. printer. 

Furlong, Rich., saloon-keeper. 

Furlong, Michael, laborer. 

Futrell, Samuel, laborer. 

Gable, Mary. 

Gaffney, John, carpenter. 

Gaines. Thomas, laborer. 

(rainor, John, laborer. 

Gallizien, Philip, merchant. 

Galagher, Patrick, laborer. 

Gans, Peter, laborer. 

Garrett, ^lilton, farmer. 

Garrett, Wm., laltorer. 

Garrettson, Martha. 



914 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY; 



Garber, Michael, tanner. 

Garrity, Christie. 

Gardner, Henry A. 

Gardner, Anna, Mrs. 

Garnsev, Charles B., attorney. 

Gatchell, Antone. 

Gaulden, James. 

Gavican, John, laborer. 

Gerolman, G. N. 

Ghegan, Ann. 

Ghalager, Michael. 

Ginther, John George. 

Giblin, Michael, laborer. 

Gibbons, Miles, laborer. 

Gibbon, Michael. 

Gibson, James, laborer. 

Gilbert, D. C, farmer. 

Giles, Joseph, laborer. 

Gilmore, R. 

Gilleger, P. 

Gill, Mary. 

Gillespie, P., laborer. 

Gleason, John, laborer. 

Gleason, John, Sr., laborer. 

Gleason, Wm., grocer. 

Glass, Lydia. 

Glepmaii, August. 

Glenf crick. A., laborer. 

Godfrey, Austin, carpenter. 

Goebel, Anthony, tanner. 

Goldfuss, John, laborer. 

Golden, James, laborer. 

Golyer, Mrs. 

Goilgar, Wm., farmer. 

Gooding, James, Mrs. 

Goodman, H. 

Goodenough, W. H. 

Goodspeed, Charles, banker. 

Goodspeed, James, editor and proprietor 

Joliet Republican. 
Gorges, Mat., carpenter. 
Gorges, John, shoemaker. 
Gorman, L. 

Gorman, James O., merchant. 
Gordon, Wm. 

Gottschalz, August, farmer. 
Gotschell, Casper, stone-cutter. 
Gowan, John, laborer. 
Grace, Wm., laborer. 
Grady, Jane. 

Graeber, Michael, tanner. 
Grant, Wm., laborer. 
Gras, Charles, laborer. 
Gratz, Joseph, laborer. 
Gray, John, tanner. 
Gray, Nicholas, laborer. 
Gray, James, laborer. 
Gray, ^Mitchell, laborer. 
Gray, George, laborer. 
Gray, C 

Gregg, Wm., laborer. 
Green, Lucy L. 
Green, George L. 
Green, Hart D. 
Green, George M., laborer. 
Green, John. 
Green, Edward. 
Green \vood,John, farmer. 



Grey, John, tanner. 

Grey, Lawrence, laborer. 

Griffin, Peter, laborer. 

Giiffin, James, laborer. 

Griffin, William, laborer. 

Grill, Charles, laborer. 

Grinton, Sarah A. 

Grinton, Anna. 

Grinton, William, real estate agent. 

Gross, John, stone-cutter. 

Gross, Alexander, stone-cutter. 

Gross, Arnold, mason. 

Gross, Henry, laborer. 

Gunlock, John. 

Gurrison, Joseph. 

Haughton, Patrick, laborer. 

Hammony, L.J. 

Hanly, J. 

Hanley, Patrick, laborer. 

Hanley, Catherine. 

Haiisser, George. 

Hausser, Simon, stone dealer. 

Hausser, Vincent, saloon-keeper. 

Hartshorne, H., clerk. 

Hatchman, Norman, molder. 

Haven, Philo. 

Haven, J. M. 

Haven, James, laborer. 

Hauck, Gabriel, tanner. 

Hauck, Ann C. 

Hogan, John, laborer. 

Hagen, Henry, blacksmith. 

Hart, Mary Ann. 

Hawkins, Ed., laborer. 

Hay ward, Lewis.!. 

Hartuian, John, mason. 

Hatch, R. D., woodworker. 

Hartung, Joseph, undertaker. 

Hartong, Patrick, laborer. 

Hartong, Joseph, laborer. 

Halsey, N. H. 

Haley, Jane. 

Haley, Patrick C-, attorney. 

Havauaugh, T., laborer. 

Hand, Mathew, dentist. 

Haughton, P., laborer. 

Hartigan, John, policeman. 

Hartigan, Dennis, laborer. 

Hamill, Margaret. 

Harney, Mary. 

Halway, Charles. 

Hagar,"E. C, attorney. 

Harless, B. A. 

Harless, ^Irs. 

Hahnlein, William, laborer. 

Hahnlean, Charles, laborer. 

Hasey, Charles O., opei'ator. 

Hasey, Eliza A. 

Hay, Mathew. 

Haidv, Henry, laborer. 

Hardy, E.E." 

Hardy, Otis, cai)italist. 

Hanson, John H., attorney. 

Hanson, J. AV., laborer. 

Harris, Mark. 

Hayes, William, watchman. 

Hack, Christian, machinist. 

Hadsell, M. J., farmer. 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



915 



Hiirrigan, Mary. 
Hallem, J. W., laborer. 
Harms, John. 
Harvey, Francis, laborer. 
Hassen, Micliacl. 
Hayden, Patrick, laborer. 
Hawley, W. B. 
Hamilton, Marijai'et. 
Hamilton, Amos, laborer. 
Hanna. James A. 
Haiina. John, laborer. 
Harrinj]rton, Micliael, laborer. 
Harrinjiftim, Benjamin. 
Harrinij;ton, P., laborer. 
Harrinjjton, Harriet. 
Harrin<i:ton, Henry, laborer. 
TIamrakan, William, laboi'er. 
Hagan, Thomas, laborer. 
Havaland, Margaret. 
Haviland, Francis, livery stable. 
Herholzer. Martin, plasterer. 
Helmel, S, laborer. 
Hennett, Edward. 
Heise. A. W., physician. 
Heber, Albert, laborer. 
Heatherwick. 

Heatherwick, John, farmer. 
Henry, J. 

Henry, J. A., capitalist. 
Henderson, H., Mrs. 
Henderson, J. E., printer. 
Henchen, August, stone-cutter. 
Hewer, Peter, laborer. 
Hettigan, C, laborer. 
Hearbach, George, carpenter. 
Heber t, Mary Ann. 
Hebert, Joseph, teamster. 
Herbert, Francis. 
Healey, Ann. Mrs- 
Hester, Joseph, laborer. 
Heintzelman, David, engineer. 
Heft'erman, Ellen. 

Heath, William J., Justice of the Peace. 
Herschberger, Daniel, wagon-maker. 
Hendricks, DP., attorney. 
Hennessy, David, laborer. 
Hennessy, Joseph, laborer. 
Hibner, John, Jr., farmer. 
Hibner, James C., farmer. 
Hibner, F. A., farmer. 
Hibner, John, farmer. 
Hibner, T. A., fai-mer. 
Hirater, H., farmer. 
Hiner, Owen, laborer. 
Higinbotham, H. X. 
Higby, Henry. 
Higbee, Henry. 
Hill, Francis M., clerk. 
Hill, W. J. 
Hill, Hellen. 

Hill, Charles A., attorney. 
Hill, John W., laborer. 
Hill, William S. 
Hills, Fanny, Mrs. 
Hills, John W., boiler-maker. 
Higgins, Amanda D. 
Higgins, Burr, engineer. 
Hixson, Joiin, merchant. 



Hicks, Obadiah, laborer. 

Hicks, Kate. 

Horner, Jacob, carpenter. 

Holland, Wm., laborer. 

Holland, Ellen. 

Hosmer, G. H., doctor. 

noi)erick, Peter, farmer. 

Hollister, Mary. 

Houghton, G. W. 

Iloei'ner, A., saloon-keeper. 

Hoeft'ner, H., laborer. 

Hoffner, Sophia. 

Honerhaw, Wra., laborer. 

Holden, Frank, farmer. 

Horan, Patrick, Constable. 

Horan, .lames, laborer. 

Horn, p., laborer. 

Hoag, T. C, laborer. 

Hobbs, Thomas, laborer. ^ 

Hobbs, Perry J., insurance agent. 

Howk, Henderson. 

Horks, Anthony, tailor. 

Horton, F., laborer. 

Holsworth, John, blacksmith. 

Hogan, Ed., laborer. 

Holt, Frank, laborer. 

Holderman, Catharine. 

Hollister, Mary. 

Hoffman, Frank, insurance agent. 

Hofter, Benedict. 

Hoffer, D. H. 

House, R., wagon-maker. 

Humplny, Horace, founder. 

Hugh, L! D., laborer. 

Hughes, Pat., lal»orer. 

Hull, Nicholas, 

Hull, Wm., laborer. 

Hull, Cornelia A. 

Hulbert, E., merchant. 

Hulbert, E., Mrs. 

Hurley, C., clerk. 

Hubbard. Joseph S. 

Hubbard, AVm. H., carpenter. 

Hyde, George W., miller. 

Hyde, Mary J. 

Hyde, Jonas. 

Hyland, James, farmei". 

Hyland, N. H., farmer. 

Hunter, Thomas N. 

Hunt, John, brakeman. 

Hunt, John J., laborer. 

Hutchins, T. H., attorney. 

Hutohins, Thomas, attorney. 

Hutchins, W. H., farmer. 

Hunter, Elijah. 

Hurd, Edward. 

Hummel, J. D. 

Humble, Francis. 

Hurmel, Nicholas, brewer. 

Ibald, Casper, mason. 

IngersoU, Benjamin, laborer. 

Ingersoll, T. H., farmer. 

Ingalls, L. E., real estate. 

Ingersoll, Hanna E. 

Jahn, Joseph, laborer. 

Jahn, George, stone-cutter. 

Jacquer, Michael, laborer. 

James, Wm., laborer. 



916 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTV 



.liicobs, L. C., painter. 

Jackson, Julia A. 

Jackson, Fred. A., clerk. 

Jackson, Thomas, farmer. 

Jennings, Ellen. 

Jenkins, H. L. 

Jenkins, James, laborer. 

Jenks, David C. 

Jcssen, C. P., laborer. 

John, Susanna, farmer. 

Jones, George, cashier. 

Jones, Willard F. 

Jones, George. 

Johnson, J. JP. 

Johnson, Heinrich. 

Jolins(m, A., laborer. 

Johnson, John, laborer. 

Johnson. John, carpenter. 

Jolinson, August. 

Johnson, Orin, carpenter. 

Johnson, K. S. 

Jugrich, J., laborer. 

Juks, L. C. 

Jungler, Peter, laborer. 

Kaniger, John, farmer. 

Kaett'er, Nic, laborer. 

Kaiser, Herman, laborer. 

Karen, J. M. 

Karen, P. A., laborer. 

Kueffner, Adam, laborer. 

Kachelhofler, Michael, tailor. 

Kachelhoffer, X., tailor. 

Kanne, James, laborer. 

Kaffer, Francis, teamster. 

Kastner, C. laborer. 

Kastner, AVm., baker. 

Kavenaugh, Joseph, laborer. 

Kane, Ann R. 

Kane, Betsey. 

Keyer. Ed., laborer. 

Keeler, Tobias. 

Keen, James C. 

Kenney, James, laborer. 

Kennedy, Michael, laborer. 

Keller, Joseph, carpenter. 

Keisnerr, Jolni. 

Keyes, Edward, druggist. 

Keegan, Mary. 

Keegan, Thomas, laborer. 

Kerchival, James C., farmer. 

Keip, Philip, saloon-keeper. 

Keir, James. 

Kessling, George, laborer. 

Kerrij^an, Owen, laborer. 

Kerwin, Patrick, farmer. 

Kerwin, John, farmer. 

Kelly, Robert 'i\, Town Clerk. 

Kelly, Mary W. 

Kelly, Thomas J., laborer. 

Kelly, J. B., laborer. 

Kelly, M., laborer. 

Kelly, Wm., laborer. 

Kelly, Ann. 

Kelly, Boss. 

Kelly, Patrick, laborer. 

Kelly, James, laborer. 

Kelly, Timothy, laborer. 

Kelley, Edward, laborer. 



Kelley, Margaret. 

Kelley, F., laborer. " 

Kivingsj M., farmer. 

Kipp, Philip, saloon-keeper. 

Kipp, A. P. 

Kinney, A. 

Kilhurn, Patrick, laboi'er. 

Kinsella, S. A., farmer. 

Kier, James, farmer. 

Kinnie, Mary A., jewelry, etc. 

Kirkham, Henry, farmer. 

Killmer, George, farmer. 

Killmer, Harriet. 

Killien, John, laborer. 

Kirk, Mary A. 

Kirk, Philip, merchant. 

Killeen, James, laborer. 

Killeen, Wm., laborer. 

Kimball, Dan., laborer. 

Kimball, Charles P. 

King, Jeremiah, laborer. 

King, John P., coal dealer. 

King, Maurice J. 

King, Anna M. 

King, Jeremiah, farmer. 

Kleneman, Anton, farmer. 

Klemme, John, blacksmith. 

Kline, M., laborer. 

Knowlton, D. W., banker. 

Knowlton, Cnlvin, banker. 

Knifall, P., laborer. 

Knocrzer, Erasmus, saloon-keeper. 

Knox, Augustus F., attorney. 

Korse, Nicholas, farmer. 

Korst, Nickolas, farmer. 

Konig, Frank, laborer. 

Korcillius, Adeline. 

Kramer, Ignatz, saloon-keeper. 

Krause, Michael, laliorer. 

Kraus, Julius, jewelx-y, etc. 

Kraker, Joseph, shoemaker. 

Krings, Michael, farmer. 

Krings, Nickolas, farmer. 

Kronraeyer, Wm., stone dealer. 

Krichall, H., plasterer. 

Krusella, F. B., farmer. 

Krusella, F. A., farmer. 

Krusella, F. D., farmer. 

Kuntzell, John, laborer. 

Kuntz, Jolm, farmer. 

Kurtz, Elizabeth. 

Kurtz, Charles, farmer. 

Kunzman, Adam, laborer. 

Kunzman, Joseph, laborer. 

Kunzman, John, laborer. 

Larker, Joseph, laborer. 

Latz, Joseph, mason. 

Lambert, Charles. 

Lambert, John, keeper I. S. P. 

Langdon, Mary. 

Lacey, Patrick, laborer. 

Laraway, Charles, farmer. 

Lail), Clirist. 

Lapham, J)avid. 

Lawrence, Richard. 

Lawrence, Ed., laborer. 

Lawrence, Charles, farmer. 

Lawlor, Wm., laborer. 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



917 



Liiwlor, Micliael, laborer. 
Lavvlor, AI., tanner. 
Lagger, Sebastian, banker. 
Lagger, ,Tolin, laborer. 
I..ang, M. G. 
Lang, Jolm C, editor, 
[..ayliekl, Francis, carpenter. 
Laytield, C. W., cari)enter. 
Laderbadi, Adam, laboi'er. 
Lamping, (Jeorge, Sr. 
Lamping, Koltert, farmer. 
Laverne. E. F., laborer. 
l.<arkin, James, laborer. 
Larkin, Thomas, farmer. 
Lean, A. M. 
Leisser, John, laborer. 
Leisen, John, farmer. 
Leissen, John. 
Leonard, James, farmer. 
Lehman, L., musician. 
Lehman, ISIarcus. carpenter. 
Lehman, Paul, farmer. 
Lehman, Paul, laborer. 
J-,efBer, Caroline, farmer. 
Ley, John, farmer. 
Lesser, Michael, gardener. 
Lellman, F. L., saloon-keeper. 
Leach, Michael, laborer. 
Leach, L., manufacturer. 
Lendor, F., laborer. 
Leichten waiter, Wm., laborer. 
Lennon, Jolm, marble cutter. 
Lewis, John, painter. 
Lewis, C A. 
Leizer, John, laborer. 
Leahy, Ann. 
Leavey, John, druggist. 
Lennon, John, grocer. 
Lefontaine, F. X., ice dealer. 
Leyman, Charles L., mason. 
Leyman, H. 
Lincoln, M. A., laborer. 
Lindell, J. B., Pastor. 
Line, Patrick. 
Little, Mary J. 
Limperich, Joseph, laborer. 
Limpert, John, carpenter. 
I^ogan, George, grocer. 
Lowrey, Wm., laborer. 
Loga, August, laborer. 
Lowe, Samuel, laborer. 
Lott, Jacol). 

Louks, Thomas, carpenter. 
Lots, Henry, laborer. 
Long, Thomas, farmer. 
Lufkins, Stephen. 
Lufkin, Stei)hen. 
Lyford, IL M., merchant. 
Lyford, S. (; . 
Lyman, George. 
Lyman, John, farmer. 
Lyon, L. M., laborer. 
Lynch, Patrick, farmer. 
Man, Charles, laborer. 
Malin, George. 
Massey, Iliat. 
Massey, George, carpenter. 
Marti, Jacob, laborer. 



Maleomb, Je.sse. 
Maloney. I)., peddler. 
JMacomber, M. J., Mrs. 
Maxwell, Jane. 
Maicoue, Mrs. 
Maney, David. 
Malum, H., laborer. 
Madden, John, laltorer. 
Mahan, Francis. 
Maher, Martin, laborer. 
Maher, Thomas, laborer. 
Matteson, Joel A. 
Matteson, Fred. W. 
Mahoney, John, grocer. 
Mahoney, Jeremiaii, grocer. 
Malroney, John, hU)or('r. 
Mager, Christian, lilacksmith. 
Martin, Michael, laborer. 
Martin, John, lalxjrer. 
Martin, George B. 
Martins, Frederick, laborer. 
Marcan, Ann. 
Marion, John. 
Manley, Thomas, farmer. 
Manley, Ann. 
Malone, Wesly, farmer. 
Marshall, Martin, laborer. 
Marshall, S. T. 
Marshall, Ralph W. 
Marshall, A. O., attorney. 
Marsh, F. E., grain dealer. 
Marsh, H. N., station agent. 
Mason, Elizabeth M. 
Mason, T. A., lumber dealer. 
Mason, I). C, laborer. 
Mason, Patrick, laborer. 
Mason, George A., farmer. 
Mason, Daniel C. 
Mack, John, carpenter. 
Mack, Timothy. 
Mack, U., merchant. 
Mack, J. L. 
Mack, Adelaide. 
Mack, John, shoemaker. 
Mack, xidelia. 
McAnna, P. 

McAndrews, Patrick, laborer. 
McBride, ISIary. 
McCormick, John, laborer. 
McCanna, Charles, laborer. 
McCanna, John, laborer. 
McCanna, Daniel. 
McCann, Edward, laborer. 
McCann, Martha J. 
McCawliff, Mary. 
McClintock, Alex, farmer. 
McCabe, Hugh, laborer. 
McCarney, M., laborer. 
McClaskv, Michael, laborer. 
McCarthy, Elizabeth. 
McCarty, P., laliorer. 
McCarty, Charles, laborer. 
McCoy, Owen, laborer. 
McCoy, T., laborer. 
McCoy, Oben. 
McConchin, John. 
McConchie, John, engineer. 
McConchie, Ann. 



918 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



McCreery, J., laborer. 

McCuiin, n., farmer. 

McCuUoch, Alex, engineer. 

McDaniel, George, farmer. 

McDaniels, George. 

McDowell, Walker. 

McDowell, Walter, laborer. 

McDougall, D., Dr. 

McDonald, Walker, farmer. 

McDonald, George. 

McDonald, Wm., teamster. 

McDonald, John, gardener. 

McDonald, E. 

McDade, Dennis, laborer. 

McDade, Chauncey, nurseryman. 

McElgrew, Peter. 

McElgrew, William. 

McElhern, Daniel, farmer. 

McElhaney, Patrick, laborer. 

McEvoy, M., tinner. 

McFargo, Elizabeth. 

McFadden, James, drayman. 

McFadden, John, laborer. 

McGee, John, laborer. 

McGee, Edwai'd, laborer. 

McGuire, H. H., laborer. 

McGuire, H. H., carpenter. 

McGrath, James, laborer. 

McGraw, Michael, laborer. 

McGann, Dan, laborer. 

McGinnis, John, blacksmith. 

McGinnis, John, laborer. 

McGovern, Peter, laborer. 

McGovern, John, laborer. 

McGowen, John. 

McGovney, Thomas G. 

McHerron, George, laborer. 

McHugh, Felix, farmer. 

McHugh, Thomas, laborer. 

McHugh, James, laborer. 

McHugh, Patrick, laborer. 

McHugh, B., Mrs. 

Mcintosh, Sarah, teacher. 

McKinzey, Geo., coal dealer. 

McNinney, Henry, laborer. 

McjSTamee, Owen' farmer. 

McNiff, John, laborer. 

McPartlin, Hugh, laborer. 

McPartlin, James, laborer. 

McPherson, James, engineer. 

McPhilips, Bai-ney. 

McQuirk, John, laborer. 

McQuade, Owen, laborer. 

McQuire, John. 

McRoberts, Josiah, Judge of Cir. Court. 

McVey, James, laborer. 

Meil, August, farmer. 

Meilley, A. E., laborer. 

Meachem, Benjamin. 

Messer, Louise. 

Meredith, J., laborer. 

Melter, John. 

Mehr, John. 

Melchoir, August, carpenter. 

Meeker, A. B., Supt. RoUing-Mills. 

Meir, Michael, mason. 

Meyer, Michael, mason. 

Meyer, Michael, farmer. 



Meyers, W. H., farmer. 

Merrill, C H., clerk. 

Mead, A. B., Dr. 

Meacheur, Harriet E. 

Meers, Dennis, hardware merchant. 

Metzger, Conrad, mason. 

Metzger, Gabriel, laborer. 

Miller, John, insurance agent. 

Miller, W. F. 

Miller, John, clerk. 

Miller, H. 

Miller, James. 

Michael, John, farmer. 

Millspaugii, Isaac, Justice of the Peace. 

Millev, John, m;ison. 

Milk,' William. 

Miner, W. S., house-mover. 

Middlebrook, A. L. 

Mitchell, Catharine. 

Mitchell, L. C 

Miles, Ellen. 

Mick, John. 

Mills, William, farmer. 

Moes, Mary A. \ 

Moran, John, laborer. 

Moran, James, laborer. 

Moran, Thomas, laborer. 

Moran, Michael, laborer. 

Moore, O. R., carpenter. 

Moore, Clement J., carpenter. 

Moore, Thomas, farmer. 

Mock, John, carpenter. 

Mock, Josei)li, farmer. 

Monakan. P., laborer. 

Monakan, J., saloon-keeper. 

Morgan, Michael, laborer. 

Moi'gan, W. H., pattern-maker. 

Morgan, M. L., laborer. 

Morgan, T. W., laborer. 

Morris, Jacob, laborer. 

Morrissey, Ann. 

Morrissey, Andrew, laborer. 

Morrissey, John, laborer. 

Morrissey, James, express messenger. 

Mooney, Emmet, saloon-keeper. 

Moriety, Jolm, laborer. 

Molenpah, Fred, tailor. 

Moffat, James. 

Moreland, John C., merchant. 

Monahan, John, laborer. 

Morarty, Miles, laborer. 

Mollitore, Joseph, carpenter. 

Montieth, Charles. 

Morrison, Ann^L. 

Moses, Abbie. 

Mork, C, machinist. 

Mossman, F., carpenter. 

Munday. Wm., laborer. 

Mulligan, Margaret. 

Muller, William. 

Mulrooney, Wm., laborer. 

Munson, G. S.. laborer. 

Munn, S. W., attorney. 

Muschel, Xavier, laborer. 

Munsey. Jonathan, laborer. 

Muncy, Jonathan, farmer. 

Murray, Patrick, laborer. 

Murray, Mary T. 



JOLIET TOWNSHIP. 



P19 



Mupps, Win., Jr., farmer. 

Mupjts, "RoluM't. 

Mupps, Win., auctioneer. 

Munch, v., coal dealer. 

Munch, H.. fanner. 

Murpliy, II. 

Muriihy, Patrick, en^'ineer. 

Murpiiy, Lawreiu^e, laborer. 

Murpliy. Thoiuas. laborer. 

Murphy, H., laborer. 

Murphy, D. Y., laborer. 

Murphy, Martin, laborer. 

Murphy, F. D., laborer. 

Muri»hy. Michael, tailor. 

Murphy, J. P , Justice of the Peace. 

Murphy, P. W. 

Murphy, J. D. 

Murphy, Wm., mason. 

Munroe, Geo., jjrocer. 

Munroe, G., merchant. 

Mullen, Dennis, mason. 

Mullen, AVin., laborer. 

Mullen, Bridget. 

Myers, Claud. 

Nalte, F., farmer. 

Naur, Nicholas. 

Newkirk, Charles, farmer. 

Newkirk, Charlotte. 

Neydeg.nar, Samuel, painter. 

Nels(m, X,ewis H., laborer. 

Nelson, C, laborer. 

Nelson, Charles, engineer. 

Nelson, George. 

Neubold, T., machinist. 

Niver, H., carpenter. 

Niver, H., painter. 

Nicholson, Francis, tailor. 

Nickel, Henry, farmer. 

Niles, S., laborer. 

Nobles, Elisha, farmer. 

Noonan, Catharine. 

Nowlan, John, laborer. 

Norton, James, plasterer. 

Norton, T). 

Norton, Pat, laborer. 

Nolan, Mary A. 

Nolan, James, laborer. 

Nuischltz, John, laborer. 

O'Berman, Herman, farmer. 

Oberman, Herman, stone-cutter. 

Oberman. John F., stone-cutter. 

Oberlin, Edward, Guard. 

O'Bryen, I'homas, Marshal. 

O'Brien, John. 

O'Brien, Matthew, laborer. 

O'Brien, Win., laborer. 

O'Brien, Jane. 

O'Brien, Kale. 

O'Connor, Catherine. 

O'Conner, S., laborer. 

O'Connell, Charles, i)ainter. 

O'Connell, Mary. 

O'Connell, Patrick, laborer. 

O'Connell, Hanna. 

O'Connell, Charles. 

O'Daniel, Peter, laborer, 

O'Donnell, Thomas, laborer. 

O'Donnell, John. 



Offerman, Frank, farmer. 

Ogilve, J., laljorer. 

Ogden, M. I)., physician. 

Ogden, M. B., Dr. 

O'llarra, James, lal)orer. 

O'Leary, Timothy, fanner. 

O'Leary, Anthony J., laborer. 

Olney, C. C, niarble-cutt(!r. 

Olin, Benjamin, County Judge. 

O'Malley, C., laborer. 

O'Mahoney, John. 

Onderdonk, John. 

O'Neil. Thomas, laborer. 

O'Neil, Edward, farmer. 

O'Neil, Michael, laborer. 

Oonovan, Jerry, laborer. 

Opeld, John, farmer. 

O'Uiley, James. 

O'Runible, Thomas, well-borer. 

O'Rumble, Thomas, Jr., laborer. 

Ostrander, Wm., farmer. 

Osborne, P. Q., fanner. 

Oswald, Erhard. 

O'Toole, Dennis, lal)orer. 

Otter, Adam, carpenter. 

Paris, Mrs. 

Paul, James, Sr., farmer. 

Patchel, John, clerk. 

Pasold, Catharine. 

Pasold, John, stone-cutter. 

Paesold, J. F., shoemaker. 

Pasol, Ferdinand, shoe merchant. 

Palmer, Jacob, laborer. 

Palmer, Ella. 

Palmer, Martha. 

Parent, Albert, engineer. 

Paige, Charles, laborer. 

Patrick, J. F., farmer. 

Patrick, J. E., farmer. 

Farther, Christ, farmer. 

Page, Seneca. 

Parker, Wm., laborer. 

Parker, Johanna. 

Park, Mary. 

Park, D. S., carpenter.' 

Parke, Joseph, laborer. 

Parks, G. D. A., attorney. 

Patterson, J. G., merchant. 

Patterson, Harriet, Mrs. 

Patterson, Thomas H., lime dealer. 

Pelkey, Wm., Constable. 

Pederson, O., tailor. 

Peter, F., laborer. 

Peter, Smith, laborer. 

Peters, Henry, saloon-keeper. 

Perkins, Lydia. 

Perkins. Joseph. 

Pease, Sidney R., carpenter. 

Pettigrew, John, laborer. 

Peterson, Ole, stone-cutter. 

Phine, Alexander, laborer. 

Phelps, Egbert, attorney. 

Pickerell, Wm., laborer. 

Pickle, Mrs. 

i'ickards, Richard, farmer. 

Pierce, E., Surveyor. 

Pierce, Rol>ert M., engineer. 

Pierce, Sanford, student. 



920 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



Pinneo, J. D. 

Pinney, D. H., attorney. 

Picket, Cicily. 

Pond, G. W. 

Pond, D. W., j>TOcer. 

Powers, John, laborer. 

Powers, Winefred, laborer. 

Polil, Henrv, Sr., trimmer. 

Pohl, H. P.; clerk. 

Posta, Ignatz, laborer. 

Powles, Daniel B., laborer. 

Potter, George W. 

Potter, Elvia. 

Potter, Harriet A. 

Porter, Edward, laborer. 

Porter, Edwin, brewer. 

Porter, J., i)ainter. 

Porter, C, painter. 

Prior, Mich. 

Preston, Thomas, tanner. 

Preston, Maria L. 

Pratt, Lydian C. 

Pratt, Hiram. 

Pratt, Mary A. 

Turvis, William, laborer. 

Py, Joseph, laborer. 

Py, Mary. 

Quirk, Bridget. 

Quilty, Maurice, laborer. 

(^niggle, J. W., well-driller. 

(^niggles, George W. 

Quin, Mortimer, laborer. 

Quinn, Michael, lal)orer. 

Quinn, Patrick, laborer. 

Raub, Maria A. 

Raiib, ]Sr. J., laborer. 

Raub, John, laborer. 

Rauclier, Maria. 

Rawley, A. G. 

Ray, Edward, horse-doctor. 

Raynor, George C, physician. 

Rademaker, Thomas, farmer. 

Rath, F., laborer. 

Rafferty, Catherine. 

Raka, Henry. 

Randall, A. "S., attorney. 

Randall, S, W., attorney. 

Rapple, Fred., butcher. 

J^apple, Michael, farmer. 

Redmond, Thomas. 

Reuneck, John. 

Reuben, John H., railroad conductor. 

Reid, John, farmer. 

Reed, S. B., civil engineer. 

Heed, Lucius J., carpenter. 

Reed, Charles, farmer. 

Reed, Samuel B., farmer. 

Reilley, Patrick. 

Reithger, 8., laborer. 

Reevs, Marshall. 

Rees, D. A., marble-cutter. 

lieichmann, Mary. 

Reichman, Joseph, butcher. 

Reinhart, John, store. 

Reitz, Wm. 

Reamer, Gustus, carpenter. 

Reiger, John, laborer. 

Regan, Honora. 



Rhine, Jacob, laborer. 

Rhodes, Mai"gfu-et. 

Ridgway, Caleb J. 

Riley, T. H., laborer. 

Riley, Thomas, laborer. 

Ritzel, Henry. 

Rindelman, Mr.^. 

Rigdon, Thomas, farmer. 

Rickey, A., saloon-keeper. 

Richart, Fritz, carjienter. 

Richart, John, grocer. 

Risley, Minerva P. 

Richmond, I. T., Mrs. 

Richard, David, farmer. 

Richards, Charles, physician. 

Richards, John, farmer. 

Richards, C., farmer. 

Richards, George, laborer. 

Robinson, Frank, saloon-keeper. 

Robinson, Nancy A. 

Robinson, A. J., merchant. 

Robinson, John H., farmer. 

Robinson, Margaret. 

Robinson, James. 

Robinson, Mary A. 

Robinson, Frank, grocer. 

Robinson, John. 

Roberts, Pratt. 

Roberts, John. 

Robertson, Robert. 

Rove, Samuel, farmer. 

Ross, L. E., farmer. 

Ross, J. p., farmer. 

Ross, Joseph. 

Ross, William H., laborer. 

Roundtree, Daniel, laundryman. 

Rose, Robert. 

Rodgers, Alexander, farmer. 

Rodgers, Michael, laborer. 

Rodgers, Oscar F. 

Roper, Jane. 

Roft, Daniel. 

Rowley, H. H., Mrs. 

Rockey, George E., planing- mill. 

Roke, Henry, laborer. 

Rohaker, H., mason. 

Rooney, John, laborer. 

Rogan, John clerk. 

Rowland, F. M. 

Rowell, Hopkins, capitalist. 

Rudcliff, Y. M., farmer. 

Rupertf Anthony, machinist. 

Rubb, Henrv, wagon-maker. 

Rudy, J. 

Rudge, Henry. 

Rudge, Samuel. 

Russell, Phebe. 

Russell, Elizabeth J. 

Russell, Christina. 

Russell, Amos C 

Rubenstein, Lorenz, farmer. 

Rubenstein, Lawrence, farmer. 

Rudd, David, farmer. 

Rudd, Rossiter, farmer. 

Rudd, Rossiter, laborer. 

Rudd, Sandford, machinist. 

Rudd, Barak, farmer. 

Ryan, Mrs. 



JULIET TOWNSHIP. 



921 



Ryan, John, merchant. 

Ryan, .lolin, sliocnuiker. 

Ryan, Janu^s, laborer. 

Ryan, Patrick, hiborer. 

Ryan, J. II.. laborer. 

Ryan, David, laborer. 

Ryan, Charles L. 

Ryne. (Jeoriie W., laborer. 

Savage. S. F., Mrs., bookstore. 

Sans, Christian, Pastor. 

Sanders, M., laborer. 

Sanders, L. J., laborer. 

Sartoris. Ma;-y. 

Sawer, Snsan. 

Sawyer, Henry J.. Supt. I. S. P. 

Sampson, ]Mrs. 

Salter, George B-, dentist. 

Sane, R. R.. laborer. 

Seniahan. M. 

Sandit'ord, Thomas. 

Sandiford, R., mannfacturer. 

Schall, Austen .1., laborer. 

Schall, Miles, laborer. 

Schall, Phillip, merchant. 

Scott, Rosetta. 

Scheulke, Michael, laborer. 

Schmeir, John. 

Scammond, J. Young. 

Schroam, Fred. 

Scheick, Henry, saloon-keeper. 

Scutt. H. B., wire fence. 

Schanan, W., Miss. 

Schorie, John, laborer. 

Scollay, Bridget. 

SchretHer, Henry, tinner. 

Schwertle, Peter, laborer. 

Schuj), John, carpenter. 

Schroder. F. W., druggist. 

Schuberth, John, marble-cutter. 

Scliott, Jacob, painter. 

Schoedler. Frank, trimmer. 

Scheidler, ^Slaria. 

Schurtz, M. W., laborer. 

Scheldt, John, candy-factory. 

Schosser, Godfred, stone-cutter. 

Schaller. Philip, mason. 

Schick, John, laborer. 

Schwartz, Xavier, laborer. 

Schmeiser, John, shoemaker. 

Schriver, John, laborer. 

Schott, Rose T. 

Schoop, D. R. 

Schreimer, Xicholas, wagon-maker. 

Schweiver, Michael. 

Schutter, Anthony, laborer. 

Sciiwars, Julius, lal)orer. 

Schmears. August, laborer. 

Schutts, Joiin, farmer. 

Schwitzer, Conrad, carpenter. 

Schultz. Henry, stone dealer. 

Schwab, Maria. 

Schoff, John. 

Schmitz, Ignatz, molder. 

Schneidei', Michael. 

Schneider, John B., laborer. 

Seitz, Matilda. 

Seitz, Stephen, laborer. 

Seitz, Anthony, plasterer. 



Searles, F., clerk. 

Searles, M. E., clerk in P. O. 

Seining, Fred, br(^wer. 

Seibeiitiiil. William, laborer. 

Seeley, ,)., keeper in 1. S. P. 

Seeley, (Jettrge, laborer. 

Seeley, James, laborer. 

Seeley, Jouas, Ial)()rer. 

Sexton, Dennis, lal)orer. 

Sees, George, stone-cutter. 

Sennnerer, A., laborer. 

Sennett. Edward. 

Seneca, II. 

Selser, Frederick. lal)orcr. 

Seivert, Vinsen, farmer. 

Seivert, \'incent, mason. 

Seigel, George, farmer. 

Sewanl, Calvin, farmer. 

Seivart, John, merchant. 

Shaffer, Paul. 

Shaffer, Henry, J5aker. 

Shaw, Fayette B. 

Shaw, Clark J . 

Shaw, Alex. 

Shaw, J. B. 

Shaw, James, laborer. 

Sheridan, Dennis, laborer- 

Sheridan, Patrick, laborer. 

Shayer, Leroy, 

Sharp, A. B., axle grease. 

Shirk. Henry, saloon-keeper. 

Shields, Jolin, laborer. 

Shrellier, A. H., book-keeper. 

Shoop, Louisa. 

Shepley, Wm., laborer. 

Shuttler, J. F., laborer. 

Shubert, Conrad, stone-cutter. 

Shiffer, Fred. 

Shellev, J. L. 

Shaffner. Benjamin, coal-dealer. 

Shanahan, P., .Justice of the Peace. 

Shanan, AV., ^liss. 

Sh ussier, Joseph, carpenter. 

Shutts, Henry. 

Short, Mary J. 

Short, Terrance, laborer. 

Short, Barney, laborer. 

Short, T., laborer. 

Short, Patrick, laborer. 

Sime, John, mason. 

Silks, R., laborer. 

Sinn ns, S. ()., grocer. 

Simons, Anna. 

Sing, Adam, farmer. 

Simi)Son, B., farmer. 

Simpson, Luke, shoemaker. 

Simpson, B., laborer. 

Simongton, Wm., farmer. 

Sido, Stephen, blacksmith. 

Sindsey, Adaline. 

Simonds, Philip. 

Sloan. John, laborer. 

Sloan, P.ridget. 

Sloan. Catluirine. 

Slimm, Wm., mason. 

Slim, Win., laborer. 

Sleeper, D. C. 

Smith, Andrew, farmer. 



922 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY; 



Smith, Eose, Mrs. 

Smith, Henry, laborer. 

Smitli, 1. D., laborer. 

Smith. Wm., farmer. 

Smith, Emely N. 

Smith, Wm., Mrs. 

Smith, Catharine. 

Smith, Nicholas. 

Smith, Michael, laborer. 

Smith, Floretta. 

Smith, Dwite, carpenter. 

Smith, E. N. 

Smith, Christopher, laborer. 

Smith, Orange R., carpenter. 

Smith, John, laborer. 

Smith, Paul, Jr. 

Smith, p., laborer. 

Smith, Andrew, stone-cutter. 

Smith, Patrick, farmer. 

Smith, D. Y., carpenter. 

Smeeker, Margaret. 

Smalley, Henry, laborer. 

Smalley, John, laborer. 

Snapp, Henry, attorney. 

Snapp, A. 

Sohn, Andrew. 

Souman, Adam, laborer. 

Spears, Wm. E., carpenter. 

Spear, James B., grain dealer. 

Spretzer, Frank, merchant. 

Spangler, John. 

Spangler, Agnes S. 

Spangler, Henry. 

Spangler, W. A., plasterer. 

Spencer, R. 

Spaulding, David E., laborer. 

Springer, F., clerk. 

Spoor, Harlow H., plasterer. 

Squires, Isaac. 

Steffen, Christian, laborer. 

Steffen, Henry. 

Star, A. R., nurseryman. 

Starbuck, Irene, tlour and feed store. 

Steinburg, Mary E. 

Stege, William, laborer. 

Stanton, Johanna. 

Stanton, David. 

Stanton, Nicholas, blacksmith. 

Staffen, Paul. 

Stapleton William, shoemaker. 

Staehle, C W., bookbinder. 

Stemman, Regina. 

Stoddard, Betsey. 

Stock, John, saloon-keeper. 

Stockmeier, John, mason. 

Stoos, Joseph, carpenter. 

Stalde]-, Nicholas, laborer. 

Stowe, Louise P. 

Stanley, F. G., laborer. 

Steel, William A., stone dealer. 

Steel, Susan M. 

Strickland, Maria. 

Strickland, Leon, laborer. 

Staley, Ignatz, laborer. 

Strong, William A., Jr., capitalist. 

Strunz, John. 

Stewart, William. 

Stewart, Ezra H., dentist. 



Stevens, W. D., carpenter. 

Stevens, H. D. 

Stevens, W. W., attorney. 

Stevens, Nancy. 

Stevens, Albert, horse dealer. 

Stevens, H. K., capitalist. 

Stevens, Benjamine, farmer. . 

Stephens, Sebastian, shoemaker. 

Stephens, J., Sr. 

Stephens, Orrin. 

Stephens, Joe, saddler. 

Stephen, John, Jr., farmer. 

Stender, John, laborer. 

Stearns, Harmon, carpenter." 

St. Julian, Joseph, saddler. 

St. Julien, J. I., saddler. 

St. Ange, Louis, laborer. 

Sullivan, Dennis. 

Sullivan, John, laborer. 

Sullivan, Owen, laborer. 

Sullivan, Paul, laborer. 

Sullivan, Ed., laborer. 

Sullivan, James, laborer. 

Sundeiland, Patrick, laborer. 

Sulland, John, laborer. 

Sutton, James, butcher. 

Swan, Joseph iR. 

Swan, C B., well-borer. 

Swartout, Con. 

Tait, Michael, laborer. 

Tait, Michael, farmer. 

Talbot, Edward, butcher. 

Talbot, Rich. 

Tatge, Conrad, manufacturer. 

Tarbell, J. F., heater. 

Taylor, J. W., carpenter. 

Taylor, John W. 

Taylor, Henry, quarryman. 

Taylor, Tiberias. 

Telfer,F. W., laborer. 

Terrence, J. L. 

Teeling. James, laborer. 

Terry. F. E., manufacturer. 

Tea, Mark B. 

Themes, Nicholas, marble-cutter. 

Theiler, John, grocer. 

Thompson, Ann. 

Tliomi)Son, S. F. 

Thompson, E., Mrs. 

Thornton, Carey, laborer. 

Thornton, S. J., laborer. 

Thayer, H. L. 

Thayer, Leroy, capitalist. 

Tipper, William, laborer. 

Tonner, William, City Clerk. 

Tonnei-, Mrs. 

Townsend, Thomas. 

Toorney, Ed., farmer. 

Tracy, Michael, laborer. 

Tracy, Nicholas. 

Treat, Francis. 

Tramor, Thomas, laborer. 

Troy, Patrick, drayman. 

Troy, James, laborer. 

Tighe,N. D., saloon-keeper. 

Trickanan, John. 

Trutchler, Charles, teacher. 

Tripp, James M., laborer. 



JOLlEl" TOWNSHIP. 



92a 



Tniver, .Tolin, furmer. 

Tuck. Lucy A. 

Tuvnstcin, Lewis. 

Tvvohcy, Matliew, saloon-keeper. 

Tyler, E. M. 

Tyrell, Thomas, shoemaker. 

Tyrell, Ann. 

Unmack, William, farmer. 

ITlm. Lawrence, barber. 

Ulrich, Michael, shoemaker. 

riricli, Henry A. 

Vanderbur*^ "William S. 

Vanderlip, JP. A. 

Vance, G. L., merchant. 

Valker, John, laborer. 

Valker, Mary. 

Van Allen, Charles F., railroader. 

Van Allen, Myron, laborer. 

Van Anken, Jacob C. 

Van Horn, Garrett. 

Van Kuel, C, farmer. 

Van Vlake, Frank L., mill-wright. 

Verly. Fanny. 

Venhoff, Andrew, laborer. 

Vessel, Conrad, stone-cutter. 

Vincent, Joseph, butcher. 

Vinson, Mary C. 

Vougt, Francis, laborer. 

Voght, Jacob, laborer. 

Voight, Cliarles, laborer. 

Voelker.Mary, Mrs. 

Volker, Mary Ann, farmer. 

Volker, John, farmer. 

Walker, Henry. 

AVatson, J. S., Mrs. 

Watson, Isaac, blacksmith. 

Waldfoale, Felix, wiper. 

Waldfogle, A., farmer. 

Waldfogle, Benedict, farmer. 

Wall, B. W., laborer. 

Walls, James, foreman I. S. P. 

Wade, Desire, merchant. 

Waterman, D. M. 

AValch, Robert, grocer. 

Walcli, Robert, merchant. 

Walch, Martin, biiker. 

Warren, Caleb, railroad conductor. 

Warren, Wm. 

AVarren, J. M., stone-mason. 

AVagner, Martin, laborer. 

AVagner, Christian, teamster. 

AVagner, Ignatz. lai)orer. 

AVagner, Anthony, stone-cutter. 

AVagner, Alois. 

AVagner, Ferdinand, farmer. 

AVagner, Michael, laborer. 

AVagner, F.. lalx)rer. 

AVagner, M. AV., stone-cutter. 

AVanier, L. L. 

AV'arner, Josei)h, mason. 

AV alien, Helen, A. 

AVallace, F., laborer. 

AVallace, B. AV. 

AValworth, Henry. 

AVal worth, Henry R. 

AVatersoii, John, agent. 

Watkins, Jonathan, farmer. 

AVard, George H. 



AVanl, Charlotte B. 

AVard, Hugh, laborer. 

Ward. Louisa. 

AVard. Hugh, farmer. '' 

AVeibel, Nicholas, stone-cutter. 

AVeyernian, Jolm, sak)ou-keeper. 

AVestherbee, M., farmer. 

AVebb, Mary. 

AVeidinger, (Jeorge. 

AVebster, Olivar. carpenter. 

AVendle, .John, stone-cutter. 

AVeidhuids, Benedict, laborer. 

AVestphall. Martin, l)anker. 

AVestphall, Luella J. 

AVeaver, James R. 

AVerinnaii, Hubert. 

AV'ertnjnller, Charles, laborer. 

AVerlin. Anthony, farmer. 

AVerlen, Peter, laborer. 

AVeber, Peter W., Justice of the Peace. 

AV^eber, Sussana. 

AVeed, Nelson, druggist. 

AVelsli, John E., engineer. 

Welsh, Patrick. 

AVeeks, C. H., farmer. 

AVeeks, Jane. 

AVeeks, Horace, master in chancery. 

AVeisliaar, J., clerk. 

Werner, Charles, Jr., stone dealer. 

Werner, J. V , saloon-keeper. 

AA^erner, Charles, stone dealer. 

AVerner, Adam, stone dealer. 

AVerner, Jacob F., mason. 

AVerner, C A., stone dealer. 

AVergler, John. 

AVhalen. Pat., laborer. 

AVhite, S. 8., farmer. 

AVhite, AVm., laborer. 

White, L. K., clerk. 

AVhite, Ann. 

AVhite, B. K. 

White, Jesse O. 

AVhite, Jeremiah. 

White, Samuel H., painter. 

AVhite, James 8., carpenter. 

Whitson, Benj., laborer. 

Whittier, George, limekiln. 

AVhittier, Nancy. 

Wheeler. Loriiida C. 

AVheeler, Jennie. 

AA'^ierman, John, saloon-keeper. 

AVilt, Anthony. 

AV^ggins, A. J., laborer. 

AA'iliiamson, L. M., laborer. 

AV:se, James. 

AVinberry, John, laborer. 

AVinkler,'AVm., painter. 

AVicharr, J., clerk. 

AViser, Elizal)eth. 

AVilds, Mich., laborer. 

AVixonie. Mrs. 

AVigle, George, laborer. 

AVilcox, J. F., clerk. 

AVilcox, G. AV.. laborer. 

AVinier.s, D., carpenter. 

AVinters, Eben M., farmer. 

AV inter, C A., carpenter. 

AVinkie, Frank, stone-cutter. 



924 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



Winke, Christopher, laborer. 

AVilson, M. J. 

Wilson, Charles L.. horse-trainer. 

Wilson, Ed., laborer. 

Wilson, John F. 

Wilson, Janette. 

AVilliams, Solomon, engineer. 

Williams, W. T. 

Williams, James, laborer. 

Williams, A., painter. 

Williams, Robert. 

Williams, Jane. 

Williams, J. C., agent. 

Williams, Alson. 

Williams, Charles A., doctor. 

Williams, S. L., farmer. 

Williams, Nicholas, farmer. 

Williams, J. A., farmer. 

Williams, Michael, farmer. 

Williams, H. H., laborer. 

Williams, Sarah L. 

Wood, Wm. C, insurance agent. 

Wood, J., laborer. 

Woodruff, Luther, farmer. 

Woodworth, Thomas, molder. 



Woodruff, F. W., Cash. First Nat. Bank. 

Woodruff, George, banker. 

Worthing, W. A. 

Worthington, S. A., Mrs. 

Worthington, M., Mrs. 

Worrell, Lorinda. 

Worrell, Charles, merchant. 

Wright, E. A. 

Wunderlick, Ann M. 

Wunderlich, Arnst, stone-cutter. 

Wj-ne, Thomas B. 

Wytt, John, laborer. 

Wyneman, P., saloon-keeper. 

Wyatt, Wm. S. 

Yack, S., barber. 

Young, Henry, confectioner. 

Young, James, painter. 

Young, Edward, painter. 

Y^'oung, Manstield, merchant. 

Zarley, Calneh, printer. 

Zarley, William H., County Clerk. 

Zirkel, Ferdinand, marble-cutter. 

Zipf, Andrew, farmer. 

Zipf, Frank, farmer. 

Zipf, Theobald. 



WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

(P. O. WILMINGTON.) 



Anderson, J. H., farmer. 

Althouse, Albert G., farmer. 

Althouse, Sarah. 

Althouse, Naomi. 

Althouse, William, teamster. 

Aldrieh, D. H., carpenter. 

Alexander, George, farmer. 

AUen, E. J., farmer. 

Allen, Edw., lumber dealer. 

Alden. Hiram O., Jr., mine boss. 

Brophy, James, liveryman. 

Banyard, B., merchant. 

Baker, Minor, farmer. 

Baker, I^eroy A., Constable. 

Burns, C, farmer. 

Butler, Henry, farmer. 

Bogart, AV'^illiam, merchant. 

Bardwell, Fred, farmer. 

Baljcock, J. E., farmer. 

Boyle, Patrick, farmer. 

Butcher, Jolin, laborer. 

Bennett, Jemima. 

Beesley, E. J., farmer. 

Bowen, E. W., physician. 

Banyard, V., merchant. 

Buck, Geo. A. 

Burton, Joseph, trader. 

Baskerville, 11., merchant. 

Bovee, Charles, agent " County History." 

Burke, Philip, mason. 

Blood, H. N., soda manufacturer. 

Bowen, Francis T., Mrs. 

Brouscljette, Joseph, mason. 

Burton, Thomas, trader. 

Brodie. Peter, teamster. 

Burke, Hugh. 



Brown, Edw., laborer. 

Brown, Edwin, laborer. 

Brown, 0. W. 

Brown. Hansen. 

Baxter, Ellen. 

Barnes, Thomas, laborer. 

Butler, Thomas. 

Cattell, Charles W., farmer. 

Crate, John E., farmer. 

Corbin, Peter, farmer. 

Camp, S. C, Postmaster. 

Curb en, Michael. 

Case, N. H., merchant. 

Clarkin, Andrew, laborer. 

Cooper, James, farmer. 

Cotton, Geo., carpenter. 

Crist, R. H., carpenter. 

Campbell, John, farmer. 

Clayes, Levi M. 

Carroll, M., merchant. 

Carroll, Torrence, sexton. 

Carter, W. J., Assessor. 

Conley, Thomas, bricklayer. 

CoNLEY, E. D., Editor Advocate. 

Cobb, D. U ., banker. 

Copps, Charles, farmer. 

Clark, Thomas, saloon. 

Camj), Samuel C, Postmaster. 

Coggswell, B. B., merchant. 

Couroal, D., cooper. 

Conley, Thomas, mason. 

Custer, E. I). 

CuUon, Anna. 

Church, Charlotte. 

Corbett, Thomas, laborer. 

Chambers, George, laborer. 



9^ 



WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP. 



927 



Dowse. Stephen. 

Dunn, James, farmer. 

Dewitt, Georjxe, farmer. 

Dunham. .1. II., Cliieago. 

Dujfan, ,I()lin, hiliDrer. 

Darh'V, Michael, hiborer. 

Dorsey, Tliomas, saUH)n. 

Dunhip, Clari.ssa. 

Daniels, John H., Chicago. 

Dovvling, John," laborer. 

Dowlinu, K(l\v., laborer. 

Diuvis, \Vm. T., laborer. 

Dwyre, Mary. 

Deloat. Albert, gardener. 

Donohue, Edw., merchant. 

Demorest, J. P., carpenter. 

Dickerson, J. A., carpenter. 

Dugan, .lolui, laborer. 

Evans, ilcnry, farmer. 

Ford, Daniel, farmer. 

Freas, John. 

Ford, James, laborer. 

Fogarty, Anna. 

Fuller, Delivan, saloon. 

Ferguson, Jeremiah, blacksmith. 

Fuller. M. W., Mrs. 

Fisher, liryan, miller. 

Fisher, John C, miller. 

Ciavigan, James, farmer. 

(^leelaii, Henry, farmer. 

Ooodenough. John, farmer. 

Gaffney, Bartley, farmer. 

Gavican, James, farmer. 

Gurney, Henry, prop, livery stable. 

Gall. Jonathan, miller. 

Goodwin, William. 

Gurney, E. 11., livery stable. 

Gardner, Jane. 

Gray, George W. 

Gleuney, John, farmer. 

Gooding, James M. 

Gooding, Alonzo, farmer. 

Hill, John. 

Heneberry, John, farmer. 

Hays, Dennis, farmer., 

Hart, William, drayman. 

Harbottle, W. M., merchant. 

Hooper, Edw., farmer. 

Hazard, Catharine, milliner. 

Hudson, Henry, farmer. 

Holister, Henry, laborer. 

Haley, iSIartin.mason. 

Hunter, David, miner. 

Henneberry, T. M., poultryman. 

Hine, Patrick. 

Henderson, J. D., merchant. 

Hurley, J., laborer. 

Hall, Oscar M., laborer. 

Herriot, Joim, teamster. 

Holmes, C B., carpenter. 

Hutchinson, A. 

Hill. Andrew, retired. 

Heck, riiilii), saloon. 

Hadsell, William. 

Hilburn, Milton, molder. 

Irisii, Georgf^, laborer. 

Jac(iuenlt, Alice. 

Johnson, .Mary. 



Johnson, Howard, iceman. 

Jackson, Josej)h, plasterer. 

Jackson, K. J. 

Jackson, J. A., painter. 

James, Willis, laborer. 

Jones, H. K. 

Jones, (ieoige, engineer. 

Jones, D., miner. 

Jessup, John S., merchant. 

Knaj))), Orrin, teamster. 

King, Bernard, farmer. 

Kahlcr, .John, tailor. 

Kirk, Patrick, farmer. 

Kelley, Felix, City Marshal. 

Krause, August, merchant. 

Klemefelter, A. N., carpenter. 

Kinslar, Edw.. laborer. 

Keeley, Micliael, i)lasterer. 

Knight, John. 

Kavanaugh, Thomas, farmer. 

Larson, Peter, laborer. 

Lang, Philip, farmer. 

LeCaron, Henry, i)hysician. 

Lamping, \V. ]Si., farmer. 

Lacy, C. B., Mrs., farmer. 

Luther, Charles, faimer. 

Luther, J. J., farmer. 

Lines, S. D. B., Constable. 

LeDoyt, Eoswell, carpenter. 

Lee, W. M., laborer. 

Lyon. A. I., restaurant. 

Lord, Mary. 

Mallon, Charlotte. 

Maloney, J., farmer. 

McGee,'Mary. 

McArtluir, A. L., farmer. 

McRea, AV. M., farmer. 

McCabe, Michael, shoemaker. 

McLaughlin, Mary, Chicago. 

Mcintosh, A., farmer. 

McManus, John R., saloon. 

McCormick. Hugh, engineer. 

McGinnis, W., farmer. 

McGoveren, B., blacksmith. 

Mcintosh, T. 8., painter. . 

McKeon, Philip, merchant. 

McGovern. Mary. 

McCormick, Nancy C. 

McGovern, Barney, laborer 

Maloney, James li., farmer. 

Morgan", Moses, farmer. 

Mowray, James B., farmer. 

Mallon," John, Jr., farmer. 

Morrison, Mary A., farmer. 

Mitchell, xVnna. 

Monell, S. L., merchant. 

Mallon, Charlotte, farmer. 

Morrill, Closes, farmer. 

Mitchell, Frank, farmer. 

Merrimaii. 1). J., jihysician. 

Martin, Joseph, farmer. 

Monteitii, David R., butcher. 

Monteith, Catiiarine. 

Merrill, John, attorney. * 

Moran, .tohn, laboi'er. 

Mailee, John, shoemaker. 

Moore, Wm., blacksmith. 

Moulton, F., C. & A. R. R. conductor. 

17 



928 



EEAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



Miller, Peter F., laborer. 
Miller, J. F., Mrs. 
Nelson, John, laborer. 
Newhall, H., farmer. 
Noble, W. H., painter. 
Neal, Isaac. 

Norton, Michael, laborer. 
Nausbaum, J. G., wagon-maker. 
Osborn, N. N., farmer. 
O'Brien, John, farmer. 
O'Mara, Wm., farmer. 
Patter, Huldali. 
Perry, James A., farmer. 
Pauling, Francis, broom-maker. 
Patterson, John, miller. 
Purcell, Thomas, laborer. 
Quinn, Jeremiah, Jr., farmer. 
Reynolds, Michael, farmer, 
llyan, Mary. 
Roderick, Eli, farmer. 
Roat, Andrew, carpenter. 
Roteng, E. 

Ritchie, Alex, farmer. 
Roberts, H. N., cashier bank. 
Robinson, Thomas, carpenter. 
Roderick, Joseph, farmer. 
Rockwell, Stephen, farmer. 
Rote, Andrew, carpenter. 
Robson, W., farmer. 
Robson, Eliza. 
Russell, J. B. F., farmer. 
Rosenberger, John, laborer. 
Reeves, Thomas, merchant. 
Rilly, James. 

Ray, Wesley P., coal dealer. 
Scanlan, Dennis, farmer. 
Scott, Ellen. 
Scarlett, A. A., Mrs. 
Scanlan, James, farmer. 
Scully, William, Chicago. 
Schyler, Pliilip, painter, 
Scanlan, Dennis, farmer. 
Schneider, R. 

Schneider, Edward, tinker. 
Schermerhorn, P. P., farmer. 
Shields, Luke, retired. 
Shields, Frank, farmer. 
Shields, Frank, merchant. 
Shelby, Patrick, farmer. 
Sibert, Z., tailor. 
Slusser, William D., farmer. 
Smith, Dennis, drayman. 
Small David, Jr., merchant. 
Small, Daniel, lumber dealer. 
Small, Dell, lumber merchant. 
Smith, J.,ewis H. 
Smith, Thomas, farmer. 
Smith, N., Police Magistrate. 
Smith, E. P., farmer. 
Snyder, Reynhart, farmer. 
Stork, Edward, baker. 
Steadnum, R., Mrs. 
Stagg, James, carpenter. 
Stertan, Henry, saloon, 



Stagg, Benj., carpenter. 

Steplienson, L. L., clerk. 

Stillwell, George, cigar stand. 

Steffen, Henry, butcher. 

Stewart, M. N. M., banker. 

Stewart, John, merchant. 

Starkweather, James, farmer. 

Sullivan, J., laborer. 

Taylor, M. L., harness-maker. 

Terrill, Michael, farmer. • • 

Teerney, Michael, farmer. 

Thomas, Mary. , 

Thompson, Maria, 

Thompson, Robert, coal dealer. 

Thompson, Jane. 

Thompson, J. C., Mrs. 

Thompson. John, prop, boarding-house. 

Thompson, David C, wagon-msiker. 

Thornton, Thomas, laborer. 

Thornton, John laborer. 

Titus, Leander, carpenter. 

Tinney, Francis, teamster. 

Tinslar, G. I., attorney. 

Tinslar, Lawrence. 

Tollington, Robert, merchant. 

Trett, S. E., physician. 

Tyroll, M., farmer. 

Tuttle, M., retired. 

Turner, A. 

Underwood, M. J., laborer. 

Vander Bogert, W. H., butcher. 

Vetter, F., farmer. 

Vogle, Geo., farmer. 

Wagner, l^homas, farmer. 

Watkins, Wm., clerk. 

Walsh, Mamie. 

Watson, L. H. 

Wade, John, farmer. 

Watson, Charlotte S., restaurant. 

Watson, Morrill, farmer. 

Waters, John, painter. 

Warner, Sarah. 

Warner, Isabella. 

Warner, Helen. 

Washburn, Elizabeth. 

Walsh, Wm., saloon. 

Webber, Jeremiah, farmer. 

Whealon, Michael, farmer. 

Whealen, James, merchant. 

Wheeler, Ephinelas, teamster. 

White, John D., poultryman. 

White, C, Mrs. 

Whitten, James, banker. 

Wikey, T. J., clerk. 

Wilard, E. R., physician. 

Wilson, D. F., lumber merchant. 

Wilkins, Abram, liveryman. 

Williard,E. W., druggist. 

Wise, Hiram A., merchant. 

Wood, John, farmer. 

Woodstock, Ellen. 

Wright, Abner, plasterer. 

Wurtz, Daniel, marble-cutter. 

Young, James L., Justice. 



REED TOWNSHIP. 



929 



REED TOWNSHIP. 



(P. 0. BItAIDWOOD.) 



Allen, W. 

Allen, T.. miner. 

Allen, Peter, niinei'. 

Allen, E. 

Argyle, Joseph, miner. 

Armstrong, Isabella. 

Armand, John, mine boss 

Alter, James M. 

Atkinson. Wm„ miner. 

Applenwhite, George, miner 

Applenvvhite, John, miner. 

Alsahan, August, miner. 

Alcoo, Peter, miner. 

Allison, Robert, miner. 

Bailey, A. 

Ball, James, miner. 

Barr, Peter, saloon. 

Barr, Andrew, clerk. 

Backus, John B., physician. 

Barsdale, liobert, teamster. 

Barber, Frank, saloon. 

Barrowman, James, miner. 

Barrowman, Alex, miner. 

Barrowman, Margaret. 

Barrey, D., saloon 

Bain, "Robert, Street Commissioner. 

Bain, James, miner. 

Batler, John, miner. 

Bamrick, John, saloon. 

Bamrick, James, miner. 

Bates, Samuel, miner. 

Baskell, John, miner. 

B;isher. Alphar, miner. 

Ballantine, Kelso, saloon. 

Jiell, William, miner. 

Bell, W. R., miner. 

Bell, Joseph, miner. 

Bell, Robert, miner. 

Beba, P., miner. 

Betz, George, 

Bertrand, Julius, miner. 

Bertrand, Gustav, laborer. 

Belaud, John, teamster. 

Besk, John, miner. 

Beck. John, miner. 

Bessler, John, Jr. 

Bennett, James 0., farmer. 

Bennett, J. I). 

liesanda, Thomas, miner. 

Berine. William, miner. 

Beadle. A. E., painter. 

Bertrand, Gustav, miner. 

Bluet, Josiah, miner. 

Blood, H. ^V., soda manufacturer. 

Boyle, M., saloon. 

Boyle, Hugh, niinei'. 

Boyles. Francis, miner. 

Booth, Martha C, milliner. 

Boylston, C. D., farmer. 

Braid wood Dairy Association. 

Braid wood, James, coal opei'ator. 

Braid wood Coal Co. 

Bradbury, Agnes. 



Braeley, John, farmer. 
Braden, William, miner. 
Broadbcnt, Jolin, clerk. 
Brenan, Ann. 
Britton, Simon, miner. 
Brogan, M., miner. 
Brown, Hugh, miner. 
Brown, ^\'. JJ. 
Brown, R. B., miner. 
Brown, James. 
Button, William. 
Burt, Robert, saloon. 
Burt, James, miner. 
Butler, George, miner. 
Burke, Richard, laborer. 
Burke, Hannah, farmer. 
Burzeh, B., miner. 
Burges, Frank, miner. 
Burrill, James, miner. 
Burr, Ferris, carpenter. 
Carlisle, William, baker. 
Carney, Edward, miner. 
Carney. Lewis, miner. 
Carney. Patrick, saloon. 
Canton, John. 
Calwell, Thomas, teamster. 
Cairns, Catherine. 
Campbell, William, clerk. 
Castello, Antrina, saloon. 
Casey, James, miner. 
Campbell, William, plasterer. 
Canvey, M., miner. 
Callahan, jNIichael, miner. 
Cardwell. Henry, miner. 
Carroll, Bridget, farmer. 
Cheney, W., miner. 
Cheeney, Vinzel, miner. 
Cheeney, Peter. 
Christy, Patrick, Mrs. 
Charles, William, saloon. 
Chaney, James, miner. 
Charlton, C. K., druggist. 
Cherry, James, miner. 
Chigworth. William, miner. 
Cheerlier, Altliuuse, miner. 
Clark. Philip, mine boss. 
Cleveland, F. (J., farmer. 
Connors, T., butcher. 
Coal Co., C, W. &. V. 
Costello, Anthony, saloon. 
Cook, Tiiomas, miner. 
Cool., Thomas, fanner. 
Cook, Sampson, miner. 
Coley, Nicholas, laborer. 
Connors Thomas, farmer. 
Connea, James. 
Conners, William, butcher. 
Conner. Thomas, butcher. 
Connolly, Edward. 
Connolly, Thomas. 
Conroy, Joseph, miner. 
Cox, Henry, miner. 
Cox, Frank, miner. 



930 



REAL ESTATE OWlSERb OF WILL COUNTY: 



Cox, John., Sr., retired. 

Cox., John, Jr., weigh boss. 

Cox, "William, miner. 

Crossin, James, miner. 

Crane, Edwin A., clerk. 

Creely, John, Sr., miner. 

Craig, John, miner. 

Craig, James, cleik. 

Craig, Bartly, miner. 

Criense, Andrew, miner. 

Cruise, Mary. 

Crinse, Henry, miner. 

Criss, John, 8r., miner. 

Crombie, John, miner. 

Cunningliam, William, miner. 

Cuckley. Joseph, miner. 

Currey' Peter, miner. 

Dawney, J. B. 

Daublin, J., miner. 

Davidson. Adam, teamster. 

Davidson, Edward, miner. 

Dawning, J. D., farmer, 

Daugherty, Dennis, miner. 

Dando, Mishak, Police Justice. 

Darley, Edward. 

Davis, Evan, miner. 

Davis, W. D., saloon. 

Davis, John O., shoemaker. 

Davis, W. S., saloon. 

Davis, William T. 

Dennison, David, miner. 

Dennison, Thomas, miner. 

Dennison, Williamson, miner. 

Dennison, William, miner. 

Dennison, John L., miner. 

Devine, James, hiborer. 

Dergan, Patrick, miner. 

Demblon, Joseph, niiner. 

Dehnarl, Ann. 

Derlislorus, .John, miner. 

Demmar, John. 

Delmarle, Lewis, merchant. 

De Cleres, Lucian, saloon. 

Derickson, George, miner. 

Dinsmore, William, miner. 

Dixon, Robert, miner. 

Dimblyn, Joseph, miner. 

Dillon, Charles, miner. 

Donahue, Edward. 

Donahue, John, County Treasurer. 

Dobbs, James, machinist. 

Donlen, John, laborer. 

Donan, Thomas. 

Donnell, Edward O., miner. 

Dougherty, Charles, miner. 

Donelly, .1., clerk. 

Doty, Eli H., farmer. 

Doyle, John, farmer. 

Douglas, William, miner. 

Duaan, G., miner. 

Dugan, Michael, miner 

Durham, Thomas, weigh boss. 

Duffey, William, miner. 

Durkin, Frank, miner. 

Dunn, James, miner. 

Dunn, Thomas, laborer. 

Dunmore, Wm., miner. 

Duffey, Miles, miner. 



Dunlap, A., farmer. 
Dunlap, Robert, miner. 
Drurey, Wm. P., miner. 
Draton, Wm. 
Dwyre, James, farmer. 
Dwyre, Patrick, farmer. 
Dyer, Win., farmer. 
Dyer, Geo., laborer. 
Earl, David, miner. 
Ebbitt, R., merchant. 
Edna, John, miner. 
Elliott, Adam, miner. 
Englisli, Luke, miner. 
English, John, miner. 
Erison, Peter, miner. 
Evans, James, laborer. 
Evans, Jenkins, miner. 
Eureka Coal Co. 
Farmer, Geo., miner. 
Falling, Patrick, miner. 
Farley, J., miner. 
Fay, Peter, miner. 
Ferguson, Wm., miner. 
Ferguson, James, miner. 
Feeney, John, miner. 
Felyn, A., miner. 
Felton, E. W., merchant. 
Felton, C. W., merchant. 
Fishback, Freeman, farmer. 
Flengler, A., miner. 
Floynn, Micliael, laborer. 
Forsythe, John, farmer. 
Fort, John, miner. 
Fox, Samuel, miner. 
Frew, Henry, miner. 
Freer, John, mechanic. 
Francis, David, miner. 
Franck, Joseph, miner. 
Frost, John, mechanic. 
French, J. L., farmer. 
Fundy, John, miner. 
Gatley, Barney, engineer. 
Gardner J. B., teamster. 
Garrity, Patrick, merchant. 
Gardner, J. B., teanlster. 
Geddis, John, Constable. 
Gisera, Frank, miner. 
Ghelain, Frank, miner. 
Glupp, James, miner. 
Glenny, Dennis, farmer. 
Gornley, Pat., miner. 
Goodrich, I-,. H., merchant. 
Goodrich, H. C, clerk. 
Golfinger, Nathan, merchant. 
Goldhnger, Catherine, 
Graham, David- 
Granger, 11. 
Granger, Wm., miner. 
Grace, Michael, miner. 
Gray, John, miner. 
Greene, Wm., miner. 
Greene, Theo., engineer. 
Greggs, James, miner. 
Haiiley, Pat., laborer. 
Hamilton, R. J., farmer. 
Hall, Geo., laborer. 
Hafford, James, miner. 
Hafford, Wm., miner. 



REED TOWNSHIP. 



931 



Harrison. John, far. 
Harelick. Joseph, minor. 
Harvy, \Vni., lar. 
Hanciiet, John Jj., farmer, 
llavlick. A., miner. 
Harris. Hiiben II. 
Ilanu'll, Thomas, hiborer. 
Harwood, Peter, miner. 
Hanna. Isaac, miner. 
Ilarup. Robert, miner. 
Haley, Catherine. 
Harvey, Francis, farmer. 
Haskinson, Ann. 
Harbottle, P. 
Hackett, Margaret. 
Hall, Thomas, miner. 
Halier, Peter. 
Hale, Frank. 
Hay, James, miner. 
Hahdlin, John, dairyman. 
Ileep, John, miner. 
Henler, Jacob, miner. 
Henneberry, Thomas, saloon. 
Hecherbottom, Elijah, miner. 
Heilman. Herman, Justice. 
Hill, AVm., miner. 
Hillard. John, enjj;ineer. 
Hifjgins, John, laborer. 
Higgins. Barney, farmer. 
Hlavin. Frank, saloon. 
Howe, Siston, laborer. 
Howe, W. H., carpenter. 
Holderworth, Picliard, miner. 
Howard, Thomas. 
Howat, Alex., miner. 
Howell, G., farmer. 
Hoar, Wm. H. 
Huston, Robert, merchant. 
Huttley, Desire, milliner. 
Husbaiul, David, merchant. 
Hunt, Jonathan, carpenter. 
Hubbard, James. 
Hynd. John, miner. 
Hynes, Mary. 
Hick, George, miner. 
Jack, William, merchant. 
Jack, William, Jr.. merchant. 
Jones, Ann E. 
Jones, David D., miner. 
Jones, John, miner. 
Jones, Wm. R., miner. 
Jones, Axna, miner. 
Jones, George, engineer. 
Jones, Mrs. 
James, John, clerk. 
Jones, Phil, miner. 
Jones, J., miner. 
James, John, clerk. 
Jeffrey. Joseph, miner. 
Johnson, George, saloon. 
Kane, Timothy, farmer. 
Kane, Nicholas, miner. 
Kane, J., saloon. 
Katel, ^lichael, miner. 
Kasperick, Albert, miner. 
Kaiser, Alvis, miner. 
Kelley, M., merchant. 
Kelley, Neeley, miner. 



Kelley, Thomas, miner. 
Kerr, David, miner. 
Kerns, Charles, teamster. 
KeJfe, Dennis, carjienter. 
Keenan, James, miner. 
Keenan, Daniel, miner. 
Keenan, Al)ner, farmer. 
Keevers, William, miner. 
Kennani, Thomas, teamster. 
Kicheely, John, miner. 
Kirzel, Frank, miner. 
Kidmore, James, miner. 
Kilpatrick, ,Iames, miner. 
Kirkpatrick. John, miner. 
Kirkpatrick, Alex, miner. 
Kline, Adam, miner. 
Knempash, Antoine, miner. 
Kottas, Michael, miner. 
Kottas, James, miner. 
Krist, John, Jr., miner. 
Kreemock, Anton, miner. 
Krumpash, Gabriel, miner. 
Kucia, John, miner. 
Kucera, Frank, miner. 
Kuckler, Alber, miner. 
Laska, V., miner. 
Lalles, Daniel, miner. 
Lacaust, F., miner. 
Larzlot, John, miner. 
Lackie, George M. 
Lexhararaux, Desire, miner. 
Lexhararaux, Peter, miner. 
Lewis, H. H., miner. 
Levis, Joseph, miner. 
Leviska, Frank, miner. 
LeClergal, L., saloon. 
Lindsay, Thomas, miner. 
Littlejohn, Finley, saloon. 
Lowe, Henry, farmer. 
Lovejoy, A., laborer. 
Long, John, baker. 
Love, Andrew, miner. 
Lofka, Joseph, saloon-keeper. 
Loyd, D., miner. 
McArthur, James, saloon. 
McClenan. Frank, miner. 
McClarky, William, miner. 
McCooey, R., miner. 
]McDonald, Peter, miner. 
McDonald, Pat, laborer, 
McDermott, Peter. 
McElroy, John, saloon. 
McEvery, John, miner. 
McFeeley, Smith, laborer. 
McFardin, Mrs. 
McGinby, James, farmer. 
McGarvey, William, miner. 
McGrath, John. 8r., miner. 
McGrath, John, Jr., miner. 
McGrath, Perry, miner. 
McGurk, John, miner. 
Mclntyre, Thomas, miner. 
Mclntyre. John, miner. 
McKeon, Phil. 
McKinney, Samuel. 
McKinley, Robert, miner. 
McLane, "Robert, miner. 
McLindon, H., miner. 



932 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY; 



McMurty, Samuel, teamster. 
McManus, Owen, laborer. 
MciSTeeley, William, miner. 
McjSTutty, William, miner. 
McYane, Michael, miner. 
McVicker, John, engineer. 
Matone, Antoine, miner. 
Mason, Agnes. 
Mannon, Thomas H., miner. 
Malcom, Mrs. 
Masier, Ira, farmer. 
Maltby, Wm., Superintendent of mine. 
Mack, James, miner. 
Macram, Frank, miner. 
Matine .Austin, miner. 
Marceles, Lewis, laborer. 
Marsh, I. K., merchant. 
Mearsler, Louis, miner. 
Meyer, Frank, barber, 
Merideth, William, miner. 
Medder, B., Mrs., farmer. 
M^les, John, miner. 
Mitchell, Rebecca. 
Mills, Eli, miner. 
Mills, Alice B. 
Micklijohn, Robert, miner. 
Micklijohn,J(jhn, teamster. 
Milachek. Matz, miner. 
Moran, Thos., merchant. 
Morris, David D., merchant. 
Morris, James IL, miner. 
Morris, Joseph, miner. 
Morgan, M., farmer. 
Mooney, Wm., City Attorney. 
Mulrooney, R., miner. 
Muldowney, Patrick, City Marshal. 
Mulligan, James, miner. 
Nelson, Simpson, carpenter. 
ISTehane, Albert, miner. 
Nell, J., butcher. 
Neack, Joseph, miner. 
Nicholas, Nicholas, miner. 
Nicholas, Thomas, miner. 
Nichol, John, miner. 
Noel, F., miner. 
Noonan, John, farmer. 
O'Brien, Patrick, miner. 
O'Connell, Charles, butcher. 
O'Donnell. Con., saloon. 
O'Dell, Wm. H, 
Oliver, Oscar, miner. 
O'Neil, Edward, miner. 
O'Neil, Tiiomas, blacksmith. 
O'Neil, Mary. 
Ovenocker, H., miner. 
Pascol, Alf., miner. 
Patterson, Agnes. 
Patterson, Alex., merchant. 
Pai)pleton, Henry, miner. 
Paden, David, miner. 
Pavino, Spinter, miner. 
Palmer, Thomas. 
Palmer, A. F. 
Parson, Wm., miner. 
Parson, Henry, miner. 
Pale, Joseph, laborer. 
Parkinson, H. H., editor Braidwood Re- 
publican. 



Pettigrew, Thomas, miner. 
Pettitt, T. T., clerk. 
Peart, Joseph, mine boss. 
Peart, John, miner. 
Perousie, J. H., miner. 
Pfingston, Henry, farmer. 
Phelps, E., laborer. 
Phillips, David, miner. 
Phillips, Richard, miner. 
Pinkera, John, miner. 
Pickering, Geo., miner. 
Pinkway, John, miner. 
Posta, Ignatz, merchant. 
Powell, Margaret. 
Powell. Daniel, miner. 
Powell, Stephen, miner. 
Powers, James, miner. 
Prebil, J., miner. 
Pi'oven, John, miner. 
Prier, A. 

Price, Benjamin, miner. 
Pride, Matthew, miner. 
Prould, Agu.stine, miner. 
Quiring, John, farmer. 
Ramsey, Richard, mine boss. 
Raise, Wm., miner. 
Rapelge, A. W., miner. 
Rankin, Wm., retired merchant. 
Rankin, Dunkin, merchant. 
Ranvill, S., carpenter. 
Ranville, S., carpenter. 
Ray, Thomas, mine boss. 
Raudek, Joseph, saloon. 
Ruddy, Wm., laborer. 
Rawhi, J., miner. 
Ray, Thomas, mine boss. 
Reckson, Wm., miner. 

Reakin, D., miner. 

Reese, John, miner. 

Richardson, Thomas, miner. 

Richards. F. G., farmer. 

Riley, Joseph, miner. 

Riley, Thomas, farmer. 

Rodt, Joseph, miner. 

Roe, Thomas, farmer. 

Roe, Charles, plasterer. 

Roe, James, miner. 

Roe, Thomas, farmer. 

Rodgers, Saphonia, farmer. 

Rosser, Richard, miner. 

Rodtt, Anton, miner. 

Routt, John, miner. 

Rooney, Timothy, miner. 

Rouse, Antrim, Mrs. 

Rock, John, miner. 

Rock, Michael, miner. 

Runcie, John, miner. 

Russell, Jane. 

Ryder, Charles, farmer. 

Sandal, James, miner. 

Savage, E. P. 

Saulsby, Wm., saloon. 

Schwarz, James, miner. 

Schubert, Anton, miner. 

Schomann, Joseph, miner. 

Scullins, Patrick, butcher. 

Scullan, Nicholas, miner. 

Scahan, Johan, farmer. 



REED TOWNSHIP. 



933 



Seliick, Joliii, miner. 
Sessinilick, J^., miner. 
Seviins, Levi, miner. 
Sebarta, M., miner. 
Secola, Anloine, miner. 
Sherman, W. H., merchant. 
Sliumacii, -Tosi'itli, miner. 
Shipton, Wm., phisterer. 
Shannon, .John, hiborer. 
Shibaek, Jolni, miner. 
Shannaht)n, Dennis, miner. 
Sherman, Katharine. 
Short, J.. 

Shank, ,)ohn, l>utcher. 
Sherwood, Frank, carpenter. 
Shields, Frank, 
Sliields, Nathaniel. 
Sharp, Alex., miner. 
.Sharp, Cliarles, miner. 
Sismik, T., miner. 
Sismilik, John, miner. 
Sinkiah, James, miner. 
Sickalr, T., Mrs. 
Simms, George. 
Sicklar, Tliomas, Mrs. 
Skinner, John, miner. 
Skelton, George, miner. 
Slack, Frank, miner. 
Smith, T., carpenter. 
Small, J)avid. 
Small, Daniel. 
Si)inning, A., carpenter. 
Sranck, Frank, miner. 
Stassen, F., miner. 
Strathnrs, James, miner. 
Strathurs, John, miner. 
Stoddard, John, miner. 
Stean, James, miner. 
Stean, William, miner. 
Stewart, John, brakeman. 
Stewart, Robert, miner. 
Stewai't. William J., Constable. 
Stewart, William, miner. 
Stewart, David, miner. 
Stewart, James, farmer. 
Stewart, Peter, farmer. 
Stewart, J., miner. 
Sterritt, William, miner. 
Stackett, Leonard, miner. 
Strong, Robert. 
Stevenson, John, miner. 
Stevens, Henry K., farmer. 
Stevens, John B., miner. 
Stanton, Alex, miner. 
Stark. John, miner. 
Sntliff, Thomas. 
Sutterly, M. IL, express agent. 
Sweet, B., clerk. 
Tagpe, William, miner. 
Taylor, Thomas, miner. 
Terry, H. C, laborer. 
Thomas, Sarah. 
Thomas, William S., miner. 
Thatcher, William, miner. 
Thompson, Evan ^\' ., miner. 
Tillburn, M. K., miner. 



Tisdell, ]?., laborer. 
Tilley, Josepli, miner. 
Talka, S. Frank, miner. 
Toval, William, farmer. 
Tomasie, Anton, miner. 
Toy. Nettie. 

Touhey, James, merchant. 
Trotter, Rol)ert, engineer. 
Trainor, Joseph, miner. 
Trosser, Frank, miner. 
Treman, Josepli, miner. 
Tracy, John, saloon. 
Tresiett, Lawrence, farmer. 
Tnttle, L. C, farmer. 
Tuttle, W., farmer. 
Tyler, Burt- 
Utley, H., farmer. 
Ill man, Virgil. 
Underwood, M. J., Mrs. 
Varley, Josei)h, weigh boss. 
Vangampiller, ILninah. 
Vandermerde, Enos, miner. 
Vacha, E., miner. 
Vacha, L., miner. 
Vandavoor, C., miner. 
Vandavoor, E., miner. 
Venango, Reuben, miner. 
Vignery, Gusalabice, miner. 
Vickars, William, miner. 
Virgnesy, G., miner. 
Vincent, Julian, carpenter. 
W^ay, Price. 
W^aid, Leonard D. 
Walkyard, Ann. 
Wanat, John, miner. 
Wandles, R-, miner. 
Watson, James T., miner. 
Watson, J.unes, miner. 
Walker, John, saloon. 
Walker, John, miner. 
Walsh, Robert, miner. 
Walsh, Thomas, teacher. 
Warrick, Martin, miner. 
Ward, John IL, plasterer. 
Welsaschal, Joseph, miner. 
Welschall, Frank, mijier. 
Wernigher, Eli, laborer. 
Wear, James, miner. 
Westmoreland, Thomas, laborer. 
Wheeler, Benjamin, miner. 
White, William, blacksmith. 
Whitfield, Cliarles, farmer. 
Wilson, David, miner. 
Wiper, James, miner. 
Winters. C. S., merchant. 
Willey, George, miner. 
Wilmott, William, miner. 
Williams, John li., miner. 
Williams, David, weigh boss. 
Williams, Gwen, miner. 
Williamson, John, miner. 
Young, George, laborer. 
Young, Thomas. 
Young, John, Supervisor. 
Zimmerman, Henry, miner. 
Zima. Frank, miner. 



934 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP. 



(P. 0. LOCKPORT.) 



Alexander, James H., farmer. 
Adams, Henry, farmer. 
Adelman, Christopher, mason. 
Adelman, Peter, Mrs., farmer. 
Allen, Chester, farmer. 
Anderson, A. S., grain dealer. 
Anderson, Oliver, laborer. 
Anderson, A. S., grain dealer. 
Arnold, jSIary. 

Arnold, Sidney Y . ; P. O. Joliet. 
Arnold, J. H., Mrs. 
Arnold, John W., merchant. 
Ashley, Morgan, farmer. 
Ayers, Nancy. 
Ayers, Mahlone, farmer. 
Aur, Anton. 
Bolan, Maurice, laborer. 
Bohle, Joseph, shoemaker. 
Burns, Lucinda. 
Burke, James, laborer. 
Bedford, John, engineer. 
Baldwin, D. C, carpenter. 
Baldwin, John, farmer. 
Boyer, Julius, quarryman. 
Bentley, Robert, clerk. 
Brown, Robert, carpenter. 
Baldwin, D. C., merchant. 
Baumgartner, Charles, mason. 
Brass, R. J., 
Byrne, Mary A. 
Bond, James, painter. 
Booven, Louis, shoemaker. 
Bradley, Wm., druggist. 
Bork, Henry, miller. 
Butler, A. C, clerk. 
Bacon, C H., physician. 
Baker, James S., carpenter. 
Barnes, E. V., blacksmith. 
Brown, Abraham, clerk. 
Burdick, A. S., painter. 
Baldwin, John, farmer. 
Bailjey, Wm. M., farmer. 
Bruce, James, farmer. 
Begley, John, farmer. 
Boger, J. A., Mrs. 
Brown, W. H., cari)enter. 
Burke, ]VI., laljorer. 
Bremborn, Mary. 
Bressel, Joseph, laborer. 
Bergan, Martin, laborer. 
Brown, Wm. H., carpenter. 
Boyle. James, cooper. 
Brown, Dolly. 
Brennan, Mary. - 
Bannon, Elizabeth. 
Brainard, Jolm, laborer. 
Brown, Morris. 
Burt, Emeline. 
Blessing, Frank, laborer. 
Backus, John, carpenter. 
Bowen, Ji., carpenter. 
Brown, Samuel, laborer. 
Berkey, Fidel, laborer. 



Blumel, Joseph. 

Burt, C. xV., Mrs., nurse. 

Bayne, James. 

Baumgartner, Louis, farmer, 

Boilling, Anthony, farmer. 

McGinn, Patrick, mason. 

Benton, J. W. 

Baker, James S., carpenter. 

Baker, James E., farmer. 

Beck, John, farmer. 

Burt, Wm. S., farmer. 

Begley, John, farmer. 

Bronson, Cyrus, farmer. 

Cammeron, Wm., blacksmith. 

Clark, Homer, trader. 

Clark, Barrett B., merchant. 

Confrey, Ellen. 

Craggs, Jolm. 

Calstrune, Charles, shoemaker. 

Cowell, Walter, farmer. 

Collins, Homer, farmer. 

Clay, Charles, carpenter. 

Carey, James E., laborer. 

Curren, John, printer. 

Curtis, I. B., agr. dealer; P. O. Joliet. 

Cox, Wm., carpenter. 

"Cook, Mary. 

Chaxell, Charles, musician. 

Conners, Andrew, laborer. 

Colwell, Geo., laborer. 

Crigne, Frank, blacksmith. 

Cronan, Joshua, carpenter. 

Confrey, Matthew, laborer. 

Cowan, Margaret. 

Chamberlain, S. S., furniture dealer. 

Casey, James E., merchant. 

Chattes, Mathias. 

Cheney. Wm., teamster. 

Coyne, James, farmer. 

Corcoran, W. W., farmer. 

Colvin, Charles. 

Culver, Amos, Jr., farmer. 

Campbell, H. C, carpenter. 

Confrey, Mat., laborer. 

Cook, Mary. 

Corcoran, W. W., laborer. 

Conner, Andrew, laborer. 

Corcorrin, James, laborer. 

Dunnigan, II. F., foreman. 

Daley, John, farmer. 

Daley, Daniel, farmer. 

Day, John AV., farmer. 

Donahue, Patrick, farmer. 

Daggett, John F., physician. 

Dieter, Philij), farmer. 

Dixon, Geo., painter. 

Donahue, Patrick, laborer. 

Dirmedy, Patrick, laborer. 

Dougherty, James, laborer. 

Donaldson, Felix, carpenter ; P. 0. Peru. 

Drymiller, Peter J., miller. 

Denton, James L., farmer. 

Donahue, James, laborer. 



LOCKPOllT TOWNSHIP. 



935 



Dougherty, Daniel, laborer. 

Deal, Potor, teamster. 

Deeming, ,7olin, car|)enter. 

Dallinger, Henry, farmer. 

Disburg, Emily. 

Day, Jefferson, teamster. 

Davis, Samuel Z., teamster. 

Dowse, Stephen, lawyer. 

Darling, D. II., teacher. 

Devitt, Mary L. 

Deeming, Arthur, clerk. 

Denton, .1. L. farmer. 

Dodd, Louisa M. 

Denton, W. J., farmer. 

Dayton, Susan. 

Dow, A. Z., carpenter. 

Doyle. John, teamster. 

Dow, Charles, cari)enter. 

Epper, M., farmer. 

Efting, Frank, farmer. 

Fiddyment, Wm., farmer. 

Esther. Geo. 

Ewen, A. J., merchant. 

Emery, Hiram, lumber dealer. 

Evans, Wm., manufacturer. 

Fitzpatrick, John, farmer. 

Flagg, Geo., farmer. 

Frazer, James, farmer. 

Eraser, M., weaver. 

Fitzpatrick, Patrick, farmer. 

Freehoff, G., Jr., farmer. 

Fouser. J. J., farmer. 

Frehoff, G., farmer. 

Felt, Clark, farmer. 

Foley, Thomas, farmer. 

Foley, John, farmer. 

F(»x, Osmond, farmer: P. (). Plainfield. 

Eraser, John A., farmer. 

Frazer, Mary. 

Flavier, Nancy. 

Farley, Thomas, blacksmith. 
Flarin, Catharine. 

Frankfort, Jolm, farmer. 

Flavin, Edw., saloon-keeper. 

Fisher, Leo, saloon-keeper. 

Eraser, J. D., farmer. 

Ford, Timothy. 

Farley, E. P., retired. 

Fay, Ann AV. 

Feilows, Frank, capitalist. 

Freeman, J., agent. 

Fisher, Mrs. 

Fellows, E. C, Mrs. 

Fisher, Wm. C., machinist. 

Finch, James S., grocervman. 

Finch, Elizabeth. 

Fleming, John, laborer. 

Fitzgerald, Catherine. 

Fleming, Michael, laborer. 

Frazer, ^Slary L. 

Fiddyment. W. J., farmer. 

Feunn, Wm. E., watchman. 

Fisher, Leo, saloon-keeper. 

Fredrickson, Charles, laborer. 

Foley, James, farmer. 

Freebury, Harman, lal>orer. 

Fry, Brvan S., plasterer. 

Frazer, John A., farmer ; P. O. Plainfield 



Gardner, Martin, farmer. 

Goodale, Clinton, farmer. 

Gitfon, John, farmer. 

Gaylord, S. D.. meichant. 

Giffon, Elliott, farmer. 

Greenan, Andrew. 

Geddis, John, butcher. 

Griswold, John, farmer. 

Geist, Samuel. 

Gorrey, Christian. 

Geddes, Geo., retired. 

Gooding, Lorenzo F., farmer. 

Glass, Catherine, Mrs., farmer. 

Gooding, Jane M., 

Grover, John L., nurseryman. 

Godfrey, JNIat. 

Gliner.'lsaac. 

Gavin, Penelope. 

Gleason, Mary. 

Gleason, Patrick, laborer. 

Galligan, Mrs. 

Griffin, John B., farmer. 

Geddis, Maria xV. 

Gregory, Frank, saloon-keeper. 

Goodeiiough, John W., farmer. 

Gleason, llugli, laborer. 

Hoffman, Elias. farmer. 

Hills, Ledger, farmer. 

Hills, Lavier, farmer. 

Harting, Levi, farmer; P. O. Plainfield 

Harton, Mary. 

Hasel, John, "farmer. 

Hanton, John, laborer. 

Hahn, W. F., farmer. 

Hopkins, Henry, farmer. 

Heck, John, retired. 

Harder, Frank, farmer. 

Hoy, Charles, farmer. 

Hardin. Theo., farmer. 

Haw ley, Warren, farmer. 

Haywood, James, farmer; P. O. Joliet. 

Haywood, Samuel, farmer. 

Hills, John, farmer. 

Hickey, Wm., laborer. 

Hawley, Debora. 

Hickey, Wm., laborer. 

Hickey, Daniel, laborer. 

Hawley, Warren, farmer. 

Hills, August, farmer. 

Herron, Albert, engineer. 

Haywood, Orpha A. 

Heck, John, retired. 

Hartwell, Elmira J. 

Hewitt, Newton, painter. 

Hopkins, Frank, merchant. 

llavwood. T. C., merchant. 

Hu'tton, John D., wagon-maker. 

Hern, Helen. 

Holden, Dexter, teacher. 

Harris, F. G., Postmaster. 

Ilartong, Frank, far.; P. O. Plainfield. 

Ireson. W T., grocervman. 

Jacobs, Anton, farmer. 

Johnson, E. S., butcher. 

Johnson, Ann. 

Johnson, Jacob, laborer. 

Johnson, Charles P., teamster. 

Johnson, Elizabeth. 



936 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY 



Johnson, Peter G., laborer. 

Johnson, Jolin, laborer. 

Krowmeyer, Wm., farmer. 

Kirkliam, John, farmer. 

Kendall, J. W., farmer. 

Kopp, Ferdinand, far. ; P. O. Plainfield. 

Knapp, Solomon, Rev., clergyman; P. O. 

Joliet. 
Klinker, Michael, farmer. 
Kopft, Henry, farmer. 
Kanagy, Casper, farmer. 
Kinney, K., farmer. 
Keeley, Dennis, laborer. 
Kennelley, Daniel. 
King, Lawrence, laborer. 
Kerevin, John, farmer. 
Kelley, Eugene, laborer. 
Klenker, Michael, farmer. 
Karch, Michael, farmer. 
' Keough, Wm., boatman. 
Klees, Wm. H., farmer. 
Kronberg, John, laborer. 
Kronberg, Charles, laborer. 
Korrall, C., liveryman. 
Koenig, Adam, shoemaker. 
Kornmeyer, B. C, tailor. 
Karch, Josephine. 
Karch, Michael, boat-carpenter. 
Kabliska, Frank, farmer. 
Kenney, Michael, laborer. 
Kennedy, John. 
Koskuska, Albert, laborer. 
Killner, Augustus, farmer. 
Larkin, Martin, teamster. 
Lizer, Joseph, mason. 
Lalley, Patrick, farmer. 
Lawrence, Hiram, farmer. 
Lowe, H. 

Lintner. Lena, Mrs., farmer. 
Lezer, Bartholomew, farmer. 
Lynn, Geo., shoemaker. 
Lowrey, Henry, baker. 
Lindsay, Ann. 
Lotz, Jacob, miller. 
Larson, John, tailor. 
Lees, Theo., Mrs. 
Lamed, E. A. H., physician. 
Langfear, Phebe. 
Lull, S. AV., merchant. 
Lyons, Wm. R., blacksmith. 
Lonergan, Simon, Mrs. 
Lyons, W. R., blacksmith. 
LoM'ery, Hervey. 
Lally, John, farmer. 
Levisee, Sidney A. 
Ivundalle, Fred K., laborer. 
Lundstrum, T., laborer. 
Lagraw, John. 
Lundstrum, Olaf, laborer. 
Laacy, Garrett, laborer. 
McDonald, James, laborer. 
McLeery, Edw., farmer. 
McGilvery, John, farmer. 
McCause, Francis. 
McWeerey, John. 
McGuire, Bernard, farmer. 
McGuire, John, Jr., farmer. 
McGorry, James, farmer. 



McDonald, Christopher, laborer. 

McFadden, Patrick, farmer. 

McDonald, John R., contractor. 

McNiff, J. 

McClintock, Joseph, farmer. 

McShane, John, farmer. 

McShane, Patrick, farmer. 

McDonald, Patrick, Jr., laborer. 

McN"ally, James, laborer. 

McWeeney, Rosa, Mrs., farmer. 

McCann, ilrs. 

McDonald, Terrence, teamster. 

McWeerey, John, farmer. 

Matthews, Samuel, gardener. 

Manley, James, laborer. 

Mason, H. S., farmer. 

Murray, James, farmer. 

Morrison, Michael, Mrs. 

Milne, Robert, farmer. 

Marvin, Legrand, farmer. 

Murphy, Daniel, farmer. 

Meeder, Louis, farmer. 

Mallon, Daniel, farmer. 

Mackin, John, laborer. 

Mageral, Charles, tailor. 

Miles, Mary. 

Maui'er, William, farmer. 

Murray, C H., laborer. 

Mallon, Daniel, farmer. 

Moran, John, farmer. 

Mason, H. S., farmer. 

Mason, F. E., Mrs., farmer. 

Miller, Charles, mason. 

Miner, E. W. 

Messer, Josejih, mason. 

Miles, Patrick, teamster. 

Meehan, James, laborer. 

Miller, Sophia M. 

Miller, Philip, gardener. 

Miller, Peter, carpenter. 

Manning, Wm. K., Mrs. 

Murray, James H., boatman. 

Mooney, William, farmer. 

Murphy, Thomas, shoemaker. 

Myers, W. S., attorney. 

Marx, John, tanner. 

McDonald, J. S., Editor Pikenix. 

Mershel, John, mason. 

Meacham, H. H. 

Mullen, James, gardener. 

Miller, Fred, miller. 

Morrison, John, boat-calker. 

Marks, John, tanner. 

Murray, Patrick, laborer. 

Milne, Robert, farmer. 

Martin, Patrick. 

Milne, James, retired. 

Miles, William, laborer. 

Mitchell, Patrick, boat-builder. 

Neeland, Samuel, farmer. 

Norton, George B., merchant. 

Neithold, Amelia. 

N^obes, Isaac, farmer. 

[N'orton, Maria L. 

Nolan, Thomas, mason. 

Nichols, Richard. 

Norton, Catharine. 

Norton, George B., merchant. 



LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP 



937 



Xorton, John L., prop. Norton's Mills. 

Needliolt, Cliarles, cooper. 

O'Conner, Tliomiis, teuraster. 

O'lJricii. 'Pimotliy, l)oat-l)uild(M-. 

OsLraiii. Mary. 

Ostk-r, Thoiua.s. luliorer. 

Olcson, Daniel, lal»orer. 

(Muart, AVilliain. 

Payne. James, farmer. 

Trior, Thomas, farmer. 

Paxson, A. C.. i'armer. 

Payne, Thomas, far. ; P. (.). Phiinlield. 

Powers, Lydia !>. 

Payne, James. 

Povenney, Owen. 

Pettigrew, Malvina. 

Peterson, Solomon, laborer. 

Preston, Isaac, insurance agent. 

Pemberton, Eliza. 

Prindle, Wni. M., wagon-maker. 

Parker, L. S., attorney. 

Platr. Thomas, farmer. 

Pitts, Cathei-ine. 

Peck, John, fanner. 

Piatt, James, farmer. 

Preston, J. B., P. O. Chicago. 

Quinn, Martin, laborer. 

Quincliell, Patrick. 

Rowe, William, carpenter. 

Randall, J. W., farmer. 

Robbins, William, farmer. 

Reynolds, ]Michael, farmer. 

Ryan, Thomas S., farmer. 

Ryan, Johanna, Mrs., farmer. 

Ryan, Lot, farmer. 

Ryan, Dennis, farmer. 

Riley, Cornelius, farmer. 

Ripson, H., cooper. 

Ragan, Daniel, farmer. 

Ryan, John, farmer. 

Reed, John, farmer. 

Ryan, John, tailor. 

Reed, William, farmer. 

Roljinson, Lyda, Mrs. 

Raber, Anderson, farmer. 

Riley, Patrick. 

Rafferty, N. S., merchant. 

Ryan, Timothy, saloon-keeper. 

Rice, Melissa, dressmaker. 

Rouse, William B., carpenter. 

Rose, Henry, P. O. Chicago. 

Rowley, Alfred, farmer; P. O. Joliet. 

Ryan, Dennis, farmer. 

Robinson, Lydia A. 

Robbins, Mrs. 

Riley, Pat, laborer. 

Ryan, Lawrence, boat-builder. 

Sanborn, Wm., farmer. 

Strong, Lorenzo, farmer. 

Smith, Geo. Y., farmer; P. 0. Plainlield. 

Spangler, Geo., farmer. 

Smitli, John R., farmer. 

Smith, Peter, farmer. 

Sclieibe, Julius, merchant. 

Smith, Jacob, farmer, 

Stowe, Wm. M., farmer. 

Shell, Micliael, farmer. 

Sly, Senaca, farmer. 



Sullivan. Michael, farmer. 
Sears, John, Mrs., farmer. 
Shuler, Ann. 
Swapp, A. 

Sears, John. Jr., farmer. 
Spiekei', FrecU'rick, lal)orer. 
Smith, Charles, fainier. 
Sterling, Ann, Mrs., farmer. 
Souder, Wendall, farmer. 
Sanger, L. P., retired. 
Seivert, John, farmer. 
Spangler, Frank, farmer. 
Stillman, O. W., farmer. 
Shrecker, D., mason. 
Shaw, Thomas, boat-builder. 
Spencer. Ruth. 
Smith, Saxton, boat-builder. 
Shields, Wm., grain dealer. 
Stiles, A. C., liveryman. 
Sciieibe, Julius, merchant. 
Schrecker, D., mason. 
Smith, Peter, saloon-keeper. 

Stone, Charles L. 

Schriber, Henry, blacksmith. 

Shuler, John, Jr., teamster. 

Stowe, Francis F., groceryman. 

Schultz, Wm., butcher. 

Sloan, Samuel, laborer. 

Sagar, Harriet. 

Sisson, Abigail. 

Shaw, Rebecca. 

Stout, Charles, carpenter. 

Sly, E. R., farmer. 

Smith, A. Boyle, retired. 

Starrin, Henry, carpenter. 

Sisson, Geo. W., trader. 

Stafford, Anton. 

Sullivan, Patrick, farmer. 

Taylor, Justin, farmer. 

Thompson, Andrew, farmer. 

Thomas, Wm., Supt. Canal. 

Thurston, John, laborer. 

Turner, S. S., carpenter. 

Tyrell, Patrick, laborer. 

Taylor, Henry, farmer. 

Thorn, Mary. 

Tyler, Francis, Mrs. 

Townsend, Anna. 

Turner, R. 

Townsend, Mai'tha. 

Tegstran, Erric, laborer. 

Taylor, Grove, farmer. 

Van Duser, Emeline D. 

Vanderwalkej', Victor. 

Voght, August, cigar-maker. 

Van Horn, John, machinist. 

Voight, Jacob, saloon-keeper. 

AVilliams, S. J., farmer. 

Wilson, Samuel, farmer. 

Wartzl)acher,Philip,far.: P. O.Plainfield. 

Ward. Daniel, farmer. 

Winkler, Fred, mason. 

AVohlgematz, ^Matthias, farmer. 

Wilson, Sarah, farmer. 

Ward, Edward, farmer. 

Worthen, I. P. II., farmer. 

Weir, Peter, farmer. 

Wills, H., cooper. 



938 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY 



Whalon, Moses, farmer. 

Wertzenbach, Philip, far. ; P.O. Plainfield. 

Williams, Stephen, farmer. 

Wightman, Georiie, farmer. 

AVaters, Mary. 

Williams, Michael, farmer 

Waiters, Michael, laborer. 

Wallace, John, laborer. 

Wilson, Samuel, farmer. 

Williams, E. G. 

Ward, .Joseph, farmer. 

AVinke, Christian, farmer. 

Waldfogle, Benedict, farmer. 

Werner, Augustus, Mrs., farmer. 

AValfogle, Frank, farmer. 

Weivili. John. 



Walsh, James. 

AA'^inkler, Fred, mason. 

Whalen, Moses, teamster. 

AValter, Michael, merchant. 

Weeks, Geo., lumberman. 

Ward, Joseph, saloon-keeper. 

Weirsham, Joseph, n^ason. 

Wadsworth, A. .J., harness-maker. 

AVorst, Jacob, shoemaker. 

Whitson, M., Rev., Pastor Ger. M. Church . 

Woock, Adam, saloon-keeper. 

Whalon, Moses, teamster. 

Toung, W. C., gardener. 

Young, Michael, farmer. 

Yoker, Adolphus, agricultural dealer. 

Zimmerman, Robert. 



PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP. 

(P. 0. fLAINFIELD.) 



Austin, F. E., farmer. 

Austin, Charles, farmer. 

Ashley, C., wire fence. 

Ashley, R. B., minister of Gospel. 

Ashley, J. R., wire fence, Joliet. 

Aultman, Cornelius, manufacturer, P. O. 

Canton, Ohio. 
Arnon, Lucus. 
Arbiter, Charles, farmer. 
Annis, Matilda. 
Aylesworth, Elmyra. 
Anglemere, E., farmer. 
Aster, .John, laborer. 
Billings, Henry, farmer. 
Burch, U., miller. 
JSralnard, S., farmer. 
Beckwith, Albert, farmer. 
Bliss, Allen, farmer. 
J3risbin, James R., laborer. 
Burch, Henry. 
]3isIiop, J. E., farmer. 
Burshart, Peter. 
Burch, Eliza H. 
Jiurkstaller, F., mason. 
Burdick, Harrison, farmer. 
Burdick, Louis. 

Beggs, S. R., minister of Gospel. 
Bartholph, Gillian, farmer. 
Brown, James. 
Bolton, Hugh, farmer. 
Jiolton, H. M., farmer. 
Boland, Patrick, farmer, 
liarber, D. N., farmer. 
Brown, Elisha, farmer. 
Bingham, E., farmer. 
Brown, C, farmer. 
Bangs, R. W. 
Bartlett, R. F., Constable. 
Beggs, .James W., hotel. 
Bristol, C. E., farmer. 
Brogan, Emma. 
Brown, Charles, farmer. 
Bump, Jennie. 
Bond, George F., Mrs. 



Bennett, George, mason. 

Boyd,S. H. 

Burdick, Abigail; P. O. AVashington Ter. 

Bronson, Lucinda. 

Bowering, John, laborer. 

Burch, AV^alter, miller. 

Brown, Oliver G., farmer. 

Burns, John, laborer. 

Burrill, John, farmer. 

Caswell, George T., farmer. 

Colson, Judson, farmer. 

Corbin, Elihu, .Justice of Peace. 

Culver, Sorena, farmer. 

Corbin, S. 

Colegrove, L. G., farmer. 

Cain, W. H., farmer. 

Catchpole, farmer. 

Crittenden, G. N., merchant. / 

Caldwell, J. B., farmer. 

Cropsev, D. AV., retired. 

Caton, W. P., retired ; P. O. Joliet. 

Conant, A. E., farmer. 

Collins, James. 

Chase, E. T., real estate; P. O. Joliet. 

Carter, M. C, farmer. 

Cain, AVilliam H., farmer. 

Caton, J. D., retired ; P. O. Ottawa. 

Clark, AV. E. 

Clippinger, J. A., druggist. 

Cropsev, S., Mrs. 

Church, M. E. 

Corbin, Sarah A. 

Crouch, John, laborer. 

Countryman, Joseph, laboi'er. 

Collins, Harriet. 

Demeritt, Charles, farmer. 

DeJjong, I^enj., farmer. 

Dryden, Felton, farmer. 

Dice, Michael, fainier. 

I^evereaux, R. V., blacksmith. 

Dockendorf, Theodore, farmer. 

Dundore, P. Y., merchant. 

Drumm, Adam, farmer. 

Darr, Emma. 



PLAINFIELD TOWNSFIIP. 



939 



Drouden, Micliacl, iarmer. 
Droiulen, Joliii, farmer. 
Drew, Phebe. 
Darr, (ieorge, lai'mer. 
Douti, J. J^., nu'rchant. 
Davis, Delos W., fanner. 
Darr, James, farmer. 
Dailey, Jacob, retired. 
Davis. Josepii, laborer. 
Devereaux, K. T., blaeksmith, 
Evans, Milton II., farmer. 
Essinjjton, George, farmer. 
Everton, T. J., farmer, 
riajjg, Wm. 11., farmer. 
Eickes, David. 
Furgeson, Andrew. 
Folsom, E., ^Irs., farmer. 
Foster, La B^iyette, farmer. 
Fonser, Jacob, farmer. 
Fellows, G., laborer. 
Finch, Martha. 
Frasier, C. A. E., merchant. 
Frasier, Harvey R., merchant. 
First, H. C. 

Fry, G. H.', wagon-shop. 
Fellows, John F.. laborer. 
Foster, Lyman, retired. 
Flagg, George W., farmer. 
Flanders, J. R., attorney. 
Fouser, David W., farmer. 
Fouser, George W., farmer. 
Fiddyment, Fred, farmer. 
Fairbairn, John, farmer. 
Flagg, B. F., farmer. 
Frauenhoff, Win., farmer. 
Feddyment, Fred, farmer. 
Fellows, Geo., laborer. 
Fry, Jacob, farmer. 
Foss, Ij. T., farmer. 
Fouser, Jacob, farmer. 
Fouser, Henry F., farmer. 
Foss, L. T. farmer. 
Foss, B. C, farmer. 
Funk, J. W., livery stable. 
Fitch, Wm, 

Furgeson, Robert, farmer. 
Grundy, Samuel, farmer. 
Green, B. W., farmer. 
Greenwood, Wm., shoemaker 
Green, D. D., blacksmith. 
Green, W. V., farmer. 
Graves, R. B., farmer. 
Goist, Jacob, farmer. 
Goodson, Wm., farmer. 
Gardner, Martin. 
Goist, Samuel, farmer. 
Goist, Hiram S.. farmer. 
Goist, L., farmer. 
Goist, Albert, carpenter. 
Grant, Justus. 
Gibson, Michael, farmer. 
Gleason, James, laborer. 
Gillespie, Mary, 
(iilbert, E. AV., livery stable. 
Green, R. M., farmer. 
Ilahn, J. D., farmer. 
Hahn, Wm. F., farmer. 
Hyland, Granville, farmer. 



Hyland, E. N., farmer. 

Harbaugli. Isaac, farmer. 

Hagcr. .lonatliaii, iclired. 

Hyland. (Jranvillc I)., fanner. 

Hyland, Judson, farmer. 

Harshbarger, Geo. H., carpenter. 

Hick.s, Josei)li, farmer. 

Hemstret, Alonzo, butcher. 

Hartong, Ellas, farmer. 

Hartong, J., farmer. 

Hays, James, farmer. 

Heiss, Rolland, farmer. 

Henny, Isaac, farmer. 

Hess, W. S.. farmer. 

Harmon, Ann. 

Herron. Jacob, farmer. 

Harriman, C. II.. farmer. 

Harris, J., farmer. 

Hatch, S. S., Mrs., farmer. 

Handin, Harry S., farmer. 

Henon. All)er(, farmer. 

Harmon, Sheldon, far.; P. 0. Elwood. 

Hertzog, George, farmer. 

Hart wich, August, farmer. 

Harltaugh, Isaac, farmer. 

Hartranf t, E., farmer. 

Handin, Harry, farmer. 

Hoffer. George, farmer. 

HayAvood, James, farmer. 

Hyland, E. J., farmer. 

Hyland, E. N., farmer. 

Hiimlin. N. S., retired. 

Hyland. A. K. 

Hyland, Sarah E. 

Hertzog, George, farmer. 

Hall, W. P., painter. 

Hicks, James F. 

Hatch, A. J., shoemaker. 

Hatch, W., tinner. 

Hahn, J. D., farmer. 

Hartegon, Patrick, laborer. 

Hill, Hannah. 

Hess, R. B., farmer. 

Hoag, T. C., Evanston, 111. 

Harshbarger, G. H., carpenter. 

Heoffer, Philip, blacksmith. 

Jordan, Allen, farmer. 

Jones, Lydia; P. O. Detroit, Mich. 

Johnson, John W. 

Jacobs, Mary J. 

Johnson, AV. M. 

Jackson, Wm., farmer. 

King, T., farmer. 

Keen, James C., farmer. 

Kaps, Jolin, farmer. 

Koch, Eva. 

Kean, Wm., blacksmith. 

Kennelly, Daniel, farmer. 

Kune, S. S., blacksmith. 

Lang, Thomas J., farmer. 

Lawrence, M., retired. 

Luce, B., farmer. 

Mottinger, A. E., farmer. 

Mottinger, ( Caroline, farmer. 

Mottinger, John, farmer. 

Mottinger, S. L., livery stable. 

Martin, A. R., farmer. 

Moody, Mary L., farmer. 



940 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



Moss, Will., farmer. 

Moss, "W. F., farmer. 

Moss, Wm., Sr., fanner. 

Martin, A. E., farmer. 

Munroe, S. D., Mrs., farmer. 

Matl'er, Josluia E. 

Metcalf, Judith. 

Metcalf, Samuel W., farmer. 

Metcalf, August. 

Metcalf, Edw. H. 

Metcalf, F. H., farmer. 

Miles, O., blacksmith; P. O. Colo. Ter. 

Martin, Jesse, farmer. 

Monroe, Hugli, farmer. 

Martin, J. P., salesman. 

Miller, H., farmer. 

Morgan, Samuel W„ painter. 

McClester, Geo., carpenter. 

McElhoe, Martha. 

McElhose, Wm., farmer. 

McCreary, Joseph, farmer. 

McNeal, James, fanner. 

McClellan, John, farmer. . 

McCreary, Joseph, farmer. 

McCloskey, Alex., farmer. 

McClintoek, Joseph, farmer. 

McAllister, Edward, farmer. 

Norton, Harriett, fanner. 

Niver, Morris, farmer. 

Niver,Wm. M., farmer. 

N orris, F. P., farmer, 

Nixon, Robert. 

Needham, Charles, painter. 

Pratt, Samuel S., furniture. 

Piatt, J. W., farmer. 

Perkins, A. J., M. D. 

Parr, J. L., farmer. 

Pennick, James ; P. 0. Iowa. 

Perry, L., carpenter. 

Pratt, S. S., furniture. 

Richardson, Henry, farmer. 

Royce, Miller, farmer. 

Rathburn, A. O., farmer. 

Riclimond, R., farmer. 

Royce, Miles, farmer. 

Ray, Alonzo, farmer. 

Roberts, Harriet E., farmer. 

Ratliburn, S. R., farmer. 

Rott, Martin. 

Ryburn, David, farmer. 

Ryi turn, A. R., farmer. 

Rafter, John, farmer. 

Rafter, Patrick, farmer. 

Rauslij Peter, farmer. 

Robertson, Daniel, merchant. 

Rose, O. H., tailor. 

Roberts, Emma. 

Rhodes, Eli. laborer. 

Spangler, Joiuj, fanner; P. O. Lockport. 

Spangler, Samuel, farmer. 

Spangler, Z., farmer. 

Spangler, P. W., farmer. 



Sundland. Noah, miller. 

Simm, James, farmer; P.O. Braidwood. 

Smiley, James H., mereliant. 

Stratton, H., farmer. 

Shutt, Peter, farmer. 

Sharp, James, farmer. 

Scolield, William, fanner. 

Smith, John, farmer. 

Smith, Conrad, fanner. 

Sliarp, William, farmer. 

Schotield, Amos H., retired. 

Sims, Joseph, retired. 

Strattan, H. H., farmer. 

Sheffler, J. D., retired. 

Smith, George Y., fanner. 

Steigle, Cliarles, farmer. 

Smith, George, farmer. 

Sharp, Mary E. 

Shaw, E. E., farmer. 

Sciireffler, E. C. 

Smith, J. Q., farmer. 

Shaw, George E., farmer, 

Snowden, M. A., book store. 

Spangler, Adam, Constable. 

Snyder, Richard, blacksmith. 

Sennit, John, Postmaster. 

Schwab, Mrs. 

Scott, Robert J., carpenter. 

Stopp, George, farmer. 

Sloan, G. W., farmer. 

Tyler, S. B., farmer. 

Thompson, William, farmer. 

Tobias, F. R., druggist. 

Tyler, A. E., Mrs. 

Thompson, Thomas, jeweler. 

Vanolinda, Ira, merchant. 

Valentine, Daniel, farmer. 

Vinson, William, farmer. 

Van Horn, John, farmer. 

Vanderwort, R. M., farmer. 

Warner, William, farmer. 

Wood, E. J ., farmer. 

Wright, R. B., farmer. 

Wagner, John B., farmer. 

Wirtzbacher, P. W., farmer. 

Willard, John, farmer. 

Wagner, John B., farmer. 

Watkins, Eliza. 

Waltz, Nathan, harness-maker. 

Woodhouse, Charles W., M. D. 

Webb, K., wagon-maker. 

Wright, W. ; P. O. Greeley, Colo. 

Williams, S., Mrs. 

White, William P. 

Wraith, James, wagon-maker. 

Webb, Robert, wagon-maker. 

Wills, I. C, carpenter. 

Willard, John, farmer. 

Wagner, John B., farmer. 

Young, Henry. 

Zimmerman,!)., laborer. 



MONEE TOWNSHir. 



941 



MONEE TOWNSHIP. 



(P. 0. MONEE.) 



Albers, Hermai), laborer. 
Aliens, T., farmer. 
Allyren, Joliii, farmer. 
Alger. Fred, fanner. 
Arnold, Philip, farmer. 
Battling, Fred, farmer. 
Bartels, \Vm., farmer. 
Eatliman, Henry, farmer. 
Badenhaaj), Herman, farmer. 
Barlage, Jacob, laborer. 
BarteTs, Lewis. wagon-maker. 
Bawe, Moses, railroad foreman. 
Batzwald, Tlieo.. blacksmith. 
Becker, August, farmer. 
Behrend, Ernst, laborer. 
Berger, George, farmer. 
Becker, Chris. A., farmer. 
Beckman, Fred, farmer. 
Bischmann, Philip, farmer. 
Bischel, Christian, Mrs., farmer. 
Birson, John, farmer. 
Bischmann, Philip, farmer. 
Binder, Fred, blacksmith. 
Bischell, Jacob, farmer. 
Bischmann, Peter, laborer. 
Blesfench, Chris., laborer. 
Bohlander, J. P., Mrs., hotel. 
Jiootschiller, Henry, farmer. 
Boeser, Henry, farmer. 
Bold, Christian, farmer. 
Bothman, Henry, farmer. 
Boder, Fred, farmer. 
Bolander, Peter, farmer. 
Boehl, August, fai'mer. 
Bohlander, Peter, farmer. 
Borens, Henry, farmer. 
Bode, Fred, farmer. 
Bruns, George, farmer. 
Brunster, John. 
JJruno, B., farmer. 
Bruggeman, H. H., farmer. 
Busch, Jacob, Postmaster. 
Buchmier, Conrad, farmer. 
Buckley, James, laborer. 
Buchmeir, Charles, farmer. 
Buchmeir, Conrad, farmer'. 
Burns, Henry, farmer. 
Buclimeier, John, farmer. 
Buckhdltz, Fred, tarmer. 
Carding, Fred, farmer. 
Camp, Ilenry, farmer. 
Campbell, John, farmer. 
Cassens, Wilke, wood-turner. 
Chapman, S. W., farmer. 
Cleiiihammer, Charles, carpenter. 
Clechen, John. 
Clarins, Elias, farmer. 
Cooper, S. ^V., farmer. 
Conrad, Henry, shoemaker. 
Darnlie, Fred^ farmer. 
Daniel, C K., Rev., Bible agent. 
Dalters, Henry, farmer. 
Deitersch, Nicholas, saloon. 



Deidrich, Henry, farmer. 
Deablie, Fred, farmer. 
Deutsciie, AVilliani, farmer. 
Dinker. JiOuis, farmer. 
Dolgc, John, farmei'. 
Dunniiing, Heuiy, farmer. 
Easterbrook, Mary, teacher. 
Easterbrooks, L., real estate agent. 
Echman, Henry, farmer. 
Echmaii, Fred, farmer. 
Eicholf, Freil, laborer. 
Eichman, Fred, farmer. 
Eich, Ilenry, farmer. 
Eiskampf, Henry, farmer. 
Ellwing, Fred, carpenter. 
Filing, Fred, carpenter. 
Eldorney, James M., farmer. 
Engleking, Heniy, larmer. 
Engelking, Philip, farmer. 
Englenumn, Henry, farmer. 
Faige, August, carpenter. 
Fearn, Jacob, farmer, 
Forbosen, Charles, farmer. 
Freese, Eda R., express agent. 
Friem, Jacob, tarmer. 
Friem, Philip, farmer. 
Frobesen, Christian, farmer. 
Gains, A. S., farmer. 
Gettering, G., laborer. 
Geisch, Henry, farmer. 
Givrick, Henry, farmer. 
Gloor, Jacob, agent. 
Goos, John, laborer. 
Gorman, James, farmer. 
Gorman, John, farmer. 
Gorman, Adam, farmer. 
Goiman, Frank, farmer. 
Gothe, H., farmer. 
Golkin, August, farmer. 
Goodenow, Stephen, farmer. 
Gray, William, farmer. 
Graiss, Louis, butcher. 
Grewhagen, Curstin, farmer. 
Grupe, Fred, farmer. 
Grumberger, D., capitalist. 
Gutyrell. A., farmer. 
Harms, Hannah. 
Hall, Andrew, Jr., farmer. 
Hall, Andrew, Sr., farmer. 
Harmening, H-, farmer. 
Hahfeen, George, farmer. 
Haien, John, druggist. 
Haves, Andrew, laborer. 
Haltlield. Willielm, farmer. 
Halle, Henry, larnier. 
Hays, Andrew, laborer. 
Havne, B., shoemaker. 
Herbert, Christian, Jr., farmer. 
Herbert, Henry, laborex". 
Helhnan, Heniy, farmer. 
Hellmau, D., farmer. 
Heins, John A. druggist. 
Henry, Henry, farmer. 



942 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



Hinie, Henry, farmer. 

Hittendorf, John D., farmer. 

Homan, Henry, fanner. 

Hoffman, Ileiiry, farmer. 

Hoffman, Henry, carpenter. 

HoU, Andrew, farmer. 

Holme, Deitrich, farmer. 

Hohrman, J. H., farmer. 

Holiman, Henry, farmer. 

Holiman, Pliilip, farmer. 

Huslaum, liernard, farmer. 

Illyers, Fred, farmei-. 

Jordans, Gustave, saloon. 

Jounzen, E. C, teacher. 

Jariho, A., laborer. 

Jacobs, Charles, laborer. 

Kammeleline, August, farmer. 

Kaemer, Sophia, farmer. 

Kerchman, J., laborer. 

Kemer, Fred, farmer. 

Kerling, William, farmer. 

Keister, Christian, farmer. 

Keister, Louis, farmer. 

Keichter, H., farmer. 

Kettening, Gustave, laborer. 

Kettering, Adam, hotel. 

Kicter, Christian, laborer. 

Kline, August H., agricultural dealer. 

Kleinhammer, Crist, carpenter. 

Klernme, Fred, capitalist. 

Klein, Christian, farmer. 

Koch, Fred, farmer. 

Koerner, Fred, farmer. 

Kline, Christian, farmer. 

Klokow. John, farmer. 

Kollstedt, John, lumber dealer. 

Kolstedt, William, lumber dealer. 

Kolstedt, Charles, farmer. 

Kolstedt, George, farmer. 

Krabe, Henry, farmer. 

Kracke, Henry, farmer. 

Krase, Henry," farmer. 

Krenter, John, plasterer. 

Kragler, Fred, farmer. 

Kuhl, George, farmer. 

Kuersten, Sophia, farmer. 

Lange, F. G., shoemaker. 

Lawler, James, Mrs., farmer. 

Lempke, Charles, farmer. 

Lisbery, William, Captain. 

Lorney, Peter, farmer. 

I.<uckey, Henry, farmer. 

Martlialler, Joim, farmer. 

Mammoser, Joseph, farmer. • 

Macker, D., farmer. 

Mocker, Fred, farmer. 

Martins, Jacob, farmer. 

Matthews, Jacob, farmer. 

Matthews, Martin, farmer. 

Meyers, C., farmer. 

Meyers, ^Villiam, farmer. 

Meir, Christopher, farmer. 

Metzger, John, farmer. 

Meier, William, farmer. 

Miller, Simon, merchant. 

Miller, D. H., farmer. 

Miller, A., farmer. 

Miller, F. A., farmer. 



Mire, William, farmer. 

Motting Henry, farmer. 

Mogg, P., farmer. 

Mueller, H. H., farmer. 

Mueller, Christopher, farmer. 

Muir, Fred, farmer. 

Myer, Henry, Captain. 

Newton, D., farmer. 

Newton, W. H., farmer. 

Necker, F., farmer. 

Nacker, F., farmer. 

Norchman, Henry, farmer. 

Ochlerking, Henry, farmer. 

Ohlenking, Frank, farmer. 

Ohlenking, Fred., farmer. 

Oehlerking, J. H. ()., farmer. 

Ohlendorf, John, farmer. 

Ohlendorf, J. F., farmei-. 

Often, John, farmer. 

Offner, John, farmer. 

Offner, Adam, farmer. 

Oeskey, George, farmer. 

Pape, John, farmer. 

Pahler, Fred., farmer. 

Pauling, Henry, farmer. 

Pauling, Fred., farmer. 

Pauling, A., farmer. 

Patzwaldt, Theo., blacksmith. 

Peterson, George, farmer. 

Phillips, J. E., farmer. 

Plagge, Charles, merchant. 

Plageman, Charles, laborer. 

Platner, Joseph, farmer. 

Praget, C, merchant. 

Rabe, Henry, Jr., farmer. 

Rabe, Fred., farmer. 

Reeder, George, farmer ; P. O. Crete 

Richter, Henry, farmer. 

Rorthamer, Jolui, farmer. 

Rummelhne, xiugust, farmer. 

Sachs. Adam, .saloon. 

Sanborn, George, Jr., tailor. 

Schurtz, Christian, clerk. 

Schluntz, Wm., laborer. 

Schlathour, Jolni, laborer. 

Schubbe, Fred., farmer. 

Schellemme, H., laborer. 

Schannan, Christian, farmer. 

Schultz, Wilhelm, farmer. 

Schlathaxer, John, laborer. 

Schiffer, August, merchant. 

Scliroeder, C. C, farmer. 

Schoenstadt, Christian, agr. dealer. 

Schnechard, Mary 

Schonstedt, Christian, farmer. 

Schafer, Wm., farmer. 

Scheiett, Anthony, farmer. 

Sceman, H., farmer. 

Schrader, Albert, farmer. 

Scott, Wm., farmer. 

Sellman. Henry, laborer. 

Seifner, Wm., farmer. 

Sifter, August, merchant. 

Siefka, F. W., farmer. 

Singler, Carl, farmer. 

Shafer, Wm., farmei'. 

Stade, Ernst, farmer. 

Stage, Henry, farmer. 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 



945 



Stevens, Sebastian, farmer. 
Stessen, II. II., larnier. 
Stinkle, Fred., farnuu'. 
Sto^e, Ctinrad, farmer. 
Stucklcr. Carl, farmer. 
Stunkle, Lduis. fanner. 
Siuenkel, Henry, farmer. 
Stnenkle, Louis, farmer. 
Sumaii, Henry, farmer. 
Tenlutff, .laeob, farmer. 
Tlieilen, Fred. 
TinkotV, Jacob, farmer. 
Tream, riiilip, tailor. 
Treman, Ileinricli, farmer. 
Treichler, Fretl., farmer. 
Triem, Jacob, farmer. 
Tuchrs, G. H., clerk. 
Tucker, Israel; P. O. Chicago. 
Tucker, Thomas, farmer. 
A'atters, Adam, factory. 
A'atters, Jacob, a,c;r. dealer. 
Vatten, Adam, Jr., capitalist. 
Vallrath, Henry, miller. 
Yehrs, H. H., saloon. 
ye.ii:al, Jacob. 
A^)imer, P., painter. 
~\'()cht, Ilenrv, farmer. 



Voght, A., farmer. 
Vriiig, Cliarles, farmer. 
Wagner, Fred., farmer. 
Wolf, John, farmer. 
Waller. Henry, farmer. 
^^'andt, Jolm, farmei'. 
AValtemate, Sophia. 
AVachsmutii, Henry, farmer. 
Wasciisnicatli, Henry, farmer. 
Wehrly, Jacoli, blacksmith. 
W^eiman, M., farmer. 
Werner, Philij), farmer. 
Wernigli, Tlieo., physician. 
Wernke. August, merchant. 
Weekin'l, Miciiael, Initclier. 
Wehrlie, Cliarles, cooper. 
IVeishaiier. F. P. 
W'emick, Tlieo., physician. 
Wellmann, Fred., farmer. 
Wilcox, T. n. 

AVilhaun, Heinrick, farmer. 
AV' ilson. Davit!, laborei'. 
W^ilder, J. II., farmer. 
W^ilder, C, farmer. 
Young, Jacob, farmer. 
Zahudt, Lewis, mason. 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 



Attaway, Edw., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Attaway, Samuel, far.; P. O. Ehvood. 
Brown, William, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Barnes, Mather, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Barnhart, Casper, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Bergin, Martha; P. O. Elwood. 
Brune, Keren, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Brown, Emma, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Brown, Frank, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Boylan, K. J., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Baer, David, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Borens, L. B., far. ; P. (). Elwood. 
Brown, Ira, far. ; P. O. Ehvood. 
Bush, Eli, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Barnes, Natiianiel, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Bailey, Daniel, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Brown, Asa, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Breeu, K., far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Bailey, Daniel, far.; P. (). Elwood. 
Barniiardt, Cas[)('r, far.; P.^ O. Joliet. 
Brown, Martha, far. ; P. O. 'joliet. 
Brown, Mary, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
JJrown, Elias, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Brown, Sarah, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Brown, W^illiam, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
B.Misa. Fred, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Berry, J., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Burs'on, Andrew, far. ; P. O. Ehvood. 
Bush, Joshua, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Bensinger, N. C, far.; P. O. Ehvood. 
Bovee, Nicholas, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Breeu, Susan; P.O. Ehvood. 
Bridge, Jolm, agent R. H. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Blutt, N., merchant, Ehvood. 



Bush, E., Mrs.; P. O. Elwood. 
Blatchley, O. B., teacher: P. O. Elwo6d. 
Burns, K., far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Bliss, Edw. 

Barker, James M., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Brown, Xaucy Jane, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Brown, Marthy M., far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Bovlan, R. J., far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Beckwith, A., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Clark, E. M., far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Crafts, E. B.. far. ; P. O. Ehvood. 
Cooney, Charles, far. ; P. (). Elwood. 
Cotton, William, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Curron, D. B., insurance agent, Ehvood. 
Cowell, George E., phvsician, Elwood. 
Chapman, R. W^, gardener; P.O. Ehvood. 
Cooney, Cliarles, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Corbin, Peter, far.; P. O. Ehvood. 
Collman, John, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Cagwin, M. ()., grain merchant, Ehvood. 
Carman, Emma B.; P. O. Elwood. 
Cook, Mils, carpenter, Elwood. 
Davidson, Jolin, far.; P. O. Ehvood. 
Doolev, P. F., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Derham, John, f;ir. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Duncon, R. C, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Davis, Philip E., far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Deutciiman, William, far.; P.O. Ehvood. 
Dovle, :Michael, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Eaton, Daniel, far. ; P. O. Ehvood. 
Eib, Amos, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Eib, George, far.; P. O. Ehvood. 
Eib, August, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Eib, Jame>, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 

18 



946 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY. 



Eaton, Daniel, far. ; P. 0. Joliet. 
Eversoll, W. T., hotel, Elwood. 
Frank, LeAvis, farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
Fitzpatrick, John, farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
Faut, C., farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
Faut, C., Jr., farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
Ferguson, George, laborer; P. O. Elwood. 
Fitzpatrick, J., farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
Gockley, Levi, farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
Gebbler, fcjeth, farmer; P.O. Elwood. 
Grempe, M., farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
(Jay, Freeman, farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
Gakley, Abraham, farmer; P.O. Joliet. 
Grant, John A., farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
Grant, Margaret; P. O. Elwood. 
Gurnsey, George, farmei-; P. O. Elwood. 
Grant, William C., Justice, Elwood. 
Geftord, E., merchant, Elwood. 
Geft'ord, AV. W., merchant, Elwood. 
Gorkley, A., farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
Hemphill, James P., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Hemphill, Cyrus, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Hibner, James, farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
Hibner, F. A., farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
Hibner, John, Jr., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Hibner, James C, farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
Hemphill, John, farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
Hemmer, Henry, farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
Harley, J. H., farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
Harley, Jacob, farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
Houghani, J., merchant, Elwood. 
Hemphill, J. P., farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
Hutchens, Wm. H.,far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Henner, Henry, farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
Hoist, Nicholas, farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
Hemphill, Nancy; P. O. Joliet. 
Johnston, Henry, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Jackson, Delancy, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Kassabaum, Henry, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Kirkpatrick, George, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Kinney, J., farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
Keir, James, farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
Kyrke, Edw., farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
Korst, Michael, farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
Keeler, Christian, farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
Kirk, W. F., farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
Kreimer, William, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Kinney, George J., carpenter, Elwood. 
Kirkhamp, William, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Keith, W. F., druggist, Elwood. 
Kavanaugh, John, far.; P. 0. Elwood. 
Kavanaugh, Mat., farmer; P. O. Elwood. 
Leopold, Anna, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Lyle, Peter, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Limebarger, George, retired, Eiwood. 
Lutz, John, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Lengle, Henry, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Linebarger, A. J., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Lielilenwatter, J. J., lumber dlr., Elwood. 
Lyons, Michael, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Jjoyd, Bateman, wagon-maker, Elwood. 
Lowe, Stewart, laborei', Elwood. 
Lone, Leonard, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Lonebarger, A. J., far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Lonebarger, George, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
McFarland, William, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
McAllister, A., far.; P. O. Elwood. 
McClure, D., far. ; P. O., Elwood. 



McGourty, Charles, lab., Elwood. 
McFarland, William, far. ; P. O. Elwood 
McAllister, Hiram, far.; y. O. Elwood. 
McArthur, A. L., far. ; P. 0. Joliet. 
McDonald, Eliza, P. O. Elwood. 
Mayer, Sarah, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Mills, Casper, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Miller, Wm. F., far. ; P. O, Elwood. 
Morse, W. C, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Moore, William F., far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Miller, David, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Moyer, Isaac, far. ; P. 0. Elwood. 
Miller, Phebe, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Moyer, Mary, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Metz, Martin, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Muhling, W., carp., Elwood. 
Morenous, Jane, Elwood. 
Mead, John, retired, Elwood. 
Myer, Michael, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Mapps, Mary A.; P. O. Elwood. 
Maesser, Michael, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Meran,Owen, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Miller, Wm. F., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Noel, Gabriel, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Nicholson, Wm., merchant, Elwood. 
Nelson, Samuel, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Oshen. C J., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Prosser, P. A., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Palmer, Jacob, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Palmer, Jacob, Jr., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Palmer, John, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Prosser, Abijah, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Phillips, James, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Palmer, Valentine, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Pensenger, Joseph, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Pinneo, Charles, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Penneo, John P. carp., Elwood. 
Pierce, Eliza, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Pensinger, Thomas, farmer; P. 0. El- 
wood. 
Poritz, A. A., harnpss-maker, Elwood. 
Pierce, Abraham, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Richards, Erastus, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Rodgen, Joseph, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Rudd, Sanford, far. ; P. O. Joliet' 
Ralph, Edward, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Richards, David, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Richards, David, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Rowland, Edward, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Russell, John, far. ; P. 0. Elwood. 
Ridge, Wm., druggist, Elwood. 
Riddins, Peter, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Reezer, Fred, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Reeve, P., far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Rich, Wm., physician, Elwood. 
Russell. Nelson, scale agent, Elwood. 
Shaffner, Elias, far.; P O. Joliet. 
Stone, Henry, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Staffer, Mathias, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Shutts John, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Switzer, Casper, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Sing, Adam, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Spraul, James, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Steeler, Henry, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Swedler, John, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Smith, Hiram, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Sunemeyer, Wm., far. ; P. O. Elwood 
Snoad, Henry, merchant, Elwood. 



FRANKFORT TOWNSHIP. 



947 



Si)afford, K., Postmsister and merchant, 

Ehvood. 
Stine, Mary, far.; P. O. Ehvood. 
Spangler, Ilcnry, far. ; P. (). Ehvood. 
Spafford. (Miarles E., far.; P.O. Ehvood. 
Slu'rai), Francis, Sr.. far. ; P. O. Ehvood. 
Spotts, Hiram, far.; P. O. Ehvood. 
Smith, (tcorge W., far.; P. O. Ehvood. 
Streeter, Henry; P. O. Ehvoo<l. 
Scanlaji, Mary F.. far.; P. O. Ehvood. 
Spencer, ]^Ieriitt, far.; P. O. Ehvood. 
Slieam. Francis, far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Traver. ,Iohn, far.; P."0. Joliet. 
Tait, Thomas, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Thele, Joseph, far. ; P. O. Ehvood. 
Tyler, S. S., far.; P. O. Elwood. 



Troy, Eli/aheth J., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Toiihnan. Wni., far.; P. ()., Ehvood. 
Thornl>t■r-,^ liolu-rl, far.; P. O. Ehvood. 
Tea, Mark H., far. ; P. (>. Joliet. 
Trahv, Jacob, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Williams, Jolin, far.; P. (). Joliet. 
Whetlh', Jacob; P. O. Ehvood. 
Wood, W. W., far.; P. (). Ehvood. 
Williams, H. G., wa^'on-makcr, Ehvood. 
AVilkins, ('. VN^, blacksmith, Ehvood. 
Wicks, Geo. C., scale aH;ent, Ehvood. 
Welkins, Charles, blacksmith, Ehvood. 
Wicks, Charles I)., butcher, Ehvood. 
Yoiuif;, Shelden, far.; P. O. Ehvood. 
Yake, Thomas, far.; P. (): Ehvood. 



FRANKFORT TOWNSHIP. 



Allerton, A. M.,far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Brown, Marlin, switchman, Mokena. 
Brookaneps, E. T., 
Bez, George, brewer, Lockport. 
Bradnsteidner, Godfrey, farmer; P. O. 

Frankfort. 
Brummond, D., Jr., far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Brannan, Pat., railroad foreman, Mokena. 
Brummond, Deidrich, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Beckstine, Robert, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Bedstine, Henry, far. ; P. 0. Mokena. 
Buck, Christian. 

Breidert, John, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Bedstine, Henry, Jr., far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Baumgartner, j, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Bauch, Phillip, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Bradford, 1). V., far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Bettenhausen, Geo., far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Bobsim, Christ, far.; P. O. Greengarden. 
Bettenhanr, George, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Behvard, Sarah, ]Moken.i. 
Belzine, John, far.; P. (). Greengarden. 
Bucholz, Fred., far. ; P. O. Greengarden. 
Branch, Philip, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
jiowman, Charles S., saloon, Frankfort. 
Bookman, A. 
iiol/.iii, John, Frankfort. 
Block, Fritz., far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Bock, H., harness-maker, Joliet. 
Bolzin, Fritz, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
Baumgartner, .L, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Bechstein. Robert, far.; V. O. Mokena. 
Bumgartner, ]i., merdiant. 
Bauch. Jack, merchant, Mokena. 
Bock, H. P., harness-maker, Frankfort. 
Bauch, Phillip, farmer; P. O. Mokena. 
Bills, Minerva. 

Barker, Jacob, agr. dealer, Frankfort. 
Barkei-. A. 1?., merchant, Frankfort. 
Bo wen, James. 

Conrad, Adam, mechanic, Mokena. 
Cleveland, O.B., farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
Conrad, John S., carpenter, Mokena, 
Capi>le, John, butcher. Mokena 
Clayes, L. M., tarmer; P. O. Frankfort. 



Cappell, John, drover; P. O. Mokena. 
Clayes, Charles, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
ClaVs, Charles, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
Caliner, Peter, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
Claus, .T., merchant, Fi'ankfort. 
Camp, Fred., farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
Carstens, John. 

Calmer, Peter, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
Cleveland, W. B., farmer; P. 0. Mokena. 
Churchill, Samuel, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Calmier, Peter, farmer; P. O.Frankfort. 
Carroll, James, laborer, Frankfort. 
Carpenter, A. B., merchant, Frankfort. 
Clans, L., merchant and P. M., Frankfort. 
Cagnier, F. L. 

t^laus, S., merchant, Frankfort. 
Caldwell, .Tohu, laborer, Frankfort. 
Cadden, Patrick, laboi-er. Frankfort. 
Camp,- Fred., farmer; P. O. Frankfort, 
Cappell, John, butcher, Mokena. 
Davis, Lyda. Frankfort. 
Diekman, Heinrich, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Duist, Jolni. 
Dennis, Polly, Mokena. 
Droll, Frederick. 

Duncan, Owen, farmer; P. O. Mokena. 
Dussler, Henry, laborer, Frankfort. 
Ducker, James, merchant, Joliet. 
Doty, Levi, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
Donahue, Owen, section boss, Franklort. 
Dody, Levi, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
Dammaure, Henry, carpenter, Frankfort. 
Enders, ^f., farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
Ehvortli. John, carpenter, Mokena. 
Endus, Matthias, farmer; P. 0. Mokena. 
Elwart, John, carpenter, Mokena. 
Eader, Mathias, farmer; P. O. Mokena. 
Erickson, John, laborer, >rokena. 
Eisenl)randt, Ernst, carpenter, Frankfort. 
Eisner, John, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
Elwood, John, carpenter, AEokena. 
Enders, Micliael, retired, Mokena. 
Fuchs, Dorada, washerwoman, Mokena. 
Fink, George, farmer: P. O. Frankfort. 
Faisler, Michael, laborer, Frankfort. 



948 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



Fink, John, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
Folkers, Johnson, butcher, Frankfort. 
Fink, Joseph, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
Fuchs, Julius, farmer; P. O. Mokena. 
Fuss, Peter, laborer, Joliet. 
Felton, A. M., far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Farner, Simon, farmer; P. (). Frankfort. 
Felton, John P., far. ; P. O. Greengarden. 
Falls, A., farmer; P. 0. Mokena. • 
Frederick, John, 
Fell, Catherine, Frankfort. 
File, John, far.; P. (). Frankfort. 
Feil, Geo., far.;P. O. Frankfort. 
Fortmuller, V., far. ; P. O. Rich, Cook Co. 
Franer, Simon, far.; P. O.Frankfort. 
Fink, Fi-ed., lal)orer, Frankfort. 
Fo.\, Henry, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Geddis, A." V., farmer; P. O. Mokena. 
Gentrer, John G., Jr., Mokena. 
Garas, Leonard. 

Gunther, Geo., far.; P. 0. Frankfort. 
Getter, Fritz, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Gunter, Jerry. 

Grohne, John, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Geuther, John G., far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Grohner, John, far ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Greissam, Henry. 

Granan, John, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Garrett, Joseph J. 
Harper, Cyntliia; P. O. Mokena. 
Houser, Georoe, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Haskins, Wm., far. ; P. O- Frankfort. 
Hohenstein, Simon, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Houser, John, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Henrichson, Fred'k, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Herscli, Cliarles, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Hunter, James, far. : P. O. Frankfort. 
Heine, Martin, saloon. Mokena. 
Higgins, C, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Hanson, George, far. ; P. O. Greengarden. 
Harker, Charles, laborer, Mokena. 
Holienstein, Simon, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Hassengager. Fred, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Hunter, Joseph, far.; P. 0. Frankfort. 
Hunter, Jos., Sr., far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Hunter, Daniel J., gr.iin mer., Frankfort. 
Holden, IST. P., physician, Frankfort, 
irossengager, Fred, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Hayes, William. Canal Captain, Joliet. 
Hauck, Andrew, wagon-maker, Mokena. 
Heirschback, Thomas, mer., Frankfort. 
Hiesence, Peter. 

Holdenabel, E., retd. far. ; P.O. Frankfort. 
Hunter, D. W., grain-buyer, Frankfort. 
Houk, Andrew, wagon-maker, Mokena. 
Hoffman, Pliilip, cigar-maker, Monee. 
Hunt, Mark, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Hildenbraudt, A., tailor, Frankfort. 
Heissing, Fritz. 

Hasenjager, Fred, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Heirschlack, Tliomas, merch., Frankfort. 
Hinricks, Ulrich, laborer, Frankfort. 
Harvey, M. A. 

Harker, Carl, laborer, Mokena. 
Hauser, AVenzel, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Ha(;kman, Elizabetli ; P. O. Mokena. 
Harvey, John, carpenter, Joliet. 
Jordan, S., far. ; P. O. Mokena. 



Jones, W. T> , far. ; P. 0. Mokena. 
Jaur, Claus, merchant, Frankfort. 
Jones, William D , far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Jacobs, William, saloon. Mokena. 
Jones, Xoble, grain merchant, Mokena. 
Jringer, S. 

Jakobus, Herman, butcher, Lockport. 
Karch, H. J., far.; P. 0. Frankfort. 
Kadden, Kobert, laborer, Frankfort. 
Kirschner, Casper. 

Klepper, Jolm, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Klepper, Philip, wagon-inkr., Frankfort. 
Koener, Peter, far.^ P. O. Frankfort. 
Keniry, Thomas, far. ; P. 0. Mokena. 
Koester, Heinrich, labf)rer, Mokena. 
Koelm, John. far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Knapp. Martin, butcher, Mokena. 
Kahl, Henry. 

Kole, Antliony, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Klose, John, far. ; P. 0. Mokena. 
Kohl, Samuel. 

Kares, Leonard, far. ; P. O. Bremen. 
Knapp. Christian, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Kohl, Dan, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
I Kuhn, Erastus, far. ; P. 0. Frankfort. 
Knapp, Christian, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Kernder, Fred. far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Kep|)a, .Tohn. 

Kleffer, Peter, cigar-maker, Frankfort. 
Knapp, Charles, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Kuhn, Charles, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Karch, Henry, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Kraner, F., saloon, Frankfort. 
Kaisch, Henry J., far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Koerner. Peter, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Knapp, John, butcher, Mokena. 
Komer, Peter, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Kennedy. T. T., liveryman, Mokena. 
Karscli, Heniy, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Kohehagen, John, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Karich, Henry I., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Logan, James, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Lewellyn, Thomas, far. ; P. 0. Mokena. 
Lauffer, George, Jr., far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Lauffe-, George, far.; P. O. Hadley. 
Lewellyn, Patrick, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Lanfear, George H., far.; P. O. Hadley. 
Losan, W. H.. far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Leflfler, Wendle, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Lies, Jolm, far. ; P. O. ]\Iokena. 
Letts, James, liveryman, Frankfort. 
Larkman, C.. far. ; P. O. Greengarden. 
Lorenz, Paul, far.; P. O. Greengarden. 
Lanike. Lewis, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Lelieman, Cliarles, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Leroth, Christian, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Lepin, John, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Lepiese, John, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Logan, Jas., retd. far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Leffler. John ; P. O. Chicago, 
Letts, J. K.. hotel. Frankfort. 
Lepla, Fred, shoemaker, Frankfort. 
Lowe, Henrv, laborer, Frankfort. 
McClure, Tlobei't. 

McArthur, A-. far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
McGovney, Eliiah, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
McGlashan, Alex, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
McDonald, John, grain buyer, Frankfort. 



FRANKFORT TOWNSHIP. 



949 



McGoviiey, C).. 1'. M. and iiiercliant, Mo- 
kena. 

McKi'own, llujili, l)lacksmilli. Fraiiklort. 

Miller, John, tar.; J^ O. (Jit'ciifianlfii. 

Mocllcr. .Itx'liin, mason, ^fokciia. 

Moulton. M., mail carrier, Mokena. 

Miller, .laeksem, teamsler, Mokena. 

Malioney, ,lolin, laborer.. loliet. 

Mast. Jacob, far.; P. (). Mokeiia. 

Miller, Francis, miller. Mokena. 

Market. Fretl., Wilminj^ton. 

Maue, Francis, far.; P. (.). >[okena. 

Mart, r.,Mrs., far.; P. (). Mokena. 

Martin, Jolm, Jr., far.; 1'. (>. Mokena. 

Maue, Daniel, far. ; P.O. Mokena. 

Marti, Nic, far.; P. (). iMokena. 

Mernin, A. II., far.; P. (). Frankfort. 

Miclientlii)},', Uernard. 

Miller, Ceo., far.; P.O. Frankfort. 

Miller, Jacoli, mercliant, Frankfort. 

Maliler. William. 

.Martin, John, far.; P. O. Mokena. 

Muff, Martin, saloon-keeper, Frankfort. 

Miller, Frank, miller, Mokena. 

Marshall, Kollin, ret. far.; P. O. Mokena. 

Marks, William. 

Miller, Mary;aret, Frankfort. 

Miller, Helena, Mokena. 
Mettles, Wni., manufacturer, Frankfort. 
Menzel, August, mason, Frankfort. 
Mettler, Jasper, mfr., Frankfort. 
Michules, Fred. 

Mettler, Wm., IL, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Merwin, A. II., merchant, Frankfort. 
Nugent, John, laborer, Mokena. 
Xewman, John, far.; P. O. Bremen. 
Nettles, Henry, tailor, Frankfort. 
Niceranx, Henry, far. ; P. (). Frankfort. 
Nobles, R., far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Nickeraux, Henry, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Netz. August. 

Niland, John, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Nickerman, Jacob, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Nettles, Henrv, grain mer., Frankfort. 
Olt, Christopher. 

Owen, W. 13., far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Ott, Christopher, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Osman, Wm. E., wagon-maker, Frankfort. 
Ortwein, John, far!; P. O.Frankfort. 
Owen. J. L., far. ; P. O. Mokena. - 
Oatmein, John, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Oswell, Erhart, mason, Mokena. 
Paddock, J). W., retired, Mokena. 
Pierce, J. ]M., Dept. Co. {Surveyor, Joliet. 
Pelzer, Martin, Mokena. 
Parker. Ira, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Patterson, Jane. 
Petterson, Henry. 
Phillips, E. 

Reid, Maria, Frankfort. 
Reid, Alex., far.; P. O- Frankfort. 
Rabe, Christian, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Rost, Henry, far.; P.O. Frankfort. 
Ratkie, Charles, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Reitz, John, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Ralm, Charles, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Rit/inan, Chas., fhr. ; P. O. (Jreengarden. 
Ruggles, Lorenzo, Frankfort. \ 



Rabe, Heinrich, far.; P. O. Frankfort 
Hoi)zin, Charles, far.; P.O.Frankfort. 
Reitz, Philii), merchant, Mokena. 
•Scheferstein, August, furniture, Chicago. 
Stevens, Joseph, agent, Fraiddort. 
Stocklish, C., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Sanger, N. A., physiciaTi. Frankfort. 
Stone, William, retired, Orland. 
Sterling, Charles. 
Sandrick. Martin, lab., Mokena. 
Stephens. David, agr. mfr., Frankfort. 
Sallimaii, John, lab., Mokejia 
Schlal'er, W'm.. lab., Mokena. 
Sliul)ert, Andrew,'ret. far.; P. 0- Mokena. 
Swartz, John, Joliet. 
Stole, Conrad, merch.nit, ^lokena. 
Stock, George, lab., Mokena. 
Sutton, Thomas, bioker, Mokena. 
Scheiblick, C., blacksmith, Mokena. 
Smith, Conrad, lab., Mokena. 
Seining, Mary, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Schwesser, John, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Shiek, Ferdinand, hotel, Mokena. 
Schilling, John, far. ; P. O. Mokena.. 
Sclnvelsei-, J. (i., far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Schmnll, J. (r.. fai-. ; P. 0. New Lenox. 
Schenck, John, far.; P. O. Bremen. 
Schwezer, George, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Shiek, Jacob, far.; P. O. Mokena, 
Smith, Geo., railroad foreman, Mokena. 
Sheer, Nicholas, far.; P. 0. Mokena. 
vSchilling, John, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Stillwagon, M., far. ; P. O. ^Mokena. 
Schewesser, George, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Schilling, John, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Schnackpeper, H., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Sheur, William, far.; P. O. ACokena. 
Schere, Fred, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Scheer, Peter, far. ; P. O. Fraiikfort. 
Staller, Christian. 
Shoemaker, Henry. 

Schmackpeper, II., far. ; P. 0. Frankfort. 
Sehenk, John, far.; P. O- Bremen. 
Schlil)lich. Chris., blacksmith, Frankfort. 
Sanders, M. F..far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Schacht, Henry, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
.Shiek, Henry, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Stiilfenburg, Peter, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Suutherland. J., wagon-maker, Frank'fort. 
Stitlin, D. F., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Schlothman, Chris. 

Staufenberg, II., far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Sutton, Thomas, far. ; Mokena. 
Schrader, Diedrich. 
Scher, William, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Stige, Caston, far.; P. O. ^lokena. 
Schnltz, Henrv, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Scheer, S., Jr.. far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Stiber, Henry. 

Smitii, Thomas, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Stasson, J. H.. far.; P. O. Monee. 
Stege, F., far.: P. O. Mokena. 
Shiek, John, far.; P. O. ^Slokena. 
Sheridan, William. 
Sheer. William, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Schrodt, Henry, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Schiliick. Christian, blacksmith. Mokena. 
Stoll, C, merchant. Mokena. 



950 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



Seine, Martin, retired, Mokena. 
Schulertl), Nicholas, saloon, Mokena. 
St oil, Henry, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
.Slither, John, merchant, Mokena. 
Stellwagon, Phil, saloon, Mokena. 
Sheir, F., harness-maker, Mokena. 
Steiking, Carl. 

Schrader, Henry, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Stevens, G. AV., manufacturer, Frankfort. 
Sutton, Josepli, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Schrader, D., far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Schoenherr, Fred. 
Stoner, AV". E., retired, Orland. 
Suttor, John, merchant, Mokena. 
Sciiubert, John, merchant. Mokena. 
Stetfins, Emanuel, Mrs. ; Mokena. 
Schsibuer, Fred., cooper, Mokena. 
Stones, W. E. 

Sehring, John, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Stenhager, Joachies, lab., Mokena. 
Schlofer, Wm., lab., Mokena. 
Teels, Henry, lalj., Mokena. 
Turner, Abigail, Mokena. 
Thompson, J. H., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Thomas, J. H. 
Tivining, Hiram. 

Theil, Rudolph, blacksmith, Frankfort. 
Talmer, Bernard ; carpenter, Mokena. 
Thompson, N.AV., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Tonner, Piobert, blacksmith, Mokena. 
Ulricli, John, shoemaker, Mokena. 
Van Horn, AVm., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Van Horn, M., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Van Horn, Andrew T., far.; P. 0. Frank- 
fort. 
Valk, Paulus, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Valk, Henry, far.; P. O. Mokena. 



Valk, Nicholas, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
AVaunemacher, John, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
AVendle, John G., far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
AVaunemacher, C, far. ; P. 0. Mokena. 
AVeiss, Morris, druggist, Mokena. 
AVelschlier, Fred., far.; P. O. Mokena. 
AVarner, John, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
AYarner, Pliillii), far.; P. O. Mokena. 
AA^erner, Gottlieb, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
AVood, H. AV., far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
AVilson, Wm., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
AVeicherpflemining, Franz, farmer; P. O. 

Mokena. 
AVagner, L., far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
AVelchlin, A., shoemaker, Mokena. 
AA^ood, F. W., far. ; P. O- New Lenox. 
AA^einman, G. A., furniture, Frankfort. 
AVishover, Henry, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
AVilson, Wm., far.; P.O.Frankfort. 
AViggart, Fredrich, gardener, Mokena. 
AA^agner, Elizabeth, milliner, Frankfort. 
AVestmiller, Chas., harness-maker. 
AVilliams, Clara, teacher, Mokena. 
AVerner, Geo., saloon, Mokena. 
AA^eber, M., mason, Mokena. 
AA^ishover, Henry, far. ; P. O. Monee. 
AA^ood, H. R. 

AVheeler, David, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Welchlin, M., shoemaker, Mokena. 
AA^erner, C. F., retired, Mokena. 
AVarner, A., wagon-maker, Frankfort. 
AVenzel, August, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Younger, N., watchmaker, Mokena. 
Zephill, Martin. 

Zaumstein, Louis, laborer, Mokena. 
Zohn, John, saloon, Mokena. 



DU PACE TOWNSHIP. 



Ayers, Henry, far.; P. O. Naperville. 
Ayers, M. B., far. ; P. O. Lemont. 
Anglemire, Emanuel, far. ; P. O. Du Page. 
Alderman, A., far. ; P. O. Lemont. 
Alexander, J. L., far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Andrew, F. H., far. ; P. O. Plainfield. 
Ashley, Morgan, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Brossnian, J., Jr., far.; P. O. Naperville. 
Brown, G. AV., far. ; P. O. E. AVheatland. 
Barten, E. A., far. ; P. O. Du Page. 
Barber, John, far. ; P. O. Lemont. 
Bishel, AVm.. far. ; P. O. Lemont. 
Boardman, Horace, far. ; P. O. Naperville. 
Brown, M. J., far. ; P. O. Lemont. 
Bosserman. Martin, far. ; P. (). Naperville. 
Bronson, M., far. ; P. O. Lemont. 
Blinn, John, far.; P. O. Du Page. 
Biggins, C, far.; P. O. Locki)ort. 
Biggins, R., far. ; P. ( ). I>ocki)ort. 
Biggins, James A., far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Biggins, Owen, f;ir.; P. O. Lockport. 
Biggins, C, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Biggins, Peter, far. ; P. O. I.,ock])ort. 
Burckhardt, Henry, far.; P. O. Lemont. 



Curance, Matthias, far.; P. O. Lemont. 
Chapman, M.; P. O. Lemont. 
Chapman, C C, Jr., far.; P. O. Lemont. 
Chapman, Charles C. ; P. O. J-iemont. 
Cheeseman, F. G., far.; P. O. Lemont. 
Cheeseman, T. Y., far. ; P. O. Lemont. 
Cheese, Elizabeth, Lemont. 
Clark, B. B., merchant, Lockport- 
Cilow, Robert, Clerk Circuit Court, Joliet. 
Derby, Charles, far. ; P. O. Lemont. 
Chapman, Wm., far. ; P. O. l>emont. 
Colegrove, L. G., far.; P. O. Plainlield. 
Day, John, far. ; P. O. Plainlield. 
Davis, Henry, far.; P. O. E. AVheatland. 
Dunlap, AVilson, far. ; P. O. Plainfield. 
Dixon, Geo., far. ; P. O. Plainfield. 
Emrey, Lewis A., far.; P. O. Du Page. 
Edelsburgh, John. 
Eaton, Norton, far. ; P. O. Du Page. 
Excelsior Stone Co., Lemont. 
Ephire, iMatthew, far.; P. O. Lemont. 
Farrell, Michael, far. ; P. O. Lemont. 
Fox, Augustus, far. ; JP. O. Naperville. 
Freeman, Robert, far. ; P. O. Naperville. 



DU PAGE TOWNSHIP. 



951 



Frost, D., luercliaiit, Naperville. 

Flukey, .IdIiii. lar. ; F. 0. Leiuoiit. 

Fenster, .lacob, tar.; P. O. Napcrville. 

Feirsteiii, Cliarh'S, far.; P. (). l)n Viige. 

Findliiy. Thomas, tar. ; V. O. Du Fajie. 

Finlaii, Micliael. far.; F. (). Lcinont. 

Flukey, Jolm, far.; 1'. (J. Naperville. 

Founti, Win., far. ; F. U. J)u Fage. 

Fitzgerald, Maurice, far. ; F. O. Leinoiit. 

Fhigg, G. W., far ; F. (). FlaiiUii'ld. 

Graves, A. 13., far.; F. (). l^eiiiout. 

Godfrey, Austin, far.; F. O. J-,eiiiont. 

Gordon, David, far.; F. O. Du Fage. 

Glover, John, far ; F. O. Naperville. 

Gall, John, far.; F. U. Lemont. 

(Jeorge, Mary; F. O. Naperville. 

Goudy, Robert, far. ; F. (). Du Fage. 

Hartranft, Levi, far.; F. (). Naperville. 

Herman, Matthias, far. ; F. U. Lemont. 

Hegg, Frank, far. ; F. O- Lemont. 

Hnlett, Frank, far.; F. O. Lemont. 

Holmes, ('., far.; F. U. Du Fage. 

Higgins, Chauncey, far. ; F. (). Du Fage. 

Hixssert, (Jeo. M., far. ; F. O. Lemont. 

Havens, Orson, far.; F. O. Du Fage. 

Hawes, Wm., far.; F. O. Flaintield. 

Hossinger, Andrew, far. ; F. O. Lemont. 

Jones, Owen T., far.; F. O. Plainfield. 

Johnson, AVm., far. ; F. 0. Flaiulield. 

King, Wm., far. ; F. O. Naperville. 

Ketchani, Levi, Jr., far.; F. O. Lemont. 

Kopp, Jolm, far. ; F. O. Lockport. 

Kilmer, James, far. ; F. O. Lockport. 

Killraer, Thadeus, far.; F. O. Lockport. 

Kickler, John, far. ; F. O. Lemont. 
Kirkhain, John, far. ; F._0. Lockport. 
Kelley, Michael, far. ; F. O. Lemont. 
Leppart, John, far. ; F. 0. Naperville. 
Laughlin, Wm., far. ; P. O. Lemont. 
J^ow, James, far. ; P. O. Lemont. 
Lambert, Frank, far. ; P. O. Du Page. 
Laing, .Stephen, far. ; P. O. Lemont. 
Lange, S. H., far. ; P. O. Lemont. 
Lord, Phillip F., far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Lambert, Geo., far. ; P. O. Plainlield. 
McCain, Joseph M., far. ; P. O. Du Page. 
McCain, Myron, far.; P. O. Du Page. 
McCain, B., far., P. O. Du Page. 
Martin, H., far. ; P. O. Lemont. 
Meyer, Lewis, far. ; P. O. Naperville. 
Martin, John, far. ; P. O. Lemont. 
Murphy, Jeremiah, far.; P. O. Lemont. 
Mather, J. E., far. ; P. O. Du Page. 
Morse, E. H., Mrs. ; P. O. Naperville. 
Morse, Albert, far.; P. O. Naperville. 
Morse, Edward, far. ; P. O. Naperville. 
Morse, Herman, far. ; P. O. Naperville. 
Musselman, Jacob, far.; P. O. Plainfield. 
Martin, G. 1}.; 1'. O. Lockport. 
Mottinger, Noah, far.; P. O. Du Fage. 
Pitts, Michael, far. ; P. (). Lemont. 
Rovce, Abner, Du Page. 
Kathburn, S. R., far.; P. O. Flaintield. 
Rayei-, Abner, far.; J'. O. Naperville. 
Royer, Abner, far.; l^ O. Naperville. 



Royer, Jonathan, far.; P. O. Naperville. 

Royer, Abner, far.; P. O. Nai)erville. 

Raihburn, N^ilcntinc, sliip'r; ]'. O. Joliet. 

Kay, Micliat'l, far.; Lcniont. 

Reid, Mattliew, far.; P. O. Du Page. 

Reardon, liicliard, far.; ]*. O. Lemont. 

Reardon, 'riiomas, Sr.. far. ; P. O. Lemont. 

Reardon, Thomas, Jr., far.; P.O. Jjcmont. 

Raunche, S.. far.; F. O. L()ck|)ort. 

Ratliliurn, 8. R., far.; P. O. Plainlield. 

Roiiiiison, ('. C., far.; P. O. Lemont. 

8held(jii, Robert, far.; P. O. Nai)erville. 

Steward, Fhilii); P. O. Naperville. 

Sliuster, Martin, far.; P. O. Lemont. 

Schrohe, Henry, far. ; P. O. Nai)erville. 

Schultz, John, far.; P. O. Ijemont. 

Strause, Simon, far.; V. O. Naperville. 

Swartz, Elias, far. ; P. O. Naperville. 

Schall. Mary A.; P. O. Naperville. 

Strong, Jlobert, far.; P. O. Nai)erville. 

Susanhire, Charles, far.; P. O. Nai)erville. 

Studenroth, E., liotel proj). ; P.O. Naper- 
ville. 

Shuler, W. M., far. ; P. (). Naperville. 

Sprague, John P., far. ; P. O. Lemont. 

Scholtz, H., far. ; P. O. Naperville. 

Saul, John, far. ; P. O. Lemont. 

Studenroth, O., hotel prop.; P. O. Naper- 
ville. 

Steinhouser, A., far.; P. O. Nai)erville. 

Sheldon, Robert, far.; P. O. Naperville. 

Stanners, Thomas, J. P. ; P. O. Du Page. 

Sciirader, Joseph, far.; P. O. Naperville. 

Sampson, Jones, far. ; Du Fage. 

Sprague, T. J., far. ; P. O. Lockport. 

Staffoid, Enoch, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 

Sprague, C. A., far. ; P. O. Lockport. 

Simmons, Solomon, far.; P. O. Plainfield. 

Schonberger, John, far. ; P. O. Lemont. 

Schmidt, John, far.; P. O. Lemont. 

Shay. Thomas, far. ; P. O. Lemont. 

Smith, John, far.; P. O. Lemont. 

Tripp, Matthew, far.; P. O. Lemont. 

Tripp, S.. far. ; P. O. Lemont. 

Taylor, Henry, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 

Wringer, Joseph, far.; P. O. I^emont. 

Ward, S., far. ; P. O. Lemont. 

Wise, John, far.; P. O. Lemont. 

Wightman, J. P., far.; P. O. Du Page. 

Weaver, Joseph, far.; P. O. Naperville. 

Wescott, S. th, far. ; P. O. Nai)erville. 

White, S. L. ; P. O. Naperville. 

White, John S., far.; P. O. Naj)erville. 

Webster. David. 

Warren, Hiram, far. ; P. i). Nai)erville 

Walker. Wm.. far. ; P. O. Du Page. 

Warner. A. R. F., far.; P. O. Na])erville. 

Willis, Winright, far.; P. O. Du Page. 

Warren, Hiram, far.; P. O. Nai)erville. 

Walker, Jonas, far.; P. O. Du Fage. 

Wenihold. Richard, far. ; P. O. Du Pjige. 

Ward, Jolm, far.; P. O. Lockport. 

Ward, Peter, far.; P. O. Lockport. 

Ward, Daniel, far.; P. O. Lockport. 

Williams, Tiionias, far.; P. O. Lockport. 



952 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



HOMER TOWNSHIP. 



Allerton, A. M., far. ; P. O. Iladlev. 
Allcrton, N. M., far.; P. O. Iladley. 
Brauer, John, far. : P. O. liOckport. 
J31ount, S., far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Battenliunsen, II., far.; P. O. (rooding's 

(irove. 
Belz, John, far. : P. O. Lockport. 
Bronke, John, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Boyce, Simon, far. ; P. O. I^ernont. 
Bullin, Alfred, far. : P. O. Lockport. 
Bro(jks, A. B., far. : P. (). Lockport. 
Brown, J., far. ; P. O. Gooding's (Jrove. 
Jiliss, Lyda, far.; P. (). Lockport. 
Brook, S. A., far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Bessemer, J. W., far.; P. O. Gooding's 

Grove. 
Brockley, P., far. ; P. O. Gooding's Grove. 
Bump, Lender, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Bentley, Robert, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Beaver, M., far. ; P. O. Gooding's Grove. 
Bowen, H. F., far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Bump, J., far. ; P. O. Gooding's Grove. 
Bowere, H. P., far.; P. O. Lo'ckport. 
Beals, Joseph, tailor, Lockport. 
Burland, Maria, far. ; P. O. Loclcport. 
Brannkey, John, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Birch, Jacob, far. ; P. 0. Lockport. 
Bromick, .John, Jr., far.: P. O. Lockport. 
Butcher, Tliomas, far. ; P. O. Hadlev. 
Bettendorf, Matthias, far. : P. O. Joliet. 
Brinkerhoff, John, far.; P. 0. Lockport. 
Burch, Jacob, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Clark, Eichard, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Clark, John, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Cowles, Lucinda, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Callalian, M., far. : P. O. Gooding's Grove. 
Cooper, T., far. ; P. O. Goodinff's Grove. 
Cashlin, C, far.; P. (). (Gooding's Grove. 
Corwin, Natlian, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Colhns, Frederick, far. : P. O. Lockport. 
Cutter, J. Z., far.; P. O. Iladlev. 
Cutler, A. C, far.; P. O. Iladley. 
Carroll, Amos, far. ; P. (). Lockport. 
Corwin, Xatlian, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Corwine, II. T., far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Cowles, Lucinda L. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Collins, Fred, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Cole, Joseph, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Collins, Addison, far. ; P. (). Iladley. 
Collins, Franklin, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Covvell. Samuel, far.; P. O. Lock])ort. 
Colhns, Horatio, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Collins, A., far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Clivens, Jane, far. : P. (). Iladlev. 
Churcli, J. B., far.; P. O. Hadlev. 
Chamberlain, O. «., far.: P. O. Iladley. 
Doilge, xiuson, far.; P. O. Lockjwrt. " 
Dodge, Amos, far. ; P. O. Locki)ort. 
Dry f us, Mendel, far. ; P. O. Lockiiort. 
Donahue, Timotliy, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Davidson, Wm. G., far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Daumm. (J., far.; P. O. Gooding's Grove. 
Dryf us, Wendell, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Dick, Petei-, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 



Dunn, Patrick, far. ; P. O. Locki)ort. 

Dunn, Geo., far.; P. O. Lockport. 

Dancer, Emily, far.; P. O. Hadley. 

Frank, J , far. ; P. O. Gooding's Grove. 

Fry, Theol)old, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 

Frisenniick, N., farmer; P. O.Gooding's 
Grove. 

Frazer, James D., far. ; P. O. Lockport. 

Frazer, II. V., far. ; P. O. Lockport. 

Fralich, Henry, far. ; P. O. Iladley. 

Gotts, Samuel^ far. ; P. O- Lockport. 

Gardner, Geo., far. ; P. O. Lockport. 

Gerlo(!k, C, far. ; P. O. Gooding's Grove. 

Goodale, Wright, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 

Gotts, Samuel, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 

Gaskill, Thomas, far. ; P O. Lockport. 

Gorhani, E. D., far.; P. O. Iladlev. 

Gorham. O. H., far. ; P. O. Hadley. 

Glives, Jane. far. ; P. 0. Iladley. 

Gillett, Isaac M., far. ; P. O. Hadley. 

Gorham, R. T., far ; P. O- Hadley. 

Gorham, Edw., far. ; P O. Hadley. 

Gorham, Elijah, far. ; P. O- Hadley. 

Granger, Francis, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 

Gooding, L. F., far.; P. (). Lockport. 

Gilman, Lewis, far. ; P. O- Lockport. 

Homerding, Nich., far.; P. O. Lockport. 

Hanks, C, far.; P. O- Gooding's Grove. 

Hostert, B., far. ; P. O. Gooding's Grove. 

Hovt, Romeo IL, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 

Hellerman, Geo., farmer; P. O. Gooding's 
Grove. 

Hammerling. Matthias, far. ; P. O. Good- 
ing's Grove. 

Hartwell, Levi, far. : P. O. Ivockport. 

Harms, Henry, far. ; P. O. Hadley. 

Hart, Peter, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 

Harman, James, far.; P. O. Hadley. 

Hatch, H. D., far. ; P. O. Lockport. 

Hemkmiller, Hans, far.; P. O. liockport. 

Halev, John, Jr.. far. ; P. O. Hadley. 

Homerding, Matthias, far. ; P. O- Hadley. 

Haley, John, far.; P. 0. Hadley. 

Homerding, Peter, far. ; P. O. Hadley. 

Haley, (^liarles, far. ; P. O. Hadley. 

Hammond, Job, far. 

Ingersoll, A. A., far. 

Jackson, I. L., far 
Grove. 

Jones, S. B., far.; P. O. Gooding s Grove. 

Johnson, Alex, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 

Jackson, D. G., far.; P. O. Gooding's 



P. O. Iladley. 
P. O. Lockport. 
; P. O. Gooding's 



Grove. 
Kittering, Susan, 

Grove. 
Kittering, A., far.: 
Kittering, W., far. 



far.; P. O. Gooding's 



P.O.Gooding's Grove. 

: P. O. Gooding's Grove. 
Kuney, Anthony, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Kooncliek, Frank, far.; P. 0. Lockport. 
Kol)liska. F., far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Koler, John, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Kumesclieck, F., far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Kruger, Wm., far.; P. O. Hadley. 
Kimball, Wm., far.; P. O. Lockport. 



IIOMEK TOWNSHIP. 



953 



Klott, John, fill-.; P.O. Iladlcy. 
Kiiiulsoii, Charles, I'ar.; 1'. C). Uadli-y. 
Ivnapp, Selali, tar.; P. O. Lockport. 
I,ii(l\viii,u-, .]., far.; V. (). (iootlinix's CJrove. 
l.iimlay, Peter, tar.; P. t). J.tickiiort. 
l^uii,!j;e, Cliarles, tar.; P. (>. Lockport. 
liaiij;tear, J. S., I'ar.; P. (). J.ot-kport. 
LynU, Freeiuaii, far.; P. O. J>oekport. 
I.efjjy, Alfred, far. ; P. C). Jxx-kport. 
Laiitiifear, Win. H., far.; P. (). l.ockport. 
LaiiL^fear.deo., far.; P. O. Iladley, 
Looiuis, Austin, far.; P. C). Iladley. 
I.yiik, Zacliaiiah, far.; P. (). .loliet. 
Loouiis, Auslin, far., P. (.). Iladley. 
McGregor, Henry, far.; P. O. Gooding's 

Grove. 
MeLanuidin, J)., far.; P. O. J^ockport. 
McJ.eiulding-, Frank, far.; P. O. Iladley. 
Miteliell, .lames, Jr., far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Macauley, -Joseph, far.; P. O. Gooding's 

Grove. 
.Munday, L., far. ; P. O. Gooding's Grove. 
Mallory, Patrick, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Myer, Lewis, far. ; P. C). i^eniout, 
Meyers, Lewis, far. ; P. (). Lemont. 
.Mason, H. S., far. ; P. U. Lockport. 
Mitchell, James Jr.. far., P. U. Gooding's 

Grove. 
.Morse, Curtis, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Milne, Kobert, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Messenger, Horace, far.; P. (). Lockport. 
Matthews, ,lohn, far.; P. (). Hadley. 
.Morse, Wm., far. ; P. O. Locki)ort. 
Messenger, H., far.; P. O. Lockport. 
^ Morse, Wm., far.; P. O. Hadley. 
.>Nesius, Joseph, far.; P. (). J.,ockport. 
Nichols, A., far.; P. (.). Gooding's Grove. 
Ott, Barney, far.; P. (). Lockport. 
Paddock, W. J., far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Prior, Michael, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
f\angburn, J>ouis, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Peck, C, fai-.; P. O. (Joodiug's Grove. 
Paddock, (ieo. A., far.; P. (). I^ockport, 
Planka, Joseph, far.; P. O. Hadley. 
Paddock, AValter, far. ; P. O. Lockpox-f. 
Powers, Rogers, far.; P. O. Lockport- 
Paddock, Jeiome, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Peck, A. 1)., far.; P. (). Lockport. 
Heed, G., far.; P. (). (rooding's Grove. 
Rowley, J. 15., far.; P. (). J^ockport. 
Reynolds, M., far.; P. (). Jjockport. 
Rulaiul, A., far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Re(;d, A. 8., far.; P. (). Gooding's Grove. 
Reed, Nelson, far. : P. (). Lockport. 
Rhine, Mary, far.; P. (). Lockport. 
Russ, .lolm, far.; P. O. Gooding's Grove. 
Reiter, Peter, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Reed, Henry, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Rowley, Phlneas, far.; P. (). Lockport. 
Renter, Peter, far.; P. (). Lock])ort. 
Rowley, Fred, far.: P. <). Lockport. 
Rinisella, Joim, far.; P. O. Lock])ort. 
Rowley, A. G., far.; P. O. Hadlev. 
Smitli, Herbert, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Syler, Antony, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 
Saldenuan, Jacob, far.; P. O. Lockport. 
Sciiuyler, Austin, far.; P. O. (Jooding's 

(J rove. 



Smith, Joiin. far. ; P (). Locki)ort. 

8ullivan, J., far.; P. (). Cooding's Grove. 

Schlayetske, Martin, farmer; P. O. Lock- 
I)ort. 

Sullivan, T.. far.; P. O. Lockport. 

Smith, Wm. G., far.; P. O. J.ockport, 

Siiopce, John, far.; P. O. J^emout. 

Sontag, Peter, far.; P. (). Lockport. 

Salderman, Jacob, far. ; P.O. Lockport. 

Stone, T., far.; P. (). Gooding's Grove. 

Straw'ley, F., far. ; P. O. (ioodiiig's Grove. 

Speriy, Geo., far.; P. (). Lockport. 

Simpson, Geo., far.: P. O. Iladley. 

Sutton, Ruth, far.; P. O. J.ockport. 

Schliff, Rud()li)h, f ar. ; P. O. J.ockport. 

Savage, Amos, far.; P. O. Lockport. 

Savers, Joini, far.; P. (). Lockport. 

Stilhvagon, ]SIartin, far.: P. O. Hadley. 

Simiison, A., far.; P. O. Hadlcv- 

Storms, Robert, far.; P. O. Hadley. 

Seifert, Lewis, far.; P. O. Hadley. 

Smith, Herbert, far.; P. O. Hadley. 

Searles, Frank, far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 

Storm, Alex., far. ; P. (). Iladley. 

Snyder, Stephen, far. ; P. (). Lockport. 

Seifert, Christian, far. ; P. O. Hadley. 

Seifert, John, far. ; P. (). Hadley. 

Sandwich, Martin, far. ; P. O. Hadley. 

Stillman, A. M., far.; P. O. Joliet. 

Sharp, C. S., far. ; P. (). Lockport. 

Storms, Robert, Sr., far., P. O. Hadley. 

Storms, Robert, Jr.. far.; P. O. Lockport. 

Searls, Franklin, far. ; P. O. Iladley. 

Thomas, B. P., far.; P. O. Gooding's 
Grove. 

Townsend, Robert, farmer : P. O. Lock- 
port. 

Tilsa, Wm., far. ; P. O. Hadley. 

Towner, Mary M., far.; P. O. Lockport. 

Ulrich, Jacob, far.; P. O. Lockport. 

Van Duser, Geo., far.; P. O. Hadley 

AVagner, Alex, far. ; l^ O. liockport. 

AVarren, Nicholas, far.: P. O. Lockport. 

Willming, Bernhart, far. ; P. O. Gooding's 
(irove. 

Wiltenkeller, A., far.; P. O. Lockport. 

AVallel, J., far.; P. O. Gooding's Grove. 

AVeiidling, Blaze, far.; P. O. Gooding's 
Grove. 

Wendling, Louis, far.; P. 0. Lockport. 

Witenkeller, J., far.; P. O. Lockport. 

Ward, Geo. H., far.; P. O. Lemont. 

Wilson. Samuel, far.; P. O. Locki)ort. 

AVilmere, Bernard, far.; P. O. Lockjiort. 

AVeiss, Peter, far. : P. (). Gooding s Grove. 

AV alter. M., far.; P. O. Lockport. 

AVetter, N., far.; P. 0. Gooding's Grove. 

AVebster, Ilenrv, far. ; P. O. Lockport. 

AVagner, A., far.; P. O. Gooding's Grove. 

AVills, Kli/.a, far.; P. (). Lockport. 

AVhite, Robert, far.; P. O. Lockport. 

AVilliain, Jo.seph, far.; P. (). Lockport. 

AVells, N. C, far.; P. (). Lockport. 

Youngler, Bernard, far.; P. O. Gooding's 
Grove. 

Youngler, Bernard, farmer; P. O. Lock- 
port. 

Zimmers, M.,far. : P. O.Gooding's Grove. 



954 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



WHEATLAND TOWNSHIP. 



Annis, Matilda ; P. (). Flaiiifit'ld. 
Brossman, Jacob, far. ; P.O. Naperville. 
Boardman, F., far. ; P. O. East Wlieatland. 
Bratoii. Caroline ; P. O. Naperville. 
Baisch, Jacob, far.; P. (). Naperville. 
Boughton, Mary L. ; 1'. ( ). E. Wheatland. 
Bougliton, W. D., far. ; P. (). E. Wheatland. 
Baiscli, Christian, far. ; P. O. Naperville. 
Book, John, Mrs. ; P. U. Naperville. 
Biukett, Daniel, far. ; P. O. Tamarack. 
Brown, Geo. W., far.; P. O.E.Wheatland. 
Bapp, Wm., far. ; P. O. Naperville. 
Baisch, Godfrey, far. ; P. O. Tamarack, 
Boss, Geo., far.; P. O. Plaintield. 
Book, Peter, tar. ; P. O. Tamarack. 
Brown, Alex. G., far.; P. 0. Tamarack. 
Burnett, Thomas, far.; P. O. Tamarack. 
Barclay. J., far.; P. O. East Wheatland. 
Barbour. John, far. ; P. O. Tamarack. 
Burch, E. H., far. ; P. O. Plaintield. 
Cramer, Jacob, far.; P. O. Aurora. 
Chase, A. P., far.; P. O. Aurora. 
Clow. James, far. ; P. O. East Wheatland 
Clow, J. H.. far.; P.O. East Wheatland. 
Clow, T., far.; P. O. East Wheatland. 
Cutton, A. R., far.; P. O. Tamarack. 
Catchpole, Daniel, far. ; P. O. Plainlield, 
Catchpole, David, far. ; P. O. Plainfield. 
Catton, Wm., far. ; P. O. Tamarack. 
Cotton, A. B., far.; P. O. Tamarack. 
Cropsy, J. H., far.; P. O. Plainlield. 
Chaplin, James, far. ; P. O: Tamarack. 
Cropsey, J. H., far.; P. O. Plainfield. 
Colgrove, L. G., far. ; P. O. Plainfield. 
Doyle, Wm.. far. ; P. O. Tamarack. 
Davis, G. W., far.; P. O. East Wheatland. 
Deliers, G., far. ; P. O. Aurora. 
Deliers, W.. far.; P. O. Aurora. 
Dermeth, Jolm. far.; P. O. Tamarack. 
Dow. John, far.; P. O. East Wheatland. 
Dow% Colvin, far.; P. O. East Wheatland. 
Day, Wm., far.; P. 0. Plainfield. 
Dague, David, far. : P. O. East Wheatland. 
Denan. Thomas, far. ; P. O. Nai)erville. 
Davis, W. L.. far.; P. O. East Wheatland. 
Dunlap.G. W., far.; P. O. Plainfield. 
Eichelberger. John, far. ; P. 0. Naperville. 
Eichelbei-ger, Emma ; P. O. Plainfield. 
Eye]-, Jacob, far.; P. O. Plainfield. 
Eldridge. George, far.; P. (). Tamarack. 
Fisher, Jacob P., far.; P. O. Aurora. 
Fisher, John, n., far.; P.O. Aurora. 
Fisher, Micliael, far.; P. O. Naperville. 
Freise, Chi-istiau, far.; P. O. Nai)erville. 
Findley, Marv; P. O. Tamarack. 
Findk-y, Stephen, far.; P. O. Tiimarack. 
Furgeson, Andrew, far.; P. O. Tamarack. 
Fry, David, far.; P. O. Plainfield. 
Fazee. Michael, far.; P. O. E. Wheatland. 
Fry, Zachariali, far.; P. O. Plainfield. 
Freeland, A., far.; P. (). E:ist Wheatland. 
Findley, Thomas, far.; P. O. Tamarack. 
Frazer, S. B., far.; P. O. Plainfield. 
Findley, Marv ; P. O. Tamara(!k. 
■George, Wm., far. ; P. O. Plainfield. 



Grabe, John, far. ; P. O. Plainfield. 

Glavy, P., far.; P. O. East Wheatland. 

Grabe. John, far.; P. O. Naperville. 

Gensert, Fred., far.; P. O. Plainfield. 

Grill, Samuel, far. ; P. O. Plainfield. 

Gilmore, J.,Sr.. far.; P. O. Tamarack. 

Gray, Walter, far. ; P. O. Tamarack. 

Hossenrichter, G., far.; P. O. Naperville. 

Hobson, John, far.; P. O- Naperville. 

Hene, John. 

Hossenrichter, J., far.; P. O. Tamarack. 

Haywood, Ansel, far. ; P. O. Tamarack. 

Hoag, Leonard, far. ; P. O. Tamarack. 

Harvey, Alex., far.; P. 0. Tamarack. 

Hoag, Leonard, far. ; P. O. Aurora. 

Holdman, Daniel, Mrs.; P. O. Tamarack. 

Hartronft, E., far. ; P. O. Nnperville. 

Hertzog, Geo., far.; P. O. Plainfield. 

Hertzog, Geo., Jr., far. ; P. O. Plainfield 

Jones, Asa G., far.; P. O. Plainfield. 

Jameson, A. H., far.; P. O. Plainfield. 

King, Thomas, far. ; P. O. Tamarack. 

King, W., farmer; P. O. East Wheatland. 

Kinley, C, farmer; P. O. Tamarack. 

Keynon, .Tobn, far. ; P. O. Tamarack. 

Kanagg, John M., far. ; P. O. Plainfield. 

Kemmerer, Lewis, far.; P. O Naperville, 

liOmbard, John, far.; P. O. Aurora. 

Lippart, John, far. ; P. O. Aurora. 

Lantz, John P., far. ; P. O. Naperville. 

Lantz, Isaac V., far. ; P. O. Naperville. 

Leppart, George, far. ; P. O- Aurora. 

Lippart, John, Jr., far. ; P. O- Aurora. 

Love, Jacob, farmer ; P. O. Tamarack. 

Meyer, Lewis, far. ; P.O. E. Wheatland. 

Matter, Abraham, far. ; P. O. Naperville. 

Mussey, Henry, far. ; P. O- Aurora. 

Meyer", Elias. far. ; P. O- East Wheatland. 

Malcolm, John, farmer; P. 0. Tamarack. 

Mather, J. E., far. ; P. O. East Wheatland. 

Mather, Jonathan, far.; P. O. E. Wheat- 
land. 

Mather, Ed., far. ; P. O. E. Wheatland. 

Malcolm, Andrew, far.; P. O. Tamarack. 

Mottinger, Lewis, far.; P. O. Plainfield. 

McMicken, John, far. ; P. O. Tamarack. 

Neis winter, Joseph, far. ; P. O. Plainfield. 

Nisewender, Jos., far. ; P. O. Plainfield. 

Otta, Catliarine; P. O. Naperville. 

Oaks, Henry, far. ; P. O. Naperville. 

Patterson, Andrew, far.; P. O. E.Wheat- 
land. 

Pilcher, Fred K.,far.; P. O. Tamarack. 

Palmer, Matthew, far. ; P. O. Tamarack. 

Peidlew, Julius, far.; P. O. Aurora. 

Patterson, D., far.; P. O. E. Wlieatland, 

Patterson, J., far. ; P. O. E. Wheatland. 

Patterson, Thomas, far.; P. O. E. Wheat- 
land. 

Patterson, M., far.; P. O. E. Wheatland. 

Roger, Jonatlian, far. ; P. O. Naperville. 

Bobbins, John, far. ; P. O. Tamarack. 

Robbins, Fitz J., far. ; P. O. Plainfield. 

Rank, Samuel, far. ; P. O. Plainfield. 

Robbins, Sarah; P. O. Tamarack. 



NEW LKNOX TOWNSHIP 



955 



lliiv, Aloiizo, far.; P. 0. Plaiiilicld 
Shaffer, Christian, far.; V. O. Plainru'ld. 
Siiinnons, S., far.; P. O. Phiinlifhl. 
Scott, \V., far.; P. O. Tamarack. 
Sclieapp, 1.., far.; P. (). K. ^Vll(•athuul. 
Stark, ,Iao()l), far.; P. O. Najx-rviUe. 
Shoal, Cliristian, far.; P. O. Naiu'rville. 
Shoffer, Michael, far. ; P. O. E. Wheat- 
land. 
Smith, Fred, far. ; P. O. Naperville. 
Smith. Joini, far.; 1'. O. Najtcrville. 
Slick, Daniel, far.; P. (). Xaperville. 
Slick, Henrv, far.; P. O. Naperville. 
Stark. Israel C. far. ; P. O. Xaiierville. 
Spauldinu, Jacob, far.; P. (). Plainfield. 
Stewart, Thomas, far.; P. O. Tamarack. 
Sillar, Thomas, far.; P. O. Tamarack. 
Sillar, Rali)h, far. ; P. O. Tamarack. 
Stark, Wm., Jr., far. : P. O. Naperville. 
Tvler, S. B., far.: P. 0. Plainfield. 



Thomas, A. S., far.; P. O. E. Wheatland. 

Thompson, Wm., far.; P. (). Plainfield. 

Tliompson. Ale.x.far. ; P. O. Tamarack. 

Thompson, Adam, far.; P. (). K. Wheal- 
land. 

Varley. Thomas, far.; P. (). Plainfield. 

Wolf, John, far.; V. O. 'I'amai.u^k. 

Weaver, Saninel, far.; P. (). Naperville. 

Westi)hell, Henry, far.; P. (). E. Wheat- 
land. 

Wise, Adam, far.; P. (). Xai)erville. 

Webster, David, far. ; P. (). Iv Wiicatland. 

Watson, Alex., far.; P. O. Tamaiatk. 

Wolf, Amos, far.; P. O. Naperville. 

AVilson. Wni., far.; P. O. Tamarack. 

W^ijihtman, C, farmer; P. (). Phiinfield. 

Wheeler, Geo. AV. A., far.; P. O. Tama- 
rack. 
1 Wetzley,rriM.,far.; P.O. E. Wheatland. 



NEW LENOX TOWNSHIP. 



Allerton, Archibald, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Angall, A. A.; P. (). Mokena. 
Artwein, Jolui, far.; P.O. Spencer, 
xihlschlager Chris., far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Ahlschlager, Chris., far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Brundy, A., Mrs. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Bliss, Abel, far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Bannon, James, far. : P. <). Joliet. 
Bannon, Maria; P. O. Joliet. 
Bouck, Philijt, far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Bundy, A. S., Mrs. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Barney, Vincent, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Berf^er, Thos. !>., far. : New Lenox. 
Baldwin, J., far.; P. 0. Joliet. 
Brown, Geo., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Bliss, Abel, far. ; New Lenox. 
Baker, William ; P. O. Mokena. 
Benter, Chris., far.; P. 0. Spencer. 
Bartie, Charles, Jr., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Bartie, Charles, Sr., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Beebe, Albert W., far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Banch, Jacob, far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Chambei-lin, O.S., far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Cooper, Thos., far. : P. O. New Lenox. 
Cooper, N. P., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Culbertson, Thomas, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
(^hittenden, 11. R. 
Crager, John, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Cross, Peleg, far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Cleveland, Leroy. far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Cmniingham, James, far ; P. O. Spencer. 
Campbell, M. B., mail carrier; P. O.New 

Lenox. 
Criddle, Sarah ; P. O. New Lenox, 
(•ondon, John; P. O. Joliet. 
Doig, Tiiomas, farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
Dibbell, J. B., Rev., Baptist minister; P. 

O. Iladley. 
Doig, Alexander, farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
Doxtader, J., far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Dall, Jonathan, far.; P. O. Mokena. 



Delanev, Richard, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Delanev, P.; P.O. Joliet. 
Delaney, Ellen, P. O. Joliet. 
Evarts, John, far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Francis, A. Allen, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Francis, John, farmer; P. O.New Lenox. 
Francis, Geo. L., far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Francis, Charles, far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Ferguson, Thos., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Fellows, W. E., blacksmith; P. O. New 

Lenox. 
Felter, J. J., farmer ; P. O. Joliet. 
Gerigan, Catharine; P. O. Joliet. 
Granger, Alonson, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Gorman, Ed. E., far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Goughar, John, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Gouger, Daniel, far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
Gouger, Jos. E., far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
Gouger, Wm., Jr.. far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Gillett, L M., far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Grant, Albert, far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Greenwood, George G., far. ; P. O. New 

Lenox. 
Greenwood, Aaron ; P. O. Mokena. 
Gordon, Moses, farmer. 
Hammond. Seneca, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Hooker, Helen M., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Harper, Josei)h, farmer; P. O. Mokena. 
Higinbotham, IL O.; P. O. Chicago. 
Hunt, Mark, farmer; P. O. Mokena. 
Harper, James, Mrs., far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Hine, Samuel TL. farmer: P. O. Mokena. 
Haven, Dwight. farmer; P. O. Spencer. 
Haven, A. S.. far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
Hilton, Geo., merchant : P. O. New Lenox. 
Homer, Peter, farmer: P. O. Joliet. 
Halev, Thomas, far.; P.O. New Lenox. 
Haines. T. J., far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
Holmes. J. S., merchant; P. O. Spencer. 
Holme.s, M. P.. merchant; 1'. O. Spencer. 
Holmes. James, far. ; P. O. Spencer. 



95t) 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



Iluffinan, Mary; P- O. New Lenox. 
Ilaveu, Dwigrlit, far.; P. O. Spencer. 
Ilogan, Dennis, far. ; P. (). Spencer. 
Hunt. George, farmer; P. O. Spencer. 
Higinbotliani, II. N.; P. O. Chicago. 
Hunt, M. C., farmer; P. O.Spencer. 
Hilton, G. S., merchant ; P. O. Spencer. 
Hill, S., carpenter; P. (). New Lenox. 
-Jones, Eobt., farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
.Jordan, E. L., fanner; P. O. Mokena. 
Jorfhin, Elias L., farmer; P. (). Mokena. 
-Jones, Thos., farnier; P. (). New Lenox. 
Kofter, James, farmer: P. (). Spencer. 
Kohler, John, farmer; P. O. Mokena. 
Kapper, Jos., far.; P. O. Spencer. 
Kellogg, M. II., farmer ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Kester, Michael, fanner; P. O. Joliet. 
Kestel, Geo., farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
Kavanaugh, Patrick, fai-. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Knickerbocker, AVard, merchant; P. O. 

New Lenox. 
Kinckerboclcer, M., far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Klass, John, farmer; P. O. Mokena. 
Kerchval, ('has., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Krult, Fred M. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Kerchval, James, jMrs., far. ; P. 0. Joliet. 
Lewis, Cyrus A., farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
Lewis, Gordon, far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Lewis, C. A , farmer ; P. O. Joliet. 
Lewis, Cyrus, farmer; P. O. New Lenox. 
Lynk, T., merchant ; P. (). New Lenox. 
Lynk, Staton, far.; P. (). Joliet. 
Lynk, Sylvan us, far. ; New Lenox. 
Link, Stanton, farmer. 
LaAvler, Michael, farmer; P. O. Joliet. 
McCarty, Michael, farmer; P.O. Spencer. 
McGrath; Mary, far. ; P. O. NeAv Lenox. 
McGovney. AVm., far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
McGovjiey, W. W., far.; P. O. Mokena. 
McGinnis, Felix, far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
McLane, Edward, far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
McLaughlin, John, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
McLaughlin, Dudley, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Messenkunck, Fred., far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Mather, E. S., far. : P. O. Mokena. 
Marshall, C. H., far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Mast, Joel, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Marshall, Rollins, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Mast, Jacob, far.; P.O. Joliet. 
Mather, S. E., far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Marshall, Griffith, far. ; P. 0. Mokena. 
M(mtay, Charles, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Maw, Christ, far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Muri)liy, James, far.; P. O. Spencer. 
Morris, Henry, blacksmith. New Lenox. 
Nobles, Elisha, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Nofes, Joseph, farmer. 
Osrems, Charles, far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
Pelkey, Edward, retired. New Lenox. 
Pitts, John, far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Paul, AV. M., farmer. 
Phillijjs, James, far.; P.O. New Lenox. 
Piiillips, John, far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
Pink, Wm., far.; P. O. Spencer. 
Pease, Orvil, far.; P. O. New Lenox. 



Pester, John, far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Keynolds, John M., far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Reynolds, John, far. ; P. O. ^lokena. 
Revnolds, Isaac, far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
Reynolds, J. S., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Reynolds, Joseph, far. ; New Lenox. 
Richards. Isaac, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Ryan, James, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Reipin, John, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Robinson, Frank, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Raney, E. C., far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Rudd, Sarah, Joliet. 
Storms, Alex, far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Storms, John, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Storms, AV., far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Storms, James, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Staley, H. M., far. ; P. i). Mokena. 
Sheik, Ferdinand, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Snoad, Charles, far. ; I*. O. Joliet. 
Shaffner, Levi, Joliet. 
Short,AVm.A.,Mrs., far. ; P.O.New Lenox. 
Smith, L. F., far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
Smith, Andrew, far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
Sass, Henrv, blacksmith, New Lenox. 
Searls, Franklin, far.; P. O. Halley. 
Schorp, Chris, far. ; P. O. Spencer ."^ 
Spaulding, Leonard, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Stime, Henry, far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Schorp, Chris, far.; P. O. Spencer. 
Schorp, John, far. ; P.O. Spencer. 
Schmool, Henry, far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Simmons, Harriet, New Lennox. 
Shafner, Henry, far^ ; P. O. Joliet. 
Schrader, Henry, far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
Seward, Calvin ; P. O. Joliet. 
Strattman, H.. far. ; P. O. N<'w Nenox. 
Salisbery..T. B.. butter-ndcr.. New Lenox. 
Schuevoi, Henry, far.; P. O. Spencer. 
Schwarz, Menzel, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
Stevens, David, farmer. 
Thompson, John M., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Thieland, Frederick, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
Tuck, AA^ hi., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Udort, Francis, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Urch, Heniy, laborer, New Lenox. 
Vass, Henry, far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Van Duser, Geo., far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
Warner, Chas. F., far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
AVeeks, C H., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
AA'^amremacher, John, far.; P. O. Mokena. 
AVamremaclier, C., far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
AVerner. George, far. ; P. O. Mokena. 
AVelch, James, far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
AA^agner, Ph:lip, far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
AA'ilson, AV. C, far.; P. O. Spencer. 
AVelch, Michael, far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
AA''eston, A. D., far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
AVlieeler, Margaret, Joliet. 
AA'altz, J. J., far.; P. O. Spencer. 
AVatkins, David. 

AVatkins, Morgan, far. ; P. O.New Lenox 
AVatkins. John, far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
AVillis, I. B., far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
AVood, F. AV., far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
AVarren, Harriet, New Lenox. 



GRRNGARDEN TOWNSHIP. 



957 



CREENCARDEN TOWNSHIP. 



Alireiis. Charles, fanner: P. (). Monee. 
Andrews, Wni., far.; P. (). Frankfort. 
Andrew, G., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Alhreolit, John, far.; P.O. Monee. 
Bettenhansen, ('., far.: P. (). Frankfort. 
Bettenhaiisen, (i., far. ; P. (). Frankfort. 
Block. Fred, far.; P.O. Frankftut. 
Buclnnire, Maria, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Brocknian, Fred, far.; P. (). Monee. 
Bock, Lonis, far.; P.O. Frankfort. 
Block, Wm., far.; P. O. ]\[onee. 
Bob/ien, -lolui, .Instiee. Frankfort. 
Bock. Christian, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Boeken, B. J}., far. ; P. O. Monee. 
Branden, Paul, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Brandstatter, G., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Brooknuin, Carl, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Bucholtz, Fred, far.; P.O. Frankfort. 
Brockman, Henry, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Bettenhanser. C, far.; P.O. Green^arden. 
Conrad, Kropf, far.; P. O. Greengarden. 
Diest, John. 

Diest, John, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Diegal, Henry, far.; P. O. Greengarden. 
Engelhard, F., far.; P. O. Monee. 
Eich, Mary, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Eggrv s, Henry, far. ; P. O. Monee. 
Eisenbrandt, H., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Foster, Andrew, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Forkner, Jacob, far. ; P. O. Monee. 
Fredricks, John, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Frentz, August, far. ; P. O. Monee. 
Finkmiller, Valentine, far.; P.O. Monee. 
Felton, John, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Feldon, J. P., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Felten, John, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Filden, JolmP.,far.; P.O. Frankfort. 
Fiel, John, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Fisher, John, far. ; P. O. Monee. 
Falkens, F., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Gunter, (Christ, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Gaitte, Ernst, far. ; P. O. Monee. 
Hasenjager, Fred, far.; P. O. Frankfoi't. 
Hassenjager, Fred, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Honsl)rach, Henry, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Hanson, Peter, far. ; P. O. Greengarden. 
Hanson, A., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Hylandt, Wm., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Herl)ert, Christ, far.; P. O. Greengarden. 
Henspeter, Fred, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Harrison, Amos, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Harms, H. H., far. ; P. O. Monee. 
HaiTison, J. AV., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Harms, Herman, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Hayw»M)d, F. 8., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Hardv, Russell, far.; P. O. Greengarden. 
Havwood, F. J., far.; P. O. FraTikfort. 
Heinrichs, Ulrich, f;ir.; P. O. Frankfort. 
Jameson. Cliristopher, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Jacobs, George B., far.; P. O. Monee. 
Jacobs, C, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Johnson, H. M., far.; P. O. Monee. 
Kiser, Joseph, far.; P. O. ^fonee. 
Konig, David, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Kerner, Matthew, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 



Krenth, Daniel, far.; P.O. Monee. 

Kasich, Henry, far.; P. O. Monee. 

Knickriein, A., fur.; P. O. Monee. 

Kister. Cliristopher, far.; P. O. Monee. 

Koerner, How., far.; P. O. Monee. 

Kepl)a, Ciiiistian, far.; P. O. Monee. 

Kuhan, R.. far.; P. O. Frankfort. 

Kitzrow, (i., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 

Karnei-, John, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 

Koppe, Heiirv, far.; P. O. Monee. 

Kepper, John, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 

Kiiapi)er, IVter, far.; P. O. Monee. 

Kneader, F., far.; P. O. Frankfort. 

Koerner, Margretta, far.; P. O. Monee. 

Lorenzen, Paul, far.; P. O. Frankfort. 

Luben, C. F., far.; P. O. Fraid<fort. 

Lnehrs. F. H., far.; P. O. Monee. 

Laniie, John, far.; 1\ O. ]Moiiee. 

Lambke, Louis, farmer; P.O. Monee. 

Lanckemau, C, farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Lehmann, C, farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Lankmau, Carsten, far.; P. O. Monee. 

Lehman, Const., fanner; P. O. Monee. 

Luches, John T., fanner; P. O. Monee. 

McDonald, Jolin, farmer: P.O. Frankfort. 

Manger, A., farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 

Miller. John, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 

Murdie, Andrew, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 

Meisterberg, John, farmer; P.O. Monee. 

I^agel, Fred, farmer; P. O. ^lonee. 

Nagel, Charles, farmer; P. 0. Monee. 

Peters, Heinridi, farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Peters, Fred, fanner; P. (). Monee. 

Peters, Gottliel», farmer; P. O. Monee. 
I Preis, Fred, farnu-r; P. O. Monee. 
I Pries. Henry, farmer: P. O. Monee. 
1 Petters, A. .S., farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Peters, John, farmer; P. O. Monee. 
; Paulsen, AVm., farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Quiatmeir, Henry, farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Ritzman. C, farmer; P. O. Monee. 
I Rosen iuock, Wm., farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Rudd, B.. farmer; P. O. Greengarden. 

Rab, Philip, farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Russell, Hardin, farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Rosey, Jacob, fanner; P. (). Frankfort. 

Ropp, Philip, fanner; P. O. Monee. 

Rust, Henrv, farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Rost, Flenry, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 

Ridder, Louis, farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Rahm, Henry, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 

Rahnn, IL, farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Smith, F., farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Stilhva<ron, Henrv, far.; I'. O. Frankfort. 

Smith, Edw., farmer: P. O. Frankfort. 

Schlotman, Christian, far.; P.O.Frank- 
fort. 

Stassen, John, fanner; P. O. Monee. 

Stoffenbcr',^ Peter, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 

Songmeiter.Convad.far.; P.O. Frankfort. 

Sclus.sen. .Vdol])!). 

Sandei-s, Micliael, far. : P. O. Frankfort. 

Schubert, Christian, farmer; P.O. Monee. 

Sippel, John, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 

Sippel, Martin, farmer; P. O. Monee. 



958 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



Stasseii, J. H., farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Schmidt, F., farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Scliroder, Win., farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Staff enberg-. Henry C, farmer; P. O. 
Greengarden. 

Stassen, H. H., farmer ; P. O. Monee. 

Stilhvagon, Wm.. far.; P. O. Frankfort. 

Schubbe, Fred, farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Stolpli, Geo. 

Stoff enberg, Henry, farmer ; P. O. Frank- 
fort. 

Schroder. Carl. far. ; P. O. Greengarden. 

Smit, Carl, farmer ; P. O. Monee. 

Stassen. Henry, Justice and Land Agent; 
P. O. Monee. 

Stassen. John, nurseryman ; P. O. Monee 

Thelen, F., farmer ; P. O. Monee. 

Tuhl, John, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 

Twinning, F.H., farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 

Topper, li., farmer ; P. O. Monee. 



Tell, James, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
Ulrich, John, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
Voigt, August: P. O. Monee. 
Voight, Henry, farmer ; P. O. Monee. 
Weber. Geo., farmer; P. O. Monee. 
Werner, John, farmer; P. O. Monee. 
Watson, Wm., farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
Werner, D., farmer; P. O. Monee. 
Wood, Bronson, farmer; P. O. Frankfort. 
VVitherel, Charles, far. ; P. O. Frankfort. 
Welchy, Fred, farmer; P. O. Monee. 
Wilke, Fred, farmer; P. O. Monee. 
Woeltge, Fred, farmer; P. O. Monee. 
Weist, Christian, farmer; P. O. Monee. 
Wilkins, Peter, farmer; P. 0. Monee. 
Wishover, Henry, farmer and insurance 

agent ; P. O. Monee. 
Wilick, Geo., farmer ; P. 0. Frankfort. 
White, H. Jos. 



PEOTONE TOWNSHIP. 



(P. 0. PEOTONE.) 



Arnold, Lewis, merchant. 
Adams, E. H., farmer. 
Adams, John, farmer. 
Adams, A. 
Amos, Ross. 
Andrews, Wm. 
Anderson, John, farmer. 
Angus. Wm., merchant. 
Antcliff, John, farmer. 
Butymers, John. 
Barton, James, farmer. 
Barnhart, James, Postmaster. 
Beach, Lawrence. 
Bell, Robert, farmer. 
Bell, Wm., farmer. 
Bell, Daniel. 
Benton. Wm., farmer. 
Beard, J. G., farmer. 
Bisping, Wm., laborer. 
Bornes, Englehart, farmer. 
Borms, Henry, farmer. 
Borms, Fred, farmer. 
Bodine, D. C, farmer. 
Brayten, J. H., merchant. 
Bruce. Hugh, laborer. 
Brockway, C, farmer. 
Brockway, Chauncey, farmer. 
Brockway, D. A., farmer. 
Butterfield, James. 
Burke, Patrick, farmer. 
Calkins, (,'liester H., farmer. 
Calkins, Rosaline, farmer. 
Carston, John, farmer. 
Calkins, Felix W., farmer. 
Collins, M., merchant. 
Collins, Thomas, agent R. R. 
Cowing, John C, farmer. 
Cowan, Walter, farmer. 
Corcoran, James, farmer. 
Cowing, E. B. clerk. 
Conrad, John, Magistrate. 



Conrad, Peter, dairyman. 

Coit, Harriet A. 

Cosade, J., farmer. 

Crawford, Ralph, farmer. 

Crawford, Wm., farmer. 

Christian, David Ti., farmer. 

Chappel, Wm., farmer. 

Croxen, Wm., farmer. 

Croxen, Benj., farmer. 

Cushman. Jonas, farmer. 

Dennis, Jonathan, farmer. 

Dornsbeeish, Wm., Mrs., farmer. 

Dewitz, Jacob, wagon-maker. 

Dopp, John, farmer. 

Dennis, Wm., farmer. 

Dewitz, J., wagon-maker. 

Douglass, Sarah, Mrs. 

Dressier, Ernst. 

Dunlap, Wm., farmer. 

Elliott. John, farmer. 

Engelhart, Fred., farmer. 

Erickson, Peter A., laborer. 

Evans, William C, farmer. 

Farley, Arnold. 

Folke, Henry, physician. 

Fell, George, merchant. 

Fahs, Tobias, farmer. 

Fill, August V. 

Fisch, Ferdinand, farmer. 

Fiel, Philip, hotel. 

Flood, George, farmer. 

Flannigan, Patrick. 

Fletcher, Allison, farmer. 

French. R. W. Rev., Pastor U. P. Church. 

Gates, Henry, merchant. 

Gentar, August, farmer. 

Genter, Ernst, farmer. 

Genter, Henry, farmer. 

Gilkerson, Thomas, farmer. 

Gilkerson, Curtis, grain merchant. 

Gilmore, David, farmer. 



PEOTONE TOWNSHIP. 



95^ 



({leas(»n, Daniel, farmer. 

Gilkinson, Tlinnias. larmer. 

(lilkerson, liolicrt, raniier. 

(JiUlensolT, .Tolni, t'ainier. 

Gooilspeed, Samuel, tanner. 

(Jross, Jacob, shoemaker. 

Gralplis, A., bntcher. 

Gnlickson, James, farmer. 

irazemeyer, William, laborer. 

Ilarscli, Joslma, farmer. 

llarley, Patrick. 

Harken, Auf>., merchant. 

Hazelmeycr, I)., laborer. 

Henson, Henry, farmer. 

Heinricli, C. D., blacksmith. 

llifjirins, Pat., farmer. 

Iloman. John, laborer. 

Ilochman, John. 

Howard, John, farmer. 

Hunter, William, carpenter. 

Jarcho, Joachim, farmer. 

Jarvis, Fred., farmer. 

Joint, James, farmer. 

Johns. John, laborer. 

Kettingtei-, Charles, farmer. 

Kloarnen, Philip. 

Klass, Henry, farmer. 

Knoop, Christian, farmer. 

Knights, Darius. 

Knoop, John, farmer. 

Kropp, Christian. 

Kurtz, John, fanmer. 

J.,esch, John, plasterer. 

Lewis, B. M. 

Lewis, Charles. 

Lemboch, C. H. 

Lindermeyer, Andrew, harness-maker. 

Lockie, Thomas, farmer. 

Loomis, A. P., farmer. 

Loy, John, farmer. 

Luchres, F. H. 

Lyon, William, farmer. 

McFarland, Luke, farmer. 

McVail, Alex. 

Matthison, William, farmer. 

Maling, John, farmer. 

Madison, William, farmer. 

Miuson, J)avid F., farmer. 

Mutzer, John, carpenter. 

Markham, Benjamin, butcher. 

Mellville, A., physician. 

Miller, D.V. A. B. 

Miller, AVilliam, farmer. 

Mink, Reul)en, farmer. 

Morrison, David, farmer. 

Mollman, Charles, laborer. 

Monk, Henry, farmer. 

Myres, Henry, farmer. 

Myer, John H., farmer. 

Nolan, John, farmer. 

Orwig, S. v., laboier. 

Palmer, A. B., farmer. 

Patten, Andrew, farmer. 

Palmer, L., farmer. 

Perry, W. C., farmer. 

Piper, James, farmer. 



Pil)er, Joshua, farmer. 
Piersons, Henry, farmer. 
Pfiel, (leoige, farmer. 
Bainer, liobci', liay-|)ress. 
Ratlijc, Henry, miller. 
Bat bye, Fred"., farmer. 
Bathgc, I.<mis, merchant. 
Bcnkoir. H., hotel. 
Kiddle, Ciiarles B., trader. 
Biddlc, A., engineer. 
Bol)erts()n, Alex, (i., wagon-maker. 
Robinson, James, farmer. 
Rodgers, Charles, farmer. 
Rodger, August, farmer. 
Rukert,(ieorge. 
Sampson, Closes, farmer. 
Saltswedel, Frnnk, laborer. 
Starges, Thomas. 
Schneider, John, harness-maker. 
Schneider, William, blacksmith. 
Sclimitt, Louis, hotel. 
Schruesen, Henry, farmer. 
Schlemme, Charles, farmer. . 
Schrader, D., farmer. 
Schaumer, Chris. 
Sclirader, Henry, farmer. 
Selling, Herman, farmer. 
Schroeder, Henry, farmer. 
Schrader, Fred., farmer. 
Sebel, Conrad, laborer. 
Sevisor, Henry. 
Shaw, Smith, farmer. 
Shockley, H. W., wagon-maker. 
Shoup, William, laborer. 
Sharp, James. 
Simson, Jacob, laborer. 
Simpson, Alex., farmer. 
Smith, Hugh, merchant. 
Smith, C. 

Smith, Fred., farmer. 
Smitli, Henry, farmer. 
Small, George, farmer. 
Stewart, Frank. 
Stassen, Dederick, carpenter. 
Storch, John, barber. 
Schubert, Cliarles F. 
Steinert, Frank, shoemaker. 
Sultzbaugh, Philip, hay-press. 
Tedde, H., mechanic, 
Thul, Joachim. 
Tscliannen, Chris., farmer. 
Tucker, Stephen, farmer. 
Vail, A. W., farmer. 
Warden,. Henry, grain merchant- 
Warn ick, Heniy, laborer. 
Wamicke, William, laborer. 
Weir, Pat., farmer. 
Westgate, C A., nurseryman. 
Wells, William P., farmer. 
Wilcox, Walter, farmer. 
Wilson, David, farmer. 
Whiffen, George, farmer. 
Youker, Jacob, farmer. 
Young, AVilliam, artist. 
Zander, John, farmer. 



960 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY 



WILTON TOWNSHIP. 



Avery, Gilbert b., farmer; P. O. Elwood. 

Avery, John, farmer; P. O. Elwood. 

Armstrong, A., far. ; P. O. "Wilmington. 

Antcliff, John, farmer; P. O. Peotone, 

Andrew, A. ^Y., far.; P. O- Wallingford. 

Brerton, James, far. ; P. O. Wallingford. 

Behrins, G., farmer; P. O. Wallingford. 

Batche, Jolin. 

Brisbin, W., far. ; P. O. AVilton Center. 

Brunner, P., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Baker, C., farmer; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Bannon, A. 

Brown, James. 

Barr. Joseph, far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Barr, John, farmer; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Barr, Wm., far. : P. O. Wilton Center. 

Benn, J. P., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Bennett, A., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Bell. Charles, far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Benn, John P., far.; P.O. Wilton Center. 

Bathelder, William, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 

Beam, Charles, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 

Bickford, J. I., far. ; P. O. AViltoii Center. 

Barton, Geo., far. ; P. O. Wallingford. 

Broderich, D.,carp.; P, O. Wilton Center. 

Bock, Harvey, far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Bissett, William J. 

Beedle, H. W., butcher; P. O. Wilton 
Center. 

Boynton, G. W., wagon-maker; P. O. Wil- 
ton Center. 

Crawford, J., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Clinton, C, far.; P. O. Wallingford. 

Co whan, Jjouisa; J^ O. Wilton Center. 

Clinton, C, far.; P. O. Wallingford. 

Cunningham, M., far.; P. (). Wallingford. 

Callinan, T., far.; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Cavney, J ., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Cruddy, J., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Callanan, T., far.; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Caveney, C, far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Carey, E., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 

Clinton, T., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Cagwin, S. K., lab.; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Cotts, Samuel, far.; P. O. Peotone. 

Cunningham, M., far. ; P. O. Wilton Cen- 
ter. 

Culver, A. 

Deitzman, P., far.; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Dyer, Jolm; P. O. Chicago. 

Devereaux, M., far. ; P. O. Wallingford. 

Deininger, John, far. ; P. O. Wallingford. 

Dancer, David, far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Dancer, G., farmer; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Dickenson, C., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Dmdiam, B. P., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Dickenson, O. C, Rev., Bapt. min.; P. O. 
Wilton Center. 

Evans, G. W., farmer ; P. O. Wallingford. 

Evans, W. C, farmer; P. O. Peotone. 

Edson, C, farmer; P. O. Wilto)i Center. 

Eyricli, N., far. ; P. (). Wallingford. 

Fisli, Henry. 

Pick, Fred, far.; P. O. Wilton Center. 



French, George, far. ; P. O. Peotone, 

French, William, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 

Frencli, Aaron, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 

Feehan, M., far. ; P. 0. Wilmington. 

Foster, J., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Gilkinson, Luther, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 

Geise, Hiram, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 

Geise, David B., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 

Gerdes, H. M., far.; P. O. Wallingford. 

Gilkerson, Luther, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 

Graves, A., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Graves, Wm., lalx; P. O. AVilton Center. 

Graham, Ann; P. O. Wallingford. 

Harris, Isaac, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 

Holmes, R., far. ; P. O. Wallingford. 

Harvey, B. W., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Harvey, H., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center, 

Harley, M., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Houghton, Harrv, far. : P. O. Peotone. 

Houghton, A.; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Harvev, J., merchant and Postmaster; P. 
O. Wilton Center. 

Jenks, I. S., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Jones, David, far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Jones, John, far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

.Tones, Robert, far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Jansen, G., blacksmith; P. O. Wilton 
Center. 

Jordan, P. T., far.; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Ivruger, August. 

Kinsella, IST., far.; P. O Wilton Center. 

Kinnadv, T., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 

Kahl, Balder, far. ; P. O. Wallingford. 

Kennedy, Darby, far. ; P. O. Wallingford. 

Kavanaugh, J., far.; P. O. Wallingford. 

Kackel, Isaac, far. ; P. O. Wallingford. 

Kennedy, Hugli, far. ; P. O. Wallingford. 

Kenistoii, J., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Kinnady, John, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 

Krinkle, August. 

Lichten waiter, Henry, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 

Longshore, J. G., far.; P. O. AVilton Cen- 
ter. 

Lardner, W., far.; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Lamphere, E., far. ; P. O. Wiltim Center. 

Lins, J. L., physician; P. (). Wallingford, 

Longshore, J. G., far.; P. O. AVilton Cen- 
ter. 

Lanigan, J., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 

Lamphere, Jane; P. O. Wilton Center. 

McLauglilin, J., far. ; P. (). Wilton Center. 

McClo.sky, C, far.; P. O. Wilton Center. 

McGown, John, far. ; P. (). AV'allingford. 

McGowan, J., Jr., far. ; P.,0. Wallingford. 

McGown, Pliilip, far.: P. O. Wallingford. 

McCormick, T., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Malur, Margaret, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 

Machinder, Geo., farmer: P. O. Wilton 
Center. 

Mills, A. J., M. D. ; Wilton Center. 

Muzzy, Tiios. J., mechanic; P. O. Wilton 
Center. 

Malone, John, far.; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Manen, Susan; P.O. Peotone. 



FLORENCE TOWNSHIP. 



963 



Martin, Patrick, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Meaeliam, Ch;irles, far.; P. O. Klwood. 
Mason. Wni., farmer; P. (). Pcolont". 
Nelson, D. M., far.; P. (). Wallingfurd. 
Nelson, S. G.. far.; P. U. Walliiigford. 
Nugent, M., far. ; P. (). Wilton Center. 
Nugant, John, far.; I'.O. Wilton Center. 
O'Beini, Patrick, f:ir.; P. O. Wallingford. 
O'Brien. Mary; P. O. Wilmington. 
O'Niel, Henry. 

Osborn, S., far.; P. O. Wilton Center. 
Porter, O. S., far.; P. (). Wilton Center. 
Porter, O'Brien, far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 
Poolev, John, farmer; P. O. Peotone. 
Phelah. Pliilip. far.; P. (). Wilmington. 
Porter, O. S., far. ; P. (). Wilton Centei". 
Qnigley, Jas., far.; P. O. AVilton Center. 
Quigby, .lohn, far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Qnigby, A., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Qnigl)y, E., farmer; P. (). Wilmington. 
Itenfrew, H. N., blksmith, Wilton Center. 
Reilly, Ellen; P. O. Elwood. 
Eeitz, Simon, far. ; P. O. Wallingford. 
Bnnkel, Jacob K. 

■Robbins, Fred., far. ; P. O. AVilton Center. 
Robbins, E., far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Tiobbins, D. S., far. ; P. O. AVilton Center. 
Robl)ins. I. B., far.; P. O. AVilton Center. 
Robbins, I. C, far.; P. O. AVilton Center. 
Rose, Joseph, far. ; P. O. AVallingford. 
Reitz, Philip, far.; P. O. AVallingford. 
Reirdon, M., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Raworth, John, far. ; P. (). Wilton Center. 
Reilly, Philip, far.; P. O. AVilmingtou. 
Robinson, AV., far. : P. O. Wilton Center. 
Russell, J., far. ; P. O. AA^'ilmington. 
Reitz. Lorenz, merchant. 
Robinscm. C., far. ; P. O. AVilton Center. 
Robinson, R., far. ; P. O. AVilton Center. 
Reitz. Lawrence, mer. ; AA'ilton Center. 
.Schroeder, John, wagon-maker; Wilton 
Center. 



Samps(m. M., far. ; P. O. Wallingford. 

Shaerer, Frank, far.; P. O. Wallingford. 

Schroder. C. far.; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Scott, P., far.; P. O. AVilmingtou. 

Scott, M., far.; P. O. AVilmingtou. 

Shields. J., far.; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Seaver, S. D., far.; P. O. Peotone. 

Stewart. Ale.x., far.; P.O. Peotone. 

Striiwbridge. S. R., lab., Wilton Center. 

Schroder, J., far. ; P. O. Wilton Center. 

Seaver, S. D., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 

Sharj), Henry, far.; P. O. Peotone. 

Smith, Patrick, far.; P. O. Peotone. 

Seible, .lacob P. 

Schroeder, A., wagon-maker; Walling- 
ford. 

Smith, D., Wallingford. 

Shalt. Esther A., Wallingford. 

Thayer, Eugene, far.; P. O. Wallingford. 

Thaver. Chas., far.; P. O. AV^allingford. 

Troxel, John, far.; P. O. AVallingford. 

Tully, Patrick, far.; P. O. AVilmingtou. 

Tompkins, N., Peotone. 

Temple. AV. E., far. ; AVilton Center. 

Tully, E., farmer; P. O. AVdmington. 

Tinme, H., mason; AVilton Center. 

Troxel, J., far. ; P. O. AVilton Center. 

Townsend, John, lab. ; AVilton Center. 

Winslow, C, far.; P. O. AVilton Center. 

AVinslow, C. far.; P. O. AVilton Center. 

AVhite, John, far.; P. O. AVallingford. 

Wright, J. B., far. ; P. O. AVilton Center. 

Wright, A., far.; P. O. AVilton Center. 

AVilcox, Chas., far.; P. O. Peotone. 

Walthouser, A., carp.; Wilton Center. 

AValker, AVilliam. 

Watson, Albert, carp.; AVallingford. 

Wright, Jas. B., mer.; AA'^ilton Center. 

Webber, C. T.. harness-maker. ; Wilton 
Center. 

Young, I. F., mason ; Wilton Center. 



FLORENCE TOWNSHIP. 



Barrett, Wm., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Buss, E. C. far.; P. O. AVilmingtou. 
Brisbin, John C. 

Bell, David, far.; P. O. AVilmingtou. 
Baxter, AVni., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Baskerville, T., far. ; P. O. AVilmington. 
Baskerville, AVm., far. ; P. O. AVilmington. 
Baskerville, J., far.; P. O. AVilmington. 
Burton, Joseph, trader. 
Boyland, B.. far. ; P. O. AVilmington. 
Barrett, Wm., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Barrett, J., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Carey, E., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Corbin, R., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Crullen,R., far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Cutshaw. W. G., far.; P. O. AVilmington. 
Cottel, H. E., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Cottel. C, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Cutshaw, AV. G., far.; P. O. Wilmington, 



Corbett, Rufus, far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Campbell, John, far.; P. O- AVilmington. 
Carroll, Patrick, far.; P. O- AVilmington. 
Dutciiman, A., far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Donahue, P.. far.; P. O. AVilmington. 
Dixon, Thos., far.; P. (). AVilmington. 
Dixon, John, far.; P.O. AVilmington. 
Dixon, Thos.. far. ; P. O. AVilmington. 
Ellinwood, G. AV., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Elwood, Sarah AV.. Elwood. 
Forsythe, David, far.; P. O. AVilmington. 
Forsythe. .John, far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Finsiar, J.., far.; P. O. AVilmington. 
Fridley, John, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Goodrich, Grant. 
Geise, Hiram, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Gibbons, P., far. ; P. O- Wilmington. 
Gurney, K., far.; P. O. AVilminErtou. 
Griffen, Wm..far.; P. O. Wilmington. 

19 



964 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



Gooding. A., far. ; P. O. AVilinington. 
Griften, Wm.. far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Gay, John. fai'. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Hayden, John. far. ; P. U. Ehvood. 
Hart, C. H.. far. ; P. O. AVilmington. 
Hill, A., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Hampton, John, far.; P. U. Elwood. 
Hoffman, J., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Hamilton, Jas., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Hayden, John, far. ; P. O. Wilmingtim. 
Jessup, F., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Jackson, D., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Jackson, C, f ar. ; P 
Kennedy, John, far. 
Kennedy, Jas., far. : 
Kellogg, Lewis, far. 
Kahler. Henry, far. 
Keer, Wm.,far. ; P 



O. Wilmington. 
; p. O. Wilmington. 

P. O. Wilmington. 
. ; P. (). Wilmington. 
; P. O. Wilmington. 
O. Wilmington, 



Kidney, Wm., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Lacy. Thos., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
JJneberger, J.onis, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
J^ineberger, John. 

Long, John, far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Mclntyre, Alex, far.; P. O.Wilmington. 
Mclntyre, J., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Mclntyre, T)., far.; P. O. W^ilmington. 
McGinnis, W. M.. far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Murphy, John, far. ; P. O.. Wilmington. 
Morey, S. K., far.; P. O.Wilmington. 
Mosey, iSelah, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Martin. J. W., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Murphy, C, far. : P. O. Wilmington. 
Maher. T., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Martin, Wm., far. : P. O. Wilmington. 
Mahoney, D., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Murphy John, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. • 
Murphy, T., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Mahonev, D., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Norton, Wm. H., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Nugent. M., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Nelson, Wm., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Naughton, P., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 



Nutt, Jas., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Nelson, W. T., far.; P. C Wilmington. 
Olilhues, John, far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Ohlhues, P. D., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Phalon, P., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Quigley, Edw., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Reirdon, D-, far. : P. O. AVilmington. 
Reirden, M., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Reed, W. H. H.. far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Rockwell. S.. far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Rodgers. Sophrinia. 
Roach, M., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Riley. Philip, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Rotbka, H.. far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Reils. John, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Shirk, Joseph, far.; P. 0. W^ilmington. 
Spoor, H. H., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Smith. Allen, far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Smith, Ezra, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Smith, Ellen, Ehvood. 
Stewart. Peter, far. ; P. O.Wilmington. 
Scammon, J. Y., Chicago. 
Seltzer, Pred, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Strong, E. H., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Shelian, John, far. ; P. O. W^ilmingtou. 
Slater. Walter, far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Swival. Henry, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Thompson, M., far. ; P. O. Wilmington 
Wilson, P., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
White, Adam J. 
Whitten. Andrew, retired. 
White, J. M., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Warner, A., far.; P. O- Wilmington. 
White, Jas., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
White, R., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Wltcshe, N., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Ward, H., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Whiten, John, miller. 
Yonker, N., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Yates, A., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Zimmerman, C, far. ; P. 0. Wilmington. 
Zimmerman, J., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 



Axtell, Betsey, far. 
Axtell, Acsah, far. 
Allott, Henry, far. 
Ackerman, H. L , far. 
Ackerman, Schuyler, far. 
Anderson, Andrew, far. 
Ackerman, Hannah, far. 
Byron, Michael, Sr., far. 
Bunker, Jonas B.. far. 
Bover, Alex., far. 
Buttertield, B. F., far. 
Bovee, Alex., far. 
Blaul, Charles, far. 
Byron, Michael, Jr., far. 
Bunker, Elijah, far. 
Jiarrett, William, far. 
Bronside, Sarah, far. 



WESLEY TOWNSHIP. 

(P. O. WILMINGTOti.) 

Burns, Mary, far. 
Boylan, R. J., far. 
Beckwith, Gay M., far. 
Byron, Michael, Jr., far. 
Binney, George, far. 
Cossett, Moses, far. 
Childs, Julia, far. 
Carlott, Robert, far. 
Clark, J.,uke, far. 
Corwin, John, far. 
Corlett, John. far. 
Carlott, Chris, far. 
Carroll, Terrenci^ 
Dahler, Sarah, far. 
Dayler, Sarah, far. 
Dickerson, J^uke, far. 
Easton, David, far. 



CUSTER TOWNSHIP. 



965 



Ferris, Daniel, far. 
Finger, Cliarles, far. 
Franklin, Henry A., far. 
Franklin, Henrv, far. 
Flood, E. F., far. 
Ferris, Daniel, far. 
Forsythe, .lolui, far. 
(lay, James, far. 
(Joodwin, AVilliani, far. 
Goodwin, Erwin, far. 
Goodwin, George, far. 
Goodwin, Hiram, far. 
Goss, Anna, far. 
Goodwin, -Tohn, far. 
Gould, Hiram, fai'. 
Gay, John, far. 
Gondy, Albert, far. 
Gipperm, Lewis, far. 
Gondy, William, far. 
Houghton, Almox, far. 
Hazlton, Charles, far. 
Hazlton, Norman, far. 
Hazlton. Alma H., far. 
Handford, C. A., far. 
Handford, Stephen F., far. 
Hanford, B. E., far. 
Hiles, Thomas, far. 
Henebury, David, far. 
Hartzog, Chailes, far. 
Hazzard, Charles, far. 
Johnson, William, far. 
Johnson. James, far. 
Johnson, Frank, far. 
Jepson, Lewis, far. 
Jones, Thomas W., far. 
Jones, Gideon, far. 
Jones, Samuel, far. 
Jones, Samuel, far. 
Jones, Hazzard, far. 
Jones, E. W., far. 
Jones, Elizabeth, far. 
Jones, H. H., fai-. 
Kahler, Louisa, far. 
Kohler, Henry, far. 
Killey, John, far. 
Kendall, James L., far. 
Kelley, Thomas, far. 
Ki'lley, John, far. 
Livingston, A. A., far. 
^J.ovall, Oliver, far. 
Jvinton, Elizabeth, far. 
J>,easure, W. D., far. 
Longshire, J. G., far. 
Londen, Helen, far. 



Louden, 11. I)., lai. 
J.ohner, Anion, lar. 
McCorkle, William, lar. 
Morgan, B. F., far. 
Main, Chestei'. far. 
Alarsiiali, Siininel, far. 
^lahcr, 'I'lionias, far. 
Martin. Fat rick, far. 
Muncy, Raciiael, far. 
Muncy, William, far. 
Muney, Charley, far. 
Moulton, C. H., far. 
Murphy, Timothy, fai-. 
Nicholas, li., far. 
Nielsen, Fiank, far. 
O'Conner, Michael, far. 
Parks, James, far. 
Pearson, Alpheus W., far. 
Powers, Charles C., far. 
Pichart, John, far. 
Paine, Almont, far. 
Pickardt, Crine, far. 
Quigley, Michael, far. 
Quigley, Andrew, far. 
Eitchey, B. D., far. 
Kichardsoii. Amassa, far. 
Richardson, J.evi A., far. 
Rainfard, Robeit, far. 
Russell, Cerilda, far. 
Ritchey, John, fai'. 
Ryan, Edw., far. 
Redman, Eugene, far. 
Redman, David H., far. 
Redman, Thomas, far. 
Sternberger, Philip, far. 
Sprivey, Henry, far. 
Seinburg, Mary, far. 
Smith, E., far. 
Small, Daniel. 
L^mstedt, Norris, far. 
Underwood, Enoch, far. 
Van Garvin, D., far. 
Wartz, Andrew, far. 
Wooley, Elizur, far. 
Wordcn. H. G. S., far. 
Willard, David, far. 
White, John M.. far. 
W^hitten, Andrew, far. 
White, John, far. 
Waldren, C. 11., far. 
Williams, John, far. 
Warner, Alfred, far. 
Warner, A. H., far. 
AVarner, Elisha, far. 



CUSTER TOWNSHIP. 



Baird, John, farmer; P. 0. Wilmington. 
Brown, Edgar, far. ; P. O- Wilmington. 
Burke Bros., far. ; P. 0. Wilmington. 
Boyd, J., farmer; P. O. Wilmington. 
Bernard, James, far.; P. O. WMlmington. 
Bergan, Martin. 
Barber, R. E. far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 



Bird, Eliza. 

Buckley, Cornelius, far.; P. O. Wilming- 
ton. 
Connores, John, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Churchill, S. 

Cooper, Thomas, far. ; P. 0. Braidwood. 
Calhoun, Stephen, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 



966 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



Cowley, John, far. ; P. O. Braidwood. 
Colweil, George, far. ; P. O. Braidwood. 
Canington, John W., P. O. Wilmington. 
Calkins, Patrick, far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Calkins, Daniel, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Calhoun, Ransford. far. ; P.O. Wilming- 
ton. 
Duger, Patrick, far.: P. O. Braidwood. 
Doty, E. M., far. ; P. O. Braidwood. 
Dubein, H. G., far.; P. O. Braidwood. 
Eagan, Thomas. 

Evans, John, far. ; P. O- Wilmington. 
Eorsyth, John, far.; P. O. Braidwood. 
Feely, John B., far. ; P. O. Br.iidwood. 
Freer, J. P. 

Feeh', John, far. ; P. O- Braidwood. 
Fitzgerald, AVm., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Gettings, Paul, far. ; P. O, Wilmington. 
Gray, Jeremiah, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Goff,P. D. H. 

Hayes, Dennis, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Hudson, Henry, far; P. O- Wilmington. 
Hoffman, Jos., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Hanford, Thos., mer. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Hines, Thos. J., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Hall, John, far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Hanford, Frank, mer. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Hanford Stephen, mer. ; P.O. Wilmington. 
Hawley, Robert, far.; P. O. Braidwood. 
Harrison, J. W.. far.; P. O. Braidwood. 
Howatt. Alex., far.; P. O. Braidwood. 
Johnson, J. P., far.: P. O. Wilmington. 
Jordan. J. G., far.; P. O. Braidwood. 
Judge, Hugh, far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Kennady, Thomas, far. ; P. 0. Braidwood. 
Kilborn, Whitlock; P. O. Wilmington. 
Kinney, John, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Kavanaugh, Mary; P. (). Wilmington. 
Lowe, Henry; P. O. Wilmington. 
Lovejoy, A. J.: P. O. Wilmington. 
Lutz, Andrew, far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Lennon, Michael, far.; P. O. Braidwood. 
Mnrphy, S. C., far.; P. O. Braidwood. 
Madden, John, far. ; P. O. Braidwood. 
Morgan, M., far. : P. O. Braidwood. 
Moore, Laughlin ; P. O. Braidwood. 
Martin, Joseph, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Miller, Henrv, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Marshall, S. T., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
McGilvery, Hugh, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 



O'Brien, James, far. ; P. O. Braidwood. 
O'Riley, James, far.; P. O. Braidwood. 
Perrv, James, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Powell, M. 

Pemperton,Thos., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Petero, G. W., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Palmer, I. T., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Quineby, H. L., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Quineby, J. A., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Querinning, Jno.,far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Reilly, Frank, far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Rose, A., far. ; P. O. Braidwood. 
Riley, G. 8., far. ; P. O. Braidwood. 
Russell, M. L., far. ; P. O. Braidwood. 
Riley, Philip, far.; P. O. Braidwood. 
Reynolds, J. K., far.; P. O. Braidwood. 
Robinson, Wm., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Stewart, Peter, far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Stewart, Wm., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Smiley, J. J., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Stewart, M. N. M. 

Sweeney, Michael, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Smith, Ira W., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Small, E. K, far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Small, Wm. B., lumber dealer: P.O.Wil- 
mington. 
Smith, L. D., far. ; P. O. Wilmington 
Stewart. W. D., far. ; P. O. Braidwood. 
Swackhamer, Jas., far.; P. 0. Braidwood. 
Slight, Theo., far.; P. O. Braidwood. 
Schenk, Michael, far. ; P. O. Braidwood. 
Stewart, F. D., far.; P. O. Braidwood. 
Sibert, Fletcher, Mrs.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Trainer, James, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Taylor, A. G., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Trainer, Wm., far,; P. O. Wilmington. 
Trainer, Thos., far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Trainer, Robt., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Tilden, W. F., far., P. O. Wilmington. 
Tanner, M. D., far. ; P. O. AVilmington. 
Thewlis, Mary, far. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Tanner, Huldah; P. O. Wilmington. 
Tunney, Patrick, far, ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Tavlor, Samuel, f;ir. ; P. O. Wilmington. 
Wright, E., Mrs., P. O. Wilmington. 
Williamson, T., far.; P. O. Wilmington. 
Wright, Abner, far. ; P. O. Braidwood. 
Ward, J. H. 
Yates, Sirah. 
Young, William, far.; P. O. Braidwood. 



TROY TOWNSHIP. 



Armstrong, P., far.; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 
Armstrong, D., far.; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 
Arcy, John D., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Battz, John, far.; P. O. Minooka. 
Ballv, Casper, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Beatle, R., far.; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 
I^eathe, II., far.; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 
Blair. William, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Brady, Patrick, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Bowen, William. 
Buckway, A. B.. far.; P. O. .loliet. 



Calais, R.. far.; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 

Cornell, James. 

Cavender, B. H., far.; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 

Coolehan, Thos., far.; P. O. Minooka. 

Cloman, Daniel, far.; P. O. Joliet. 

Callahan, Matthew. 

Culver, John J., far.; P. O. Joliet. 

Cronan, .lohn, far.; P. O. Joliet. 

Crogwell, Thos., far.; P. O. Joliet. 

Cops, John, far.; P. O. Joliet. 

Cops, Joseph, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 



TROY TOWNSHIP. 



967 



Cnimbv. Clias.. far.: P. (>. Joliet. 
Cruiuliv. I. V. 

Clin'oici. .lohii, far. ; T. C). Joliet. 
Cotter, John. far. : P. () Joliet. 
Cogjrswell. Tiionias. far. ; P.O. Joliet. 
Cotiliii, E.. far.: P. O. Joliet. 
Dix, Will. A., far.: P. (>. ]Miiiooka. 
Debill. E. S.. far.: P. (>. Joliet. 
Denipsev, Thos.. far. :P. C). Bird's Bridge. 
Dolliiiger. M.. far.: P. O. Bird's Bridge. 
Evertoii. T. J., far.; P. U. Joliet. 
Everton. J as., far. : P. O. Joliet. 
Eagaii. Patriek. far.; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 
Faiit, Prank. Joliet. 
Farnsworth, G. W.. far.: P. O. Bird's 

Bridge. 
Koran. AVni.. far. ; P. O. Minooka. 
Fogartv, E.. far. : P. O. Joliet. 
Fogarty, E.. Sr., far. ; P. (>. Joliet. 
Fries. Andrew J., far.: P. (). Joliet. 
(iilTord, Keyiiolds. far.: P.O. Joliet. 
(Jifford, Orlando, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
(irinton, Wni.. far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Gaton. John. Jr., far.: P. O. Joliet. 
Gaton, 8aniuel. far. : P. O. Joliet. 
Gaskill, J., far.; P. O. Minooka. 
Gaskill. Joel, far.; P. O. Minooka. 
Green. Robert. 
Iladcock. Solomon. 
Herath, Conrad, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Hearii, Henrv. 

Hinev, John H.. far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Hoft'.E. G., far. ; P. O. Minooka. 
Heri)d, Conrad, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Hearse, AVilliam. 

Ingoldsby. Eugene, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Ingoldsby. James, far.; P.O. Joliet. 
Ingoldsby. Felix, far. : P.O. Minooka. 
Johnson.Daniel, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Judge. Edwin, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Keeley, Patrick, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Kearney, Michael, far.: P. O. Joliet. 
Kinsella. Garrett, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Kavanaugh. Josei)li. far: P. O. Joliet. 
Kernian. Michael, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Kinney, John, far. ; P. O Minooka. 
Kierman, Hugh, far. ; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 
Kerman, Francis, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Kin.sella, Patrick, far. ; P. O. Minooka. 
Kinsella, Garnett, far. : P. O. Joliet. 
Kctchun, Michael, far.; P. O. Minooka. 
Eeuis, J>. 

Link, Jo.sei)h, far.; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 
J>ehner, Henry, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
l^amaclier, Peter, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Langdon, 'I'lionias, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Langdon, John, far.: P. O. Joliet. 
Lye, John, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
McManus, John, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
McCov, Thomas, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
McCai-ty, M., far.; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 
McEvov, James, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
McEvoy, AVilliam, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
McDonald, Dennis J., far.: P. O. Joliet. 
McMillan, Alnionda, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
McMillan, Aleda. far.: P. O. Joliet. 



I^Iartin, Edw.; P. O. .loliet. 
Marshall, William H.. far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Mahoney, Jeremiah, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Matis, Barney, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Matthews, B., far.; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 
Mi'Ver, Adam, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Miller, ^\■iUiam, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Miller, James. 

Mooney, Matthew, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Moran, Bernard, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Murphy, James, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
AInii>h"v, 'i'imothv, far.: P. O. Joli^et. 
Murpiiv. .lohii. far.; P. O. .Joliet. 
:N.;ble E. 

O'Brien, James, far. ; 1'. O. Minooka. 
O'Brien, W.,far.; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 
Ottar. C, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
O'Conner, James, far.: P. 0. Joliet. 
Ogan, iSIary. 
Otteway, Edw. 

Paul, James, far.; P. O. rJoliet. 
Parks, Silas, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Palmer, Jacob, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Perry, Samuel, far.: P. O. Joliet. 
Raven, Daniel J., far.; P. O. Minooka. 
Eademaker, T. 

Reed, R. (i.,far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Reardon, Patrick, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Reiff, August, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Read, M. R., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Reese, Henry J., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Reiff, Augustus, farmer. 
Riley, James T., far.; P. O. Minooka. 
Roberts, E.(i. 

Rogan, Edw., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Rowan, AVilliam, far. ; P. O. Bird's Bridge 
Spencer, ^Ivron, far.; P.O. Minooka. 
Searls, D. C., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Searls, Austin D., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Sammons. D., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Stamper, Hannali ; P. O. Minooka. 
Stearns, William, far. : Bird's Bridge. 
Steel, John D., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Stevens, AVilliam, far.: P. O. MiiK)oka. 
Stephens, AFichael, far.: P. O. Joliet. 
Scliaub, Nicholas, far.; Bird's Bridge. 
Sheridan, Joseph, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Snyder, Henry, far.; P. O. Minooka. 
Snyder, AVilliam, far. ; P. O. ^linooka. 
Snydei, J^arkiu E., far.; P.O. Minooka. 
Snyder, George, far.; P. O. Minooka. 
Spencer, Simon, far.; P. O. Minooka. 
Sammons. AV.T., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Strong, AV. P. 

Talbott, Richard, far.; P. O. Minooka. 
Tyrnell, Josepli. far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Tyrell, Marv: P. O. Joliet. 
Talbott. E.lw., far.; P. (). Minooka. 
Truby, Marshal, merchant and Postmas- 
ter, Bird's Bridge. 
Tierney. Patrick, far.; P. O. Minooka. 
Tooliev, James, far.; P. O. .loliet. 
Van Alstiiie, P.., far.; P.O. Bir<rs Bridge. 
Welch, William, far.; P. O. .Joliet. 
AVhalen, Ann; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 



968 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY ; 



CRETE TOWNSHIP. 



Arkenbiu'ff, Henry, far. ; P. O. Goodenow. 

Apking, Henry, farmer : P. O. Goodenow. 

Arkenburg, Wm., farmer; P. O. Crete. 

Adams, F. J., carp., Crete. 

Austin, Herman. 

Adams, E. V., farmer; P. O. Crete. 

Adams, G. W., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 

Adams, Henry E., retired, Peotone. 

Adams, Reuben, farmer ; P. O. Crete. 

Adams, F. J., carpenter, Crete. 

Adams, L., far. and butcher: P. O. Crete. 

Adams, W. C, farmer; P. O. Crete. 

Berg, Elizabeth. 

Batterman, C, farmer; P. O. Crete. 

Behrens, Henry, farmer; P. O. Crete. 

Baterman, Fred. 

Bock, Conrad, farmer; P. O. Beecher. 

Baurmeister, Wm., farmer. 

Batterman, H., farmer: P. O. Endor. 

Boos, John. 

Bulire, Otto. 

Bouhess, Henry. 

Bregmeyer, Fred. 

Bunger," Henry. 

Baker, Ellen J., Galesburg. 

Bush, Henry, farmer; P. O. Crete. 

Burkmier, George. 

Bauser, Henry, farmer; P. O. Crete. 

Backus. Cliris. 

Behrens, J. C, farmer: P. O. Crete. 

Berhardt, Fred., far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Bierville, L., farmer; P. O. Crete. 

Biesterfeldt, Fred., farmer ; P. O. Crete. 

Brandt. H.. farmer; P. O. Crete. 

Barker, C, farmer; P. U. Endor. 

Baker, C., farmer. 

Bredmeyer, Wm. 

Brauns. Henry. 

Bergmeir, G.. "far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Bernhard, Henry, far. : P. O. Beecher. 

Baumer. Matthias, far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Bramer, Henry, farmer. 

Braunner, Fred., far. ; P. O. Endor. 

Bordwell. D. S.. clerk. Crete. 

Bogens, D., mason, Crete. 

]3rill, Joseph, carpenter, Crete. 

Bi'inker, Henrv, wagon-maker, Crete. 

Bruns. Wm., far.; P. O. Crete. 

Betterman, Christopher. 

Buffington, Wm.. far.: P. O. Endor. 

Burgest. Henrv. 

Bahlmaii, H., tar.; P. (). Eagle Lake. 

Belke. Ernst, laborer, Goodenow. 

Berg, Nicholas, blacksmith, Goodenow. 

Bernliardt, Fred., far. : P. O. Crete. 

Bubs. Hemy. 

Beekman, T. 

Bekoe. Fred. 

Brandt, Henry, far.; P. O. Crete. 

Buckmeir. 

Baker, C A. 

Barthle. Fred. 

Bergan, Martin. 

Busse, Henry, far. ; P. G. Crete. 



Brisbane, Jas. W., far.; P. O.JCrete. 

Bowden, Jacob, far.; P. O. Crete. 

Caldwell, A., farmer. 

Clausing, Fred., farmer. 

Calverlage, Henry K. 

Cragle, Henry, far. ; P. O. Goodenow. 

Cooper, S. W., Mouee. 

Cook, Wm., far.; P. O. Crete. 

Clauseng, Chas., far.; P. 0. Peotone. 

Claus, Henry, far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Cook, Willis, laborer, Crete. 

Cheery, Chas., far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Cole, Henry, far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Claude, John, far.; P. 0. Bloom. 

Cole, J. W., far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Cinnamon, A., far.; P. O. Crete. 

Cole, Henry, far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Butcher, Wm., far.; P. 0. Monee. 

Damaskay, P. 

Drunkmeister, Henry, far. ; P. O. Endor. 

Dose, Peter H. 

Dohmier, John, far. ; P. 0. Crete. 

Doeher, H. 

Doesher, Jacob, far. ; P. O. Endor. 

Doescher, J. C., merchant, Endor. 

Dierson, Wm., far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Demeke, Louis, retired, Crete. 

Doerscher, H. IST., retired. 

Dodge, John, far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Dodge, Mary E., Crete. 

Dierson, John, Crete. 

Fishman. Peter. 

Eisham, Peter. 

Ergson. Fred, farmer; P. O. Eagle Lake. 

Eldering, John, farmer; P. O. Goodenow. 

Engelking, Lewis, farmer; P. O. Bloom. 

Englebucht, Fred, laborer; P. O. Crete. 

Engleking. Philip, farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Ergson, Fred, farmer; P. O. Bloom. 

Engleking, Henry ; P. O. Monee. 

Epens, Thomas, farmer. 

Frenker, Henry, lab.; ]'. O. Goodenow. 

Fleischer, Hannah farmer; P.O.Crete. 

Fitshell. Homaii, farmer : P. O. Crete. 

Fricke, Henry, farmer ; P. O. Crete. 

Falch, Joiiii. ' 

Frank. F. H., peddler.. P. O. Goodenow. 

Fassett, A. C, mason ; P. O. Crete. 

Graham. James, far.; P. O. Goodenow. 

Glade. Chris., farmer. 

Gland, Fred. 

Graw, John, farmer; P. O. Bloom. 

Graham, John, farmer; P. O. Goodenow. 

Grote, Herman, farmer; P. O. Crete. 

Graj)e, Fred, farmer; P. O. Crete. 

Grupe, F., farmer; P. O. Crete. 

Grote, Herman, farmer; P. O. Crete. 

(iaines, H. N., farmer; P. O. Crete. 

Grid lay. J. AV., farmer. 

Hanfeidt. Wm., farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Harmin. Martin. 

Hase, Henry. 

Handfekl. Wm., farmer; P. O. Monee. 

Hunter, James, farmer; P. O. Bloom. 



CRETE TOWNSHIP. 



969 



Heine. Gottlieb, t'liinier: P. C). Endoi-. 

llopp, Peter. 

IIoffniMii. Jiicob. 

Iliirderkoini. .1. II., far.; P. (). (lotMlenow. 

Ilewes. Samuel, niiiiister. 

Ilewes. .luliii K.: P. (). Crete. 

Hatteiulorf, Conrad, slioemaker: P. O. 

Crete, 
llartinaii, .lolm C, fanner: P. O. Crete. 
Ilassmau, Henry. 
Houseman. John. 

Hood, Samuel, farmer: P. (). Crete. 
Ilorneger, Ernst. 

Hendricks. John, farmer: P. O. Endor. 
Hardiko}*)). Chris., farmer: P. (). (rood- 

euow. 
Hake, D. 

Helgman. Charles. 
Hatheld. Sopiiia. 

Heinn, Philip O., farmer: P. O. Crete. 
Hoesterson, Carl. 

Hoffman. (J., butcher: P. O. Crete. 
Hassman, Christ. 

Hattenilorf, Henry, farmer; P. 0. Crete. 
Homire, Ernst : P' O. Crete. 
Habenkost. Henry, farmer: P. O. Crete. 
Huntton, Wm. 

Horn. Charles, retired; P. O. Crete. 
Heinman, B., merchant: P. O. Crete. 
Horan, Charles, laborer; P. O. Crete. 
Ilaidikope, Henry, far.; P. O. Goodenow. 
Hardikope. Christ. 
Harnionina-. John, farmer. 
Helmaii, Henry: P. (). Monee. 
Hammond, Henry. 
Halley, Henry, farmer; P. (). Monee. 
Hewes, Geo., farmer: P. (). Crete. 
Hewes, Henrv, salesman: P. O. Chicago. 
Hanfeldt. Henry: P. (). Chicago. 
Harrett, John, farmer: P. (). Crete. 
Hart. John. 

Jordeniiig, Henry, farmei': P. O. Crete. 
Jergens, John, farmer; P. (). Goodenow. 
Jordening, Conrad, farmer: P. (). Crete. 
Knappmier. Fred, cigar-maker. 
Kahing. Wm. 
Kohle, Charles. 
Kilmea, C. 

Klaus. Michael, far.; P. (). Bloom. 
Knoll. Michael. 

Kolling. Wm.. far.: P. (>. Goodenow. 
Kotze, H.. far.: P. (). (Joodenow. 
Klaus. August. 

Kolling, (\, far.: P. (). Beecher. 
Keidisk, Geo., blacksmith; P: O. (!rete. 
Kock. Fred, far. ; P. ( ). Crete. 
Knabe, C. merchant: P. (). Crete. 
Klemme, Henry, far.: P. (). Endor. 
Keeling, Fred, iar. : P. (). (ioodenow. 
Kechling, Fred. 

Kratze, Fred, Jr., far.; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Kratze, Fred. Sr., far.: P. (). Eagle Lake. 
Kline. Joseph, far.^ P. (). P>loom. 
Kloss, M., far.: P. (). Bloom. 
Knappmire, Wilbelm, retired ; P. ( ). Crete. 
Klaus, A. J. 

Krept, F., saloon : P. O. Crete. 
Katze, Henrv C, far.: P. (). Eagle Lake. 



Kliner. Christian. 

Krusr. C. 

Kekoe. I'^red, laborer: 1'. O. Crete. 

Kueige. ileurv. 

King. Thomas, far.; P. O. Crete. 

Kirscii, Franz, farmer and mason ; P. (). 
Crete. 

Eange, Joacliiii, far.; P. (). Endor. 

Luke, Henrv, far.; P. (). Monee. 

LewhoKz, F., laborer; P. (). Crete. 

Luke, Fred, far.; P. (). Eagle iiake. 

Liid<, Geo. 

Legmore, Henrv. 

Lucliet, Carl, laborer: P. U. Crete. 

Leisiug. J. T., grain dealer; P. O. Good- 
enow. 

J.,adonx, Joseph. 

Lepenhoj). H. 

J.owden, Joseph. 

Liekmaim, Fred. 

Mendenhath, Charles. 

Mechlman, Francis. 

Mavne,(ic(). 

Miller, T. L., far.; P. (). Beecher. 

Maxwell, J., far.; P. O. Beecher. 

Miller. H. H., far.; P. O. Crete. 

Mullei-. Conrad, laborer; P. O. Crete. 

MuUer, John, laborer; P. O. Crete. 

JNIyer, F., far.; P. O. Beecher. 

Michael, Nicholas, far.; P. (). Bloom. 

Myrick, IT., far.; P. O. Crete. 

Martin, Wm., laborer: P. O. Crete. 

Myei-, John D., far.; P. O. Crete. 

Merwin, Cliarles, farmer. 

Matthias, John C., tailor: P. O. Crete. 

Milbrook, Henry. 

Mogg, Henry. 

Miller, R. B., school-teacher ; P. (3. Crete. 

Martin, S., far.; P. (). Crete. 

Mothing, Henry. 

Marker, Henrv. 

Miers, Edward, far.; P. O. Crete. 

Mueller, Henry, far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Motion^-, Henrv G., far.; P. O. Crete. 

Miller, Kol)ert,'far.; P. (). Crete. 

Morris, John. 

Morris, John R., far.; P. O. Bloom. 

Miller, David, far.; P. O. Bloom. 

Miller, William, far.; P. O. Bloom. 

Naike, Fred, far.; P. O. Crete. 

Narceive, William. — 

Olendoif, Christ, far.; P. O. Endor. 

Ohlendorf, Conrad, far. ; P. O. Goodenow. 

Ohleiidorf, W., far.; P. O. Goodenow. 

Ohlendorf, August, far.; P. O. Endor 

Ohlendorf, IL, Jr., far.; P. O. Goodenow. 

Ostermier, Wm., far.; P. O. Crete. 

Orr, Jolin, far.; P. (). Crete. 

Olendorf, Conrad, far.; P. O. Goodenow. 

Orr, James, Jr., far. ; P.O.Crete. 

Olendorf, John T. 

Peipho, C. 

Piei)hs, Chi'is. 

Pea.se. John, far.; P. O. (Joodenow. 

Peek. Charh's, far.; P. O. Crete. 

Palseu, Andrew, lab.; P. O. Crete. 

Plagge, Fred, farmer. 

Pittlekon. Carl, lab.; P. O. Crete. 



970 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



Puloer, J. H., lab.; P. O. Crete. 

Porter, Samuel, ret. ; P. (). Crete. 

Patcheu, AVni., carpenter; P. O. Crete. 

Punier, William. 

Pampe, John. 

Paul, Henry P. 

i\ary, Josepli, physician ; P. O. Crete. 

Paul Christopher,' far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Pliillips, J. E., far.; P. O. Monee. 

Pipenbrink, Jolin 0.,far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Ciuackenbush, Helen; P. O. Crete. 

Quackenbush. M., blacksmith ; F. O. Crete. 

Rust, Chris., far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Richards, W. 

Rittman, Henry. 

Rissman, Pred, far. ; P. O. Endor. 

Richards, Gottlieb, far. ; P. O. Bloom. 

Ross, A. 

Rinke, J.,I., far.; P. O. Crete. 

Ritze, H. 

Robinson, J. B., ret. ; P. O. Crete. 

Ruhe, Ludvvig, carpenter; P. O. Crete. 

Richards, C. E., far. ; P. O. Bloom. 

Rump, Henry, farmer. 

Ranke, T. 

Rign, John I., laborer ; P. O. Crete. 

Ruhe, Wm., carpenter; P. O. Crete. 

Rabiuger, L., blacksmith ; P. O. Endor. 

Rulls, Joseph, lab.; P. O. Goodenow. 

Rathge, H. 

Rinne, William, far.; P. O. Crete. 

Rohe, John, merchant; P. O. Crete. 

Rupert, C, wagon-maker; P. O. Crete. 

Rekoe, A., lab. ; P. O. Crete. 

Rohe, Henry. 

Rohe, John C, merchant; P. O.Crete. 

Rohe, Henry, coal dealer; P. O. Crete. 

Read, C. J., far. ; P. O. Bloom. 

Scrager, Philip, far. ; P. O. Crete. 

.Stege, C, tailor ; P. 0. Crete. 

Stephen, Frank. 

Sunmore, John, ret.; P. O. Cx'ete. 

Schmidt, C, merchant: P.O. Goodenow. 

Schever, Conrad. 

Slade, Henry. 

Suhansen, Henry. 

Schever, Christophei'. 

Segers, Conrad. 

Scheldt, B., farmer. 

Scheldt, James. 

Scheldt, Mi(;hael, farmer. 

Schaller, Joseph. 

Scheldt, M., Jr. 

Scheldt, Antony. 

Smith, Albert, far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Scuter, Vincent, far. ; P. O. Bloom. 

Schakucept, Fred. 

Smith, Fred, far. ; P. O. Goodenow. 

Schmidt, W., far. ; P. O. Goodenow. 

Strain, W. G., far. ; P. O. Bloom. 

Sallitt, John, far.; P. O. Peotone. 

Stenburg, Stephen. 

Stock, Henry, far;; P. O. Crete. 

Smith, G. W. 

Smith, Edw., farmer. 

Samuel, Sanuiel. 

Seehausen, D., blacksmith ; P. O. Crete. 

Severance, Lutiier, farmer. 



Selman, A., lab:; P. O. Crete. 

Stolding, Fred., far.; P. O. Crete. 

Scliroeder, Fred., far.; P. O. Peotone. 

Scluietline, Wni., caipenter; P. O.Crete.. 

Schriver, .John, far.; P. O. Crete. 

Schmidt, Henry, farmer. 

Spallender, Heiiry. 

Striber, Carl W\, far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Spolleder, Henry, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 

Smith, Wm., far. ; P. O. Goodenow. 

Seyerbrook, G., far. : P. O. Goodenow. 

Scheiwe, Philip, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 

Smalley, A., far. ; P. O. Endor. 

Schmore, John E., farmer. 

Schiick, Henry, far. ; P. (J. Eagle l^ake. 

Schrader, Fred. 

Stude, Fred. 

Sailer. Conrad, far.; P. O. Crete. 

Saft'ord, A. B., retired, Crete. 

Schiva, Carl. 

Schrage. Henry, far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Schweei', Chris, laborer, Crete. 

Schweer, Chris, Jr., carpenter, Crete. 

Smalley, Alonzo, far.: P. (). Endor. 

Stoge, Henry. 

Schmidt, Geo., far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Seehausen, Henry, Jr. 

Schrader, Carl, laborer. Crete. 

Sab in, Elizabeth. 

Stoge, Chris. 

Spencer, Francis, far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Seyers, Conrad, tar. 

Solsman, C. 

Tretty, Henry. 

Tucke, Fred. 

Therbold, Geo. 

Thissiens, Henry. 

Tagmier, Henry, far. : P. O. Eagle Lake. 

Turnean, Wm 

Tatge, Wm., far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Tatge, Conrad, Joliet. 

Tonenberg, Isaac. 

Tillotson, Lorenzo, Constable, Crete. 

Tegtmire, John, far. ; P. O. Eagle Lake. 

Texka, T. 

Tillotson, Frank, far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Theemer, J., far. : P. O. Crete. 

Toll, Oscar, laborer, Crete. 

I big, Henry, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 

Valunett, Wm., far., P. O. Eagle Lake. 

Williamson, John, retired, Crete. 

Wallace, Robt, retired, Crete. 

Winte. Mary. 

W^dkerly, Martin, far.: P. O. Endor. 

Wilm, L. 

Winzenburg, Henry. 

Wehman, F. 

W^asman, H., far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Wehmholfer, Wm., far.; P. O. Crete. 

Waterman, Carl, mason, Crete. 

Wehnilioft'er. J. 

AVilkoiing, C, far.; P. O. Eagle J.ake. 

Wilkening, Cliris, far.; P. O. Beecher. 

Wilkening, John, far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Wolf, James. 

Willie, Philip, far.; P. O. Crete. 

AVehenlioifer, Wm., far. ; P. O. Crete. 

Winter. Fjed, far.; P. O. Crete. 



CHAiNNAHON TOWNSHIP. 



971 



Wilder. A.. t:ir.: P.O. (!reti'. 

Wt'limi. Peter, laborer. Crete. 

Westeiilehlt. 

Werbrook. Henry, lar.; P. (). Crete. 

Wiiidham, J.C, far.; P. O. Chicago. 

Wiiiiainsoii. Wm., lar.; P. O. Crete. 

Witt, Carl. laborer, Crete. 

Weisiiaai'. M. 

Writtlimaii. 



Willianisoii, John., lar.; P. (). Crete. 
Wisliaar, .loliii. lar.; P. (). Hlooin. 
AVilder. (}. II., far.: P. (). Hlooiu. 
VVallacr, John, lar.; P. O. Bloom. 
Werderliolt, C, blacksmith. Bloom. 
Young, Miehael. 
Young, Mary p]. 
Zibson. Fifd. 
Zummells, Philip. 



CHANNAHON TOWNSHIP. 



Althousi', Walter, tar.; P. (). Channahon. 

Althouse, Henry: P. O. Wilmington. 

Anthony, Chester, far. ; P. O. Channahon. 

Alexander, George, farmer; P. O. Chan- 
nahon. 

Abell. Edw., janitor; P. O. Channahon. 

Andraugh, Pat, lar; P. O. Channahon. 

Ardaugh, Patrick; P. U. Channahon. 

Bedford, .Stephen, mail-carrier; P. O. 
Channahon. 

Brackus. Lucien, farmer; P. O. Chan- 
nahon. 

Beattie, Kobert, far. ; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 

Bartdyte. Nicholas, farmer; P. O. Chan- 
nahon. 

Brown, Peter. 

Bell, Wm., farmer; P. O. Minooka. 

Bailey, Daniel, farmer; P.O. Channahon. 

Bailey. Caleb, farmer; P. O. Channahon. 

lirumick, Alex., far.; P. O. Channahon. 

Buell, Geo., mechanic; P. O. Channahon. 

Bossenecker, G. P. 

Bedford, Nelson, far. ; P. O. Channahon. 

Buel, N. farmer; P. O. Channalion. 

Bates, E., black'smith ; P. ( ). C'hannahon. 

Billsland. D.. larujer: P. O. Channahon. 

Burdi'ii, Wm., laborer: P. O. Channahon. 

Cooley, M., laborer; P. O. Channahon. 

Curtis, C, laborer : P. O. Channahon. 

Claughlin. Michael, farmer: P.O. Bird's 
Bridge. 

Cavender. Wm. H.. farmer; P.O. Bird's 
Bridge. 

Carpenter, Allen, far. : P. O. Channahon. 

Cornwell, James. 

Colleps, John. 

Conroy, Pat, farmer; r. O. Channahon. 

Conroy, John, farnu-r: P. O. (•iiannahon. 

Cornelius, Charles, far. ; P. O. Channahon. 

Conklin. Edw.. laltorer; P. O. Channahon. 

Coyle, Peter, Mrs., far.; P.O. Channahon. 

Davis, Geo. B., farmer; P. O. Channahon. 

Davis, R. P.. farmer: P.O. Channahon. 

Deline, Moses, farmei'; P. O. Ehvood. 

Drew. J. C. M.. far.: P. O. Channahon. 

DeWitt, John M.. laborer: P. O. Chan- 
nahon. 

Drew, D.. laboier: P. O. Channahon. 

Effner. E. W., farmer; P. O. Channahon. 

Effner, John, shoemaker: P. O. Chan- 
nahon. 

Ellington, John, far. ; P. O. Channahon. 



Farnsworth. G. W., farm«'r; P. O. Bird'a 
Bridge. 

Fender, Geo. W., farmer ; V. O. Minooka. 

Finney, Barney, far.; P. O. Channahon. 

Finney, Kobert, far.; P. O. Channahon. 

Finney, John, laborer; P. O. Channahon. 

Fowler, Caleb, merchant; P. O. Chan- 
nahon. 

Finder, (Jeo.. farmer; P. O. Minooka. 

Fallen, John, farmer; P. O. Joliet. 

Fryer, J. N., farmer; P. O. Channahon. 

Fitch, Joseph, physician and merchant; 
P. O. Channahon. 

Gathaway, Wm., far. ; P. O. Channahon. 

Glidden, Stephen, far.: P. O. Cliaimahon. 

Gaskell, D. K., farmer ; P. O. Minooka. 

Geary, Joseph, farmer; P. O. Channahon. 

Corl, Amos. Mrs., far.; P. O. Channahon. 

Grant. James, farmer : P. O. Elwood. 

Grant. John A.. farmer: P. O. Ehvood. 

Goodjolm, Thomas; P. O. Ehvood. 

Gulen, Henry, farmer; P. O.Wilmington. 

Gatheny, Wrii., far.; P. O. Channahon. 

Gorman. Timothy, tailor; P. O. Chan- 
nahon. 

Hess, Joseph, farmer: P. O. Joliet. 

Hattield. Hannah, farmei"; P. O. Bird's 
Bridge. 

Haley, Richard, farmer; P. 0. Elwood. 

Haley. C, Jr., farmer; P. O. Chaiuiahon. 

Haley, Micliael. farmer: P. O. Ehvood. 

Hart, John, laborer; P. O. Channahon. 

Hart, James, farmer; P. O. Channalion. 

Herbert, Thomas, far.; P. O. Channahon. 

Herbert. Patrick, far.; P. O. Channahon. 

Hemphill, D. C, farmer: P. O. Ehvood. 

Henderson. Delia ; P. O. Cluuniahon. 

Hicks. ^lanley. harness-maker: P. O. 
Channahon. 

Jesup, Eihv., farmer: P. O. Channahon. 

Jessup, John: P. O.Wilmington. 

JohuMon, Robert, farmer: P. O. Elwood. 

Ketchiim, Clespus. far.: P. O. Minooka. 

Knap]), Ira ().. farmer: P. O. Channahon. 

Kite. (Jeo.: P. O. Chicago. 

Knapp. Solon, laborer; P. O. Channahon. 

Lenicher, Peter. 

J.ysle. Bvron, farmer: P. O. Channahon. 

Long. Michael, far: P. O. Bird's Bridge. 

J.epold. Wm.. taniiei-: P. O. Joliet. 

Lepokl, Ann : P. O. Joliet. 

Lewis, J., far.; P. O. Channahon. 



972 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY 



Lepold, H.. far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Lepold, (justave, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Landrigan, J., far.; P. (). Channahon. 
Ledyard. J. C. retired, Channahoh. 
Lowery, Win., laborer, Channahon. 
McCowan, C.. far.; P. O. Channahon. 
McClintock, W., far.; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 
McDonald. M., far. ; P. 0. Cannahon. 
McCune, George, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
IMonahan, Jas., far. ; P. O. Channahon. 
Miller, A., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Meran, Owen, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Miller, R. H., wagon-maker, Channahon. 
Mills, Oscar, far. ; P. O. Channahon. 
Manning, Elisabeth, far.; P. O. Channa- 
hon. 
Martin, Thos., far. ; P. O. Channahon. 
Martin, J. W., engineer 111. Penit., Joliet. 
Mix, Jos., shoemaker, Cliannahon. 
Morehouse, Michael, Mrs., Channahon. 
Nicholas, Henry, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Xewraan, Ebenezer. far.; P.O. Elwood. 
Noonan, Dennis, far.; P. O. Channahon. 
IQ"oonan, Jas., far. ; P. O. Channahon. 
Osgood, U., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
0'i3rien, John, far. ; P. O. Channahon. 
O'Brien. AVm., far. ; P. O. Bird's Bridge. 
Ogden, M. D.. Chicago. 
O'Boyle, Patrick, far. ; P. O. Channahon. 
Price. Thos., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Padley, H.. tar. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Porter, Lamen, far. ; P. O. Channahon. 
Porter, Lenon, far.; P. O. Channahon. 
Quigley, Andrew, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 



Randall, J. T.. far.; P. O. Channahon. 
Raleigli. Thos., far. ; P. O. Channahon. 
Rowley, Thos., far.; P. O- Channalion. 
Rilev, Thos., far.; P. O. Channahon. 
Sage, E. W., far. ; P. O. Cliamuilion. 
Sing, Adam, far.; P. O. Cliannahon. 
Schieck, Thos., carpenter, Minooka. 
Sweet, Anson, far. ; P. O. Channahon. 
Shall, John, far. ; P. O. Channahon. 
Stolder, 1j., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Smith, C C., far.; P. O. Channahon. 
Stickney, Benj., far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Staats, Frank, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Smith, Jas. H., mechanic, Channahcm. 
Street, J. R.. stove-maker, Joliet. 
Sage, E. W., far. ; P. O. Channahon. 
Tryon, Geo., far. ; P. O. Cliannahon. 
Tait. Michael, far.; P. O. Channahon. 
Thoinburg,Robt., far.; P. O. Elwood. 
Thornburg. John, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Thornbnrg, Newton, far. ; P. O. Elwood. 
Van Alstine, Isaac, far. ; P.'O. Channahon. 
Venner, Jas., groceryman, Channahon. 
Van Alstine, Malinda, Channahon. 
West, Ephriam. far.; P. O. Cliannahon. 
Worthy, Wm., Chicago. 
Wentworth, D. S., Chicago. 
Willard, R. G., far.; P. O. Channahon. 
Whitmore, A., far.; P. O. Channahon. 
Wagner, Conrad, far.; P. O. Cliannahon. 
Watson, Jesse, butcher, Channalion. 
Woodruff, G. C., carpenter, Channahon. 
Willard, C S., far. ; P. O. Channahon. 
Yates, R. A., far.; P. O. Channahon. 



MANHATTAN TOWNSHIP. 



Adams, Elias H., far.; P. O. Spencer. 
Aaron, P. P., far. ; P. O. Greengarden. 
Adler, Peter, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Amend, Andrew, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Barton, George, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Brenton, Joseph, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Barton, Charles, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Ballard, Sarah; P. O. Joliet. 
Bragman, John. 

Bergan, Martin, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Baker, Clark, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Baker, John, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Bronk, Peter A., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Boyland, John, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Be;ird, Caroline, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Brime, K. E., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Brophy, Edw., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Brady, John. 

Buck, George A., far.; P. 0. Joliet. 
Billing, Ricliard, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Barton, C, far. ; P. O. Greengarden. 
Jiaily, Thomas, far.; P. O. Spencer. 
Bohrbach, Adam, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Baker, George, far. ; V. O. Joliet. 
Barr, George, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Bronson, Fred, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Barr, Martlia; P. O. Joliet. 



Barr, Samuel, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Barr, Joliii, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Braner, Peter, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Broughmaii, J., far.; P. O. New Lenox. 
Pester, J., far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
Ba-sett, Wm. J., far. ; P. (). Greengarden. 
Coon, Robert, far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Cockle, Sarah; P.O. Joliet. 
Cale, Tliomas, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Cochle, Jolm, far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Cochle, William, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Cain, Thomas, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Clussen, Barnett, f ar. ; P. O. Greengarden. 
Cain, John, far.; P. O. Greengarden. 
Cole, Richard, far.; P. O. Spencer. 
Campbell, J. M., far.; 1'. O. Spencer. 
Dennis, W. R.. far..; P. (). Joliet. 
Delatield, R. R.. far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Donley, Matthew, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Erbe. Leich, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Eggers, Henry, far.; P. O. Spencer. 
Eberliart, H(!nedi(>t, far.; P. O. Spencer. 
Faliy, Thomas, far.; P. O. Greengarden. 
Gillett, James M., far.; P. O. Spencer. 
Greenwood, Aaron, far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Green, Henry, far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Goorivan, Stephen, far.; P. O. Joliet. 



WASHINOTON TOWNSHIP. 



973 



GmHukIu'I-. Patrick, I'ar. ; I'. (). Joliet. 
GallaiilitT. .lames, far.; P. C). Joliet. 
Ganicv. (Jt'Dinc I'ar.; P. (). .loliet. 
Geiss/D. K., i'ar.; P. (). .loliet. 
<Tlail«, Aujiiistus. far.; P. (). Joliet. 
Geiss, ,lohn, far.; P. U. Jolit't. 
Glade. August, far.; P. (>. .loliet. 
(iibbon, (Jeorge, far.; P. U. .loliet. 
llartong, .1. .1.. far.; P. (). .loliet. 
Hvne. riiri.stian. far.; P. (). .loliet. 
Howard, W. S., far.; P. (). .loliet. 
Howard, Tvlle, far.; P. (). .loliet. 
Haley, Kichard, far.; P. O. .Joliet. 
Hunt. .John, far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Harms. Henrv. far.; P. (). (Jreengardeii. 
Haley. Michael, far.; P. (). .Toliet. 
Jones. .Tames, far. ; P. O. .Toliet. 
-Jaques, E. E., far. ; I*. O. .Toliet. 
Keer, .Tames. 

Kirk, Thomas, far. ; P. O. .Toliet. 
Keeler, Chiistian, far. ; P. O. .Toliet. 
Keer, William, far.; T^ O. .Toliet. 
Ivnigler. Elias. far. ; P. O. .Joliet. 
Kail, Belzert, far.; P. O. .Toliet. 
Kerstein, .lacol). far.; P. O .Joliet. 
Kitzen, Frank, far. ; P. (). Spencer. 
Kestal, Michael, far. ; P. O. New Lenox. 
l.,eckner, 11., far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Lawler, Michael, far. ; P. O. .Joliet. 
Lutz, .John, far. ; P. O. .Joliet. 
Liitz, .Tacob, far. ; P. O. .Toliet. 
Lynn. W. I). B.. far. ; P. O. .Toliet. 
McHugh. .James, far. ; P. O. .Toliet. 
MeParten, Peter, far. ; P. O. .Toliet. 
McHugh. Felix, far. ; P. O. .Joliet. 
McNiff. .John, far.; P. O. .Toliet. 
McFarland, Hugh, far. ; P. O. .Toliet. 
McHugh, Thos., far. ; P. O. .Toliet. 
McGrath, Byron, far. ; P. O. .Toliet. 
McClure, C. I., far. ; P. O. Joliet. 
McClure, David, far. ; P. O. .Toliet. 
Mcl'artten, Charles ; P. O. Spencer. 
McDonald. Andrew\ far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
McGrath, .Tolin. far.; P. (). Joliet. 
Murphy, M., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Murphy, Barney, far.; P. O. .Toilet. 
Martin, Edward, far.; P. (). Joliet. 
Morse, O. F., Rev. ; P. O. Joliet. 
Morse, A., far.; P. (). .Joliet. 
Miller, Wm., Sr., far.; V. O. Spencer. 
Metzger, Conrad, far.; P. (). Spencer. 
Morse, Anna, far.; I'. O. Spencer. 
Murphy, James, far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Olney, Iliram, far.; P. O. Spencer. 



Ofundstein, .Jacob, far.; 1^ (). S|)encer. 
Ploi'gg, Chas.. far.; I\ (). Greengarden. 
Phel|).s. .lames, far.; T*. (K .loliet. 
l'e]iper, Wni., far.; V. (). .Joliet. 
Phillips, John, far.; P. (). Joliet. 
Paul, Geo., far.; P. (). .Joliet. 
Paul, Wm., far.; 1^ (). .loliet. 
T^Kld. David, far.; 1'. (). .Joliet. 
King, .John, far.; 1'. (). .Joliet. 
lieeves, Jerome, far.; P. (). .Joliet. 
Robinson, Ste})henson, far.; P. (). .Joliet. 
Ring, A. II., far.; P. O. .Joliet. 
Ruson, .Jasper, far.; P. (). .Joliet. 
Haudall, Stephen, far.; P. (). Xew Lenox. 
Rudd, Charles, far.; P.O. Greeiigarden. 
Rudd, J}., far.; P. O. Greengaiden. 
Reynolds, Thomas, far.; P. O. .Toliet. 
Sprouls. .Tames, far.; P. O. .Toliet. 
Stulfenburg, I'eter; P. (). Joliet. 
Smith, John W., far.; P. (). .Joliet. 
Seltzer, H. W., far.; P. (). .Joliet. 
Storrs, P. G., far.; P. (). .Joliet. 
Schaff, Henry, far.; P. (). .Joliet. 
Smith, J. W.. far.; P. (). Joliet. 
Schoonman. Fred., far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Stebbins, H. B., far.; P. O. Greeiigarden. 
Schneider, John B., far.; P. (). Joliet. 
Spoul, .Tames, far.; P. O. .Toliet. 
Styles, Charles, far. ; P. ( ). Spencer. 
Smith, James, far.; P. O. Spencer. 
Shoop, .John, far.; P. O. Spencer. 
Stolf, G. ^Y., far. ; P. (). Spencei-. 
Smith, Nelson, far.: P. (). Spencer. 
Shoop, Henry, far. ; P. ( ). Si)encer. 
Smith, W. J., far.; P. O. .Joliet. 
Tucker, O. W., far.; l\ O. Joliet. 
Thiel, Henrv. far.; P. O. Joliet. 
Thaver, Noah, far.; P. (). .Joliet. 
Tucker. O. W.. far.; P. O. Greengarden. 
Trask, Elihu, far. ; P. (). Joliet. ' 
Utterman, S. W., far.; P. (). Si)encer. 
Woodcock, Gedden, far.; P. (). Spencer. 
Weber, .Tames, far. ; P. O. Spencer. 
Walch, Richard, far.; P. (). Spencer. 
Williams, (). J., far. and P. M. ; P. O. Green- 
garden. 
Wallace, Thomas, far.; P. ( ). .Joliet. 
Watkins, Peter, far.; P. O. .Joliet. 
Watkins. Richard, far.; P. (). Joliet. 
Whitson, John, far.; P. (). .Toliet. 
Whits(m, David, far.; \\ O. Joliet. 
AValen, .Tamers, far.; P. (). Joliet. 
Young, Asa B.. fai-. : P. O. .loliet. 



WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 



Ackerman, Fred, far.; P. (). Beecher. 
Balilman, H., Jr., far.; P. (). Eagle I^ake. 
Baker, Geo., far.; P. (). Goodenow. 
Batterman, Fred, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Babcock, Fred, far.; P. (). Beecher. 
Bahlman. II.. far.; P.O. P^agle Lake. 
Barnes, Bridget. Beeclier. 



Beseke, C, giain dealer, lieecher. 
Besterfeld. Henry, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Behrens. Conrad, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Billlield, Simon, carjjcnter. Beecher. 
Billlield. [Ienr\. Iunil)er dealer. IJeecher. 
151ock. TI.. grain dealer. Beecher. 
Bold, Henrv. far.; P. O. Beecher. 



974 



REAL ESTATE OWNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



Bofkelmaii, Chris, lar. : P. O. Beeclier. 
JBock, Conrad, Beeclier. 
Borgus, Henry, wagon-maker, Beecher. 
Boiler. Clans, far.: V. O. Beeclier. 
Burns, John, laborer. Beeclier. 
BuVknieier, Geo., lai. ; P.O. Eagle Lake. 
. Biilir, Peter, tar.; V. (). Beeclier. 
;■ Bush, Carl, far.; P. O. Beeclier. 
Busse, Pred, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Bredemeier, W., far. : P. (). Eagle J^ake. 
Brauns, Fred. 
Brain, T. 

Beronhard, II., far.; P. (). Eagle Lake. 
Brans, C, far. ; P. ( ). Eagle Lake. 
Burns, Henry, far.; P. (). Eagle Lake. 
Clans, A., far. ; P. ( ). Eagle Lake. 
Closer, A., wagon-maker. Beecher. 
Danne, Henry, far.; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Dierking, Fred, far.; P. (). Beecher. 
Dohse, Henry, far.; P. U. Eagle Lake. 
Dyer, Fred, tailor, Beecher. 
Engelking, H. H., far.; P. (). Eagle Lake. 
Engelking, L., far. ; P. (). Beecher. 
Ehlers,.H. A., miller, Beecher. 
Erison, Fred, far. ; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Faske, Fred, far. ; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Falke, John, far. ; P.O. Beecher. 
Fe^tmeier, Henry, far. : P. O. Begcher. 
Feme, Fred, far.; P. (). Beecher. 
Fegtineyer, \V.. far.; P. (). Beecher. 
Pick, John, far.; P. (). Beecher. 
Frahni, Jacob, far.; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Fiebelcorn, Fred, far. ; P. O Beecher. 
Fisch, John, far. ; P. (). Beecher. 
Figl.)ager, Henry. 

Frobose, Henry, far. : P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Gieser, Jacob, far. : P. (). Beecher. 
Goodenow, G. W., far. ; P. (). Crete. 
Graham, J. H.. far. ; P. O. Goodenow. 
Geweke, Fred., blacksmith, Beecher. 
Grabe, Henry, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
G rages. Heniy. far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Goetz, Geo., wagon-mkr., Beecher. 
Gurrtz, August, far.; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Haste, Fred., far. ; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Uasanyayer, C., far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Has(^lie, Engle. 

Ilahn, Henry, far. ; P. U. Eagle Lake. 
Uartnian, J. C , far. ; P. (). Eagle J.ake. 
Plaseman, H., far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Hassenian, J., far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Hack, John, menthant. Eagle J^ake. 
Hack, C., merchant, Beecher. 
Hangeman, L., saloon, Eagle J^ake. 
H;usse, 1)., far. : P. (). Beecher. 
Harnish, (Jeorge, harness-mkr., Beecher. 
Hehling, Chas., far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Meld, Ernst, far.; 1'. (). Beecher. 
Hanses, Fred., far.; P. (). Beecher. 
H(nnian, liouis, far. ; P.O. Beecher. 
llartjen, ncrnian. 

Ilascman, John, far.; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Hallman, F>ena. far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Heller. Albert, far. : P. O. Beecher. 
Heineze, Chris., far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Henze, H., f ai". ; P. O. Beecher. 
Ilcider, John, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
ileiden, John, far.; P. O. Beecher. 



Hippe, 11., far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Hintz, H. H., lumber dealer, Beecher. 
Holz, Chas., far.: P. O. Beecher. 
Houck, Geo., shoemaker, Beecher. 
Hunter. J.udwig, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Hunter, Henry, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Joers, \Vm., far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Jessen, Louis, blacksmith, Beecher. 
Kaka, Henry. 

Kahle, H., far. ; P. O. Eagle J.ake. 
Kapmeier, H., far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Katz, Fred, Sr., far. ; P. O, Eagle Lake. 
Katz, Fied, Beecher. 
Katze, Fred., far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Klenime, Chas.. far. ; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Klemme, August, far. : P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Knabe, Chas., far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Ki)lling. Fred., far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Kouka, F.. far. ; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Koelling, Chris., far.: P. O. Goodenow. 
Kruth, John, blacksmith, Beecher. 
Kraske, Christ., far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Krng, Bernard, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Kraft. Jacob, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Kruse, Wm.. mason, Beecher. 
Kukermeister, Chas., far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Kurtz, Philip, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Lagreder, Henry, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Lange, Chas., far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Layes, Conrad, far. ; P. O. Ea^le Lake. 
Leenhausen, H., shoemaker, Beecher. 
Letts, Henry, Eagle Lake. 
Lobstein, Samuel, mer., Beecher. 
Long, Chas., laborer, Beecher. 
Lutterman, Caleb, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Luterman. Chris., far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Lucke, Fred., far. ; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Lucke, F. F., shoemaker, Eagle Lake- 
Lyons, D. P., far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Lyons, Henry 8., far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Lyon. Caleb, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Matthias, Fred. far. : P. O. Beecher. 
Mast, John O., lab., Beecher. 
Most, Conrad, lab., Beecher. 
Mann, Franz, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Matliias, Henry, merchant, Beecher. 
Matz, Henry, lab., Beecher. 
Meyer, Christian, far.; Eagle Lake. 
Meyer, Wm., far.; P. O. JJeecher. 
Meire, John T., far. ; Eagle Lake. 
Mier, S., physician, J3eecher. 
Miller, Carl. 

Miller, Henry, far. : P. O. Beecher. 
Miller, T. L.," far.: P. O. Beecher. 
Moller. H., lab., Beecher. 
Musnian, H., mason, Beecher. 
Nolan, John, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Ncidcrt, Henry, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Oldenburg, II.; far.; P. O. Beecher. 
O'Neil, O. A., lab. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Olenburg. Henry, far.; P. (). Beecher. 
O'Leary, Jolin,lab.; P. O. Beecher. 
Osternu'ier, Conrad, far,; P. O. Beecher. 
Oklenkamp, D., far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Ochlerking, T., far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Oberhaide, Fred, far.; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Pauls, Peter, far. ; P. ( ). Beecher. 
Paulson, C, far.; P. O. Beecher. 



WILL TOWNSHIP. 



975 



IVcht, Win., mercliant; P. O. Boeflier. 
Peclit, R., laenliaiit: 1'. (). IJfechcr. 
Peter, Henry, far.; P. (). Beeclier. 
Pegal, .lohii. tinner: P. (). Beeclier. 
Piepenbrink, H., far.; P. O. Eatfle Take. 
Plajjire. Fred, far.; P. (). Beeelu'i. 
Pralie. Henry, f:ir.; 1'. O. lieedier. 
Hippe, (ieo., far.; P. (). Beeclier. 
Kistenpart, H., far.; P. O. ]Jeeclier. 
Keiclms, Henry, far. ; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
llipj)e. Christian, far.; P. (). Beeclier. 
Rose, Sanuiel, inercliant: P. (). Beecher. 
Rose, Alex., teacher; P. (). Beeclier. 
Rode, Henry, lab.; P. (). Beecher. 
Rode, .John. 

linden, C, physician ; P. O. Beecher. 
Ruge, (\»rl, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Ilnst, Fred, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Rnsse, Ernst, far.; P. (). Eagle Lake. 
JJnbreeht, Fred, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
ISass, ^Vu^., far. ; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Sollitt, John, far.; P.O. Beecher. 
Sastrain, Charles, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Schmith, Fred, saloon: P. O. Beecher. 
Schmith, Christian. 
Schmidt, Conrad; P.O.Eagle T^ake. 
iSchilling, John, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
.Schweppe, Fred, far. ; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Schwertfeger, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Schmedeke, Henry, farm.; P. O. Beecher. 
Scheiwe, Wm., far. ; P. O. Ea?;le Lake. 
iScliweer, Conrad, far.; P. O, Eagle Lake. 
Scheiwe, Henry, far. ; P. ( ). Eagle?Lake. 
Schrenk, Henry, far. ; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Seitz, Fred, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Seahaltz, Fred, far. ; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Scharnhorst, D., far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Senholtz, Fred, far.; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Sheiver, Philip, far.; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Shulz, Wm., painter; P. O. Beecher. 
Shultz, W.. i)ainter; P. O. Beecher. 
Silk, Carl, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Smith, Fred, saloon; P. O. Beecher. 
Smith, Edw., far. ; P. O. Goodenow. 
SoUin. J. C, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Spolder, Franz, far. : P. O. Eagle Lake. 



Struve, Wm., liiniber merchant; P. O. 

Beechei'. 
Stenhoff. Christian, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Steadt, Wm., far.; P. O. lieeelier. 
Stratinan, Henrv, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Stensloff, Fi-ed, far.: P.O. Beecher. 
Strain, Win., far.; I'. (). Beeclier. 
Tat;j;c, John 11., far.; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Tatgmeier, C., far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Thnrman. Wm., far.; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Thede, Fied, far.; !'. O. Beecher. 
Tetmeiei-, lolin, far.; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Tramm, Julin, far.; P. O. Jieeclier. 
Thnrman, H., shoemaker; P. O. Eagle 

Lake. 
Volandt, Wm., far. ; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Vorkawfer, Julius; P. O. Beecher. 
Maxwell. J()sei)li, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Valmer, Henry, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Vashage, Henry, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Von Alvern, Henry, carpenter; P. O. 

Beecher. 
Wehmhoefer, Henry, blacksmith; P. O. 

Eagle Lake. 
Wendeling, Geo., far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Weirzenburg, H., far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Wherman, Fred, far.; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Witt, Charles; P. O. Beecher. 
Wilke.Fred, far.; P. O. Fade Lake. 
Wedeking, Chris., far.; P.O. Beecher. 
Wills, Chris., Lib.; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Wille. Clirist, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Wilkemiing, ('..far.; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
VVilkenning, C, far.; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Wilis, Philip. 

Wille. .lohn, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
AVillis, Christian, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Woennick, August, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
AV^etterhausen, L.. saloon ; P. O. Beecher. 
Wolter, Heinrich, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Wolter, Wilhelm. far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Wolters, Heinrich, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Wood, railroad agent; P O. Beecher. 
Zarn, Chris., far. ; P. O. Eagle Lake. 
Zirzow, John, far.; P. O. Beecher. 



WILL TOWNSHIP. 



Adams, Henry, far. 
Adams, Geo., "far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Albers, L., far.; P. O. Monee. 
Backman, Henry, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Baxter. Benj., fa"r.; P. O. Peotone. 
Baird, W. Z. far.; P. O. Peotone. 
Baird. H. H..far.; P.O. Peotone. 
Bain, W., far.; P. O. Peotone. 
Bain, A., far.; P.O. Peotone. 
Bain. Robert, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Barber. J as., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Board, 1). J., far., P. O. Peotone. 
Bnmes, Henry, far. ; P. O. Monee. 
Biockman, Henry, far. ; P. O. Monee. 
Bockelmann. W..'far. ; P. O. Beecher. 



Budda, Bernard, far.; P. O. Peotone. 

Bunty. B., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 

Bradigom. Henry. Chicago. 

Buckmire, Christian, far. ; P. O Beecher. 

Carr. R. B.. far. 

Caldenl)urg. Henerick. 

Centrill. O. C. 

Centrill, A., far. 

Chamberlain, W.. far., P. O. Peotone. 

Chamberlain. Elijah, far.; P. O. Peotone. 

Clonswig, Carl C." far. ; P. O. Monee. 

Constable. W.. far.; P. O. Peotone. 

Courtiiouner, John, Peotone. 

Cowan, A., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 

Colling, Gottlieb, far. ; P. O. Goodenow. 



976 



REAL ESTATE OAVNERS OF WILL COUNTY: 



Craig, A., tar.; P. (). Goodenow. 
Craig, llobt., tar. : P. O. Goodenow. 
Dauby. Geo., tar.; P. (). Goodenow. 
Darl. Fred, Goodenow. 
Dernby, W., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Dopp, Jolm, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Essons. W., far.; P. O. Peotone. 
Erichson. Paul, far. ; P. O. Monee. 
Esson, AV., far. ; P. O. Monee. 
Essons, Tlios., far.; P. O. Peotone. 
Egan, J^ilrifk, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Pells, Christian, Peotone. 
(renter, Carl, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Gorman, .John, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Godfrey. Henry A., Mrs., Monee. 
Gorman, A., far.; P. O. lV)tone. 
Gridley. J. M., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
(Jrace, August. Peotone. 
( }rant, Robt., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
(hant. Thos., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
(h-ant, Peter, fai-. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Greloff. Fred. far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Hasseman, J.,far. ; P. 0. Monee. 
Harm, E. E., Peotone. 
Hasselniayer. E., far. : P. O. Peotone. 
Henrich, F., far. ; l*eotone. 
Hendricks, Henry. Peotone. 
Hood. C, far. ; P. (). Peotone. 
Holden, C C. P., Chicago. 
Hudson, Wm., Chicago. 
.Johnson, Peter, far. ; P. (). Peotone. 
Kesler, Ludwig, far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Kenbigen, Carl. 
Killenbeck, John, far. 
Kopman, Henry, far. 
Kolling, Conrad, far. ; Beecher. 
Krohan, John, far.; P. O. Peotone. 
Krohn, Chris, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Lawson, Jacob, Chicago. 
J.ankon, Chas., far.; P. 0. Beecher. 
J^ewis, B. M., Chicago. 
Lilley, Fred, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Eilley, A. P., far. : P. O. Peotone. 
Lilley, F. P., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Loetz, John, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Ludwig, Thos., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Lutz, John, far.; P. O. Peotone. 
Luke, Fred, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Maxwell, Jas., far. ; P. 0. Monee. 
Mainwood, Ezekiel, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Matthews, Conrad, far.; P. O. Beecher. 
Master, Thos., Peotone. 
Mastholin, Jas. 8., Peotone. 
McMahon, Pat, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Meyer, Geo., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 



Nahl, Fred. far. 

Neill, Henry, far. ; P. (). Monee. 
Norman, Robert, far. 
Ormstedt, O. T., far. 
O'Neil, Carl J., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Patterick, Thomas, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Patterson, R., far. ; P. O. l^eotone. 
Peterson, K., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Peterson, H., far. : P. O. Peotone. 
Powis, John, far.; P. O. Peotone. 
Powell, W., far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Rolling, Arthur, far. ; P. O. Monee. 
Rulendorf, Henry, far.; P. (). Peotone. 
Roscoe, David, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Rice, J. L, far.; P. C). Peotone. 
Sayre, Geo., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Salarious, Elias, far.; P.,0. Monee. 
iSchnuviss, H. far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
8chultz, Joachim, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Schroeder, Fred, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Schrivus, Abraham, fai". ; P. O. Peotone. 
Schillsted. Ole, far. ; 1\ O. Peotone. , 
Schaffner. Jacob, far.; P. O. Peotone. 
Schultz, Josepli, far.; P. O. Monee. 
Smith, C, far.; P. O. Peotone. 
Smith, Christ, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Smitli, Geo. W., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Smith, Chaiies, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Smith. J. C. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Smith, John, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Smith. Fred, far.: P. 
Sollitt, JohnB.. far.; 
Sodoman, .)ohn. far.; 
Steinberger, Fred H. 
Starbuck, Henry, far, 
Stathast, Ernst, far. ; 
Steinberger, F. H.. far.; 
Stade, Louis, far, ; P. O 



O. Monee. 

P.O. Peotone. 

P. O. Peotone. 

far. : P. O. Peotone. 

: P. b. Peotone. 

P. O. Peotone. 
P. ( ). Peotone. 
Beecher. 
Tait, Wju., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Thomas, Wm., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Thinsfield, Deidrick, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Theinfeildt, D.. far. ; P. O. Beecher. 
Tucker. Thomas, far. : P. O. Monee. 
Vinson. J. J., far.; P. O, Peotone. 
Wainick, Reuben, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Warnake, AVm., far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Westgate, C. A., far.; P. O. Peotone. 
Welcii. Richard, far.; P. O. Peotone. 
Weiker, Henry, far.; 
Weifert, W. N., far. : 
Westenfeldt, Henry, far. ; P. O. Peotone. 
Williams, David; P. O. Chicago. 
Williams, .lames; P. O. Chicago. 
Woodard, Wm., far. ; P. O. Monee. 
Zirzow, Fred, far. ; P. O. Monee. 



P. O. Peotone. 
P. O. Peotone. 




BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 



JOLIET. 

Andrews, Alex., Dealer in Staple 
and Fancy Groceries, Flour and Feed, 
Cigars and Tobacco, corner Cass. street 
and Eastern avenue. 

Akin, E. H., Dealer in Real Estate, 
Aiken's Block, 65 Jefi'erson street. 

Adler, P. P., Dealer in Live Stock, 
Wholesale and Retail Meat Market, No. 
17 Chicago street. 

Abbott, George, Proprietor New 
England Restaurant, corner Jefferson 
and Chicago streets. 

Arnold & Bowen, Dealers in Gro- 
ceries and Provisions, and Proprietors 
of the Joliet Steam Coffee and Spice 
Mills, and Wholesale Dealers in Coffees 
and Spices of every description. Cof- 
fees roasted for the trade. Office and 
mills, Nos. 27, 29 and 32 Bluff street. 
All Goods delivered from the wagon. 

Adler, Jacob, Dealer in Cattle, 
Horses, Hogs, Sheep and Stock of all 
kinds. Office at Adler's Market, Chi- 
cago street. 

Alfrick, F., General Blacksmith. All 
kinds of Blacksmithing done at short 
notice, and satisfaction guaranteed. 
Horse-shoeing a specialty. 71 North 
Bluff street. 

Adelman, Peter, Dealer in Dry 
Goods, Notions, Groceries, Glassware, 
etc. etc., 22 Jefferson street. 



Burden, A., Merchant Tailor, No. 19 
Ottawa street, opposite Central Presby- 
terian Church. 

Braun, Jos., Proprietor of Apollo 
Hall. No. 103 Jefferson street. 

Bush, J. E., Dealer in Grain. Office 
and warehouse on Des Planes street. 

Barber, Randall & Fuller, At^ 

torneys at Law, Centennial Block, op- 
posite Court House. To facilitate trials 
of real estate cases, collections, and 
other business, this firm keeps a com- 
plete set of books of Abstracts of Title 
for this county, which also enables them 
to place loans of money on undoubted 
security. 
Burke, Thomas, Livery, Feed and 
Sale Stable. Best of livery teams sup- 
plied upon liberal terms, at short notice. 
Bluff street, south of Exchange street. 

Byrnes, Christy, Dealer in all kinds 
of Staple and Fancy Groceries, Flour 
and Feed, No. 104 South Chicago 
street. Goods delivered to any part of 
the city. 

Brown, J. H. & Co., comer Jefferson 
and Joliet streets. Dealers in Drugs, 
Medicines, Chemicals, Fine Toilet Soaps, 
Hair and Tooth Brushes, Perfumery 
and Fancy Articles, Trusses, Braces, 
and Druggists' Sundries generally, 
Paints, Oils, Glass, Putty and Dye 
Stuffs ; Physicians' prescriptions care- 
fully compounded ; Pure Wines and 



978 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 



Liquors for medicinal purposes ; Cigars, 
Blank-Books, Paper, Pens, Pencils, etc. 

Bruce, James, & Co., Dealers in all 
kinds of Stone. Quarries between 
RoUing-Mill and Penitentiary. 

Campbell, M. B., Dr. Homeopathic 
Physician and Surgeon. Office, 79 Jef- 
ferson street. Office hours. 8 to 11 
o'clock A. M., and 2 to 4 P. M. 

Carpenter & Marsh, Proprietors 

of Union Transfer Elevator. Dealers 
in Grain and Feed, opposite C. &. A. 
passenger depot. 

Culver, J. J., Shipper of Live-Stock, 
and Wholesale and Retail Dealer in all 
kinds of Fresh and Salt Meats, Dried 
Beef, Hams, Tongues, Sausages, Lard, 
Pish, Poultry, Game, etc., Bluff Street 
Market. 

Chittenden, Northup & Co., 

Dealers in Dry Goods and Notions, cor- 
ner Jefferson and Chicago streets. 

Casey, John R., M. D , Physician 
and Surgeon. Office and residence cor- 
ner of Scott and Van Buren streets. 

Chamberlain, S. S., & Son, Fur 

niture, 92 State street, Lockport, and 
24 Chicago street, Joliet. 

CurtiSS, Romaine J.,M. D., Phy- 
sician and Surgeon. Office and resi- 
dence No. 18 Broadway. 

Cagwin, A., & Co., Dealers in Grain. 
Office, Center street, near Ward's plan- 
ing-mill. 

Cope, H.W,, Manufacturer of and Deal- 
er in Horse-CoUars of every description, 
No. 59 N. Bluff street. All collars 
made to order guaranteed to give satis- 
faction. 

Carson Bros., Dealers in all kinds of 
Staple and Fancy Groceries, No. 8 Ex- 
change street, West Side. Goods deliv- 
ered to any part of the city. 



Caswell, Wallace B., Proprietor St. 
Nicholas Hotel. First class accommo- 
dations ; charges moderate ; near the 
business part of the city, opposite C, 
A. & St. L. R. R. depot. 

Daly, Eugene, Undertaker and Deal- 
er in Furniture, No. 5 Exchange street. 

Doolittle, R., Justice of the Peace, 
Conveyancer and agent for the payment 
of taxes, G9 .Jefferson street. 

Dougall, Wm., M. D., Physician 
and Surgeon, 63 Jeffer.son street. Of- 
fice hours, 8 A. M. to 12 M., and 3 P. 
M. to 6 P. M. 

Devine, Frank, Contractor and 
Builder. Shop and office, corner South 
Ottawa and De Kalb streets, opposite 
6th Ward Schoolhouse. Carpeoter 
work in all its branches performed in a 
satisfactory manner ; plans and specifi- 
cations furnished ; jobbing promptly at- 
tended to. 

ElwOOd, James G., Real Estate 
Dealer, etc. Office, over post office. 

Eder, H., Lager Beer Brewer, corner 
Summit and Bridge streets. 

First National Bank of Joliet, 

Geo. Woodruff, President; F. W. 
Woodruff, Cashier. Special attention 
given to collections; loans negotiated. 

Fox, O., Dealer in fine Ready- Made 
Clothing, Hats, Caps, Ladies' Cloaks 
Furs, Furnishing Goods, Trunks, etc. 
A specialty in fine custom-made suits. 
Guarantee a perfect fit. Red front, 
next to First National Bank. 

Fithian & Avery, Attorneys and 
Counselors. Office, Centennial Block. 

Fahrner, D., Dr., No. 14 N. Centre 

street. 
Fay, W. D., Photograph Artist. New 
Gallery, 94 Jefferson street. Work 
promptly finished. Satisfaction guar- 
anteed. 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY 



L)81 



Grinton, Wm., Jr., l^^al Estate 

and Loans, No. — , Chicago street. 

Garnsey & Knox, Lawyers. Good- 
speed's Building, corner Jefferson and 
Chicago streets. 

Hagar & Flanders, Attorneys at 

Law. Office in the Court House. 

Haviland, Frank, Proprietor of 

Livery, Sale and Boarding Stable, cor- 
ner Joliet and Van Buren streets. 

Haley & O'Donnell, Attorneys at 
Law, and Solicitors in Chancery. Office 
in Walsh's Building, corner Joliet and 
Jefferson streets. 

Heise, A. W., Physician and Surgeon. 
Office and residence, corner Ottawa and 
Webster streets. 

Houck & Brown, Tanners and Cur- 
riers, Wholesale and Retail Dealers in 
Sole Leather and Shoe Findings of all 
descriptions. Cash paid for Hides, Tal- 
low a" d Pelts. No. 5 Joliet street. 

House, George S., Attorney at Law. 

Hand, M. P., Dr., Dentist. 

Hosmer, G. H., M. D., Physician 
and Surgeon. Office, 18 Jefferson street. 

Hayen, Henry H., Blacksmith. All 

kinds of blacksmithing done at short 
notice ; also Manufacturer of Wagons 
and Buggies, Marble-workers and Stone- 
masons' Tools, 91 N. Bluff street. 

IngallS, L. E., Real Estate Agent. 
Real Estate bought and sold ; Money 
loaned on real estate, No. 73 Jefferson 
street. 

Joliet Morning News, Published 

every morning, Sundays excepted. Nel- 
son, Ferriss & Co., Proprietors. Sub- 
scription price 1 cent per copy, or 25 
cents per month, sent to any address, 
postage paid. 

Joliet Sun, Sun Printing Company, 33 
and 35 Chicago street. Daily Sun 
65.00 a year, in advance ; Weekly Sun 



$1.50 a yejir in advance. All kinds of 
Book and Job Printing at very low prices. 

Joliet Collection Agency, office 

in the Centennial Block, Jefferson street. 
Collections promptly attended to. E. 
W^ilcox, Justice of the Peace. Refer 
by permission to First National Bank. 

Joliet Soap Works, Chas. W. Cleg- 
horn, Proprietor. Laundry Soap a 
specialty. Office and Factory north of 
Hyde's Mill. 

Joliet Stone Company, Quarry- 
men and Dealers in every variety of 
Joliet Stone, and Creneral Stone Con- 
tractors. Quarries on South Richards 
street, also on Cass street ; office, Duck- 
er's Block. Special attention given to 
the execution of plans, and all orders 
for Cut, Rubbed and sawed Stone. 

Joliet City Bank, of F. L. Cagwiu 

& Sons. 

Joliet Record, The, Published every 
Friday, by D. C. Henderson. Office 
corner of Jefferson and Ottawa streets. 
Terms, $L50 per year in advance. The 
Jobbing Department is supplied wit.l 
the most improved machinerj'^, and mod- 
ern types and fixtures, for doing print- 
ing expeditiously and in the most satis- 
factory manner. Orders by mail prompt- 
ly filled at lowest figures. The legal 
profession will find our facilities com- 
plete for printing Abstracts, Briefs, etc. 
Legal Blanks in common use kept on 
hand, and others furnished on short 
notice. 

Joliet Quarries. Wm. Davidson & 
Bro., Quarrynien and Dealers in Dimen- 
sion, Flagging and Rubble Stone. Or- 
ders for Cut Stone solicited and 
promptly filled by canal or railroad. 
Office at quarries, one mile south of 
Joliet. 

Kelly, Thomas J., Jefferson street, 
Dealer in Foreign and Domestic Dry 



982 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 



Goods, Notions and Fancy Goods. 
Ladies' Corsets a specialty ; Sole Agent 
for the Alista Perfumed Corset. Prices 
always the lowest ; call and examine. 

King & Bishop (Established in 
ISfcitlj, Dealers in all kinds of Lumber, 
Lath, Shingles, Cedar Posts, Building 
Paper and Carpet Felt. Yards on Des 
Planes street, formerly occupied by 
Hardy & Blanchard. 

Knowlton, E. R., Dealer in Grain, 
Hard and Soft Coal, and Wood. Coal- 
yard at Elevator, south end of Eastern 
avenue. Parties desiring to order coal 
or wood can call at Hobbs & Knowlton 's; 
at the Will Co. Bank, and talk through 
the telephone, thus saving the trouble 
of coming to the yard. 

Krause, Julius, Watchmaker and 
Jeweler, Dealer in Watches, Clocks) 
Musical Instruments, Silverware, Spec- 
tacles, etc.. No. 43 Jefferson Street. 
Repairing done in the best manner. 

Keissling, Frederick, Butcher and 

Stock Dealer in all kinds of Fresh and 
Salt and Smoked Meats constantly on 
hand; also Manufacturer of all kinds of 
Sausage in the market. Live-Stock 
bought and sold. Market and office, 
North Bluff' street. , 

Keyes, John, Proprietor Cut-Off 
Drug Store. Dealer in Pure Drugs, 
Medicines, Perfumery, Tolietand Fancy 
Articles, Choice Wines and Liquors for 
medicinal use, and all Druggists' Sun- 
dries, Fine Imported and Domestic 
Cigars. Physicians' Perscriptions care- 
fully prepared. Store on Washington 
street, opposite Bush's elevator. 

Lyford, H. M., Dealer in Clothing 
and Gents' Furnishing Goods, Hats, 
Caps and Furs, corner Jefferson and 
Ottawa streets. 

Lambert, John, Wholesale and Re- 
tail Dealer in Hard and Soft Coal ; 



Wilkesbarre, Lump Lehigh, Blossburg^ 
Brier Hill, Indiana Block and Wilmino- 
ton Coal, supplied to manufacturers and 
dealers to all points by rail or canal. 
Office jorner Jefferson street and Chi- 
cago & Alton R. R. 

Mason, E. B., Real Estate and Loans, 
63 Jefferson street, up stairs. 

Millspaugh, I. T., Police Magistrate 
and Justice of the Peace. Collections 
promptly attended to. 

Monroe, G., & Son, Wholesale Deal- 
ers and Shippers of Produce, and Gro- 
cers, Opera House Block. 

Mack, U., Manufacturer of and Whole- 
sale and Retail Dealer in Boots and 
Shoes, 33 Jefferson street. 

Munn & Munn, Attorneys at Law, 
69 Jefferson street. 

Munroe, George J., Attorney at 

Law and Financial Agent, Akin Block, 
No. 65 Jefferson street. Collections 
made throughout the west. Money 
loaned on approved security. Notary 
Public. 

Mason & Plants, Lumber Dealers, 
and Manufacturers of Sash, Doors and 
Blinds, Frames, Moldings, Brackets, 
etc., etc.; Proprietors of Stone City 
Planing-Mill, office and yard, corner of 
Des Planes and Cass Streets. 

Mansion House, one block north of 

Court House. Strictly Temperance 
House ; prices to suit the times ; street 
cars pass its doors to and from the Fair 
Grounds, Penitentiary, etc. J. C. Dill- 
man, Proprietor. 

Munch, F., Dealer in Hard and Soft 
Coal, Wood and Coke. Office, corner 
Scott and Jefferson streets, near Chi- 
cago & Alton freight depot. 

Murphy Brothers, Livery and 

Feed Stable, No. 31 South Joliet street. 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 



983 



Mackin, P., Dealer in (Jroceries, Pro- 
visions. Flour and Produce, No. 33 S. 
Chicajro street. Hi<ihest price p:iid for 
Country I^roduce. 

McFarlin, James H., Butcher and 

Stock Dealer; all kinds of Stock 
bought and sold. Office and Market, 
South Chicago street, corner of Wallace 
street. 

Nobes, Isaac, Proprietor of Oak Hill 
Quarry. Dimension, Bridge, Rubble 
and Flagging Stone of the best quality, 
shipped by rail or canal to all parts of 
the Northwest: Quarry three-fourths 
of a mile north of the Illinois State 
Penitentiary. 

Osgood, A. A., Heal Estate and Loans, 
54 Jefferson street. 

OliD, Benjamin, Attorney at Law. 
Office in Masonic Block, northwest corner 
Jefferson and Ottawa streets. 

Ogden, C. J. & M. B., Drs., Physi- 
cians and Surgeons. Office and resi- 
dence, 35 South Ottawa street, Joliet, 
and in Meyer's Block, Lockport. 

Patterson & Longley, Wholesale 

and Retail Dealers in Hard and Soft 
Coal. Office and yard, northwest cor- 
ner Scott and Washington streets. 

People's Loan and Homestead 

Association, The, 63 Jefferson 
street, up stairs. Capital Stock 5,00(1 
shares of $100 each, issuing in Quar- 
terly Series. Officers — Chas. Pettigrew* 
President; E. H. Akin, Vice President ; 
E. B. Mason, Secretary; F. W. Plant, 
Treasurer. 

Paige, J. D., Proprietor Paige's Bot- 
tling House, and Manufacturer of all 
kinds of Mineral Waters, 61 North 
Bluff street. 

Patterson, James G., & Son, 

News Dealers and Dealers in Choice 
Family Groceries, Provisions, etc., No. 
23 Jefferson street. j 



Porter, E., Proprietor Eagle Brewery, 
Manufacturer of Porter's Joliet Ale 
and Lager Beer. 

PaSOld, P., Manufacturer and Dealer 
in Bouts and Shoes. A complete Stock 
of Ladies', Misses', Childrens' and Li- 
fants' Fine Shoes. 

Parks, G. D. A., Attorney at Law. 
Rapple, F. J., Shipper of Live Stock, 
and Proprietor of Joliet Street Market. 

Rapple, J. H., Wliolesale and Retail 
Dealer in Fresh and Salt Meats, Lard, 
Poultry, etc., No. 3 N. Bluff street. 

Reichman, J. & J., Dealers in all 
kinds of Fresh and Salt Meats, No. 4, 
Chicago street. 

Richards, Charles, M. D., Physi- 
cian and Surgeon. Office, corner Jeff- 
erson and Chicago streets. 

Robertson House, Proprietor, cor- 
ner Washington and Chicago streets. 
First-class in every particular. 

Robesaon, Frank, Dealer in Gro- 
ceries, 36 Joliet street. 

Rosenheim, D., Wholesale and Re- 
tail Dealer in Gents' Clothing, Furnish- 
ing Goods, Hats, Caps, Trunks, Va- 
lises, etc.. No. 49 Jefferson street. 

Staehle, Charles W., Bookbinder 

and Picture Framer, No. 45 North 
Bluff street. 

Steel, W. A., Proprietor of the Joliet 
Stone Quarries. Dealer in the Best 
Quality of Dimension, Flaggino-, Rub- 
ble and every kind of Building and 
Monumental Stone. 

Sehring, Fred., Proprietor of Co- 
lumbia Brewery, corner Bridge and 
Summit streets. 

Schweizer, C, Dealer in California 
Wines and Brandies; also Kentucky 
Whiskies, No. 10 Chicago street. 

Stephen, Joseph, Manufacturer and 
Dealer in Harness, Saddles, Whips, 



984 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 



Bridles, Blankets, etc. Wholesale and ' 
Retail. 37 Jefferson street. 

Scheldt & Smith, Contractors and 
Manufacturers of Gralvanized Iron Cor- 
nices, Window and Door Trimmings, 
Brackets and Moldings, Chimney Caps 
and Finials, Urns and Sign Blocks, 
Pressed and Spun Ornaments, Tin 
Roofing. Gas and Steam Fitting 
promptly attended to. Dealers in 
Hardware, Stoves, House-Furnishing 
Goods, Sheet Metal Architectural Work, 
Dormer Windows, Guttering and Spout- 
ing, corner Blufi" and Exchange streets. 

Stevens, W. W., Attorney at Law, 
Notary Public and Member U. S. Law 
Association. Collections a specialty. 

Saapp & Snapp, Attorneys at Law. 
Office over Will County National Bank. 

Salter, Geo. B., Dentist, 57 Jefferson 
street. Residence, 22 Eastern avenue. '. 

Smith, F. G., Manufacturer of all 
kinds of Top and Open Buggies, Car- 
riages, Platform Work, and the Cele- 
brated Concord Side-Spring ; also the 
New Empire Cross-Spring Buggy. All 
kinds of Repairing and Trimming 
neatly done. All work warranted equal 
to the best of Eastern manufacture. 
Van Buren street, opposite Episcopal 
Church. 

Stewart, E. H., Dentist. 

St. Julian, J. I., 1 Jefferson street, 
Manufacturer of and Dealer in Harness, 
Saddles, Collars, Bridles, Whips, Hal- 
ters, Curry-Combs, etc. Repairing 
done neatly and cheaply. All work 
Warranted. Give me a call. Also 
Dealer in Uncle Sam's Harness Oil. 

Scheldt, J., & Co., Manufacturers of 
and Dealers in Pure Candies, and Deal- 
ers in Fruits, Nuts, etc. Palace Candy 
Factory, No. 9 Jefferson street. Oys- 
ters and Ice Cream in their season. 



SchoetteS, Henry, Dealer in Cigars, 
Wines and Liquors, 159 South Chicago 
street. 

Solar Stove Works, Established in 
1871 ; employ forty hands, turning out 
annually 3,000 Cook Stoves, 40,000 
pieces of Hollow-ware, consuming 3,000 
tons of the best pig-iron. Leading 
brands — Commonwealth, Interior, Co- 
lumbia, Fidelity and Geo. Washington. 

Schroeder, Ferdinand W., 

Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Grocer- 
ies, Flour and Feed, Stationery and 
General Merchandise, Paints, Oils and 
Window Glass; also Proprietor of 
Schroeder's strictly Pure White Lead ; 
$250 will be paid in gold for every 
ounce of adulteration found. Cash 
paid for Country Produce. Corner of 
Eastern avenue and Washington street. 

Schiek, Henry, Fine Imported and 
Domestic Cigars. Business rooms on 
Washington street, between Eastern 
avenue and Richards street. 

Stuffier, Fred. X., Dealer in Hard- 
ware, Stoves, Tinware, Cutlery, House 
Furnishing Goods, etc.; also Manufact- 
urer of Tin, Copper and Sheet Iron 
Ware, No. 158 Jefferson street, one- 
half block east of St. Nicholas Hotel. 

The Greenback News, Published 

every Friday. Devoted wholly to news, 
labor and currency reform. Nelson, 
Ferriss & Co., Proprietors. Sent to 
any address postpaid, at 50 cents per 
year. 

The Joliet Phoenix, Published 

every Thursday morning. Terms, $1 
a year in advance. J. S. McDonald, 
Proprietor. Office, No. 35 Jefferson 
street. Job Printing neatly executed. 

The Joliet Republican, James 

Goodspeed, Proprietor ; John C. Lang, 
Editor; J. C. Porter, Local Editor. 
Every variety of Job Printing. 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 



985 



The Adam Manutacturiag 

Co., Cifiieral jMaiiutafturcrs ; iManii- 
facturers of the Best Steel-Barbed and 
Steel Cable Fence Wire, under patents 
controlled by us. Office and Works, 
corner of Water and Wallace streets. 

The Wochenblatt, fnr North Illi- 
nois, G. Schultc, Editor and Proprietor. 
Circulation L',O0U. Established Nov. 
15, 1877. 

Vance, G. L., Manufacturer and Dealer 
in Furniture, Children's Carriages, 
Brackets, Moldings, Picture Frames, 
Mottoes, etc. Large Stock, Low Prices. 
Opera House. 

Woerndle, Francis, Dr., German 

Apothecary and Drug Store, No. 8 N. 
Bluff street. A complete Stock of 
Drugs, Medicines, Chemicals, Pure 
Wines for medicinal uses. Perfumery 
and Fancy Goods ; a large assortment 
of Trusses, Supporters, etc., and every- 
thing pertaining to a first-class Drug 
Store. 

Whittier, J., & Co., Dealers in 
Stone and Lime. Office, 131 N. Bluff 
street. Flagging, Dimension, Rubble 
and best Blue Stone, Fresh Lime daily, 
from Paige's Patent Lime Kiln, estab- 
lished in 1856, put on car or boat in 
barrels or bulk, at very low figures and 
warranted. 

Woodruff, G. H., Druggist. Dealer 
in Drugs, Medicines, Chemicals, Toilet 
and Fancy Articles, Patent Medicines, 
Brushes, Soap«, Perfumery, Books and 
Stationery. Prescriptions carefully 
compounded. 

Westnaann, O.R., Portrait and Land- 
scape Photographer, Dealer in Frames, 
Albums, Views, etc., 49 Jefferson street. 
Artistic Photography in all Branches, 
and Copying Old Pictures a specialty. 

Will County Marble Works, 

C. C. Olney, Manufacturer and Dealer 



in Marble and Granite Monuments, 
'IVmibstones, etc., corner of Jefferson 
street an<l lOastern avenue. 

Will County National Bank. 

C. Knowlton, President; H. C. Knowl- 
ton, Ca.shior. Capital, $l()0,()»lO. Par- 
ticular attention given to collections. 

Werner, Charles, Dealer in the 

Best Quality of Blue Stone, of any 
size and dimension ; also Flagging, 
Rough or Cut, and Rubbles. QuaiTies, 
South Joliet, West Side, on C, R. I. 
& P. R. R. Also Proprietor of Wer- 
ner's Hall. 

Werner, Wm., Dealer in the Best 
Quality of White and Blue Stone, of 
any size and dimension, Flagging, 
Rough or Cut, and Rubble. Contractor 
of all kinds of Masonry. Quarry, 
West Side, near Upper Bridge. P. 0. 
Box 1324. 

Young, Henry, Dealer in Smoking 
and Chewing Tobacco, and Smokers' 
Articles generally. No. 01 Jefferson 
Street. 

Young, H. J., Dealer in Watches, 
Clocks and Jewelry. Watches, Clocks 
and Jewelry repaired and warranted. 
No. 91 Jefferson street. 

Zarley & Co., Proprietors of the 
Joliet Signal. Established in 1842. 
Every variety of Book and Job Print- 
ing at lowest rates. 

LOCKPORT. 

Bradley, William, M. D., Phy- 
sician ; office at his store, 77 State st. 
Office hours, 8 to 12 A. M., and 1 to 5 
and 7 to 9 1^. M. 

Bacon, C. H., M. D., Physician and 
Surgeon ; office in Bacon & Co.'s Drug 
Store, 64 State st. ; residence one door 
north of St. John's Church. 

Boyer, J. A., Proprietor Lemont Stone 
Quarries. All kinds of Building, Di- 



986 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 



mension, Flagging and Rubble Stone on 
hand at all times. Office at Lemont. 

Bradley, W., Dr., Druggist, 77 [ 

State street. A full line of Drugs, { 
Paints, Oils, Stationery and Fancy 
Goods, Glass, Putty, Fine Toilet Soaps, 
Perfumery, Dye Woods, Dye Stuffs, 
Sponges, Brushes, and all other articles | 
kept by druggists generally. Phyiscians' 
prescriptions carefully compounded. 
Wines and Liquors for Medicinal Pur- 
poses. 

Bacon, C. H., & Co., Central Drug 
Store, 64 State street. Dealers in Pure 
Drugs, Medicines, Chemicals, Toilet and 
Fancy Articles, Trusses, Supporters, 
Shoulder-Braces, Fine Soaps, Brushes of 
all Kinds, Combs, Stationery, Pocket- 
books, Pocket Cutlery, Fine Razors, 
Glass, Putty, Paints, Oils, Varnish, and j 
Dye Stuffs, Lamps, Chimneys, Wall 
Paper, Window Curtains, Pure Wines 
for Medicinal Use. German and En- 
glish prescriptions carefully compounded. 

Clark, B. B., Dealer in Dry Goods, 
Men's and Boys' Ready-made Clothing, 
Boots and Shoes, Hats and Caps. Store 
on Ninth street, five doors east of State. 

Chamberlain, S. S., Dealer in all 
kinds of Furniture. Latest Styles of ; 
Parlor Suites, Chamber Sets. Dining 
Room and Kitchen Furniture always on 
hand. Undertaking a Specialty. Office 
in Store, 92 State street. 

Chamberlin, H. W., Blacksmith- 

ing and Wagon-Making. All work, re- 
pairing, etc., done on short notice. 
Shop on Ninth street. j 

Daggett, J. F., Physician and Sur- 
geon ; forty years practice ; will here- 
after devote his entire attention to the 
practice of his profession. Office in Dr. 
Bradley's Drug Store, 77 State street. 

Emery, H. W., Dealer in Lumber, 
Sash, Doors, Lime, Plasterer's Hair, 



Nails, Building Paper, Lath and Shin- 
gles. Office west end Canal Bridge, 
Ninth street. 

Geddes, John, Proprietor City Meat 
Market. The oldest established Butcher 
in Lockport. Fresh and Salt Meats 
always on hand. Personal attention 
given to the business. Shop on State 
street. 

Gay lord, Geo., & Co., Retail Dry 

Goods, 75 State street. Large assort- 
ment of Alpacas, Cashmeres, Plain and 
Figured Worsted Goods, Hamburg 
Edgings aud Embroideries, Corsets, Sus- 
penders, Ruchings, Linen Collars and 
Cuffs, Ladies' Gents' and Children's 
Hosiery, Sun Umbrellas and Parasols, 
Lace Curtains, etc., etc. 

Hart well, P. N., Architect and 
Builder. Plans and Specifications fur- 
nished on application ; estimates made 
and contracts taken. Shop on Tenth 
street, one door west of State. 

Johnson, M. P., & Co., City Mar- 
ket, State street. All kinds of Fresh 
and Salt Meats, Poultry, Fresh Fish, 
Oysters, Compressed Beef, Spiced Beef, 
etc. ; also all kinds of Fruits in Season, 
Cabbage, Bananas, Cauliflowers, Toma- 
toes, Melons, etc. 

Jacobus, F. H., Proprietor Lockport 
Meat Market. A full supply of Fresh 
and Salt Meats on hand at all times ; 
Vegetables of all kinds in their season. 
Children will be dealt with as fairly as 
grown persons. Shop on State street. 

Johnson, Otto, Dealer in and manu- 
facturer of Boots and Shoes. A fine 
assortment of Ladies' and Misses' shoes 
in all sizes on hand ; also Boots and 
Shoes of my own manufacture for Men 
and Boys, which I fully warrant the best 
of stock used. Shop on State street 
between Ninth and Tenth. 



BUSINESS DIRKCTOKY. 



987 



Lynd, Geo. M., Dealer in Staple and 
Fancy Groceries. The best grades of 
Coffees, Teas, Sugars, Sirups ; Canned 
Fruits always on hand ; Queensware, 
Gliissware, Cigars and Tobacco. On 
Ninth street, four doors east of State. 

Lynn, Geo., Manufacturer of Boots 
and Shoes. All work warranted and a 
neat fit guaranteed ; best of stock used ; 
charges moderate. Call and see me on 
State street, south of Tenth. 

Miller, John H., Tonsorial Artist; 
Shaving, Shampooing, Hair Trimming 

in the Latest Styles ; Hair and Whis- 
kers Dyed ; Children's Hair Trimming 

a Specialty. Parlors on State street. 

Myers, Wm. S., Attorney and 
Counselor at Law. All legal business 
intrusted to my care will receive prompt 
attention ; collections of every kind 
made at reasonable rates and remitted 
promptly; exchange on Chicago for 
sale at all times in sums to suit. 

Norton, Hiram, Proprietor of Lock- 
port Carriage Factory. Carriages and 
Buggies built and repaired ; none but 
experienced workmen employed and 
nothing but the best materials used ; 
all work warranted. Shops on State 
street, south of Tenth. 

Prindle, Wm. W., Wagon and 

Carriage Maker. Wagons and Car- 
riages built and repaired; all work 
promptly attended to. Shop on Ninth 
street east of State. 

Rafferty, N. S., City Grocer and 
Confectioner. All kinds of Family Gro- 
ceries on hand. Fruits and Confection- 
ery a Specialty. The only Ice Cream 
Parlors in town. Also Justice of the 
Peace ; does Collecting and Convey- 
Office in Store on State street. 



ancing. 



Schoop, Frederick, M. D., Phy- 
sician and Surgeon (Deutscher Arzt). 



Office corner of State and Tenth streets, 
over G. B. Norton's store. Office hours, 
8 to 10 A. M., 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P. M. 

StOWe, F. F., corner State and Ninth 
streets. Dealer in Groceries, Provisions, 
Crockery, Yankee Notions, etc. Finest 
brands of Cigars and Chewing Tobaccos. 
Also Justice of the Peace and Collect- 
ing Agent. 

StOWe, Fred W., Dealers in News- 
l)apers, Periodicals, School-Books, No- 
tions and Stationery. Orders for books, 
etc., filled at publishers' prices. Agent 
for Worst's sheet music. 

Scheibe, Julius, Dealer in Boot« 

and Shoes. A good as.sortment of La- 
dies', Misses' and Children's Fine Shoes, 
all sizes and lasts, always on hand. 
Men's and Boys' Kip and Calf Boots 
and Shoes. Custom Work and Repair- 
ing neatly and promptly attended to. 
On Ninth street two doors east of State. 

Walter, M., Proprietor of the Boss 
Grocery, corner Ninth and State streets. * 
Sells Staple and Fancy Groceries, Crock- 
ery, Pure Cider Vinegar, Minnesota 
Spring Wheat Flour, Vienna Bread, 
Compressed Yeast, etc., for ca.sh only. 
Highest market price paid for country 
produce. 

Youker, Adolphus, Dealer in 
Agricultural and Farming Implements 
of all kinds ; Wier Sulky Plow, Furst 
& Bradley's 16-inch Riding Plow, 
Scotch Harrows, Keystone and Star 
Planters, McCorniick Reapers and 
Mowers, A^ibrator Threshers, Pumps of 
all descriptions, Barbed Fence Wire, 
Buggies and Schuttler Wagons. 

WILMINGTON. 

Allen, E., Proprietor of Wilmington 
Butter and Cheese Factory. This is 
one of the best factories in the North- 



988 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 



west, having a capacity for 50,000 lbs. 
of milk per day ; the product for the 
past year has been about 75,000 lbs, of 
butter, and 365,000 lbs. of cheese, and 
at an average price of about 32 cents 
for butter and 9 cents for cheese. 

Allen & Sons, Dealers in Lumber, 
Lath, Shingles, Posts, Sash, Doors, 
Blinds, Moldings, etc. Agent for Bar- 
rett & Arnold's Celebrated Sheeting 
Felt. Office corner Water and Canal 
streets. 

Bovee & Wilson, Dealers in Hard 
and Soft Coal. Lackawanna, Lehigh, 
Braceville and Braidwood Coal — best 
in the market ; also Piedmont and Cum- 
berland Coal for blacksmiths, supplied to 
consumers at the lowest prices. Office 
at D. F. Wilson's Lumber- Yard, corner 
Water and Canal streets. 

Baker, L. A., General Fire and Life 
Insurance and Collection Agency. The 
oldest Insurance Agency in the city. 
Represents the following reliable Insur- 
ance Companies : Insurance Company 
of North America, Philadelphia ; Phoe- 
nix, Hanford ; Home, New York ; 
MtnsL, Hartford ; Underwriters, New 
York ; North British & Mercantile, 
Imperial and Northern, Connecticut 
Mutual Life, Hartford. Assets of the 
above companies over $1 14,000,000. 
Also Agent for passage tickets Cunard 
Line. 

Banyard, V., Dealer in Family Gro- 
ceries, Confectioneries, Fancy Goods, 
Wooden and Willow Ware, Tobacco, 
Cigars, etc., 94 Water street. We 
guarantee satisfaction with all our goods 
at lowest prices. 

Bogart & Monteith, Center Meat 

Market, Nu. 71 Water street. 

Conley, Edward D., Editor and 

Publisher of the Wilmington Advocate. 
Official paper of the city, and devoted to 



local and general news. The Advocate 
is one of the solid institutions of the 
place, and has a good circulation in the 
Wilmington coal-fields. Its job depart- 
ment is well supplied with material ibr 
executing job-work of all kinds. Office, 
80 Water street. 

Castle, H. C, Breeder and Shipper of 
Poland-China Hogs. Post office address, 
Wilmington, Will Co., 111. These hogs 
are fine bone but large size, broad backs, 
deep sides, heavy jowl, hams and shoul- 
ders, combining more eminently than 
any other, the excellences of both large 
and small breeds. Stock sent to all 
parts by express or freight. Pure-bred 
stock always on hand. Orders for pigs 
promptly filled. Residence, Rockville, 
111. 

Wilmington Phoenix, The Duck 

& Hall, Editors. The Largest, Cheap- 
est and Best Newspaper published in 
Will Co. Only $1.00 per year, in ad- 
vance. Call at No. 70 Water street, and 
get a specimen copy. 

Donahoe, E., Dealer in Groceries, 
Provisions, Crockery, Glassware, Wood- 
en and Willow Ware, &c. No. 90 
Water street. 

Evans, James, Livery, Sale and 
Boarding Stables, Water street, foot of 
Jefierson. First-class equipments fur- 
nished at short notice. Weddings and 
funerals attended to promptly. 

First National Bank of Wil- 
mington, No. 177, organized in 
1863. Capital $100,000. Surplus 
$07,000. John W. Stewart, President ; 
John Whittcn, Vice President ; James 
W bitten. Cashier. 

Fisher, J. C, & Co., Wilmington 
Mills, Manufacturers of and Dealers in 
Flour, Mill Feed, etc. Terms cash. 
Orders promptly filled. 



BUSINESS DIKKCTOHY. 



989 



Gurney, R. H., Livery and Sale 
8tablt's ; cunier Main and Baltimore 
streets. 

Henderson & Stewart, Dealers in 
Dry Goods, Boots, Shoes, Hats, Caps, 
Clothing, Crockery and Queensware. 
92 Water street. 

Howland, H. P., Dealer in Furni- 
ture, Carpets and a General Line of 
House Furnishing Goods. Undertak- 
ing promptly attended to. 

Holmes, John, Contractor and 
Builder. 

Johnson & Rowe, Contractors and 
Builders. Molding made a specialty, 
and a full assortment always on hand. 
Plans and specifications for buildings 
furnished at short notice. All work 
done promptly and at reasonable figures. 
Farm work receives our personal atten- 
tion, and those contemplating improve- 
ments of any kind are cordially invited 
to call at the planing-mill. 

Kahler, T. W., Grocery and Bakery. 
Dealer in Staple and Fancy Groceries 
Queensware, Glassware, Provisions, etc. 
69 Water street. 

Louer, S., Dealer in Clothing, Hais, 
Caps, Gents' Furnishing Goods, Cloths, 
Trunks, valises, etc. No. 88 Water 
street. 

Lyon, A. J., New Restaurant, on Jack- 
son street. Warm meals at all hours. 

Merrill, John W., Attorney at Law. 

Mclntyre & Co., White Cloud Mills, 
Dealers in Flour, Mill Feed, Bran, 
Shorts, etc. Orders promptly filled. 

Mcintosh, T. S., Dealer in Paints, 
Oils, Varnish. Glass, Brushes, Window 
Shades, Wall Paper, Pictures and 
Frames. House. Sign, Coach and Orna- 
mental Painter. Also Agent for 'J'as- 
cott's Celebrated Enamel Paint. OflBce 
on Jackson street. 



McQueen & Morris, Grocery and 
Bakiry. Dealers in Staple and Fancy 
Groceries, Crockery, Queensware, Glass 
ware, Wood and Willow Ware, Cigars 
and Tobacco. 61 Water street. 

Mcintosh, William, Proprietor of 
Farm Wagon Works. Manufactures 
all kinds of Farm Wagons. All work 
warranted. Mr. Mclnto.sh has been 
engaged in the manufacturing bu.siness 
since 1856. Oflfice and shop on Water 
street one door north of the Stewart 
House. 

O'Heron, D. E., & Co., Dealers in 
Staple and Fancy Groceries, Provisions, 
Confectionery, Cigars, Tobacco, etc. 
59 Water street. 

Phoenix Foundry and Ma- 
chine-Shops, M. H. Hilburn, Pro- 
prietor. Repairing of all kinds. Cast- 
ings furnished to order. 

Ransom, John P., Justice of the 
Peace and Insurance Agent. Repre- 
sents the following reliable Insurance 
Companies : Phoenix, Brooklyn, N. Y. ; 
Fire Association, Philadelphia, Penn. ; 
Melville Fire and Marine, Melville, N. 
Y. ; Royal Canadian, Montreal, Can. ; 
British America, Toronto, Can. ; Agri- 
cultural, Watertown, N. Y. ; Rockford 
and Forest City, Rockford, 111., and 
American, Chicatro. 

Ray & Thompson, Dealers in Grain, 
Coal, Live and Dressed Hogs. Highest 
Cash Price paid for Dressed Hogs, 
Corn, Oats, etc., etc. Near C. & A. 
Depot. 

Rauworth, Samuel, City Meat 

Market, Water street. 

Small, John D., Dealer in Dry Goods, 
Hats, Cap.s. Clothing, Staple and Fancy 
Groceries, Crockery, Queensware, Glass- 
ware, etc. Highest market j)rice paid 
for Butter and Eggs. 



990 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 



Small, E. D., & Co., Dealers in 
Lumber, Lath, Sash, Shingles, Doors, Ce- 
ment, Salt, Moldings, Battings, etc. The 
best Coal ofl'ered in this market — mined 
at the Hunter shaft — is sold at their 
Wilmington yard. 

Shields, Francis, Dealer in Staple 
and Fancy Groceries, Provisions and 
Queensware. No. 113 Water street. 

Silliman, S., Dealer in Boots and 
Shoes, Hais, Caps, etc., etc. 83 Water 
street. 

Stewart House, A. Towle, Proprietor. 

Trott & Stinson, Homeopathic Phy- 
sicians and Surgeons. Office and resi- 
dence opposite City Hall, Main street. 

Thompson, D. C, Manufacturer of 
Carriages and Farm Wagons. All work 
warranted. Repairing promptly attend- 
ed to. 

Wright, A., Stone and Brick Mason. 

Wright, A. D., Dealer in Staple and 
Fancy Dry Goods. Corner Water and 
Jackson streets. 

Willard, E. R., M. D., Physician 
and Surgeon. Residence, second house 
east of the Methodist Church. Office 
at his Drug Store, No. 65 Water street, 
where our patrons will receive careful 
and prompt attention. 

Willard, E. W., Druggist. Books 
and Stationery. 

Willard, Chas. M., Dealer in Canned 
Goods and Confections, Foreign and 
Domestic Fruits, etc., Tobacco, Cigars, 
Pipes and Pipe Repairs. 

BRAIDWOOD. 

Barr, Peter, Drug Store, Welsh Build- 
ing, Main street, where may be found 
Drugs, Medicines and Chemicals, Per- 
fumery, School-Books and Stationery, 
Wines and Liquors for medical purposes. 
Physicians' prescriptions carefully com- 



pounded, and all orders correctly filled, 
day or night. 

Burt, Robert, Saloon. Choice Wines 
and Liquors. Billiard Room ; two tables. 

Bamrick, John, Saloon. Choice 
Wines and Liquors. 

Braidwood, James, Proprietor of 

the Braidwood Coal-Mines. 

Barr, Peter, Saloon. Choice Wines 
and Liquors. 

Backus, John B., M. D. 

Barker, I., & Co., Foundry. Coal- 
Mine Supplies, Coal-Carts and Stove- 
Castings. 

BLOOD, H. W., Proprietor of Soda 
and Mineral Water Bottling House, and 
Manufacturer of all kinds of Soda and 
Mineral Waters. Bottled Lager Beer, 
Ale, Porter, Cider, Spruce Beer. 

Braidwood Hotel, John Broadbent, 
Proprietor. Accommodations first-class 
at reasonable prices. 

Conner Brothers, Meat Market. A 

complete assortment of choice Beef, Mut- 
ton, Pork, Veal, Fresh Fish, Tripe and 
Salt, Smoked and Dried Meat, etc.7 etc. 
Highest prices paid for good beef cattle. 

Carlisle, William, Proprietor of the 
Braidwood Bakery. 

Donnelly, Joseph, Groceries, Flour, 
and Feed Store. Staple and Fancy 
Groceries, consisting of Provisions, 
Crockery, Dried and Canned Fruits, 
Fish, Salt and Dried, together with 
everything kept in a first-class Grocery 
Store. 

Goodrich, L. H , Dealer in Dry 
Goods, Groceries and Boots and Shoes. 
A complete Stock of the above-named 
goods, consisting in part of Ladies' Dress 
Goods, Hosiery, Gloves, Staple and 
Fancy Groceries, Boots and Shoes. A 
full assortment of Men's, Women's and 
Children's Boots and Shoes. . 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 



991 



Hennebry, Thomas, Uoots and 

Shoes. Men's, Wuinen'.s and Chil- 
dren's Boots and Shoes in the latest 
styles constantly on hand. Custom 
Work and Repairing done to order. 

Hennebry, Thomas, Saloon. 

Choice Wines and Liquors. 

Hynd, J. & J,, Dealers in Confec- 
tionery, Cigars, School-Books, Stationery, 
Sheet Music, Violins and Guitars, 
Strings, etc. Ice Cream and Oysters 
served in season. 

Huston, Robert, Dealer in Dry | 
Goods and Notions. A complete Stock | 
of the above-named goods constantly on 
hand, consisting of Ladies' Dress Goods, 
Hosiery, Gloves, Ginghams, Prints, 
Denims and Ticks, Fancy Notions, and , 
everything usually found in a well- 
fitted-up Dry Goods Stock. 

Hall, E., Superintendent of the Chicago 
and Wilmington Coal-Mines. 

Holmes & Cady, Dealers in General 
Hardware, Iron, Steel, Tin, Sheet-Iron, 
Mining Tools and Agricultural Imple- 
ments. Agents for the American Pow- 
der Co., Braid wood, 111. 

James, Robert, General Agency. 
Does a General Insurance Business, 
Fire and Life. He represents the best 
Companies in the country and writes 
policies at the lowest rates. He is also 
Notary Public and negotiates money 
loans on real estate security at low rates 
of interest. Parties having business in 
any of tliese lines, will find it to their 
interest to consult him. 

Kain Brothers, Furniture. Any- 
thing in the Furniture Line may be 
found in our Store. We have one of 
the most complete st(jcks of Furniture 
in Braidwoud. We also keep a first- 
class Livery Stable, where good rigs may 
be had at low rates. We will officiate 
at funerals. Charges moderate. 



LeCaron, H., Dr., Drug Store, where 
may be found Drugs, Medicines and 
Chemicals, all the new Patent Medicines, 
Perfumery, Pure Wines and Liquors 
for Medical I'urpimes. Physicians' 
proscriptions carefully compounded and 
all orders correctly filled, day or night. 

Morris, David, l^ry Goods and No- 
tions. A cou)pK-te Stock of Dry Goods 
and Notions constantly on hand. La- 
dies' Dress Goods, Hosiery, Gloves 
Prints, Ginghams and Fancy Notions 
and everything found in a well-fitted-up 
Dry Goods Store. 

Maltby, William, Superintendent of 
the Eureka Coal-Mines. 

Marsh, I. R., Boots and Shoes. A full 
assortment of Men's, Women's and 
Children's Boots and Shoes. Call and 
examine my goods before purchasing. 

Mooney, William, Attorney at 
Law. 

O'Donnell, Cornelius, Boots and 

Shoes. A full a.ssortment of Men's, 
Women's and Children's Boots and 
Shoes. All goods marked down to the 
Lowest Prices. Call and examine. 

O'Donnell, Cornelius, Saloon. 

Choice Wines and Licjuors. 

Peltier, M. F., Flour and Feed Store. 
Keeps feed of all kinds and will sell 
cheap. Has a stock of Boots and 
Shoes, Hats and Caps. Those who are 
in neeil of any of the above stock should 
not fail to give M. F. Peltier a call. 

Patterson, A. & J. W., Furniture 
and Livery Stable. Anything in the 
Furniture Line may be found in our 
Store. Those who need anything in the 
Furniture Line can be suited without 
leaving Braidwood. Our Motto, " Live 
and Let Live." In connection with our 
Furniture, we koeji a first-class Livery 
Stable, where good rigs may be had at 



992 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY, 



low rates. Also officiate at funerals 
with a good hearse. Charges moderate. 

Parkin SOr, H. H., Publisher of the 
Daily Republican circulation 500 ; 
S3. 00 per annum, in advance. Have 
the latest styles of type made and are 
prepared to do all kinds of Job Printing 
at short notice. 

Rankin, Duncan, Groceries. Staple 
and Fancy Groceries, consisting of Pro- 
visions, Crockery, Wood and Willow 
Ware, Flour, Fish, Salt and Dried, and 
Canned Fruits, together with everything 
pertaining to a well-appointed store. 

Randeck, Joseph, Wine and Beer 
Saloon. Choice Wines and Liquors. 

Wakefield, Edwin, Maj., Jus- 
tice of the Peace. 

Ward, J. H., Fire Insurance Agency. 
The following reliable Companies are 
represented : German American, of 
New York ; Continental, of New York ; 
Home, Columbus, Ohio; Trenton, New 
York, etc., etc. All honest losses paid 
on the spot. Rates as low as first-class 
indemnity will permit. Office at res- 
idence at Old Braidwood. 

Walker, John, Saloon and Boarding 
Stable. Headquarters for farmers. The 
best of accommodation at low prices. 

Young & Steen, Dealers in Confec- 
tionery, Cigars, School- Books and Sta- 
tionery. 

MONEE. 

Bohlander, J. P., Mrs., Proprietress 
of Anierioan House and Livery. 

Daniels, C. K., Traveling Agent for 
American Bible Society. 

Easter brooks, Laban, Conveyancer 
and Real Estate Agent. 

JordanS, GustaV, Sample and Bill- 
iard Rooms. 



Koepke, Christian, Proprietor of 

German House. Sample Rooms and 
Livery. 

Miller, Simon, General Merchant 
and Grain Dealer. Store and elevator 
near R. R. depot. 

PragSt, Chas., General Hardware 
Merchant. 

Rohmeier & Boden, Confectioners 
and Tobacconists. 

Schoenstedt, Christian,Manufact- 

urer of Carriages, Farm and Road 
Wagons, and General Dealer in all kinds 
of Farm Machinery. Factory near 
steam-mill. 

Schiffer, August, General Merchant 
and Grain Dealer. Elevators and store 
near R. R. depot. 

Triem, Philip, Merchant Tailor. 

Vatter, Adam, Jr., Lightning-Rod 

and Insurance Agent. 

FRANKFORT. 

Baumgartner, B., General Merchant. 
Claus Bros., Post Office, and Dry 
Goods and Grocery Merchants. 

Folkers, Johnson, Butcher and 

Dealer in Dried and Salt Meats and 
Fish. 

Kareh, Charles, Agent for the New 

Wilson Shuttle Sewing Machines. All 
kinds of Agricultural Implements. 

Klepper, Philip, Carriage and Wagon 
Manufacturer. 

Letts, J. R., Grain and Pork Buyer. 

McDonald, John, oldest Grain 
Buyer and Dealer in Coal, Hay, Salt, 
Flour, &c., in the village. 

Muflf, Martin, Saloon Keeper, and 
Proprietor of R. R. House. 

Sutherland, James, Manufacturer 
of Wagons, Fine Phaetons, Carriages, 
etc., and Agent for Farm Implements. 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 



993 



Stephens Bros., General Machinists, 
Millwrights and Manufacturers. 

Stephens, Joseph, Notary Public. 

Williams, C. B., Troprietor of Frank- 
fort Hotel and Livery ; best Livery in 
the village. 

MOKENA. 

Cappel & Krapp, Butchers. 

McGovney, Ozias, General Mer- 
chant and Postmaster. 

Schuberth, John, General Hard- 
ware Merchant. 

Weiss, MoritZ, Druggist. 

NEW LENOX. 

CrOSSen, R. W., Manufacturer of 
Fine Carriages and Buggies. 

Knickerbocker, Ward, Druggist 

and General 31erchant, and Postmaster. 

Kercheval, ChaS., Breeder of Fine 
Swine. 

Lynk, Tunis, General Merchant and 
Depot Agent. 

Snoad, ChaS., Breeder of Norman ; 
Horses from Imported Stock, and Gen- 
eral Western R. R. Land Agent. Res- 
idence, New Lenox ; P. 0. Joliet. 

PEOTONE. 

Angus & Pell, Dry Goods, Groceries, 
and an assortment of General Merchan- 
dise. ' 

Brayton, J. H., Dealer in Clothing, 
Hats and Caps, Boots and Shoes, and 
Gents' Furnishing Goods. j 

Board & Shumway, Dealers in 
Pure Drugs, Medicines, Books, Station- 
ery, Toilet and Fancy Articles, Choice 
Wines, Liquors, etc., for medicinal use, 
and all Druggists' Sundrias. Physi- 
cian's Prescriptions carefully compound- 
ed. Office of E. B. Shumway, M. D. 

Barnhart, James, Job Printer, 

Stationer and Fancy Notions, Papeteries 



and Sheet Music, and Musical Instru- 
ments ; also Editor and I'roprietor oi' 
the Peotone Eagle. 

Collins & Schroeder, Dealers in 
Gniiti and Coal. Highest Market Price 
paid ior Grain. 

Conrad & Schugmann, Hardware 

and Stovo.'^. 
Conrad, John, Police Magistrate, 
Notary Public and General Collecting 
Agent. Collections solicited and prompt- 
ness guaranted. 

Conrad, Peter, & Son, Proprietors 

of the Peoione Cheeso-Faciory. 

DewitZ, Jacob, Manufacturer of 
Wagons and Buggies, and Dealer in 
Pumps, etc. All kinds of pumps re- 
paired. 

Fedde, Henry, Cabinet-Maker and 
Undertaker, and Manufacturer and 
Dealer in all kinds of Furniture and 
Burial Caskets. Hearses furnished up- 
on application. 

Gates, Henry, Notary Public, also 
Dealer in Groceries, Clothing, Hats, 
Caps and Gloves. Highest Price paid 
for Produce. 

Harsh & Beedy, Dealers in General 
Hardware and Farming Implements. 

Melville, Andrew, M. D., 

Surgeon. 
Rains & Sultzbaugh, Dealers in 

Heavy Pressed Hay and Straw, by the 

car-load. 
Shumway, E. B., M. D., Physician 

and Surgeon. 

Schmid, Louis, Proprietor of Peo- 
tone Hotel. Best hotel in town. East 

of depot. 

Schroeder, Smith & Collins, 

Dealers in Dry Goods, Clothing, Boots, 
Shoes and Groceries. 

Warden & Gilkerson, Dealers in 

Grain, Lumber, Lime, Coal, Cement, 
Stone, Drain Tile, etc., etc. 



994 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 



Yung, William, Photographer, and 
Dealer in Albums and Frames. Faded 
Pictures copied and enlarged. 

CRETE. 

Ahrens, George W., Furniture and 
Undertaker. 

Brauns, Gustavus, Dry Goods, 
Drugs and Medicines, and Groceries. 
Dealer in Hay. Owner of large Hay- 
Press. 

Carter, C. E., Editor and Proprietor i 
of the Crete Enterprise. Job Printing. 

Crete Manufacturing Com- 
pany, Manufacturers of Doors, Sash 
and Blinds, etc., etc. 

Hewes Hotel, the only good Hotel 
in Crete; Accommodations first-class at ! 
a reasonable price. B. F. Hewes, Pro- 
prietor. I 

Hewes Bros., the oldest Dry Goods 
and Grocery Store in Crete. Dealers in 



Lire Hogs, Grain and Seed, 
tors Brick- Yard. 



P 



roprie- 



Minard, G. W., M. D. 

Rinne, Earnest, Dealer in Hay, and 
Owner of Hay Press. Proprietor of 
Brick- Yard. 

Walter, Emil, Agent for Reapers, 
Cultivators, Bakes, Plows, Seeders, 
Corn-Planters, etc., Crete, 111. 

Wood, W. I., Livery and Sale Stable. 
Wood, Willard, Attorney at Law. 

ELWOOD. 

Cowell, G. E., M. D., Homeopathic 
Physician. Calls attended at all hours. 

Gifford, E., & Son, Dealers in Dry 
Goods, Groceries, Crockery, Glassware, 
Hats and Caps. Highest Market Price 
paid for Country Produce. 

Licntenwalter, J. J., Dealer in 
Grain, Coal, Lumber, Sash, Doors and 
Blinds. Contractors and Builders fur- 
nished. 



Linebarger, John, & Co., Dealers 

in Grain. 

Nicholson, William, Dealer in 
Hardware and Agricultural Implements, 
Paints, Oils, Glass, Pumps, Ammunition, 
Tin and Iron Ware, and Stoves. 

Spafford, Robert, Postmaster, Deal- 
er in Flour, Notions, etc. 

Snoad, H., & Co., Dealers in Dry 
Goods, Groceries, Boots and Shoes, etc. 

Wood, Wm. W., Farmer. Buyer 
and Shipper of Stock ; also Money to 
Loan on Good Real Estate Security. 

CHANNAHON. 

Bates, E. E., Blacksmith and Wagon 
Builder, and Dealer in Agricultural 
Implements. Repairing of all kinds 
promptly attended tc. 

Fitch, Joseph, M. D., Physician. 

Office in Drug Store. 

Fitch, Joseph, Dealer in Pure Drugs 
and Medicines ; also a full line of Gen- 
eral Merchandise, Boots and Shoes, etc. 

Fowler, C. & C. E., Dealers in Dry 
Goods, Groceries, Boots, Shoes, H'ats, 
Caps, Notions, etc., etc. 

PLAINFIELD. 

Bennett, George, Mason and Build- 
ing-Mover. 

Corbin, ElihU, Justice of the Peace 
and Real Estate. 

Chittenden, G. N., & Co., Dealers 

in Dry Goods, Groceries, Clothing, 
Boots and Shoes, Hats and Caps, etc. 

Eraser, H. R., & Co., Dealers in 
Hardware and Groceries. 

Jump, D. W., M. D., Physician and 

Surgeon. * 

Keen, William S., Blacksmith. 

Norton, H. S., Sec. 3, Plainfield Tp., 
Building Sand of the best quality, in any 
quantity, 50 cents per load, 2 cents per 
bushel. Ten per cent off on quantities. 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 



995 



Perkins, A. J., Physician and 8ur- 
ire< in . 

Pratt, S. S., & Son., Undertakers and 
Dealers in all kinds of Furniture. 

Spencer, Horace, Physician. 
Townshendeau, H. A., Barber 

and Editor and Proprietor of the Plain- 
jield Echo. 

Vanolinda, Ira, Justice of the Peace 
and Police Magistrate. 

Wight, R. B., Renovator. 

Webb, R. D., Wagon Manufacturer 
and Kepairer of all kinds of Farm Ma- 
chinery. 

BEECHER. 

Loebstein, Samuel, Dealer in Stock 
and General Merchandise. 

Mettenhausen, Louis, Teacher. 

Miller, Timothy L., Cattle- Breeder 
and Dealer in Hereford and fine-bred 
stock. 

Ruden, Charles P., Physician and 
Surgeon. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Barber, Franklin E., Farmer and 

Dairyman, Du Page Tp. 

Goodenow, George W. & Son, 

Dealers in Hay and Proprietors of Large 
Hay-Press. Dealers in Dry Goods and 
Groceries, Goodenow, Crete Tp. 

Hack, John, Merchant and Post- 
master at Eagle Lake, Washington Tp. 

Harvey, Jabez, Dealer in Dry Goods, 
Groceries, Boots, Shoes, Medicines, Farm 
Machinery and Hardware. Conveyan- 
cing done and acknowledgments taken. 
All goods shipped to Joliet. Wilton 
Center, Will Co., 111. 



Owen, James L,, Mokena, Will Co., 
111., Mrt'cder of Norman or Percheron 
Horses from imported stock. Half and 
three-quarter blood stallions and mares 
for sale at reasonable prices. Also pure- 
bred Poland-China Pigs, compactly built, 
for sale, boxed and delivered on the cars- 
Residence one and one-half miles south 
of depot. 

O'Neil, Charles J., Farmer and 
Breeder of Fine Stock, Will Tp. 

Pooley, John, \'eterinary Surgeon. 
Treats diseases of horses and cattle. 
Residence on Sec. 13, on the town line, 
Wilton Tp., Will Co., 111. 

Raver, D. J., Mason and Farmer, 
Troy Tp. 

Reynolds, J. S., Attorney at Law, 
Room 'J., north wesi corner of Fifth ave- 
nue and South Water street, south end 
of Wells street Bridga, Chicago, III. 

Sime, James, Farmer, Stone-Mason 
and Bricklayer, Florence Tp. 

StaSSen, Henry, Nurseryman and 
Agent for Greengarden Insurance Co., 
Greengarden. 

Small, E. D., & Co., Lumber mer- 
chants. Dealers in Lumber, Lath, Shin- 



gles, Fence-Posts, etc. Our stock 



IS 



new and complete in every respect. 
Yard and office, Custer, mouth of Horse 
Creek and at Ira Smith's Landing. 

Smiley, J. J., Groceries. Staple and 
Fancy Groceries, mouth of Horse Creek, 
Custer Tp. 

Truby, M., & Son, Dealers in Grain 
Lumber and Stock, Bird'y Bridge. 
Troy Tp. 



POPULATION OF WILL COUNTY BY TOWNSHIPS. 









1870. 






I860. 


1850. 


TOWNSHIPS. 


1 


6 

1 


e 
'S 




•6 
i 

8 




•a 

2 
o 

8 


S 

'S 


•a 

S. 

o 

8 


Bourbonnais 
















1719 
214 
617 

730 
615 




Carey 


















Channahon 


1164 

1468 
1118 

875 
1924 
1202 
1279 
1485 
2940 
7263 
1979 

966 

828 
1207 
1361 

922 
3584 
1772 

922 


926 

856 

810 

644 

1055 

646 

946 

1189 

2093 

4959 

1476 

578 

604 

865 

843 

593 

2368 

1180 

604 


288 
612 
308 
231 
869 
556 
333 
296 
847 

2304 
503 
388 
224 
342 
518 
329 

1216 
592 
318 


1162 
1467 
1117 

875 
1924 
1202 
1257 
1483 
2815 
7228 
1964 

966 

820 
1204 
1355 

919 
3566 
1766 

922 


2 
1 

1 


911 
1189 

918 

691 
1763 

933 
1208 

983 






Crete 




1 


Du Page 




5 


Florence 






Frankfort 






844 




Greengarden 






Homer 


22 

2 

125 

:^5 

15 




811 

456 




Jackson 






Joliet 






Joliet 


7066 


36 


2647 


12 


First Ward 




Second Ward 










Third Ward 


8 
3 
6 
3 

18 
6 










Fourth Ward 










Fifth Ward 










Sixth Ward 










Lockport 


2805 


19 


1646 


11 


Lockpor t 




Manhattan 


514 








Momence 






573 




Monee 


1600 
598 
1121 
1213 
1750 
723 
2771 


879 
332 
808 
761 

1500 
667 

1184 


721 
266 
313 
452 
250 
56 
1587 


1591 
591 
1107 
1213 
17.50 
723 
2771 


9 

7 

14 


872 






Monee 








New Lenox 


907 

301 

1726 




617 










Phiinfield 






1093 




Plainfield 








Reed 




781 




183 
514 
453 
240 
337 












Sherburne 




































Troy 


918 
1564 

924 
1133 

911 
2776 
1828 
1118 


617 
722 
776 
823 
485 
1971 
1378 
804 


301 
842 
148 
310 
426 
795 
450 
314 


918 
1563 

923 
1132 

911 
2757 
1819 
1117 




866 
578 
644 

1069 
242 

1552 


1 


1 




1 
1 
1 




Wesley 












749 




Will 


1 




Wilmington 


9 
9 
1 


1343 


3 


Wilmington 






Wilton 


845 




269 





A TABULAR STATEMENT OF THE ACIRICHLTURAL PRODUCTS, 

ACREAGE, ETC., OF WLLL COUxNTY, ACCORDING TO 

THE ASSESSOR'S REPORT OF ISTS. 



TOW NS. 



!=£ = 2 
10-555 

\>^ Z> ^ -^ 



Cusfer 

OhaniiJihon 

Crete 

Dii Patje 

Florence 

Krankfort 

GreoDfiiiriieii 

HoiniT 

Jack-ioii 

Joliet 

Lockport 

Hiiiiliiittiin 

Monee 

New Lenox 

Plainfield 

Peotoiie 

Reed 

Troy 

Wheatland... 
Wilmington .. 

Wesley 

Wilton 

Will 

Washington.. 



SO 
103 
131 
139 
111 
154 
117 
1S7 
166 

85 
142 
138 
162 

9:', 



Corn. 



Acres Bush. 



3004 

46.54 

3963' 

5212 

6702! 

5721 

6351 

4347 

7911 

2898 

5094 

8371 

5243 

4137 



186 


7350i 


147 


80821 


in 


4811 


141 


8044 


170 


7303 


59 


3279 


93 


472? 


187 


8545 


146 


6973 


164 


3919 



Winter Wheat. 



Acres. Bu.sh. 



80791 
1.55110 
111395 
171070... 
2IS81(, ... 
1SS9(»0 .. 
]()0'.l.5ll .. 
123812 
274300 

89210.. 
162905 
210330.. 
133940 .. 
151933 .. 
265347 
281770.. 

10550 .. 
303213 .. 
294200 

9II9S9 ... 
164960 
379542 .., 
204621 .., 
149784.. 



8 
16 



34'; 



13 



32 



30 

no 
34 



170 
400 



58 



704 



180 



644 



Spring Wheat 



Acre.4.1 Bush, 



338 
42 

7 
24 
77 
63 
38 
36 

5 



61 

4607 

747 

75 

400 

894 

855 

630 

1085 

7 



202 
15 



2340 
SCO 

■■"24 



(S I 
247 ! 

18 

91 

20141 

35 - 
413 I 



145 
4370 

2971 
1212! 

2.32| 

394 
4394I 



Oats. 



Acres. Biisli 



37 

939 
3292 
3624 
2155 
4822 
3645 
2281 
2987 

981 
2236 
3857 
4927 
2(Jl7 
2916 
3102 
65 
1903 
4379 

506 

718 
2611 
2845 
3611 



142SS 

36529 
112480 
197801 

97121 
175170 
138400 
110162 
14l:i.S(i 

39703 
112472 

16510 
148930 
lo'i:i94 
155',i4:i 
1122-0 
1735 

90855^ 
227537 

19130 

3(M23 
111470 

73602 
145396 



Kye. 



Barlev. 



Acres.! Bush. ! Acres. Busb. 



606 

72 

10 

35 

151 

2 

2 

176' 

43 

lesl 



15[ 

5, 



.521 
6O: 
551 
281 
121 



2770I 

1485 

89 

700 

2980 

60 

26 

3110 

1045 

10(1 

4571 



17 
160 



150 

1810J 
115 



1514 



1134. 
]4(Ht. 

990 . 
.5550 

335i 



\^% 



12, 



390 



100 
159 



TOWNS. 


Buckwheat. 


Castor Beans. 


Beans. 


Pease. 


Irish Potatoes. 


Sweet. Apple 
Potatoes. Orchards. 




Acres. 


Bush. 


Acres. 


Bush. 


Acres. 


Bush. 


Acres. 


Bush. 


Acres. 


Buiih. 


Acres 


Bush. Acres. ' Bush. 


Custer 


57 
1 
s 
3 
2 
7 
4 

25 
2 


518 
12 
SI 
67 
16 

126 
60 

319 
34 






10 


200 






45 
113 
117 
108 

82 
208 
135 
183 

89 

dQl,: 


3593 
6895 














50 






Crete 












96(HI 
8195 




•>l'5i / 


Du Page 
















'T.lV " Jill 








1 




5731 

15170 
7.'^'65 

11638 
8887 
9060 
9446 
5880 

10965 
3:>30 

14225 
7113 
2030 
9749 






Frankfort 


1 


20 


1 
1 
1 


20 
10 
10 








•>»;■' 


Greengarden 








r'5 


Homer 










Jackson 










5 21il 2 
1*1 '\ 


.loliet 










ll ,50 




Lockport 


9 


VI % 


2 


3% 


30 


1' 100 " 




'>46i 57 


Manhattan 






128 
200 
1091.1 

20 
120 

128 '4 
64 
4l9i 

81% 
150'j 




\■^T^ 


Monee 


39)<i 


492 






4 


46 






128'. 7 


New Lenox 










Plainfield 


15 
2 


213 
14 






214 


30 










Peotiino 






1 




13<j 


Reed , 










1 






Trov 


9 
10 
7 
7% 


105 

120 

42 

112 








1 




1 


4(t 189 ; 35 

80 


Wheatl.and 












1(K)95 1 


Wilmington 






2 


14 







5090 
3(>5() 
91.59 
62.571 
890;il 




71 i 11 


We^ley 






8 
33 








140 60 


Wilton 






1.17 


„ i.., 




234' 11 


Will 


13 

5'4 


J 35 






1 




\'>\ ' 5j) 


Washington 






2^ 


26 




78'4' 



STATEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, kc— Confimted. 



TOWNS. 


Peach 
Orchard. 


Pear 
Orch- 
ard. 

Acres. 


Tobacco. 


Broom Corn. 


Hemp 


Flax. 


Timothy 
Meadow. 


Clover 
Meadow. 


Prairie 
Meadow. 




Acres. 


Bush. 


Acie-. Lbs. 


Acres. 


Lbs. 


Acre?. 


Acres. 


Acres. Tons. 


Acres. Tons, i Acres. Tons. 


Custer 








4 4000 










1129 
1749 
2260 
9591 


1188 
2S21 
2309 
4031 
2561 
3050 
144 
3(!83 
3534 
2107 
3055 
2500 
13<6 


185 3251305 1382 



















110 394| 253 309 


















5' 10 2218 3249 


Du Page 
















2' ! 40 811 ' 805 










1 2000 






24 


:i;;67 

''TMh 


73 109 1660 1943 


Frankfort 












30 30 186.'; i9.:«o 


Grfoiieriirdeii ... 


















26 
3264 
2438 
189-'..'5 
2293 ' 
2!i(;3 
1507 




1823 


2761 




















60 6<t 


750 


Jackson 










700 


2 


10(00 








12 729 
4-01 i:^3 


1015 


Joliet 














40 


198 












i 






273 343' 569 ! 713 




3>^ 


7 














2101 |2643 
3068 (3191 


M-Onee 




529 






Now Lenox 


















3074 
399 


5087 










% 


65 


1 


500 




2084 

1478 

lOii 

9533 


3635 
2068 
207 
3212 
4625 
1336 
1838 
2218 
3156 
2282 »4 


718: 850 Inofi 


Pfotonp .... 












'2415 13185 


Reed 












:::::::::r:::::::: 


1 






1 546 
1080 


576 


Troy 
















32 


F>-> 


1010 


AiV'h<*atlaiid .... 


572>^ 










■ 


1 


3i:!9 


20 20: 779 


906 


^N'ilniitigton ... 




10 






1 






8S5 
1488 
l.S75%i 




1703 

594 


2145 


Wesley 
















94 149 


706 


Wilton 


















6(! 76 22691,^ 2273' :, 


Will 


















93 
142 


2858 
2130 


1877 j2092 


Washington .... 


















1 '1001VCI1339 
























1-^ 





TOWNS. 


Hungarian 

and 

Millet. 


Sorghum. Vineyard. 


Turnip and 

other Root 

Crops. 


Other Fruit, 
Berries, etc. 


Other Crops. 


Pasture. not 
including 
Woodland. 


Woodland, 
not includ- 
ing Pasture 


Acre.s. 


Tons. 


Gals. 
Acres. |Slrup. Acres. 


Gals. 
Wine. 


Acres. 


Value. 


Acres. 


Value. 


Acres. Value. 


Acres. 


Acres. 




50 
9 


36 
23 


2% 174 3 


40 








8120 




2207 
5283 
1639 


1127 














814 


Crete 


















Du Page 


19 

60 

8 

10 


29 
92 
12 
















5228 ' 2056 


Florence 




1 

l'/2 


50 






2 225 







4386 
4460 
1664 
5236 
3458 
2065.81 
4551 
5959 
3255 
4940 
4343 
3307 
745 
4647.31 
4561 
2650 
3530 
5240.60 


239 


Frankfort 


1 










2323 


Green garden 


18 994 










9000 







Homer 
















2925 




3 


4 






iis 




18 






79.S 


Joliet 






45 
IK 




140% 




66 


[jockiiort 


36 


48 






60 






482 






1 1 










Monee 


79 


25 


iz ' 40' 9 1 ^r^n 














994 


New Ijcnox 






3 

9 




10 
20 


200 
2000 












Plaiiifield 












20 


200(1 






125 J^ 


Pe((tone 


















Reed 






















92 


Troy 






















2457 


Wheatland 
























10 


Wilmington 


8 
6 
6'^ 


10 

8 
9 





















175 


Wesley 


4 

2% 

2% 


381 
135 
220 
















1293 


Wilton 










1 


8 




389.96 


Will 


78Vi;l 54 


% 




.^ 


20 
125 




$3239 




Washiniton 


133 " 


85 


2K 


141 










4256.25 


40 



STATEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, k^.— Continued. 



TOWNS. 



lUncultivat'dl 
I Lanrl, not 
'Wooillaiuior 
' J'astiire. 
Acres. 



Area Town 
orCityKealj 

Kstate. L Total 
Number of 

Acres. I Acres. 



SHEEP. 



Slieej) Killed 
by Dogs. 



Av. Val 
No. pr. Head 



o 
o • 

> c 

1-1 cZ 



iFatSh'pSold 

Av. \Vt 

pr Head. 



DAIRT. 



KiNo. 



No. 
( 'ows 
Kei)t 



Llis. Lbs. 
Butter t'lie'se 
Sold . Sold . 



Galp. ' Oiils. 

Crenrn IMilk 

Solil.l Sold. 



Custer 

Cliuniiahon... 

Crete 

Du P:ige 

Florence 

Frankfort 

GretMigarden., 

Homi'r 

■laiksou 

.lolict 

Lockport 

Manhattan ... 

Monee 

New Lenox... 

I'lainfieUI 

Peotone 

Keed 

Trey 

AVheatland.... 
Wilmington .. 

Wesley 

Wilton 

Will 

Washington .. 



89:$ 
3681 



7(1 



345 

1748 

3') 

75.75 
416 



160 



360 



25 



692 
1727 



339 



CO 
418 



40 



470 

480 
1326.24 

457 
3710.75 



233.22 
65o""" 



10G83V 

17981 

14(164', 

3all5 

17159 

228351,^ 

22884 

2H63 

187fi(t 

82.56.66'^ 

1(552% 
226147 
211,55; 3 
14468 
21904% 
1S(^49 

2180 
21931 .31 
22122 

9894 
165321.^ 
229.59.26 
186147-g 
20293-)| 



112 



33 

3 

15 



12 



85 00 



2 37 



2 00 

3 00 
3 lu 



3 12 



3 00 
14 00 



15691 
595 
369 

4275 
230 

1880 
63h 

3216 

UiSO 
80(1 

2499 
16U 
438 

1185 

2700 



27 

52 

10 

78 

18 

145 

11 

104 

124 



129 
15 



5 00 



2970 30 



4 00 



1649 

1220] 

925] 

1663 V 



129 
30 
25 



85 
125 
120 

78; 

90' 
113 

85; 
1011 



60 
50 



110> 

1.5ol 
165! 



123 



65 

90 

132 



546 

420 
965 
1171 
798' 
835 
782 
899, 
701 
282 
896, 
5.57 1 
833 
6481 
754' 
903 
178 
6.51 
149 
572 
567 
742 
629 
988. 



15549 

25075 
3=^.645 
787.55 
27871 
25780 
20."i30 
520901 
37586 
9250 
25649 
350(10 
31 175 
53190 
53328 
24792 

:,:>m 

255.32 
104230 
13510 
6880 
30220' 
22557' 
27312' 



. 2.59119 
, 31303 



5100 
487GO 



4(H)(l 



. 129724 

,1 7r.'8i 

, 1851.58 
.1 49250 
. 425 



, 7200 
,1.56818 



100 



! 27600 

110745 

61 1| 810 

100 JO 

I 18880 



. 142495 
. 131145 



CATTLE. 



TOWNS. 



No. Fall Average 
Cattle Weight 
Sold. Per Head, 



Custer 

Channahou..., 

Crete 

Du Page 

Florence 

Frankfort .... 
Greengardeu., 

Homer 

Jackson 

.Toliet 

Lockport 

Manhattan ... 

Monee 

Now Lenox... 
Pluinfield .... 

Peotone 

Reed 

Troy 

Wheatland ... 
WilniiDgton . 

Wesley 

Wilton 

Will 

Washington.. 



93 
2742 
110 
310 
593 
244 

38 

64 
724 
106 
240 
107 

37 
380 
400 
252 

38 
627 
337 
414 
284 
616 
132 

34' 



980 
llUO 

8.53 
1221 
1125 
KJOO 

753 
1059 

700 
1019 

960 
1000 

700 
1113 

994 
1120 

920 
1274 
1100 
1076 
1143 
11,56.46 

922 

1370 



HO(JS. 



Fat Hogs 
Sold. 



No. 



Av. Val 
pr. Head 



Fat Hogs Died 
of Cholera. 



No. 



885' 
1434 
1937 
1933 
1400} 

8671 

949 1 
1791, 
1.507! 

601 
1047 
1408' 

7561 
27631 
2883 
24691 
79 
24.53! 
1481 
1050' 
30(J9 
2264 
1366 
1168 



i;2 44 
2 50 
2 37 
2 72 
2 54 
2 50 

1 21 

2 00 
2 82 
2 75 
2 68 
2 50 

2 40 

3 00 
2 95 
2 62 
2 17 



35 



134 

299 

316 

38 



50 
44 
89 



Av. Wt. 
pr. Head 



87 



Timothy 
Seed. 



MISCELLAN KOUS CROPS. 
Clover 



Seed. 



Bushels. Bushels. 



Hung'n 
Millet. 

Bushels. 


Fla.x 
Seed. 


Bushels. 



Pounds 
Grapes. 



69 
115 
100 
100 



4 

275 

35 



97 

100 

90 



2 28 


130 


106 


2 50 


12 


60 


2 34 


25 


100 


2 76',^ 


487 


43 


2 71.81 


45 


118.44 


2 47'/.^ 


46 


oG 


2 05 








1.5(1 

99 

200 



31 



15, 
194 



1220 
100 



1907 . 
1.51 
24 , 
10 



40 



61 

587 



47 
133 



1022 



1098,. 



200 



125 , 

239 



1625 
1500 



910 , 



67 
1387 '. 



280 



500 



30. 



5C0 



276 
965 , 



1129 



22. 
14. 
109 . 
429 
741 
12.52 , 
1480 



11931 
3i, 



231 [ 

5807 



4000 

i'ssVi 



1668 . 



4000 



23 , 

37; 



25 . 
626 
1481i 



1681 
1616> 



1000 
40 



Whole Number of Statements Returned. 



^ 






FARM CROPS. 



Corn 

Winter Wheat.., 
Spring. Wheat... 

Oats 

Eye 

Barley 

Buckwheat 

Castor Beans.... 

Beans 

Peas 

Irish Potatoes... 
Sweet Potatoes . 
Apple Oi'chard . 
Peach Orchard. 
Pear Orchard... 



Acres, 1877. 



Tobacco 

Broom Corn. 
Hemp Fiber. 
Flax Fiber... 



Bush. Prod.1877. 



Timothy Meadow 

Clover Meadow* 

Prairie Meadow 

Hungarian and Millet. 



Sorghum , 



Vineyards 

Turnip and other Root crops 

Other Fruits and Berries not included above in Orchard. 

Other crops not named above 

Pasture not included in Woodland , 

Woodland not included in Pasture 

Uncultvated land, not included as Woodland and Pasture. 
Area City and Town real estate, not included above , 



Total number of acres in county 417977 



1323:32 

112i 

1684i 

60796" 

1438 

431 

226i 

1| 
29t«o 

2^' 

2650;3^^ 

2 

4025i 

576 

10 

5| 
3 
24 

764 

43G15 
4481 

30180^^5 
50of 



12| 

mi 
22" 

9148^63^ 
88552 
17530^ 
17279 

l«07 22 



4324432 

2330 

23069 

2415712 

28732 

826 

2567.V 

22"" 

427 

106 

189506 

125 

1639 



Vtz. produced. 



67t;5 
10500 



Tons produced. 

56965*^ 

7474" 

36600^ 

428" 

Gals, produced. 

1385 

Ga's. Wine made. 

240 



LIVE STOCK, 1877. 

SHEEP. auantity 

Number of Sheep killed by dogs 

Average value per bead, Sheep killed by Dogs 

Number of pounds of Wool shorn 

Number of Fat Sheep sold 

Average weight per head, Fat Sheep sold lbs. 

DAIRY. 

Number of Cows kept 

Pounds of Butter sold 

Pounds of Cheese sold •• 

Gallons Cream sold 

Gallons Milk sold 1 

CATTLE. 

Number of Fat Cattle sold 

Average weight per head Fat Cattle sold lbs. 

HOGS. 

Number Fat Hogs sold 

Average gross weight per head Fat Hogs sold lbs. 

Number Hogs and Pigs died of Cholera •• 

Average gross weight per head of Swine died of Cholera lbs. 

CROPS, ETC. 

Number bushels Timothy Seed produced 

Number bushels Clover Seed produced 

Number btishels Hungarian and Millet Seed [)roduce(l 

Number bushels Flax Seed produced 

Number pounds Grapes produced 



or Value. 

252 

%?, 39 

30582 

961 

108 

17366 

787012 

57860 

10060 

322646 

9352 
942 

37600 

254 

2064 

87 

9513 

1898 

4744 

13111 

15815 



Biography Received Too Late for Insertion in its Proper Place. 



PROF. ISAAC S. PALMER, Joliet ; 
was born April 14, 1819, in Norwich, 
Norfolk Co., England ; at the age of 9, he 
went to Edinburgh, where he was associ- 
ated with the immortal George Combe, and, 
through his influence, gained admission to 
the famous Edinburgh Medical Institute, 
where he remained until he was 18, after 
which he entered public life as a lecturer 
on phrenology ; in 1849, the Professor 
sailed for America, for the purpose of col- 
lecting specimens of the native Indians 
and learn from practical experience the 
types of their character, and then return 
to England and lecture upon the subject ; [ 



in 1852, he went to St. Paul, purchased a 
boat and traveled the entire length of the 
Mississipjii River,and collected over five hun- 
dred Indian skulls and many other relics, all 
of which were destroyed by fire ; the enter- 
prise was then given up, and he decided 
to make America his home. Since 1867, 
he has been a citizen of Joliet, having 
married, at that time, Mrs. Elisabeth F. 
Aylesworth, daughter of Charles W. Bran- 
don. He still follows his favorite profes- 
sion, lecturing on phrenology, physiology, 
anatomy and geology ; also the practice of 
medicine. 



ERRATUM. 

The Biography of Barber. Randall & Fuller, of Joliet, should have been among 
the B's ; was placed in the R's by mistake. 






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